Digger Must Die

by Charlie Turner

Thanks for stopping by OnPitRow.com and the Bench Racing with Steve and Charlie blog. The best NASCAR and IndyCar news and opinion, exclusive pictures and video. I'm Charlie Turner. Follow me on Twitter @onpitrow

39 Responses to “Digger Must Die”

1. BethAnne on March 2nd, 2009 8:39 am

   The problem with ‘toons are, even if you run them over, they keep coming back to life.

2. Luke on March 2nd, 2009 9:48 am

   The cartoon aspect is a bit annoying, yep.

   I do like the angles it captures, and the technical side of it from the lens all the way back to the booth would be interesting. Although I think they did something like that when it was first installed.

   Once I saw someone dancing around in a digger costume, that was the ballgame. Game over. It’s bad enough that you can’t walk through all the junk trailers without most of them also selling a critter shirt and crap for 5 bucks.

   There’s branding, and there’s overdoing it. Guess which one this falls under.

3. jay on March 2nd, 2009 10:52 am

   Leave Digger alone, for goodness sake, does NASCAR fans and media have to complain about everything? Was there simply nothing to complain about this week, so you’re picking on Digger. I think Fox is just trying to add a different spin on the telecasts, nothing wrong with that. At least its not boring. JUST STFU

4. Larry B. on March 2nd, 2009 1:47 pm

   They should get rid of Digger and Waltrip. they both suck. No more Boggity’s

5. blondie31 on March 2nd, 2009 4:15 pm

   Hey now! I don’t care what anyone says about Digger, it is just a cartoon character. Personally, I don’t mind it & think it is kind of cute. I agree it is getting a bit over played however and FOX should limit his appearances.
   Trashing on DW though…….way over the line! I love DW and have liked his personality ever since I started watching races on TV with my Dad when I was a kid. I say “keep the boogity!”

6. okla21fan on March 2nd, 2009 4:41 pm

   Getting rid of Digger is going to be about as easy as getting rid of the FOX NFL Robots! Still trying to figure out the purpose of those guys.

7. marty on March 2nd, 2009 4:54 pm

   D W SUCKS

8. marty on March 2nd, 2009 4:56 pm

   NO MORE BOOGITY BOOGITY

9. racinsince55 on March 2nd, 2009 6:35 pm

   Three things I hope I never hear on Television, during a race, again.

   Out of DW’s Mouth. Boogity, Jr. & Mikey!

   Out of Brad Daugherty’s Mouth. June Bug ( Should only be used by Waltrip)

   Out of Rusty Wallace’s mouth. Anything.

10. Charlie Turner on March 2nd, 2009 6:54 pm

    Whoa! I didn’t expect to draw so much fire from the DW crowd. Looks like you’re on your own defending Jaws, Blondie. Although I think he’s harmless as Darrell Waltrip - ha can get irritating in his DW character.

11. BethAnne on March 2nd, 2009 9:52 pm

    Boogity, Boogity, Boogity is DW’s catch phrase. No WAY he’s going to give that up. Aye Carramba! (Oops, wrong show.)

12. Racing News Digest on March 2nd, 2009 10:59 pm

    I like the digger “the cam”. Digger “the cartoon” they are really wearing out.

    It was neat and fun at first, but now it has gone overboard and got kind of annoying.

    And I look forward to the Boogity, Boogity, Boogity.

13. The Stock Car Gazette for Tuesday, 3/3/09 | The MotorSportsNews.Net(work) on March 3rd, 2009 6:19 am

    [...] by OnPitRow.com and the Bench Racing with Steve and Charlie blog. Oh yeah, Steve is an idiot. benchracing.onpitrow.com/nascar/digger-must-die.html [...]

14. Lin Hunnicutt on March 3rd, 2009 6:59 am

    I think that Digger needs to die. I am sick of this stupid cartoon character and to me it is getting in the way of real racing so he needs to die and get rid of commercializing it.

15. Racing News Digest on March 3rd, 2009 10:09 am

    Here’s another question. Why spend so much time and effort in Digger. It’s not like they have to “suck us into” FOX to watch NASCAR. There is not a choice of networks.

