MRN vs ESPN2 Announcers

If there ever was a competition for the best NASCAR announcers the trophy would have to go to the MRN Radio announcers. Their lap by lap coverage far exceeds the excitement level of all the other television announcers combined. I'm picking on the ESPN2 announcers this time since ESPN2 covered the Atlanta race and if it were not for the fact I was at work in the shop and the the race was held on Tuesday, instead of Monday (Labor Day) I would have been subjected to the boring commentaries of Marty Reid, Dale Jarrett, and Andy Petree.

Instead, I was entertained by the voices of Barney Hill, Joe Moore, Winston Kelley, Dave Moody, Mike Bagley, Eli Gold, Jeff Striegle, Steve Post, Woody Cain, Kyle Rickey, Alex Hayden, Kurt Becker, Dan Hubbard, Buddy Long, Jason Toy, and Preston Root. These guys really know how to hype up the racing image that the radio listener needs to feel the excitement. The last 15 laps of announcing of the epic race between Gordon and Johnson was colorful, intense, and exciting thanks to the brilliant use of voice inflection, which really painted an image of two drivers dueling in the last laps with ill-handling cars with tires that were worn-out to determine if Jeff Gordon would make history with a 85th win or Jimmie Johnson break history with a last lap pass.

On the contrary...I recorded the race on the television and when I got home from work replayed the last 15 laps to see what all the excitement was about...well...from lap 15 to lap 11 the focus was on 3rd, 4th, and whatever place driver was behind the leaders, it wasn't until lap 10 that the cameras focused on the leaders and that's when the monotone voices of Reid, Jarrett, and Petree boringly attempted to give any commentary with a hint of excitement in their voices. Besides the slight enthusiasm heard when Johnson was slideways in the turns the three ESPN announcers might as well been eating pretzels and drinking koolaide while playing checkers.

From now on I'm tuning into MRN radio on the home stereo and watch the race on TV...with the volume down.

updated by @jim-wilmore: 12/05/16 04:02:07PM

You know, Jim.... for years I never had the tv volume on, especially during those awful Fred Rhienstein / Ken Squier World Sports Enterprises productions. I must admit, though, its been a good while since I've listened to the radio broadcast. I will say I could not bear to listen to Bruton's network... too over hyped and full of errors. The MRN crew has always done an admirable job. By the way, MRN lost it's longtime Charlotte broadcast station partner this year. One thing I'll say for the tv networks.. and I'll probably open myself up for flack, but I think most of the female broadcasters on the various race telecasts do a good job. Very different than all the "pretty face" sideline reporters in the NFL who don't know a football from their compact. But back to your original point, MRN has always done a good job. Frankly, I'm surprised they stiill have the Atlanta broadcast and not Bruton's PRN deal.


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"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"

Jim, if I could pull in MRN up here in the Metro Detroit area, that TV would be OFF!!! As it is, I only catch bits and pieces because I get bored and do other things and check in to get a beer. There is no comparison between MRN and TV although I really enjoy seeing Andy Petree and love the segments with Tim Brewer at the Tech Car. I didn't get to see the Tuesday race because of...uh Working?? Radio would've been great for me on Tuesday.

Agreed, I don't dislike no announcers, but the radio guys are more exciting. I listened in on the radio both at school and coming home, and the last 10 laps sounded like they were dead even every time around!

Right Cody, those last 10-15 laps on MRN were better than being there, very well done and each of the announcers were equally enthusiastic.

Patty, if you like ESPN you LOVE MRN racing coverage.

Pete, you could probably tune in on your PC, if you have a laptop and a new LCD or plasma TV you can plug your PC into the TV for better sound...I'm thinking it would work anyway?

When we use to go the track to watch nascar I always took a headset radio to listen to MRN, much more fun than listening to the scanner.

Patty, I stand corrected, it's Alan Bestwick on ESPN however, in my opinion he still does not cut the mustard like MRN...call me bias but MRN really cranked it up Tuesday like none other.

Dave, I agree with the woman reporters, they do a very good job of reporting, so far they've had a lot of tact in the way they ask the dumb questions that all pit reporters are know to do from time to time like, "What do you see out there?"

I listened to the broadcast on MRN Tuesday also. The broadcast was fantastic. It is a shame that I live about 35 miles north of Charlotte and the only radio station I can pick the race up on is WBRF 98.1out of Galax, Virginia. WBRF is a great radio station.

Jim, I need to look into that, thanks.

Years ago, in the sixties.... WXGI Radio in Richmond carried every race that was broadcast in NASCAR... by Universal Racing Network, American Racing Network and much later, MRN when it came to be.It's interesting now to recall, but Paul Sawyer at Richmond told me Bill France asked him to stay with Hank Schoolfield's URN so it wouldn't look like Daytona was building another monopoly. WXGI was also the station that carried Indy on Memorial Day. It also had several racing related shows, one on Sunday morning before the races and one every afternoon, called "The 5th Turn." Remember, this was in the early 60s... Richmond was a hot racing town... at one time we had GN races each year at two different tracks on opposite sides of the river. WXGI radio had been formed by two servicemen after their return from WWII and they petitioned the FCC for the exact call letters they were issued - WXGI - "Ex GI" which many never knew. The only problem with the station was it was at that time licensed for "Daylight Only" - don't know if they have those types of stations anymore or not. The only regularly scheduled Grand National night races that were broadcast at that time were from Nashville (Bristol didn't begin night racing until Summer 1978). So when Nashville rolled around, I'd sit in the '57 Chevy and listen to those two races on the junkyard AM radio I had installed, picking up the crackling signals of various far away stations bouncing off the night sky. Nashville was also in the Central Time Zone, so it was always a late finish. It's a wonder the neighbors didn't call the police about the suspicious activity of the boy sitting for hours in the car by the curb after dark!


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"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"