ESPN looks like they'll still suck in 08

[AndyMarquisLIVE]

So, we learned late last year that ESPN and ESPN on ABC would keep Draft Track, Dish Tech Center and NASCAR Countdown.

Now, it looks like they're planning on giving us more green flag coverage but they appear to remain committed to their sucky commentators and pit reporters, though nothing is official yet.

ESPN revs up for 2008 NASCAR season - BostonHerald.com

Sobieski (ESPN): We’ve been really pleased with our talent compliment. It’s been great for us to have a team that brings such different perspectives to each race. (Rusty) is the NASCAR champion and can bring that perspective to each broadcast, while Suzy can relate to the casual fan that isn’t as familiar with the sport. And Brad can bring information to viewers from the owners perspective and he’s always able to bring things into perspective from playing in the NBA and comparing NASCAR to stick and ball sports. Across the board, we feel that our talent compliment can speak to and resonate with a lot of fans from the hard-core fans who have loved the sport for a number of years, to fans who are just getting their feet wet.

How are they pleased with Jerry and Crusty and Suzy. All Crusty says is "Four tires is good thing" and "four tires is your friend." Suzy's voice irritates me. Jerry Punch, well, a car that's in 34th position is neither sailing by anyone or charging through the field.

Why wouldn't they put someone as popular as Allen Bestwick in the booth?

Ugh. Looks like I'm calling it a season after Chicagoland on TNT.

In July, ESPN introduced the DISH Tech Center to its NASCAR telecasts. The mobile studio contained Chevrolet cutaway cars as well as dozens of parts and pieces that could be used to illustrate many technical aspects of NASCAR racing. Also introduced in July was “Draft Tracker,” a special effect created by ESPN and Sportvision to demonstrate to viewers how air affects NASCAR race cars.

Viewers responded – more than 122 million people, representing two out of five Americans, watched NASCAR on ESPN in 2007. And with ESPN’s multi-platform approach to coverage, success was measured on many levels: ESPN.com, for example, had nearly 100 percent growth in visits to its motorsports section during 2007 as ESPN platforms became the destination for NASCAR fans.

And two or three out of every five race fans also quit watching the races and turned on the radio because ESPN's coverage was too sucky.