    And I don’t think non-NASCAR fans are going to suddenly come over and watch NASCAR just to see Digger…although I guess it’s possible.

    Just seems like a waste of FOX resources.

16. Charlie Turner on March 3rd, 2009 2:20 pm

    Racing News Digest - “And I don’t think non-NASCAR fans are going to suddenly come over and watch NASCAR just to see Digger…although I guess it’s possible.”

    Watch for a spin-off. It’s the way Fox does things. And NASCAR would love a Saturday morning cartoon presence. But the Road Rodent hasn’t endeared itself to real NASCAR fans, it seems.

17. Evelyn Montonen on March 3rd, 2009 3:48 pm

    What’s all the fuss about Digger? NASCAR is a family sport with lots of kids watching their favorite drivers so what’s the harm of having Digger for them? I’m sure that there are a lot of kids that are getting a kick out of him so what’s the harm? Give me a break, some folks would complain if they were hung with a brand new rope.

    There are a ton of other things going on in this country, like the economy for instance, that folks should be worried about !!! I hardly think that a gofer coming out of a hole with a video cam qualifies. Am I wrong? As for DW, sometimes he gets on my last nerve as well but does that mean that we are going to take him out in the garage and shoot him? I think not! Grow up and get a life, people!

18. Art Almond on March 3rd, 2009 4:12 pm

    Man…

    Never heard so much feedback on ahh CARTOON! Tha ol’ boy that draws me is havin’ reservations ‘bout keepin’ me around! I might post ahh blog on Bench Racin’ askin’ ya’ll if he shold give me ahh chance!

    Thanks y’all…

    P.R. Toad

19. BethAnne on March 3rd, 2009 5:55 pm

    Toad,
    Is that your sillohette I see in that #5 National Guard car?!? Are you hoping maybe NASCAR will replace Digger the Toad cam? LOL XD

20. BethAnne on March 3rd, 2009 6:01 pm

    WITH the Toad cam.

21. Big Henry on March 3rd, 2009 10:51 pm

    The whole cartoonish thing is for children. Many, many times have road-level cameras been used over the years. Fox is run by fools. Can you image seeing such a childish thing in an F1 or IndyCar or MotoGP race? That would be no there, Jethro.

    AS for the kids? Well they don’t pay the Satellite bill and aren’t expecting to see cartoons while we watch a race. And I don’t give frogs fat arse if your old lady likes it, either.

    Let’s all grow up some, show an expectation that we’d like FOX to cover the race as and for adults and get on with it.

22. Steve Wronkowicz on March 3rd, 2009 11:09 pm

    Digger has taken on a life of his own. I have no problem with FOX using Digger as an added element to its broadcasts, Using him as a live character at races for kids and fans to “hang” with before and after races is cool. Using the cartoon too much during the race is annoying and needs to not get in the way of the race coverage. As long as Digger is kept in check during the race, I’m a fan–not as big a fan as I am of P.R. Toad however.

23. Big Henry on March 3rd, 2009 11:13 pm

    Charlie is right about Steve. See top of screen. PRT sux as badly…

24. Steve Wronkowicz on March 4th, 2009 8:41 am

    BH–

    You’re missing out dude. PR Toad knows racing. Rumor has it that Digger may become Rowdy’s chief engineer when he moves to F1. Every joke needs a punch line.

25. Charlie Turner on March 4th, 2009 9:31 am

    Big Henry “Can you image seeing such a childish thing in an F1 or IndyCar or MotoGP race? That would be no there, Jethro. ”

    I disagree. I predict right here, right now, that The Indy Racing League will have it’s own pop-up camera toon soon too. It will be a cartoon Danica, popping out of a cake! Cake-Cam is Born!

    Pit Road Toad is not Digger. The Toad has a story to tell, and a 15 year history of telling that story. The story is about the basics of what NASCAR and stock car racing is all about. Go back and read all of the Toad toons. They’re funny - but educational as well. And the Toad isn’t hopping across the televised race coverage - which is what bothers you most, right?

