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2008 News

NASCAR GM Engineer Alba Colon Featured on ESPN Newsmagazine E:60 Tuesday: ESPN's primetime newsmagazine E:60 airs Tuesday, Aug. 19, at 7:00pm/et, and will include a feature on General Motors engineer Alba Colon, considered by many as one of the most powerful women in NASCAR. Barely five feet tall, the native of Puerto Rico is a giant in NASCAR - the highest-ranked female engineer in the sport. As GM's program manager, Colon has won five consecutive Manufacturers' Championships and is a driving force behind some of NASCAR's biggest names, including Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Colon's journey from being an engineering student to powerful figure in NASCAR has not been easy. She has battled the perception that women don't belong in NASCAR's garages. In spite of these challenges, Colon has become one of the most respected figures in NASCAR, reports E:60's Lisa Salters.(8-19-2008)

Sunday, OTL to Examine Diversity in NASCAR Sunday's Outside the Lines, scheduled to air on ESPN at 9:30am/et and at 12noon/et on ESPNEWS, will look at minorities and women who work on the NASCAR circuit. This past June, former NASCAR official Mauricia Grant filed a discrimination lawsuit against the stock-car racing association. In light of Grant's lawsuit, OTL will explore the work culture inside the NASCAR community.
Excerpts from Sunday's Outside the Lines:
"It's a hostile work environment. It took a lot of emotional blows. I would have to gear up in the morning to get prepared for that." -- Mauricia Grant, NASCAR's first African-American official whose job it was to inspect cars, call penalties and supervise the pit box.
"On any given day there is some thing -- or some action or somebody -- that does something that could be perceived as insensitive." -- Max Siegel, the President of Global Operations for Dale Earnhardt, Incorporated
"There are a lot of apprehensions because you have the people -- sometimes it's the 'old schoolers,' some of the older gentleman that are in the sport -- that say women aren't supposed to work on race cars, they don't know what they're doing, they doubt you." -- Katie Muir, a 24-year-old shock specialist for the #88 car in the Nationwide series.
"I can tell you from my 20 years I didn't have that feeling, I never was harassed that way. You know no one ever touched me inappropriately or did anything out of the ordinary. I demanded respect." -- Lisa Smokstad, a tire specialist for Hendrick Motorsports in the Sprint Cup Series.(ESPN PR)(8-7-2008) Comment here

ESPN's Sprint Cup Coverage Launches with Big Week Leading to Allstate 400 at the Brickyard: The Sprint Cup Series returns to ESPN with a full week of NASCAR-related programming July 21-28, culminating with live, flag-to-flag coverage of the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard from Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday, July 27, at 1 p.m. ET. The Allstate 400 at the Brickyard is the first of 17 Sprint Cup events on the ESPN networks to close out the 2008 NASCAR season. The first six air on ESPN, with the final 11 on ABC, including all 10 races in the Chase for the Sprint Cup. ESPN's coverage from Indianapolis Motor Speedway includes a live telecast of Sprint Cup qualifying on Saturday, July 26, at 10 a.m., and live coverage of two practice sessions for the Sprint Cup cars on the famed 2.5-mile track, all on ESPN2. ESPN360.com, the signature broadband TV network, and ESPN MobileTV, the company's 24/7 mobile video network, also will simulcast the race, qualifying and the two practice sessions. ESPN Deportes, ESPN's domestic Spanish-language channel, will simulcast the race. Sprint Cup champions will be an integral part of ESPN's coverage team at the Brickyard, including analyst Dale Jarrett who will work with Andy Petree and Dr. Jerry Punch in the booth. Tim Brewer will report from the ESPN Tech Center, while pit reporters will be Dave Burns, Jamie Little, Mike Massaro and Shannon Spake. The pre-race NASCAR Countdown show from the ESPN pit studio will feature analysis by Rusty Wallace and Ray Evernham, with host Allen Bestwick and analyst Brad Daugherty. The studio team will interact with the booth during the telecast of the race.(ESPN PR)(7-21-2008) Comment here

Dale Jr. - Shifting Gears Returns to ESPN with Final Two Episodes: Dale Jr. - Shifting Gears, the sports documentary chronicling NASCAR superstar Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his unprecedented move from the team founded by his father to Hendrick Motorsports, will return to ESPN for the final two episodes on Tuesday, July 22 and Friday, July 25, at 7 p.m. ET. The new episodes, each one hour in length, are the fourth and fifth installments of a five-part series and air during the week leading up to ESPN’s live coverage of the Sprint Cup Series Allstate 400 at the Brickyard on Sunday, July 27, at 1 p.m. from Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The July 22 debut of the new episode will feature, among other things, reaction to the emotional conclusion of the Crown Royal 400 in May at Richmond International Raceway. It will segue into the July 25 finale, which highlights the driver’s popular Father’s Day victory at Michigan International Speedway. The original airings will be simulcast on ESPN MobileTV. The first of the two new episodes re-airs Thursday, July 24, at 7 p.m. on ESPN2, and again Sunday, July 27, at 2 a.m. on ESPN2. The final episode re-airs Sunday, July 27, at 3 a.m. on ESPN2.(ESPN PR)(7-17-2008) Comment here

ESPNs Outside the Lines Examines Economys Impact on NASCAR: Sundays Outside the Lines (ESPN 9:30am/et; ESPNEWS 12noon/et) will examine how NASCAR is being affected by todays struggling economy. Transporting equipment and personnel cross country has never been costlier due to escalating fuel prices, which have also impacted fans traveling to races. The economy has made sponsors more vital, yet hard to secure, prompting long-time team owners to seek outside investors: Boston Red Sox owner John Henry became co-owner of Roush Fenway Racing (2006); Montreal Canadiens owner George Gillette became primary owner of Gillette Evernham Motorsports (2007); Boston Ventures, an equity firm, took control of Petty Enterprises (May 2008). Mike Massaro reports.
From Sundays Outside the Lines: "We could see six or so teams shut down if they are not funded. Nobody is going to run this out of their own pocket for too long, myself included, so it is a serious situation". -- Doug Yates, owner of Yates Racing
"Before, let's say five years ago, a top echelon team, you were looking at $10-15 million. All of a sudden, now, I'm told, because of driver salaries and all the other factors that affected the cost of going racing, that top tier team now is $24-30 million" -- Larry Camp, motor sports marketing expert
"I know this is a sports story, but this is not a sport anymore, except on Sunday afternoon from about 1-to-5 in the afternoon. It's a business six days a week". Kyle Petty, driver for Petty Enterprises and son of NASCAR legend Richard Petty
"We are committed to getting through this year, but I got to be able to see into 09 something a little more positive than I see today. I think well make it, but the economy and the struggles the other teams are seeing are the same as ours. It is a tough, tough world out there right now in NASCAR". Doug Yates.(ESPN PR)(6-27-2008)

Steve Letarte Joins ESPN NASCAR Team at New Hampshire: Steve Letarte, crew chief of the #24 DuPont Chevrolet driven by Jeff Gordon in the Sprint Cup Series, will join ESPN's NASCAR team for coverage of Saturday's Nationwide Series Camping World RV Sales 200 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Letarte will report from the ESPN Tech Center as a fill-in for ESPN analyst Tim Brewer, who has the weekend off. Letarte, a native of Maine, has been Gordon's crew chief since September, 2005, and has been with Hendrick Motorsports for 14 years. During the race, he will work with the ESPN Chevy Cutaway Car and the other parts, pieces and visuals in the Tech Center to illustrate and explain technical aspects of the event. The telecast airs at 2:30pm/et on ABC and in high definition on ABC HD.(6-25-2008)

Logano on ESPN Networks Wednesday: Only a few days before his much-anticipated debut in the Nationwide Series, driver Joey Logano will appear on multiple ESPN platforms Wednesday as he visits the ESPN campus in Bristol, Conn. ESPN2 has live coverage of Saturday's race from Dover, Del., starting at 2:30pm/et. Logano, who will drive a Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing in Saturday's event at Dover International Speedway, won the NASCAR East championship last year at the age of 17 and has had to wait until he turned 18 before he could race in one of NASCAR's top three series. His birthday was this past weekend.
Logano appears on ESPN First Take on ESPN2 at 11:30am/et, and then conducts a one-hour live chat on ESPN.com at 1:30pm/et. He is interviewed on ESPNEWS during the 3pm/et hour. NASCAR Now, ESPN2's daily NASCAR news and information program, airs at 6:30pm/et and will include an interview with Loga#The program re-airs at 12:30am/et Thursday. Logano closes his day with a live interview on ESPN Radio at 6:30pm/et.(ESPN PR)(5-28-2008)

ESPN on ABC Talladega TV Ratings Score Big Jump from 2007: ESPN on ABC's live telecast of Saturday's Aarons 312 Nationwide Series race at Talladega Superspeedway scored big increases in ratings and household impressions over last year's race, continuing an upward trend to series TV numbers in 2008. The race earned a 2.6 rating and 2,962,000 household impressions, increases of 28 and 29%, respectively, over the same categories for last year's ABC telecast (2.1; 2,291,000). The event also earned the largest numbers for a Nationwide Series race on the ESPN networks since live NASCAR racing returned to ESPN in 2007, eclipsing the previous high of 2.4/2,699,000 for the March, 2007, event from Las Vegas that aired on ABC. The Talladega telecast also earned large increases across the board in important demographic categories, increasing 67% in Males 18-34, 50% in males 55 and older and 44% in persons 55 and older. Cable ratings for the series have also increased in 2008. The average rating for the five Nationwide Series events that have aired on ESPN2 is 1.9, a 10% increase over the 1.7 from this point last season. ESPN2 numbers do not include the rain-delayed event from California Speedway in February that was run on a Monday. ESPN's multi-platform approach to NASCAR coverage is also showing increases in areas other than television. ESPN.com's motorsports section has grown 32% in visits during 2008, and ESPN's Fantasy Racing was up 43% in visits and 15% in page views during the Talladega weekend as compared to the same weekend last year. ESPN-owned Jayski.com was up 16% in visits during Talladega weekend.(ESPN PR)(5-1-2008)

