TV mistake misleads fans, Harvick at the Budweiser Shootout
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By Kyle Ocker
Sprint Cup Series beat reporter
When you televise as many races and events as Fox and their sister network SPEED have, you’re bound to make a mistake sooner or later. This time, the mistake confused both fans and some drivers.
“The entry blank was ‘green-white-checkered’ one attempt.”
—Kerry Tharp
During the two Budweiser Shootout practice sessions, as well as other moments of their coverage from this weekend, Fox and SPEED had explained that the Budweiser Shootout had to end under a green flag. However, when NASCAR only gave one go at the green-white-checker, fans began scratching their heads when the race was declared over.
The blunder by the broadcast network even caused eventual race winner Kevin Harvick to become a little confused when the caution came out as the field took the white flag on Saturday, thus ending the race under yellow.
Drivers are introduced prior to the Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway on February 6, 2010 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images for NASCAR)
“I was a little bit off kilter on that one,” Harvick said in his post-race press conference. “They knew. But I thought myself, I didn’t say a word on the radio. That’s why I didn’t say a word. I read on something somewhere, it wasn’t the entry blank, I know that for sure, but I read race will end under green. Maybe it was on a TV telecast as I was delusional sleeping in bed on Thursday. I don’t know. Maybe I dreamed it. But they knew what was going on. As long as they know what’s going on.”
Kasey Kahne and Jamie McMurray were also asked about the confusion that arose as a result of the mistake made by Fox. This was their exchange:
KASEY KAHNE: I’m happy I’m right here. I mean, I don’t know. I thought it was ‘green-white-checkered’.
JAMIE McMURRAY: I’m the same way. On TV it said it must end under green. There wouldn’t have been anything left. They would have just kept wrecking.
KASEY KAHNE: In the drivers meeting they did say one attempt at a two-lap ‘green-white-checkered’. That’s what I understood. The way it ended was normal.
After the race, NASCAR spokesperson Ramsey Poston confirmed on his Twitter account that it was clearly stated in the pre-race driver’s meeting that there would only be one attempt at a green-white-checker finish.
A total of 76-laps were ran in the race that was originally scheduled to go just 75 laps.
