ESPN's NASCAR Crowd Noise Not Normal

We've heard plenty about "Coltgate" lately and the accusations that the Indianapolis Colts had pumped in crowd noise during the New England Patriots game two weeks ago.

CBS took the rap for the incident, but ESPN's NASCAR coverage apparently took note of the idea.

Judging from the TV I watched it on (ABC-HD with surround sound), it sounded to me like ESPN on ABC was definitely pumping in some crowd noise during each restart of last Sunday's Checker Auto Parts 500. Take a listen for yourself on the video below, as there are several instances that you can hear the not-too-natural noises.

Take note at 1:30, 5:48, 8:24, and 9:30 on the video, then continue reading for more.

I understand completely that the YouTube video isn't exactly the highest quality, but on the other hand, I've been to my fair share of races. People just don't cheer like that during restarts. Here's what they do cheer for:
-the end of the Star-Spangled Banner
- "Gentlemen, Start Your Engines!"
- Dale Earnhardt Jr. taking the lead
- Jeff Gordon hitting the wall

That's how it has been for a long time, and the racing action at Phoenix wouldn't have done much to change that.

So why, then, did Phoenix race fans seem to cheer so wildly for many of the restarts? And why didn't they cheer on the restart at 4:08?

The best example of the loud, unnatural cheering happens at 9:30, but on the broadcast, it's obviously happening for much of the other restarts.

All of this tells me one thing, ESPN on ABC was dubbing in a cheer effect during restarts of the race in an attempt to make everyone at home feel like everyone at the race track was simply bubbling with excitement.

I don't really understand that, and I don't really know if that's a big deal. But there's something about the whole thing that is quite fishy.

Mainly, it just makes me laugh harder at this year's ESPN on ABC's NASCAR coverage has turned into such an incredible bellyflop.

FOX and Daytona ... just one race away.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

11-13-2007 @ 4:24PM

Alyssa said...

I agree with you completely. I noticed during the race on one of the restarts they showed the crowd and you heard the cheering but it sure didnt look like they were cheering and never thought anything of it till now. ESPN is pathetic!

11-13-2007 @ 4:40PM

Maveness said...

There's one to add to the list: Dale Jr. passing Jeff Gordon. It doesn't matter if they're 43rd and 42nd, if Junior passes Jeff, the crowd goes nuts.

(Also, if Junior wins, the crowd cheers like that. And maybe whoever wins at Daytona at either race. But really, the reason we know that there are big cheers for Junior is because of the number of his fans. If it's a restart with Jimmie Johnson leading, there's no way in hell the cheering is that loud.)

11-13-2007 @ 6:14PM

rob said...

This idea wouldn't surprise me. I believe that it was CBS who got caught a few years ago dubbing in bird noises during their golf games. You can look it up.

11-13-2007 @ 7:25PM

Kim said...

As much as I love Jimmie Johnson, the first thing I said to my hubby after I was done jumping up and down screaming over his win was: "That's strange, the crowd isn't booing him, they are actually cheering for him." This seemed unusual to me as every time Jimmie wins, after I am done jumping up and down screaming for his success, I end up yelling at all the idiots who are booing him. Perhaps they piped in some cheering when Jimmie won on Sunday, too. Wouldn't surprise me at all.

Kim

11-13-2007 @ 11:31PM

JOE said...

Your right Maveness if Jr passes Jeff or if Jr takes the lead the crowd goes nut's.I have been to many races and all the crowd ever dose is stands. They don't make that noise.And in one part of the video it looks at the crowd on the restart .They're just standing to watch the restart. They are doing nothing no claping or screaming. WOW abc/espn and nascar will do anything to get ratings.

11-14-2007 @ 8:02AM

Mike said...

Well it is obvious to me what happened. After Jr wrecked his car with nobody anywhere near him and ended up dead last, a position he has held more often than winning in the past two years, ABC decided it needed something to help with the excitement.

11-14-2007 @ 8:26AM

Renee said...

I have to disagree with you. I was AT the Phoenix race by the start/finish line the whole time and the crowd actually DID cheer during re-starts. I heard it, as loud as the cars are passing by 15 feet in front of me.

Alot of them cheered, and a bunch yelled "HERE WE GO!" So, while I haven't actually watched this video you presented(simply because I don't need to since I was there) there was a whole lot of cheering going on during re-starts. ESPN is stupid and they might have pumped in MORE cheering but they didn't need to. There was plenty of that going on in the Petty and Foyt Grandstands.
You should have heard them cheering when Jimmie Johnson took the lead. It was crazy.

