New TV Voice of the NHRA

[Jeff]

http://www.competitionplus.com/drag-racing/news/22119-source-paul-page-out-in-nhra-booth-for-2013

I really like this new duo!

 

[HEMI6point1]

I bet this will make a lot of the people here very happy!

 

[mike]

nothing personal against Mr. Page, who seems like a nice enough person...

BUT OMG I HOPE THIS IS TRUE!!!

 

[d'kid]

OMG NOT Marty Again.....

d'kid

 

[rckymtn3]

The crowd nearly went wild until they heard Lloyd Christmas would be replaced by Harry Dunne.

 

[Dave]

Has it really been 6 years since Marty was behind the mic for an NHRA race? Where does the time go? I wish Paul the best in his next motorsports broadcasting venture.

 

[Ma Green]

I think this belongs in the "be careful what you wish for" category. Just because Reid isn't doing so well with NASCAR races doesn't mean we need him back!

 

[FC138fan]

Wonder what Bob Varsha or Ted Jones are doing nowadays?

 

[Brian]

Please tell me that the "powers at be" know how valuable Mike Dunn is the NHRA coverage.

 

[d'kid]

Please tell me that the "powers at be" know how valuable Mike Dunn is the NHRA coverage.

Mike is Color... The issue is a great play by play...

d'kid

 

[PJ]

I liked Marty Reid and welcome him back. Page is set more for the longhaul races which is why he was good at Indy car coverage.

I would really like to the Reif or Alan get a shot

 

[vegasnitro]

Wonder what Bob Varsha or Ted Jones are doing nowadays?

Bob Varsha is part of the BEST broadcasting trio in motorsports with Steve Matchett and David Hobbs doing F1 on Speed. He also does the Barrett-Jackson Auctions and the 24 Hours of Le Mans and Daytona.

As far as PP goes, it sounds like his contract is not being renewed by ABC/ESPN. I have been told by more than one person that even though NHRA pays thru the nose to have races broadcast on ESPN, they have no say on the host/play-by-play man. If his contract was being renewed, we would likely be stuck with him. That being said, Marty was terrible on the IndyCar broadcasts and below average on the Nationwide broadcasts. I wish there was a way NHRA could put Reiff/Frey/Reinhart/Anybody who knows anything about drag racing in the booth. Reid for Page is a lateral move at best IMO.

PS I have also been told by multiple people that PP is a very nice person and very engaging in person. I do hate to see anybody lose their job in these times, but Drag Racing just isn't his bag and it shows on the broadcasts. I do wish him well in future endeavors if these rumors prove true.

 

[my friends call me Zappy]

Mike Dunn + Dave McCelland = problem solved.

 

[d'kid]

Mike Dunn + Dave McCelland = problem solved.

Again, Dave is a little 'long in the tooth'... we're looking for good, quick play by play. Not sure ESPN has such a person on staff at this time... maybe John K, but in booth chemistry has as much to do with it as anything else.

This is a harder issue than we may think.

d'kid

 

[Mooseman]

Dave Mac would be great, him and Steve Evens were a broadcasting dream team. But I think the Big Mac has stated on here before that he isnt interested in the travel anymore.

 

[FC138fan]

Reiff/Frey/Reinhart/Anybody who knows anything about drag racing in the booth. Reid for Page is a lateral move at best IMO.

I agree about the lateral move. Although Reid and Page are good career play by play type hosts for auto racing, they might be comparable to a "journeyman" athlete who is good at what they do but move from team to team and don't really have a passion for any particular team. If ESPN put him back in the booth to me it would seem that they put absolutely no thought behind it and want to conveniently replace one gear for another gear to keep the machine going.

Of course it would be desirable to have a good career play by play type host who's true passion is drag racing.

Reiff is similar to Bret Kepner, Bill Stephens, or John Kernan - Great pit reporters who are good at chasing down stories. I like his tacky sense of humor too that comes through on the ESPN3 shows. But he isn't a play by play guy... well maybe he is a bit as I think him and Bob Frey do the sportsman play by play.

Reinhart is similar to Gary Gerald or Steve Evans, a great top end interview guy. Has a good knowledge base and knows the right questions to ask that all real drag fans would want to ask at the top end if they had a chance. Too bad if you're not at the track you wouldn't know it.

Frey IMO is the best fit as a replacement for PP. Massive amounts of experience with play by play live at the track, as well as recorded events such as the sportsman shows. Obviously has been exclusive to drag racing for the longest time, and there's no doubt he is passionate about the sport, yet isn't a fan boy.

I mentioned Ted Jones because he was the old play by play guy on the espn IHRA broadcasts. He hosted the Super Chevy TV shows, and as far as I can tell from briefly researching, his passion and main interest is drag racing and muscle cars. I think he is getting old though, and is more interested in retirement at this point.

 

[SundayNiagara]

I think this belongs in the "be careful what you wish for" category. Just because Reid isn't doing so well with NASCAR races doesn't mean we need him back!

Right on, Ma!

 

[Rajunz]

I couldn't take Bob Frey in there very long, too many corny jokes....

 

[mastertone]

I liked Marty Reid and welcome him back. Page is set more for the longhaul races which is why he was good at Indy car coverage.

I would really like to the Reif or Alan get a shot

Times 2!

 

[Rat]

OMG NOT Marty Again.....

d'kid

Right! I was hoping for Alan Reinhardt and Mike Dunn. Not Page, Not Reid. Reid abandoned us, now he's back?