ESPN Wins Seven Sports Emmy Awards AND Fox: ESPN won seven Sports Emmy Awards, presented by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences last night in New York, including ESPN.com taking all three of the “New Approaches” categories for online and broadband entries. “The Sports Emmys we received reflect the rich diversity of offerings across ESPN and our ability to not only cover and report on sports, but to inform, entertain and inspire, both on television and online,” said George Bodenheimer, President, ESPN and ABC Sports. ESPN.com was honored for “Ray of Hope” (Long Form), Fantasy Football Now (Coverage) and “Death Race 2007” (General Interest). NASCAR returned to ABC, ESPN and ESPN2 last year, and the three networks shared the Emmy for Technical Team Remote. ESPN won 17 Sports Emmys for its NASCAR coverage in the 1990s. Also, College GameDay was cited in the Studio Show Weekly category, Sunday NFL Countdown’s “Fear” took top honors among Short Features and Ali’s 65 won in Editing. ESPN has now won 14 Sports Emmys in the Feature category, including seven in the last six years. Overall, ABC has now won 160 Sports Emmy Awards since they were first given in 1980, while ESPN has won 123 in 21 years of eligibility.(ESPN)(4-29-2008)
AND FOX Sports led all broadcast networks with five Sports Emmy Awards, including two major honors for outstanding sports series and sports special. The winners were announced last night [4/28] during the 29th Annual Sports Emmy Awards by The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences at ceremonies held in New York. NASCAR on FOX won two statuettes, one for Outstanding Live Sports Series and one for Outstanding Technical Team Remote. In its seven seasons of coverage, NASCAR on FOX has been recognized for Outstanding Sports Series three times and this year’s recognition brings the series Emmy total to 12. Since its inception in 1994, FOX Sports’ has won 76 Emmy Awards.(Fox PR)(4-30-2008)

NASCAR Now Schedule Includes Monday Roundtable Discussion: NASCAR Now, ESPN2’s daily NASCAR news and information show, will have six episodes this week. The program features news, highlights, opinion, debate and analysis from drivers, crew chiefs and insiders both on and off the track. On Monday, March 17, host Allen Bestwick leads a discussion of the Bristol Motor Speedway weekend and other NASCAR news in a one-hour episode airing at 5:30pm/et. Half-hour episodes air Tuesday and Wednesday of this week at 6:00pm/et, and at midnight/et Friday and Saturday. A one-hour edition airs Sunday, March 16, at 10am/et with the latest news from Bristol.(ESPN PR)(3-10-2008)

Evernham Joins ESPN’s NASCAR Team as Analyst: Ray Evernham, a successful team owner in NASCAR racing and a three-time Sprint Cup champion crew chief, has joined ESPN’s NASCAR coverage team as an analyst. Evernham, who makes his debut this week from Daytona International Speedway, will appear on NASCAR Now, ESPN’s daily NASCAR news and information show, as part of a rotating panel of ESPN analysts for a weekly roundtable discussion in an expanded one-hour Monday edition of the program. The roundtable, hosted by ESPN’s Allen Bestwick, will discuss the latest NASCAR news and events. Evernham, owner of Gillett Evernham Motorsports, also will make appearances via satellite on other editions of NASCAR Now. NASCAR Now airs weeknights at 6pm/et on ESPN2. In addition to his duties with NASCAR Now, Evernham will work as an analyst in ESPN’s booth for live telecasts of Nationwide Series races from Mexico City and Loudon, N.H. Evernham also will join ESPN’s pre-race NASCAR Countdown show for some races in 2008, including prior to the Feb. 16 Nationwide Series opening event from Daytona, and will appear from Daytona on NASCAR Now, SportsCenter and ESPNEWS. “We are thrilled to further elevate our NASCAR telecasts with the addition of another former champion in Ray Evernham,” said Rich Feinberg, vice president, motorsports, ESPN production. “Our team already has a very deep bench and this only strengthens it.” Evernham appeared on several Nationwide Series telecasts in 2007 as a guest analyst on the pre-race program and also was featured in Race Wizard with Ray Evernham, a program that aired on ESPN2 in 2007. He previously appeared as an analyst on ESPN and ABC’s coverage of the IROC Series in 2000. "ESPN is the leader in sports worldwide,” said Evernham. “Their expertise and credibility with the men and women around the world reinforces this position, and I am excited that NASCAR is such an integral part of their programming. I look forward to joining their team and sharing my knowledge and experience of the sport with the fans."(ESPN PR)(2-13-2008)

Shifting Gears on ESPN Goes Behind Scenes with Dale Earnhardt Jr.: #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. is the focus of a new television series on ESPN, Dale Jr. – Shifting Gears, premiering prior to next month’s opening of the 2008 NASCAR season. The five-part series chronicles Earnhardt’s move from Dale Earnhardt Inc., the team founded by his father, to Hendrick Motorsports, in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The first episode airs Friday, Feb. 8, at 7:00pm/et on ESPN2. The series provides viewers with a behind-the-scenes look at the personal, corporate and competitive ramifications involved with the five-time NASCAR Most Popular Driver award recipient changing teams. Dale Jr. – Shifting Gears is produced by Earnhardt Jr.’s Hammerhead Entertainment, a division of JR Motorsports, in cooperation with Hendrick Motorsports and is presented by the National Guard. The new program is part of an exclusive, multimedia agreement between ESPN and Hammerhead Entertainment. “We were working on a new DVD about my life and the guys kept getting more and more footage, so they decided to put a whole TV show together to document the biggest career decision I’ve ever made,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “The past year of my life has been a roller coaster, and it’s pretty cool that we’re giving everyone an inside look at how everything came together.” Three of the five episodes of Shifting Gears air on ESPN2 in the nine days prior to the Daytona 500, including following ESPN2’s live coverage of Nationwide Series qualifying on Friday, Feb. 15, and the Nationwide Series Camping World 300 at Daytona on Saturday, Feb. 16. The final two episodes air on ESPN in prime time the week of the July 27 Allstate 400 at the Brickyard, ESPN’s first live Sprint Cup event of the season. The pre-season episodes reveal never-before-seen footage from the 2007 press conferences and fan response to the announcements. Shifting Gears also chronicles the design process of the new paint schemes, the makings of Earnhardt Jr.’s Adidas fire suit and how the driver of the #88 Mountain Dew AMP/National Guard Chevrolet handles the pressure of working with new sponsors as he prepares for his first season with Hendrick Motorsports. The final two episodes, each one hour in length, will catch up with Earnhardt Jr. and the Hendrick team as he chases his first Sprint Cup championship. Previews and additional video from the show will be made available on ESPN.com Video and DaleJr.com starting next week and the full episodes will be made available shortly after they air on ESPN2 on ESPN MobileTV and ESPN.com Video.
The air schedule (all times Eastern):
Friday, Feb. 8 7-8 p.m. ESPN2
Friday, Feb. 15 6:30-8 p.m. ESPN2
Saturday, Feb. 16 4:30-6 p.m. ESPN2
Thursday, July 24 7-8 p.m. ESPN
Friday, July 25 7-8 p.m. ESPN.(ESPN PR) Comment here