11-15-2007 @ 6:11PM

drgrcr601 said...

I have to give it to you Mike. You never pass up an opportunity to jab Jr. although it's getting rather redundant. Do you have stats on the other 42 driver's win/wreck/come in last ratio by any chance or do you just like making yourself look rather petty/prejudice?
Ron

11-16-2007 @ 12:56AM

Goffman said...

I hate to tell you, but I was there, and the crowd was going nuts, most of the day. It seemed like the crowd was pretty evenly split, between Gordon and Johnson. Anytime they ran together people were going nuts. It wasn't like that the year before. I don't know if the level of cheering was exactly that loud or not, but the crowd was nuts.

11-16-2007 @ 8:57AM

Hi "Goffman!"

Thanks for clearing that up for me! That's awesome if the crowd truly was cheering for Jimmie & Jeff. It's about time NASCAR fans gain some class and just cheer for whomever is making a good run, whether you like the driver personally or not. Jimmie has been on fire the past four weeks. It's impossible to not get excited watching him chase down the leader each week and race his way (cleanly at that) to the front of the pack and win. I really don't understand those whom have said the chase has been "boring." I think it's been fantastic!

Kim

11-16-2007 @ 10:21AM

Kim babe; they were probably cheering the fact that Jeff was not winning, not the fact that Jimmie was. Ok Ron, now I have a homework assignment. I will research the top 25 drivers (as they are currently ranked in points) and post for all to see how many drivers have finished last more times than they have finished first this year.
And yes, I do agree I have needled the hell out of the Jr fans but this post from Geoff expressly said the fans cheer when my favorite driver hits the wall and on the rare occassions Little E takes the lead. I was mearly pointing out that this time it was little E that hit the wall and he was not going to be taking any leads. So therefore, yes, it must have been manufactured cheering as his fans would have nothing to cheer about.

11-16-2007 @ 10:51AM

LOL well don't forget to factor in the reasons for the DNF's Mike and fear not, when Jr gets to HMS he's gonna teach Jeff on how to be more popular. That should make Jeff's fans happy. Now that's as far as I'm going to go (or ever have gone) to ridicule a driver. Fact is I like both Jeff and Jimmie. I admire their abilities and their personalities.

Ron

11-16-2007 @ 2:50PM

Damn, now that was a pain in the ass homework assignment.
Out of the top 25 drivers the drivers that have finished last more often than first:
8th place Jeff Burton
12th place Denny Hamlin
14th place Little E. None due to engine failure.
20th place JJ Yeley
22nd place Reed Sorenson
25th place David Stremme

And FYI, the driver with the most last place finishes was........................Ward Burton.
And just think, Sunday it will all be over. At least the Cowboys are looking good.
Mike LeVan

11-16-2007 @ 3:20PM

Thats only six drivers but never mind it's pointless anyway.

Ron

11-17-2007 @ 7:39AM

Well after doing the research, I was surprised it was so many. We are talking about the top 25 drivers here and almost 1/4 of them has finished in last place more often than first place. Had I known it was so many, I probably would have left Jr alone this time. The other thing that really surprises me is the number of times Ward Burton finishes in last place. That man needs to do something.

11-17-2007 @ 10:35AM

A good place to point out Mike that drawing conclusions from what floats on the surface of the pond rather on what lies beneath can leads us in the wrong direction much like what you pointed out to David.

Ron

11-17-2007 @ 10:44AM

I really don't understand why you were suprised by your findings. Finishing last is the result of bad luck more than anything else. Those who run in the back of the pack most of the time (like Burton) are more likely to end up in a wreck just by their position in the race. IMO finishing last is a non-issue.

Ron

11-17-2007 @ 3:54PM

Ron, you know very well that I often "leap before I look." However, once I find out I am wrong, I have no problem admitting it. If you are going to be as wide open and brash as I am you should be man enough to admit it when you are wrong and humble enough to ask forgiveness when you when you really screw up.

Yes, I have always thought running in the back of the pack was a fools mission if you could avoid it. That is why it was so strange what Hendricks did at Talledega.

David? If that was the Confederate flag dude, you know me. That was all in good fun. It's a Southern Thang as far as I am concerned.
mikey mike

11-17-2007 @ 9:54PM

I don't think David understands life in the "South" much at all.

11-18-2007 @ 7:36PM

Hey Goff, remember the "Ooohhhh" when Junior wrecked during the race? That really got me that everyone did that at one time. Then the cheers when Junior was ok was great.