news-record.com

It is a constant complaint from NASCAR fans. Why do the networks seem to miss so many restarts?

WXLV-45's broadcast of Saturday night's Nextel Cup race from Richmond missed a few of the 12 restarts.

One time, the network missed the restart, but the caution came out again before the commercials ended.

"I hear from the fans," said Rich Feinberg, ESPN Vice President, motorsports production, who also oversees the ABC race broadcasts. "I'm not happy when we miss a restart either."

Football, basketball and baseball games don't resume action until the network broadcasting the event returns from commercial. Why not NASCAR?

"I'm not sure specifically on what NASCAR would or should do," Feinberg said. "Extending caution laps when we're in a commercial -- we try to do our breaks after pit stops around yellow flags -- could ultimately affect the game or affect the race because so many fuel-mile stories are involved in any given time.

"We sit in that (production) truck, and we have to make an instant decision on when to go to commercial. We have to get our commercials in because it is a business."

Still, fans want to see as much action as possible. That's why the networks will pay close to $500 million to broadcast Cup races this season.

So why not extend a caution a lap or two to allow TV to get back?

"The idea of running extra laps is not something under consideration at this time. Our obligation is to run the races in line with what's happening on the track," NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston wrote in an e-mail. "Our objective is to get the race back to green as soon as possible.

"Additionally, we would not want to introduce an artificial aspect that might influence the on track strategy. This is important to everyone including the competitors, the fans at track and even at home. Of course we do make every effort to coordinate with the TV partners whenever possible so that they can produce the best telecast possible.

"Our sport is in fact different from other sports that have natural breaks -- NASCAR is one of continuous action like golf, soccer, and most other motorsports, and it's important to preserve that aspect of it."

Contact Dustin Long at 373-7062 or dlong@news-record.com