Jarrett and Rusty Headline ESPN’s Season-Long NASCAR Coverage: Dale Jarrett will expand his role with ESPN and join high school friends Dr. Jerry Punch and Andy Petree in the booth for ESPN’s full season of NASCAR coverage in 2008. Rusty Wallace will become lead analyst for ESPN studio programs in 2008, highlighted by serving as analyst for an enhanced NASCAR Countdown, the program that precedes all NASCAR telecasts. Wallace also will appear across multiple ESPN platforms, including regularly on NASCAR Now, ESPN’s daily NASCAR news and information show, and will call several race telecasts in place of Jarrett. Allen Bestwick moves into the fulltime role of host of ESPN’s race telecasts and host of NASCAR Countdown. Wallace and Bestwick will appear with analyst Brad Daugherty on the pre-race program, and the three will be integrated with the booth team during race telecasts. ESPN also has named motorsports television veteran Nicole Manske as host of NASCAR Now, which returns to the air for its second season Feb. 4 on ESPN2. Manske, who joins ESPN after two years as co-host of a weekly motorsports news program on the SPEED Channel, will share the NASCAR Now host role with Bestwick and ESPNEWS anchor Ryan Burr. On ESPN’s event coverage, Shannon Spake, a reporter for ESPN’s studio programs and fill-in pit reporter last year, will take Bestwick’s position as a fulltime pit reporter, joined by returnees Dave Burns, Jamie Little and Mike Massaro. Two-time NASCAR Cup champion crew chief Tim Brewer returns to report from the ESPN DISH Tech Center. “We now have the opportunity to provide our viewers with analysis from a pair of former NASCAR Cup champions with Dale Jarrett in the booth and Rusty Wallace on the NASCAR Countdown set as well as on other platforms,” said Norby Williamson, ESPN executive vice president, studio and event production. “We were pleased to have Dale with us in a limited role last year and look forward to his participation on a regular basis,” Williamson said. “Rusty’s enthusiasm, team spirit and knowledge make him an invaluable contributor to our coverage. These champion drivers in their new roles add tremendously to ESPN’s championship team for our second year back in NASCAR.” ESPN’s 2008 NASCAR season begins with live, flag-to-flag coverage of the NASCAR Nationwide Series opener at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, Feb. 16, at noon ET on ESPN2. In addition to coverage of all 35 races in the Nationwide Series, ESPN also will have telecasts of the final 17 races of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Jarrett, who is retiring from driving after the first five races of the 2008 Sprint Cup season, was booth analyst for 10 Nationwide Series ESPN race telecasts last year and worked several Sprint Cup races as a guest analyst on NASCAR Countdown. Punch, ESPN’s lead announcer, Petree, booth analyst and a two-time NASCAR Cup champion crew chief, and Jarrett are all natives of Newton, N.C., and attended Newton-Conover High School within a few years of each other in the early 1970s. The three were partners in one of Jarrett’s first race cars in 1979. “It was exciting to see ESPN return to NASCAR last year and be a part of it when my racing schedule allowed,” said Jarrett, winner of 32 NASCAR Cup Series races and 11 in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. “To have this opportunity to shift from fulltime driver to fulltime analyst for ESPN’s second year back is a great privilege and I can’t wait to get started.” Jarrett followed the footsteps of his father, Ned, a two-time NASCAR champion, into driving and television. Ned Jarrett was a popular analyst on ESPN’s coverage of NASCAR from 1988-2000 and returned to the booth as a guest analyst for one race last year to work alongside his son for the first time. Wallace joined ESPN after retiring from driving following the 2005 season and spent 2006 as analyst for ESPN’s coverage of the IndyCar Series in preparation for ESPN’s return to NASCAR in 2007. Bestwick served multiple roles for ESPN’s NASCAR coverage last year, including pit reporter, host of NASCAR Countdown for Nationwide Series races and play-by-play announcer for several events. Along with returning NASCAR Insiders Angelique Chengelis and Marty Smith, ESPN.com reporters Terry Blount and David Newton and analysts Boris Said, Tim Cowlishaw and D.J. Copp, many members of ESPN’s event coverage team also will contribute to NASCAR Now in 2008.(ESPN PR)(1-23-2008) Comment here

2007 News

Rusty Wallace rumors untrue: there were some rumors floating around on Wednesday that ESPN/ABC would replace Rusty Wallace as it's analyst of the Busch and Nextel Cup Series races [to be Nationwide and Sprint Cup in 2008] for the 2008 season. All ESPN and Wallace sources have told me this is NOT TRUE and Wallace will return in 2008. From ESPN: "Rusty Wallace is our guy. We have a long-term contract with him. He's the voice of NASCAR on ESPN." NORBY WILLIAMSON - ESPN Executive Vice President, Studio and Remote Production.(10-17-2007)

NASCAR This Week on ESPN and ABC: The Chase for the Nextel Cup continues with Sunday’s race at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan. ESPN on ABC will have live coverage of the Kansas event and all 10 races in the Chase. The Kansas telecast begins at 1:00pm/et with NASCAR Countdown. Brent Musburger will be the Kansas telecast host, while Dr. Jerry Punch will handle play-by-play for the race, joined in the booth for analysis by Rusty Wallace and Andy Petree. Pit reporters will be Allen Bestwick, Dave Burns, Jamie Little and Mike Massaro. Tim Brewer will report from the ESPN DISH Tech Center. Suzy Kolber will host NASCAR Countdown along with analyst Brad Daugherty in the ESPN Pit Studio. ESPN2 will have live coverage of NASCAR NEXTEL Cup qualifying from Kansas on Friday, Sept. 28, at 4:00pm/et. The next day, live coverage of Nextel Cup practice airs at 10:00am/et, with another session [Happy Hour] airing on tape-delay at 6:30pm/et.
On Saturday afternoon, ESPN2 continues its season-long coverage of the Busch Series with live racing from Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan. The telecast of the 300-mile race is presented by Principal Financial Group and begins at 3:00pm/et with NASCAR Countdown. Dr. Jerry Punch will anchor ESPN2’s coverage from Kansas, with analysis by Andy Petree and Brad Daugherty. Pit reporters will be Dave Burns, Jamie Little, Mike Massaro and Shannon Spake, while Tim Brewer will report from the ESPN DISH Tech Center. Allen Bestwick will host NASCAR Countdown.
NASCAR NowSchedule: NASCAR Now, ESPN2’s daily news and information show dedicated to NASCAR will air at 6:00pm/et in its normal 30-minute format Tuesday through Thursday of this week on ESPN2, with Friday’s show at 7:00pm/et. The one-hour weekend edition airs Sunday, Sept. 30, at 10:00am/et with a preview of Sunday’s Nextel Cup race at Kansas Speedway as well as a recap of the previous day’s Busch Series event at the same track. The weekend wrap-up edition airs Monday, Oct. 1, at 12:00midnight/et.(ESPN PR)(9-25-2007)

NASCAR this week on ESPN and ABC: The Chase for the Nextel continues with Sunday’s Dodge Dealers 400 race at Dover International Speedway. The Dover telecast begins at 1:00pm/et with NASCAR Countdown. Brent Musburger will be the Dover telecast host, while Dr. Jerry Punch will handle play-by-play for the race, joined in the booth for analysis by Rusty Wallace and Andy Petree. Pit reporters will be Allen Bestwick, Dave Burns, Jamie Little and Mike Massaro. Tim Brewer will report from the ESPN DISH Tech Center. Suzy Kolber will host NASCAR Countdown along with analyst Brad Daugherty in the ESPN Pit Studio. ESPN2 will have live coverage of Nextel Cup qualifying from Dover on Friday, Sept. 21, at 3:00pm/et. A one-hour program covering [the first, not Happy Hour] practice session for the race airs at 11:00am/et Saturday.
On Saturday afternoon, ESPN2 continues its season-long coverage of the Busch Series with live racing from Dover International Speedway. The telecast of the 200-mile race begins at 3:00pm/et with NASCAR Countdown.
NASCAR Now, ESPN2’s daily news and information show dedicated to NASCAR airs at 6pm/et in its normal 30-minute format Tuesday through Friday of this week on ESPN2. The one-hour weekend edition airs Sunday at 10:00am/et with a preview of Sunday’s Nextel Cup race at Dover as well as a recap of the previous day’s Busch Series event at the same track. The weekend wrap-up edition airs Monday, Sept. 17, at 12:30am/et.
Kurt Busch is featured in a This Is SportsCenter promotional spot that began airing Monday on ESPN. In the spot, SportsCenter anchor John Anderson tries to buy a good sponsor location on Busch’s car in the parking lot of ESPN’s campus in Bristol, Conn.(ESPN PR)(9-18-2007)

NASCAR This Week on ESPN and ABC: The Chase for the Nextel Cup championship begins with Sunday’s 300-lap race at New Hampshire International Speedway in Loudon, N.H. ESPN on ABC will have live coverage of the New Hampshire event and all 10 races in the Chase. The New Hampshire telecast begins at 1pm/et with the pre-race NASCAR Countdown program. #29-Kevin Harvick is scheduled to be ESPN on ABC's In-Race Reporter on Sunday for the first race in the Chase.
Brent Musburger will be the New Hampshire telecast host, while Dr. Jerry Punch will handle play-by-play for the race telecast, joined in the booth for analysis by Rusty Wallace and Andy Petree. Pit reporters will be Allen Bestwick, Dave Burns, Jamie Little and Mike Massaro. Tim Brewer will report from the ESPN DISH Tech Center. Suzy Kolber will host NASCAR Countdown along with analyst Brad Daugherty in the ESPN Pit Studio. ESPN2 will have live coverage of Nextel Cup qualifying from NHIS on Friday, Sept. 14, at 3:00pm. A one-hour program covering final practice [same day coverage, not live] for the race will air at 7pm Saturday.
NASCAR Now Schedule NASCAR Now, ESPN2’s daily news and information show dedicated to NASCAR, will air at 6pm in its normal 30-minute format Tuesday through Friday of this week on ESPN2. The one-hour weekend edition will air Sunday at 10 a.m. with a preview of Sunday’s NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race at New Hampshire International Speedway. The weekend wrap-up edition will air Monday, Sept. 17, at 12:30am. The one-hour Monday edition of NASCAR Now will air at 5:30pm.
Scheduled NASCAR Now Guests: Thursday, Sept 13th = Denny Hamlin, Clint Bowyer and Kurt Busch.
ESPNEWS #29-Kevin Harvick and #07-Clint Bowyer are scheduled to appear on today's HOT LIST on ESPNEWS, 3:00pm/et.
(ESPN PR)

