I have strong feelings concerning the content of ESPN's NHRA coverage with down time content, show focus, and personalities chosen to host the show, namely Paul Page.

I would like to gather comments from members to send to ESPN in hopes of making the show more palatable to actual race fans.

My suggestions are to first replace Paul Page as commentator. Cease personal interest stories that are not directly related to racing, and spend that air time on the technology of racing to include in depth looks at the cars as a whole, maintenance, parts, performance, and driver/crew duties. In my estimation ESPN's depiction of NHRA events are a combination of clown/circus atmosphere with interjections of untimely placed stories of racing deaths, and deaths occurring outside the sport. The unrelated topic of Ashley Forces wedding, including photos, an interview with John Force about her wedding, his weight, and numerous other unrelated topics are just a sample of wasted air time in my opinion. During that interview he mentioned new injectors developed by Force racing, and that topic was never addressed for sake of wedding information.

I enjoy watching John Force and crew race and have my entire life, so my comments are not focused on Force racing, but rather the continued waste of time on off topic show material and content.

The drunken dance party like atmosphere ESPN likes to portrays NHRA events to be, detracts from the highly technical, and serious nature of the sport and also falsely portrays and assumes it's fans to be so dull witted and uninterested in the sport itself that unrelated, and uninteresting stories are suitable filler for down time content.

If you have time, or interest please post your comments

I wish on the off time they would interview some professional sportsman racers such as Flecther. He is a hoot! But that would never happen! Paul Page has been a pain to listen to ever since he started. I feel bad for Mike Dunn!!!!! I'm down with getting rid of Paul Page!!!

I think everyone will agree with your outlook but, doubtful ESPN cares what we think now, if the people that sponsor the program was contacted and told these things, they might have a different feeling about it

Never know, since Castrol is a big advertiser it might even be in the fine print that they have to visit with force , etc

Bring back TNN !

I don't think Paul page is that bad, I think he understands that Dunn makes the show, as far as sportsman racers and not have life interest stories, I could agree with you, but i think you have to look at who they are trying to attract, not really you or me, heck we are racers and fans, they are looking for new fans. The show is geared a lot more to gathering new fans than to giving tech info to hard core fans.

Careful on your comments, it may be deemed political, huh Eric. I hope everyone does contact ESPN, a CBS subsiditary I beleive, and the advertisers to out Paul Page and get the program focused back on racing, the technology and the participants, not some feel good warm and fuzzy subjects like weddings ESPN has had several better commentators than Paul Page and the other old F--t, time to bring in some (younger)knowleable and entertaining commentators

i like bret kepner...lets bring him back!

I probably won't watch that much this year. Since its switched to the countdown, it basically makes the beginning of the season worthless. Dave Connelly proved that last year. I would be happy if they would stop doing interviews with fuel drivers while Pro Stock is going on in the background. And you are right, the personal interest stories have been getting old for awhile. Nothing against the Force family, I've liked John force for years, but every broadcast seems to revolve around them.

I say boot Paul and send him packing, back to where he came from and put someone with Mike Dunn that has knowledge of the sport,,and let's get off the subject of family and personal matter's and back to the sport at hand, more tech and driver interview's plus more sportsmen info would be just great with me.

Years ago people screamed at ESPN for the terrible coverage they were giving the AMA MX racing series. Eventually they chose not to renew the contract and away it went. This was stupid on their part. The supercross series routinely sells out the football stadiums they race in. Far more people attend MX races than woman's basketball for example. I see ESPN slowly dropping all the motorsports coverage and going back to the lame ball and stick sports.

My advice to anybody who wants to send ESPN comments please keep it constructive.

Paul Page and Marty Reid before him are both full-time employees of ESPN, quite often you will see them doing motorcycle jumping or bobsled racing events in the off hours. When Paul is not on the road, he is in the office like any other employee. Mike Dunn is only paid to work the drag racing events. They would never bring in another guy to replace a full-time staffer.

As far as the content of the program, they certainly have drifted far away from racing technology and strategy, it is now a show about the Force family, ridiculous comedy segments, and relentless interviews with the same 8 or 9 racers.

I still watch the shows, but there is no comparison with the old Diamond-P productions.

I didn't realize Page was a staffer, too bad. Maybe he could do end of track interviews, or rake the sand box. It's insulting having to listen to him for sake of his staff position. To me it shows a lack of regard for their audience when they must know how bad and uninformed he is.

Also about them trying to draw a new crowd, people who like racing, watch racing, and people who like weddings, and interviews with curly from the globe trotters should watch the view. I don't think you can make someone like anything. The only proven thing that will make someone (men) watch something they don't like is T+A, and I assure you that will work with young men (new crowd) as well as the rest of us.

I agree that PP is not the best choice. I thought the "filler" material last year was interesting- when they gave cost figures, team budget info, etc...
As far as hardcore tech info(ie interesting to racers), I doubt we will ever see it. If you look closely at the sport, it is just a bunch of "marketable personalities" that team owners have spent a great deal of time and money teaching them to drive these cars. Long gone are the days where a racer paid his dues and moved up on his own. I'm willing to bet quite a few of the new generation "pros" couldn't set their own timing if they had to.

Oh,and a bit of constructive critism....[Edited by Moparts - Keep it clean] is that theme song about? Give the hot chick a gig tossin t-shirts or somethin, cuz she can't sing and the song is stupid. Maybe it was a cost-cutting effort, but not a good decision....

I think its better then that rap crap last year. that was just plain obnoxious.

I liked Marty Reid better then Paul Page....by far.

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.... also they should teach Dunn to open up
his vocabulary to more words than ABSOLUTELY... I get feed
up hearing him say that 50 - 60 times a show

Quote:

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or rake the sand box.

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THAT"S FUNNY

I think Mike Dunn and Nitwit Bazmore would be fun to watch.

I turned it on right at the wedding pictures,
shut it off and got back on the computer.

I couldn`t agree w/you more. Paul jacks up et`s and mph a lot and poor Mike and what he has to tolerate for a pay check. Mike know more about drag racing than Paul could ever learn in his lifetime and I could care less about these racers personal life.....If it gets rained out then show us another past race or highlights or as stated, some of the LESSER fortunate racers. It`s become a circus act and bring back the 1320 and keep camera cranes and such out of the way in case of an accident.