26. The Attack On Digger Is Growing | Racing News Digest on March 4th, 2009 1:15 pm

    [...] on onpitrow.com they are yelling Digger Must Die! And now they have their famous One Pit Row Toad going head to head with Digger - DIGGER VS. TOAD. I [...]

27. The Attack On Digger Is Growing | 1800blogger on March 4th, 2009 5:02 pm

    [...] on onpitrow.com they are yelling Digger Must Die! And now they have their famous One Pit Row Toad going head to head with Digger - DIGGER VS. TOAD. I [...]

28. Give A Rebel Yell for Fast Laps in Atlanta | The Fast Lap on March 4th, 2009 11:32 pm

    [...] don’t bring up Digger. [...]

29. Diecast Dude on March 16th, 2009 4:50 pm

    Um, people…

    It’s. A. Cartoon.

    Y’all are beginning to sound like a roomful of John Dalys.

30. helen youngpeter on March 22nd, 2009 5:18 pm

    i think u should leave digger alone and get rid of kyle bushand his cocky attude

31. paxton waters on March 29th, 2009 3:19 pm

    “Digger” should be called “Rusty”. I designed the Iowa Speedway with Rusty Wallace. Rusty called me one day in 2006 and started discussing putting cameras in the track before we paved. He an I attempted to “design” the camera over the phone….That did not work. I called the Ligner group….They had already designed a camera, but no one wanted to be first. Iowa was first…..Now you know the rest of the story……

32. Charlie Turner on March 29th, 2009 8:10 pm

    Awesome Paxton. I had no idea that was the story. Thanks for that. And thanks for stopping by.

33. Ron Bowers on April 9th, 2009 9:27 pm

    I’m just glad I have a DVR so I can run the race at 3X speed until I see a caution. Then I watch at normal speed to see what has happened on the track.

    I have watched NASCAR since the first race at the speedway in Daytona, and loved it all until there were no more commentators that could just “comment’, rather than be an “instant expert” as Darrell Waltrip and Larry McReynolds attempt doing. I sure miss Ned Jarrett and Benny Parsons. They were the best, and there have been others almost as good.

    I had just gotten so I could tolerate hearing D.W . or L.M. (they like being called by their initials) during a race, although sometimes their attempts at putting over two words together in a sentence was pure torture… and then came Digger.

    When Digger, and all the associated crap viewers are asked to tolerate was forced on us, it was the proverbial “straw” for me. I am sorry to say that seeing Digger, in addition to having to watch Darrell, and Larry, is simply too big a price to pay to watch some fantastic drivers race.

    I’m just happy that Indy Racing League’s schedule started last week because I will not watch another NASCAR race until NASCAR stops trying to shove the “Good old boy” attitude down everyone’s throat. No more “boogiyi-boogity-boogity” from Darrell, or every other sentence starting with “I’ll tell you what…” from Larry.

    Goodbye NASCAR! It was great!

    Ron Bowers

34. Charlie Turner on April 9th, 2009 9:57 pm

    Hey Ron. I feel your pain - though maybe I’m a bit more immune to it than you. Don’t totally forsake a sport that you love, though. Listen to the races on MRN or PRN. Barney Hall is the best way to get your race call. Those guys do a great job. And you won’t have Danica Patrick jammed down your throat either. If you have to, watch the IRL and listen to the radio coverage of the Cup race.Thanks for the comment man.

35. Ron Bowers on April 10th, 2009 11:29 am

    Comment man,

    Good idea! Thanks!

    Ron

36. 2009 OPer Awards: Worst NASCAR Media Personality : NASCAR news, NASCAR statistics, NASCAR commentary On Pit Row on December 20th, 2009 6:36 pm

    [...] My vote for this OPeR award was for Fox’s Digger. [...]

37. Jim Ciavardini on February 16th, 2010 2:38 pm

    Get rid of Waltrip and McReynolds, they are the main reason I don’t watch NASCAR anymore.

    They are bias, and it reminds me of Fox (fake) news.

38. Dooley on February 25th, 2010 1:50 pm

    Problem solved…..Shove Digger in DW’s mouth!!!

39. Charlie Turner on February 27th, 2010 11:31 pm

    Hmm. Not alot of Waltrip fans in the room.

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