NASCAR This Week on ESPN and ABC: After an absence of more than seven years, Nextel Cup racing will return to the ABC Television Network Saturday night with ESPN on ABC’s live, prime time telecast of the Chevy Rock and Roll 400 from Richmond International Raceway. The telecast begins at 7pm/et with the pre-race NASCAR Countdown program. ESPN on ABC will have live coverage of the final 11 races of the 2007 season, including all 10 races in the Chase for the Nextel Cup. The last time a Nextel Cup race aired on ABC was the Brickyard 400 from Indianapolis Aug. 5, 2000. Dr. Jerry Punch will handle play-by-play for the Richmond race, joined in the booth for expert analysis by Rusty Wallace and Andy Petree. Pit reporters will be Allen Bestwick, Dave Burns, Jamie Little and Mike Massaro. Tim Brewer will report from the ESPN DISH Tech Center. Suzy Kolber will host NASCAR Countdown along with analyst Brad Daugherty in the ESPN Pit Studio. On Friday night, ESPN2 continues its season-long coverage of the NASCAR Busch Series with live, prime-time racing from Richmond International Raceway. The telecast of the 250-lap race begins at 7:30pm/et with NASCAR Countdown. A simulcast of the race can be seen on ESPN Deportes, ESPN’s domestic Spanish-language network. In addition, the race can be seen live on ESPN360.com, ESPN’s signature broadband service. ESPN2 will have six hours of NASCAR qualifying and practice coverage Friday from Richmond International Raceway, including live coverage of qualifying for both the Nextel Cup and Busch Series races. Nextel Cup qualifying will air at 6:00pm/et Friday, leading up to that night’s Busch Series race. Busch Series qualifying will air at 4:00pm/et. ESPN2 will be on the air early Friday with Busch Series practice from 10-11am and Nextel Cup practice from 11am until noon.
NASCAR in Primetime - Five-Part Series Continues Wednesday on ABC: The ABC News five-part series NASCAR in Primetime continues Wednesday, Sept. 5, at 10:00pm/et on ABC. The series takes a behind-the-scenes look at the preparation, logistics, drama and competition of NASCAR.
NASCAR NowSchedule: NASCAR Now, ESPN2’s daily news and information show dedicated to NASCAR, will air at 6:00pm/et in its normal 30-minute format Tuesday through Thursday of this week, and Friday at 5:30pm/et on ESPN2. The one-hour weekend edition will air Saturday at 10:00am/et, with extensive highlights of Friday night’s Busch Series race at Richmond and a preview of Saturday night’s Nextel Cup race at the same track. The weekend wrap-up edition will air Sunday at 12:30am/et.(ESPN PR)(9-4-2007)

NASCAR This Week on ESPN and ABC: The fast and competitive California Speedway near Los Angeles will host the Nextel Cup race presented by Principle Financial on Sunday, Sept. 2, for 500 miles of prime-time racing. ESPN will have live coverage from the 2-mile Fontana, Calif., oval beginning at 7:00pm/et with the pre-race NASCAR Countdown program. Dr. Jerry Punch will handle play-by-play for the California race, joined in the booth for expert analysis by Rusty Wallace and Andy Petree. Pit reporters will be Allen Bestwick, Dave Burns, Jamie Little and Mike Massaro. Tim Brewer will report from the ESPN DISH Tech Center. Brent Musburger will host NASCAR Countdown, joined by analyst Brad Daugherty in the ESPN Pit Studio. A simulcast of the race can be seen on ESPN Deportes, ESPN’s domestic Spanish-language network. In addition, the race can be seen live on ESPN360.com, ESPN’s signature broadband service.
On Saturday night, ESPN2 continues its season-long coverage of the Busch Series with live, prime-time racing from California Speedway. The telecast of the CampingWorld 300 presented by RVs.com begins at 9:45pm/et with NASCAR Countdown. Dr. Jerry Punch will anchor ESPN2’s coverage from California, with analysis by Rusty Wallace and Andy Petree. Pit reporters will be Dave Burns, Jamie Little, Mike Massaro and Shannon Spake, while Tim Brewer will report from the ESPN DISH Tech Center. Allen Bestwick will host NASCAR Countdown, joined by analyst Brad Daugherty in the ESPN Pit Studio.
The ABC News five-part series NASCAR in Primetime continues Wednesday, Aug.. 29, at 9:00pm/et on ABC. The series takes a behind-the-scenes look at the preparation, logistics, drama and competition of NASCAR.
NASCAR Now, ESPN2’s daily news and information show dedicated to NASCAR, will have its expanded one-hour program Monday at 5:30pm/et. The program will contain highlights of Saturday night’s Nextel Cup race at Bristol Motor Speedway as well as the latest NASCAR news and information. The program will air at 6:00pm/et in its normal 30-minute format Tuesday through Thursday of this week, and Friday at 5:00pm/et on ESPN2. The one-hour weekend edition will air Sunday at 10:00am/et, with extensive highlights of Saturday night’s Busch Series race at California Speedway and a preview of Sunday night’s Nextel Cup race at the same track. The weekend wrap-up edition will air Monday at 1:00am/et.(ESPN PR)(8-27-2007)

MIS TV Coverage on ESPN2: ESPN2 To Have Live Coverage of Tuesday Morning Nextel Cup Race at Michigan. The Nextel Cup Series will be in action Tuesday morning and ESPN2 will have live coverage of the rain-delayed event from Michigan International Speedway beginning at 10:00am/et. The 400-mile race was postponed due to inclement weather on its original Sunday date and was rained out again Monday at the 2-mile oval in Brooklyn, Mich. Dr. Jerry Punch will anchor ESPN2’s NASCAR coverage from Michigan, joined in the booth by Rusty Wallace and Andy Petree for analysis. Allen Bestwick, Dave Burns, Jamie Little and Mike Massaro will report from the pits.
RE-AIR: the race will also re-air on ESPN Classic at 8:00pm/et, Tueday, August 21.(ESPN PR)(8-20-2007)

NASCAR This Week on ESPN and ABC: The Nextel Cup Series visits the 2-mile Michigan International Speedway this weekend for Sunday’s 400-mile race. ESPN will have live coverage from the Brooklyn, Mich., oval beginning at 1:00pm/et with the pre-race NASCAR Countdown program. Dr. Jerry Punch will handle play-by-play for the Michigan race, joined in the booth for expert analysis by Rusty Wallace and Andy Petree. Five of Wallace’s 55 career wins as a driver came at MIS. Pit reporters will be Allen Bestwick, Dave Burns, Jamie Little and Mike Massaro. Tim Brewer will report from the ESPN DISH Tech Center. ESPN’s Suzy Kolber will host NASCAR Countdown at MIS, joined by analyst Brad Daugherty in the ESPN Pit Studio.
ESPN2 continues its season-long coverage of the Busch Series on Saturday with live coverage of the Carfax 250 at Michigan International Speedway. The telecast begins at 3:00pm/et with NASCAR Countdown.
The new ABC News five-part series NASCAR in Primetime premieres Wednesday, Aug. 15, at 10:00pm/et. The series takes a behind-the-scenes look at the preparation, logistics, drama and competition of NASCAR. For the first time, NASCAR has given uncensored access to the lives of some of its top drivers, including Tony Stewart, Jimmie Johnson, Juan Pablo Montoya and Mark Martin. Millions see the NASCAR world every weekend, but with cameras rolling for five months ABC News documented what really goes on and what the drivers are really made of. The unscripted ABC News documentary series chronicles NASCAR and a range of its competitors on and off the track to explain the sport's growth, multi-dimensional appeal, and cultural phenomenon.
NASCAR Now, ESPN2’s daily news and information show dedicated to NASCAR, will have its expanded one-hour program Monday at 5:30pm/et. The program will contain highlights of Sunday’s Nextel Cup race at Watkins Glen, as well as the latest NASCAR news and information. Tuesday through Thursday, NASCAR Now will air at 6:00pm/et in its normal 30-minute format. The one-hour weekend edition will air at 10:00am/et Sunday, with extensive highlights of Saturday’s Busch Series race at Michigan International Speedway and a preview of Sunday’s Nextel Cup race at the same track. The weekend wrap-up edition will air at 1:00am/et Monday.(ESPN PR)(8-13-2007)

NASCAR This Week on ESPN: The Nextel Cup Series will hit the road this weekend at famous Watkins Glen International for Sunday's race on the famed Upstate New York road racing circuit. ESPN will have live coverage beginning at 1:00pm/et with the pre-race NASCAR Countdown program. Dr. Jerry Punch will handle play-by-play for the Watkins Glen race, joined in the booth for analysis by Rusty Wallace and Andy Petree. Pit reporters will be Allen Bestwick, Dave Burns, Jamie Little and Mike Massaro. Tim Brewer will report from the ESPN DISH Tech Center. ESPN's Suzy Kolber will host NASCAR Countdown at Watkins Glen, joined by analyst Brad Daugherty in the ESPN Pit Studio. ESPN's coverage from Watkins Glen will include live Nextel Cup qualifying at 3:00pm/et Friday, Aug. 3, and Happy Hour final practice at 2:00pm/et Saturday, both on ESPN2.
One week after running on a road course in Montreal, the Busch Series will run its second road course race of the year Saturday at Watkins Glen International. ESPN2 will have live coverage of the race beginning at 3:00pm/et ET with NASCAR Countdown. In addition to coverage of the race, ESPN2 will televise Busch Series practice from Watkins Glen at 5:30pm/et Friday, and qualifying at 11:30am/et Saturday.
Tuesday through Thursday, NASCAR Now will air at its new time of 6:00pm/et in its normal 30-minute format. Friday's program will air at 6:30pm/et following Busch Series practice at Watkins Glen. The one-hour weekend edition will air at 10:00am/et Sunday. The weekend wrap-up edition will air at midnight Sunday.(ESPN PR)(8-7-2007)

NASCAR This Week on ESPN and ABC: The Nextel Cup Series moves this weekend to Pocono Raceway in Pennsylvania for Sunday’s 500-mile race and ESPN will have live coverage beginning at 1pm/et with the pre-race NASCAR Countdown program. Dr. Jerry Punch will handle play-by-play for the Pocono race, joined in the booth for expert analysis by Rusty Wallace and Andy Petree. Pit reporters will be Dave Burns, Jamie Little, Mike Massaro and Shannon Spake. Tim Brewer will report from the ESPN DISH Tech Center. ESPN’s Suzy Kolber will host NASCAR Countdown at Pocono, joined by analyst Brad Daugherty in the ESPN Pit Studio. ESPN’s coverage from Pocono will include live NASCAR NEXTEL Cup qualifying at 3:30pm/et Friday, Aug. 3, and Happy Hour final practice at 11am/et Saturday. The Busch Series to make Historic First Visit to Montreal Live on ESPN2 with live coverage of the race at world-famous Circuit Gilles Villenueve in Montreal beginning at 3pm/etT with NASCAR Countdown. In addition to coverage of the race, ESPN2 will televise Busch Series practice from Montreal at 2pm/et Friday, and qualifying at 12noon/et Saturday.(ESPN PR)(7-31-2007)

ESPN Networks To Have 66 hours of NASCAR Programming This Week: As Nextel Cup racing returns to ESPN this weekend with coverage of the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard from Indianapolis Motor Speedway, ESPN networks will have 66 hours of programming this week to commemorate the first Cup race coverage on ESPN since 2000.
Highlighting NASCAR programming this week will be two live NASCAR races, the Nextel Cup event from IMS on ESPN and the Busch Series race from O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis on ESPN2, as well as practice and qualifying coverage from both on ESPN2. In addition, ESPN's daily news and information show, NASCAR Now, will expand to an hour for three days this week and will air Monday through Thursday on both ESPN and ESPN2.
ESPN will air a series of new NASCAR historical documentaries in prime time every night this week. The ESPN Ultimate NASCAR series will be repeated on ESPN Classic, along with replays of the award-winning SportsCentury series featuring profiles of Dale Earnhardt, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Richard Petty, Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart.
Nextel Cup Returns to ESPN with Allstate 400 at the Brickyard Historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway is a fitting location for the return of the Nextel Cup Series to ESPN with the running of the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard on Sunday, July 29. Race coverage will begin at 1 p.m. ET with the pre-race NASCAR Countdown program.
Busch Series Live in Prime Time on ESPN2 from Indianapolis ESPN2 will feature Busch Series racing live in prime time Saturday, July 28, from O'Reilly Raceway Park in Indianapolis as the series makes its only appearance of 2007 at the .686-mile oval. The telecast of the NASCAR Busch Series at ORP at Indianapolis presented by Hormel Compleats begins with NASCAR Countdown at 7:30 p.m. ET; the race starts at 8 p.m.
NASCAR Now Expands Schedule for Brickyard Week NASCAR Now, ESPN's daily news and information show dedicated to NASCAR, will have an expanded schedule this week. NASCAR Now will air on both ESPN and ESPN2 Monday through Thursday of this week, and the program will expand to an hour Wednesday through Friday.
New Episodes of ESPN2 Garage Programs New episodes of the ESPN2 Garage programs SpeedFreaks, Race Wizard with Ray Evernham and King of the Strip will premiere this week. SpeedFreaks will air at 5 p.m. ET Thursday, July 26, while Race Wizard is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Saturday, July 28. King of the Strip will air at 2 p.m. Saturday. Also scheduled to air this week are episodes of the ESPN2 Garage programs Hot Rod Television and The Bidding Wars. .(ESPN PR)(7-23-2007)

Ultimate NASCAR Week on ESPN Documentries, all debuting the week of July 23, 2007, narrated by actor J.K. Simmons who played Ralph Earnhardt in the ESPN movie, 3 [about Dale Earnhardt]
1) The Explosion (2 hours) - This show will focus on the overall appeal of NASCAR and track its growth from a regional sport to national phenomenon over the last generation. Airs: 8:00pm/et Monday, July 23
2) The Dirt (1 hour) - This program will explore NASCAR's roots, tracing the history of a sport that was born in 100 different towns in 100 different corners of America. Airs: 9:00pm/et Tuesday, July 24
3) The Cars (1 hour) - The basic appeal of the race car and the relationship between man, fan and car will be examined. Airs: 9:00pm/et Wednesday, July 25
4) Speed and Danger (1 hour) - This show is about pushing the edge and exploring the rush and thrill of NASCAR for the drivers as well as the fans. Airs: 9:00pm/et Thursday, July 26
5) The Families (2 hours) - Four major NASCAR family dynasties - the Frances, the Pettys, The Allisons and the Earnhardts - will be featured; covers the early days to the present. Airs: 8:00pm/et Friday, July 27.
DVDs (on sale nationwide, Tuesday, July 31) Ultimate NASCAR, Volumes 1-4 Vol. 1 - The Explosion; Vol. 2 - The Dirt; The Cars; Speed and Danger; Vol. 3 - Greatest Drivers; Hottest Rivalries; Biggest Races; Vol. 4 - 100 Defining Moments.(7-21-2007)

ESPN's 17 Multimedia Platforms Deliver Unprecedented Nextel Cup Coverage: ESPN will provide extensive multimedia coverage of the final 17 races of the Nextel Cup Series season, beginning with the July 29 running of the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The telecast, which begins at 1 p.m. ET Sunday, July 29, will be in high definition on ESPN. Dr. Jerry Punch will call the race with analysts Rusty Wallace and Andy Petree and pit reporters Allen Bestwick, Dave Burns, Jamie Little and Mike Massaro. Brent Musburger will host the telecast, and Suzy Kolber will host the pre-race NASCAR Countdown show with analyst Brad Daugherty. Tim Brewer will report from the ESPN DISH Tech Center.
Of the 17 races, the first six will be televised on ESPN, with the final 11 televised by ESPN on ABC. All races in the Chase for the Nextel Cup will be on ABC, marking the first time since NASCAR instituted the Chase format that all 10 races will be on the same network. Practice and qualifying from 13 of the races will be televised on ESPN2.
Nextel Cup coverage will be available on 17 ESPN platforms, including ABC, ABC HD, ESPN, ESPN HD, ESPN2, ESPN2 HD, ESPN.com, ESPN Radio, ESPN Classic, ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes, ESPN Deportes Radio, ESPNDeportes.com, ESPN International, ESPN360.com, ESPN Mobile Properties and ESPN The Magazine.(ESPN PR)(7-20-2007)

NASCAR This Week on ESPN: ESPN2 will feature Busch Series racing live Saturday, July 21, from Gateway International Raceway near St. Louis as the series makes its only appearance of 2007 at the 1.25-mile superspeedway. The telecast begins with NASCAR Countdown at 8 p.m. ET; the race starts at 8:30 p.m. Rusty Wallace will work in the booth as analyst for the telecast, joined by Andy Petree. Dr. Jerry Punch will handle play-by-play. Pit reporters will be Dave Burns, Jamie Little, Mike Massaro and Shannon Spake. Allen Bestwick will host NASCAR Countdown from the ESPN Pit Studio, joined by Wallace and analyst Brad Daugherty, while Tim Brewer will report from the ESPN Chevy Cutaway Car.
ESPN2 will also have live coverage of qualifying Saturday from Gateway International Raceway, as well as Friday night's practice session as drivers and teams prepare for Saturday night's race. Practice coverage will air at 7 p.m. ET Friday, with the live qualifying show at 4:30 p.m. Saturday.
ESPN Ultimate NASCAR, which is building up to the July 29 launch of Nextel Cup racing on ESPN with 11 hours of programming on NASCAR history, continues at 9 p.m. ET Thursday, July 19, on ESPN with Biggest Races, a one-hour program counting down the 20 greatest races in NASCAR history. The program is the third of three countdown programs, following Greatest Drivers, which premiered July 5, and Greatest Rivalries, which aired last week. Starting Monday, July 23, the week leading into the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard will include seven hours of NASCAR documentaries - The Explosion, The Dirt, The Cars, Speed and Danger and The Families. All shows will debut on ESPN.
NASCAR Now will air on ESPN2 for 30 minutes in its regular 6:30 p.m. ET time slot Tuesday through Friday of this week. On Friday, the program will lead up to NASCAR Busch Series practice from Gateway International Raceway.
New episodes of the ESPN2 Garage programs SpeedFreaks, Race Wizard with Ray Evernham and King of the Strip will premiere this week. SpeedFreaks will air at 5 p.m. ET Thursday, July 19, while Race Wizard is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 21. King of the Strip will air at both 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Sunday, July 22.(ESPN PR)(7-16-2007)

NASCAR This Week on ESPN and ABC: ESPN on ABC will feature Busch Series racing live Saturday, July 14, from Chicagoland Speedway as the series makes its only appearance of 2007 at the 1.5-mile superspeedway. The telecast of Busch Series at Chicago presented by Old Spice begins with NASCAR Countdown at 2:30pm/et; the race starts at 3pm/et. Rusty Wallace will work in the ESPN booth as analyst for the telecast, joined by Andy Petree. Dr. Jerry Punch will handle play-by-play. Pit reporters will be Allen Bestwick, Dave Burns, Jamie Little and Mike Massaro. Suzy Kolber will host NASCAR Countdown from the ESPN Pit Studio, joined by Wallace and analyst Brad Daugherty, while Tim Brewer will report from the ESPN Chevy Cutaway Car. ESPN2 will have live coverage of qualifying from Chicago at 11:00am/et Saturday, as well as the series’ final practice session on Friday at 5:45pm/et.
ESPN Ultimate NASCAR, which is building up to the July 29 launch of Nextel Cup racing on ESPN with 11 hours of programming on NASCAR history, continues at 9:00pm/et Thursday, July 12, on ESPN with Hottest Rivalries, a one-hour program counting down the 20 greatest rivalries in NASCAR history, chosen by an exclusive panel of NASCAR experts and historians. The program is the second of three countdown programs, following Greatest Drivers, which premiered last week. The third program in the series, Biggest Races, will air Thursday, July 19. Starting Monday, July 23, the week leading into the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard will include seven hours of NASCAR documentaries – The Explosion, The Dirt, The Cars, Speed and Danger and The Families. All shows will debut on ESPN. NASCAR Now, ESPN’s daily news and information show dedicated to NASCAR will air on ESPN2 for 30 minutes in its regular 6:30pm/et time slot Tuesday through Thursday of this week. On Friday, the program will begin at 5:30pm/et and will lead up to and follow Busch Series practice from Chicago. The one-hour weekend edition will air at 10:00am/et Sunday, July 15, with highlights from Saturday’s Busch Series race at Chicago and a look ahead to that day’s Nextel Cup Series race at the same track. The weekend wrap-up edition of the program will air at midnight Sunday.
New episodes of the ESPN2 Garage programs SpeedFreaks, Race Wizard with Ray Evernham and King of the Strip will premiere this week. SpeedFreaks will air at 5:00pm/et Thursday, July 12, while Race Wizard is scheduled for 10:30am/et Saturday, July 14. King of the Strip will air at 11:30am/et Sunday, July 15.(ESPN PR)(7-10-2007)

NASCAR This Week on ESPN and ABC: ESPN on ABC will feature NASCAR Busch Series racing live Saturday, June 30, from New Hampshire International Speedway as the series makes its only appearance of 2007 at the 1.058-mile New England oval for the Camping World 200 presented by RV.com. The telecast begins with NASCAR Countdown at 2:30pm/et Saturday; the 200-lap race starts at 3:00pm/et. Dale Jarrett will work in the ESPN booth as analyst for the telecast, joined by Andy Petree. Dr. Jerry Punch will handle play-by-play. Pit reporters will be Allen Bestwick, Dave Burns, Jamie Little and Mike Massaro. Brent Musburger will host NASCAR Countdown from the ESPN Pit Studio, while two-time NASCAR champion crew chief Tim Brewer will report from the ESPN Chevy Cutaway Car.
More ESPN Ultimate NASCAR Programming To Premiere July 5: As the return of Nextel Cup Series racing to ESPN draws nearer, ESPN is building up to the July 29 running of the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard with 11 hours of programming on the history of NASCAR. The month of July revs up the countdown to green with three shows highlighting NASCAR’s Greatest Drivers, Hottest Rivalries and Biggest Races. The series begins at 9:00pm/et Thursday, July 5, on ESPN with Greatest Drivers, a one-hour special produced by ESPN Content Development. The program will count down the 25 greatest drivers in NASCAR history, chosen by an exclusive panel of NASCAR experts and historians. Starting Monday, July 23, the week leading into the Brickyard race will include seven hours of NASCAR documentaries – The Explosion, The Dirt, The Cars, Speed and Danger and The Families. All shows will debut on ESPN. Since April, ESPN viewers have been watching “100 Defining Moments,” a series of 30-second vignettes that kicked off ESPN’s Ultimate NASCAR initiative and are featured on SportsCenter, NASCAR Now and other ESPN programming.ESPN is counting down the 100 most defining moments in NASCAR history as selected by the panel.(ESPN PR)(6-26-2007)

Motorsports This Week on ESPN and ABC: ESPN2 will feature Busch Series racing live Saturday, June 16, from Kentucky Speedway as the series makes its only appearance of 2007 at the 1.5-mile track in Sparta, Ky., near Cincinnati. The telecast begins with NASCAR Countdown at 8:00pm/et; the 300-mile race starts at 8:30pm/et. Since joining the Busch Series schedule in 2001, Kentucky Speedway has held six Busch Series races, six different drivers have gone to victory lane, including last year’s surprising win by David Gilliland. Rusty Wallace, ESPN’s lead auto racing analyst, and anchor announcer Marty Reid will call the race from the booth. Pit reporters will be Dave Burns, Jamie Little, Shannon Spake and Vince Welch. Mike Massaro will host NASCAR Countdown at Kentucky, joined in the ESPN Pit Studio by analyst Brad Daugherty. Tim Brewer will be at the ESPN Chevy Cutaway Car. In addition to the Busch Series race telecast on ESPN2, ESPN’s signature broadband service, ESPN360.com, will deliver a live online simulcast of Busch Series events in June, ESPN360.com’s most explosive month of coverage yet, with up to 102 live events. A Spanish-language version of the race will be televised on ESPN Deportes, ESPN’s domestic Spanish-language network. ESPN2 will also have live coverage of qualifying from Kentucky Speedway as well as the series’ final practice session. Practice coverage will air at 5:00pm/et Friday, with the live qualifying show airing at 5:00pm/et Saturday.
NASCAR Now, ESPN’s daily news and information show dedicated to NASCAR, will have its expanded Monday edition on the air from 6-7pm/et, Monday on ESPN2. NASCAR Now will air on ESPN2 for 30 minutes in its regular 6:30pm/et time slot Tuesday through Thursday of this week and at 6:00pm/et Friday, immediately following Busch Series practice at Kentucky Speedway. The one-hour weekend edition will air at 10:00am/et Sunday, June 17, with highlights from Saturday’s Busch Series race and a look ahead to Sunday’s Nextel Cup Series race at Michigan. The weekend wrap-up edition of the program will air at midnight.
Fast Cars & Superstars Reality Program Continues June 14 on ABC at 8:00pm/et, celebrities including singer Jewel, skateboarding legend Tony Hawk, tennis star Serena Williams and actor William Shatner are part of the drivers. The series is hosted by ESPN anchor Kenny Mayne and co-hosted by ESPN NASCAR analyst Brad Daugherty. 24 Hours at Indy Indianapolis 500 Special to air at 7:00pm/et Saturday, June 16, on ESPN2. 24 Hours at Indy offers a never-before-seen look at what it takes to prepare and stage the largest one-day sporting event in the world. By following several people involved in the race through a 24-hour period, starting the day before the race, viewers capture the entire event, discovering the intense logistics required to pull off this feat in the vastness of Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The 2.5-mile oval has more than 10 million square feet of racing real estate, and people in facilities, retail, food and beverage face the daunting task of getting the venue ready for race day. Viewers will feel the constant pressure on the Speedway workers, teams and drivers as the green flag nears. The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series will air on ESPN2 at noon/et on Saturday. World of Outlaws Sprint Car Racing wikk air on ESPN2 Sunday at 11am/et.(ESPN PR)(6-11-2007)

ESPN Classic Remembers: Bill France Jr. ESPN Classic will honor Bill France Jr. tonight with special programming tonight at 8:00pm/et with ESPN Classic Remembers: Bill France Jr.. France, who transformed NASCAR from a small Southern sport into a billion-dollar conglomerate during his 31 years as chairman, died Monday. NASCAR Now host Eric Kuselias will host the 30 minute live show that will focus on France and his legacy. France will also be the subject of a 60 Minutes on Classic at 8:30pm/et.(ESPN PR)(6-4-2007)

Fast Cars & Superstars Reality Program to Debut June 7 on ABC: Twelve stars of entertainment, music and sports are dreaming of life in the fast lane as they race to the finish line in Fast Cars & Superstars, a new seven-episode reality series debuting on the ABC Television Network at 8:00pm/et Thursday, June 7. In each episode, viewers will watch celebrities train with a Gillette Young Guns professional driver. The show will culminate in a one-hour finale -- a no holds barred, winner-take-all competition to be the first to lift the Fast Cars & Superstars trophy. The celebrity drivers include pop singer Jewel, actor William Shatner, skateboarding legend Tony Hawk, actress Krista Allen, seven-time World All-Around Rodeo Champion Ty Murray, former NBA champion John Salley, former NFL Super Bowl champion John Elway, World Wrestling Entertainment champion John Cena, tennis star Serena Williams, volleyball great and model Gabrielle Reece, legendary surfer Laird Hamilton and former NFL Super Bowl-winning head coach Bill Cowher. The series is hosted by ESPN anchor Kenny Mayne and co-hosted by former Cleveland Cavaliers center and current ESPN NASCAR analyst Brad Daugherty. Fast Cars & Superstars – Gillette Young Guns Celebrity Race was co-created by BBDO and Gillette and is produced by Radical Media in association with Embassy Row Sports.(ESPN PR)(5-28-2007)

Motorsports This Week on ESPN and ABC: ESPN2 will feature Busch Series racing live Saturday, June 2, from the Monster Mile, Dover International Speedway in Dover, Del. The telecast begins with NASCAR Countdown at 2:30pm/et, and the 200-mile race starts at 3:00pm/et. ESPN’s Suzy Kolber will make her debut as host of NASCAR Countdown at Dover, joined in the ESPN Pit Studio by analyst Brad Daugherty. Tim Brewer will be at the ESPN Chevy Cutaway Car. Dr. Jerry Punch will be the lead announcer for the race telecast, with Dale Jarrett and Andy Petree in the ESPN booth for analysis. Jarrett is filling in for ESPN’s lead auto racing analyst, Rusty Wallace, who will rejoin NASCAR coverage next week at Nashville. Allen Bestwick, Dave Burns, Jamie Little and Mike Massaro will serve as pit reporters. In addition to the telecast on ESPN2, ESPN’s signature broadband service, ESPN360.com, will deliver a live online simulcast of the event, and a Spanish-language version of the race will be televised on ESPN Deportes, ESPN’s domestic Spanish-language network. ESPN2, the home of the Busch Series in 2007, will have live coverage of qualifying from Dover International Speedway as well as the series’ final practice session as it prepares for Saturday’s 200-mile race. Practice coverage will air at 2:00pm/et Friday, with the live qualifying show airing at 11:ooam/et. Saturday. Dr. Jerry Punch will be the lead announcer for ESPN2’s coverage of practice and qualifying, joined in the booth by analyst Andy Petree. Pit reporters Allen Bestwick, Dave Burns, Jamie Little and Mike Massaro will contribute to the telecasts. Analyst Dale Jarrett will be in the booth with Punch and Petree for the qualifying coverage. Suzy Kolber will host the qualifying show, joined in the ESPN Pit Studio by analyst Brad Daugherty. Tim Brewer will be at the ESPN Chevy Cutaway Car.(ESPN PR)(5-29-2007)

Motorsports This Week on ESPN and ABC: ESPN2 will feature NASCAR Busch Series racing live Saturday, June 9, from Nashville Superspeedway as the series makes its second and final appearance of 2007 at the 1.33-mile, concrete-surfaced track. The telecast begins with NASCAR Countdown at 6:30pm/et, and the 300-mile race starts at 7pm. ESPN’s lead auto racing analyst, Rusty Wallace, will return to the booth for the Nashville telecast. Wallace took a brief hiatus from ESPN’s NASCAR coverage to work the telecast of the Indianapolis 500 by ESPN on ABC. Dale Jarrett filled in for Wallace. Joining Wallace in the booth at Nashville will be lead announcer Dr. Jerry Punch and two-time NASCAR champion crew chief Andy Petree. Pit reporters will be Jamie Little, Mike Massaro and Shannon Spake. Allen Bestwick will host NASCAR Countdown at Nashville, joined in the ESPN Pit Studio by analyst Brad Daugherty. Tim Brewer will be at the ESPN Chevy Cutaway Car. In addition to the Busch Series race telecast on ESPN2, ESPN’s signature broadband service, ESPN360.com, will deliver a live online simulcast of Busch Series events in June, ESPN360.com’s most explosive month of coverage yet, with up to 102 live events. A Spanish-language version of the race will be televised on ESPN Deportes, ESPN’s domestic Spanish-language network. Busch Series Practice coverage will air at 6pm/et Friday, with the live qualifying show airing at 3 p.m. Saturday. Dr. Jerry Punch will be the lead announcer for ESPN2’s coverage of practice and qualifying, joined in the booth by analysts Andy Petree and Rusty Wallace. Pit reporters Jamie Little, Mike Massaro and Shannon Spake will contribute to the telecasts.
Fast Cars & Superstars Reality Program to Debut June 7 on ABC at 8:00pm/et. Celebrities including singer Jewel, skateboarding legend Tony Hawk, tennis star Serena Williams and actor William Shatner are dreaming of life in the fast lane as they race to the finish in the new reality show Fast Cars & Superstars -- Gillette Young Guns Celebrity Race, a seven-episode series to premiere at 8pm/et Thursday, June 7 on ABC. The series is hosted by ESPN anchor Kenny Mayne and co-hosted by ESPN NASCAR analyst and former Cleveland Cavaliers center Brad Daugherty. In the debut episode, Busch pushes Elway to the limit in the cars.com car, Hamilton confirms that nothing scares him and Williams screams her way to shattering her own personal challenge. Fast Cars & Superstars – Gillette Young Guns Celebrity Race was co-created by BBDO and Gillette and is produced by Radical Media in association with Embassy Row Sports.
NASCAR Now will air on ESPN2 for 30 minutes in its regular 6:30pm/et time slot Tuesday through Thursday of this week and at 7pm. Friday, immediately following Busch Series qualifying at Nashville Superspeedway. The one-hour weekend edition will air at 10am Sunday, with highlights from Saturday’s NASCAR Busch Series race at Nashville and a look ahead to Sunday’s Nextel Cup Series race at Pocono. The weekend wrap-up edition of the program will air at 1:30am Monday.
Other Series:
ESPN2 to Feature IndyCar Series at TexasMotor Speedway on Saturday night
NHRA Coverage from Chicago To Air Saturday and Sunday on ESPN2
Champ Car World Series Action Live from Portland on ABC 4pm on Sunday
(ESPN PR)(6-6-2007)

Ned Jarrett Returns to ESPN TV Booth: Ned Jarrett, one of the most popular motorsports announcers in history and a mainstay of ESPN’s NASCAR coverage for 15 years, will make a guest appearance alongside his son, Dale Jarrett, in the ESPN booth Saturday night during ESPN2’s live, prime-time coverage of the Busch Series race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. The telecast will begin at 7:30pm/et. Father and son will work together as television analysts for the first time. The elder Jarrett was an auto racing analyst for ESPN from 1986 until the network ended its previous period of NASCAR coverage in 2000, at which point the two-time NASCAR Cup champion retired from television. Dale, still an active Nextel Cup driver, is working as an analyst on 10 Busch Series race telecasts this season. He made his ESPN debut in April. "Ned Jarrett has a tremendous role in the history of ESPN and NASCAR,” said Norby Williamson, ESPN executive vice president, studio and remote production. “A legendary father joining his legendary son in the ESPN booth, having Ned back just for one race, is certainly special to all of us. This is Father's Day arriving early for Ned and Dale, and our viewers will be the lucky ones." The Jarretts will work the ESPN booth with lead announcer Dr. Jerry Punch and analyst Andy Petree. All four are from tiny Newton, N.C., and Punch and Petree were part of Dale Jarrett’s first racing team in the late 1970s. Punch shared ownership with Ned. Dale was one of the founding drivers of the Busch Series in 1982. “I’m looking forward to Saturday night and working with my dad,” said Dale, who is filling in for ESPN’s lead auto racing analyst Rusty Wallace. “It should be a blast having him there in the booth with Jerry, Andy and me. He was a big part of my success and getting started in racing.” Ned Jarrett’s last race as a driver was in 1966, and he became a radio broadcaster shortly after. He added TV work in the 1970s. “I didn’t get to race against Dale because he was only 9 years old when I retired, but now to have the chance to work with him in the broadcast booth, my second career, is pretty neat,” he said. One of the most memorable moments in NASCAR television history occurred in 1993, when Dale won the Daytona 500 with his excited father calling the final lap from the television booth. Ned also lists as personal career highlights: working the ESPN telecast of Dale’s first NASCAR Cup win in 1991 at Michigan International Speedway and interviewing Dale on pit road for ESPN when he clinched the 1999 championship. Ned helped along his son’s driving career at the beginning and has helped with advice on Dale’s foray into television. “He asked my opinion before he agreed to do this,” Ned said. “I thought he was capable of doing it, and I felt he would be good for it and it would be good for ESPN. I feel that the best advice I can give anyone in TV is to listen to what’s being said and pay attention so that you’re not repeating what someone else has said. It helps to get into the rhythm and make a better contribution to the broadcast.” Dale has worked five telecasts so far and Ned said he has watched them all. “I’ve honestly been impressed,” he said. “I’m prejudiced but I also feel I’m realistic. He’s done a good job for the role he’s been in. I’ve had a lot of people tell me he puts it in ways they can understand it, and they appreciate that. I told him that broadcasting would be as big a challenge as driving,” Ned said. “I’m just as proud of what he’s done in the broadcast booth as I am of what he’s done in the race car.”(ESPN PR)(5-23-2007)

ESPN has introduces its new “racing ICONS”: ESPN has introduced its new “racing ICONS” content categories that provide a distinct way for fans of NASCAR to find and consume the content they want most on ESPN’s media assets. Covering all aspects of the racing experience, the five icons represent fields of relevant content related to a single category, and will be "tagged" on content across ESPN's television, online and print media. The five ICON categories are Auto Tech, Communications, Safety, Tech Center and Know How. Each ICON category organizes the broad array of in-depth ESPN content and enables fans to increasingly pursue more in-depth information and entertainment. Additionally, the innovative new fan navigation device delivers "surround" engagement across ESPN's media platforms and allows advertisers to have a complete brand-aligned content topic within ESPN's comprehensive coverage of NASCAR
Auto Tech – Sponsored by Chevy - The Auto Tech category of content addresses content that helps fans engage with the pure passion of the heart of the sport - the legendary vehicles and what makes them run, race, perform and evolve from 'street/stock' cars to The Car of Tomorrow.
Communications – sponsored by NEXTEL - Content categorized under the Communication ICON is dedicated to exploring the pivotal role that communication plays -- between driver, owner, pit crew and an entire team.
Safety – sponsored by ALLSTATE - Fans looking for information about the central focus that safety equipment and measures in NASCAR will find it categorized under the Safety ICON.
Tech Center – sponsored by DISH Network - Technology is at the heart of ESPN’s NASCAR telecasts, and content tagged with the Tech Center ICON will help fans learn more about how.
Know How – sponsored by The Home Depot - Content that covers news and information about the rules and strategies of racing are tagged with the Know How ICON.
ESPN'S NASCAR ICONS can be found on ESPN.com through search also, keyword ICONS or goto sports.espn.go.com.(ESPN PR)(5-15-2007)

Motorsports This Week on ESPN and ABC: Few race tracks are as steeped in NASCAR tradition as Darlington Raceway, the egg-shaped superspeedway that hosted its first race in 1950. ESPN2 will have live primetime coverage of Friday night’s 200-mile NASCAR Busch Series race from the 1.366-mile South Carolina track beginning at 8:00pm/et with NASCAR Countdown. The race will start at 8:30pm/et. Dale Jarrett will join two-time NASCAR champion crew chief Andy Petree in the ESPN booth for analysis during the telecast. Jarrett is filling in for ESPN’s lead auto racing analyst, Rusty Wallace, who will rejoin NASCAR coverage in June. Dr. Jerry Punch will handle play-by-play duties for ESPN. Dave Burns, Mike Massaro and Shannon Spake will report the action from the pits. Allen Bestwick will host NASCAR Countdown from the ESPN Pit Studio, joined by analyst Brad Daugherty. Tim Brewer will report from the ESPN Chevy Cutaway Car. In addition to the telecast on ESPN2, ESPN’s signature broadband service, ESPN360.com, will deliver a live online simulcast of the event, and a Spanish-language version of the race will be televised on ESPN Deportes, ESPN’s domestic Spanish-language network.
NASCAR Now, ESPN’s daily news and information show totally dedicated to NASCAR, will have its expanded Monday edition on the air from 6-7pm/et on ESPN2. The program will have extensive highlights and recaps of the weekend’s NASCAR races, as well as looks ahead to the next weekend. NASCAR Now will air on ESPN2 for 30 minutes at its regular 6:30pm/et time slot Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of this week. In addition, the one-hour weekend edition will air at 10am/et Saturday with a wrap-up of Friday’s NASCAR Busch Series race from Darlington Raceway and a look ahead to that evening’s NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race. Sunday’s edition of the program will air at 1:00am/et.
Indianapolis 500 Time Trials on ABC and ESPN2 This Weekend: Drivers will run for the pole position for the 91st Indianapolis 500 this Saturday, and ABC and ESPN2 will have five hours of live coverage of time trials beginning at 12noon/et. ESPN2 will have more than three additional hours of live coverage of the second day of Indianapolis 500 time trials on Sunday. Saturday’s coverage of Pole Day begins on ESPN2 at noon for two hours. After an hour off, coverage will resume on ABC at 3pm/et and continue until 6pm/et returning to ESPN2 from 6-7pm/et. On Sunday, ESPN2’s coverage begins at 12noon/et and runs for two hours, then resumes from 5-6:30pm/et. The 2007 running of Indy 500 from famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway marks the 43rd year of coverage of the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing” by ABC, the second longest-running relationship between a TV network and a major sports property. Only CBS and The Masters have been together longer. ABC and ESPN2’s coverage of Indianapolis 500 time trials will also be on the air the weekend of May 19-20, including coverage of Bump Day on Sunday, May 20.(ESPN PR)(5-8-2007)

ESPN2’s NASCAR Now Expanding to One Hour on Mondays: NASCAR Now, ESPN’s first daily news and information show totally dedicated to NASCAR, is expanding its Monday evening edition to one hour, beginning April 16. The expanded format will provide more time for recaps and analysis of the weekend’s NASCAR races. The Monday program will air from 6:00-7:00pm/et on ESPN2. NASCAR Now will air on ESPN2 for 30 minutes at its regular 6:30pm/et timeslot Tuesday through Thursday next week, with no Friday edition due to the live NASCAR Busch Series race at Phoenix International Raceway that evening on ESPN2. In addition, the weekend edition will air at 10:00am/et Saturday, rather than its usual day of Sunday, due to the Nextel Cup Series running that night at Phoenix. Reports from Phoenix will be included in Saturday’s program. Sunday night’s edition of the program will air at midnight. NASCAR Now is hosted by Erik Kuselias, Doug Banks and Ryan Burr and originates from ESPN’s High Definition studios in Bristol, Conn., with contributions from reporters Mike Massaro and Shannon Spake. Analysts Tim Brewer, Brad Daugherty, Stacy Compton and Boris Said, along with NASCAR insiders Terry Blount, Angelique Chengelis, Tim Cowlishaw, David Newton and Marty Smith, as well as D.J. Copp, a member of the Dale Earnhardt, Jr., NASCAR team also contribute.(ESPN PR)(4-13-2007)

NASCAR Now This Week on ESPN: NASCAR Now, ESPN’s first daily news and information show totally dedicated to NASCAR, will air on ESPN2 at its regular 6:30 p.m. ET timeslot Monday through Friday of this week. In addition, the weekend edition will air at 10 a.m. Sunday, with reports from Texas Motor Speedway.(ESPN PR)(4-9-2007)

Ryan Burr Joins NASCAR Now as Host: Ryan Burr will join Erik Kuselias and Doug Banks sharing the host role of ESPN2’s NASCAR Now (6:30pm/et M-F, 10am and midnight Sundays) beginning tonight (Wednesday, April 4). Burr, who joined ESPN in August 2005 from FSN in Pittsburgh, will continue to anchor ESPNEWS. Burr said, "NASCAR Now is a wonderful opportunity to keep the NASCAR fans up to date on a daily basis, and I look forward to this next challenge in my broadcast career.” The Syracuse graduate added, “NASCAR is the fastest growing sport in this country -- definitely a priority at ESPN, and the goal of NASCAR Now is to educate and entertain NASCAR fans everywhere.” ESPN2’s NASCAR Now, ESPN’s first daily program dedicated solely to NASCAR news and information, debuted February 5, 2007, and features highlights, opinion, debate, analysis, and the latest news from drivers, crew chiefs and insiders both on and off the track.(ESPN PR)(4-4-2007)

ESPN360.com To Feature All 26 ESPN2 Busch Series Races Live: ESPN announced today that its signature broadband service, ESPN360.com, will deliver live online simulcasts of every remaining ESPN2 Busch Series telecast – 26 in all, beginning on April 7 at the Nashville Superspeedway. Coverage will also include simulcasts of ESPN2’s pre-race programming, including each week’s NASCAR Countdown. ESPN360.com’s live coverage will be integrated directly into the ESPN.com RaceCast, allowing fans with access to ESPN360.com to not only watch the live race Webcast, but also follow the in-race animated graphic display and get track information, lap leaders, race leaders, driver stats and live chat with ESPN NASCAR contributor Tim Cowlishaw throughout the race. ESPN360.com is available at no charge to consumers in more than 15 million homes nationwide, via highspeed Internet connections provided by ESPN affiliated service providers. ESPN360.com’s coverage will make it the live online home of the Busch Series, complementing ESPN2 as the television home of the Busch Series.
Highlights: Extensive videohighlights from every Busch and NEXTEL Cup race on ESPN.com and ESPN360.com
Surrounding Action: Additional video from each race, including insider features, practice and qualifying footage, interviews with drivers, pit teams, extensions to ESPN studio programming and video blogs covering major news and events.
Season-Long Driver Capsules: ESPN360.com features exclusive driver-specific video capsules, progressively updated throughout the season, that provide season-to-date highlights, interviews, news and all other driver-related video.(ESPN PR)(3-27-2007)

Motorsports This Week on ESPN and ABC: The Busch Series heads to Bristol Motor Speedway, this weekend and ESPN on ABC will have live coverage of Saturday’s 250-lap race. The Bristol event is the first short track race of the season for the Busch Series and one of six select Busch Series races this season that will air on ABC, with the other 29 to be televised by ESPN2. Coverage will begin with the pre-race NASCAR Countdown show at 2:30pm/et, with the race to start at 3:00pm/et. Dale Earnhardt, Jr., who runs only a handful of Busch Series races, will compete in the Bristol event, seeking his second Bristol Busch Series win. Rusty Wallace, who was a nine-time winner at Bristol during his NASCAR Cup driving career, will lend his knowledge of the track to ESPN’s coverage as analyst, working alongside two-time NASCAR champion crew chief Andy Petree in the booth with lead announcer Jerry Punch. ESPN’s pit reporter team will have a new face at Bristol as Shannon Spake, who has been reporting for ESPN’s SportsCenter, NASCAR Countdown and NASCAR Now this season, will join the telecast team working with Dave Burns, Jamie Little and Mike Massaro as regular pit reporter Allen Bestwick has the weekend off. Brent Musburger will host the telecast and studio analysts Tim Brewer and Brad Daugherty will join Musburger in the ESPN Pit Studio. ESPN2 will have live coverage of practice and qualifying for this weekend’s NASCAR Busch Series event at Bristol Motor Speedway on Friday and Saturday, March 23-24. Live coverage of Friday’s one-hour final practice session for the series will be aired from 2:30-3:30pm/et. Qualifying will be televised from 11:00am 12:30pm/et on Saturday. Calling the action from the booth will be Jerry Punch with analysts Rusty Wallace and Andy Petree. Dave Burns, Jamie Little, Mike Massaro and Shannon Spake will report from the pits and garage, while Tim Brewer will be in the ESPN Pit Studio with host Brent Musburger. ESPN2 will have live, primetime coverage of the 2007 IndyCar Series opener from Homestead-Miami Speedway Saturday night at 8:00pm/et. ESPN’s Marty Reid will call the race, joined in the booth for expert analysis by former IndyCar Series driver Scott Goodyear. Jack Arute, Vince Welch and Brienne Pedigo will report from the pits.(ESPN PR)(3-23-2007)

Dale Jr on SpeedFreaks: This Saturday on ESPN2, SpeedFreaks will bust out the chosen profession of one Mr. Dale Earnhardt Jr. before he even thought about paying the mortgage on that little 'ol race shop. It may have been by design that he became the most popular driver in NASCAR. From the Mopar Pits, SpeedFreaks not only unveil Dale's secret early obsession but they'll take the Freak Nation on a desert and camel off-road adventure with Baja 1000 winner and NASCAR's Robby Gordon. Crash, Lugg, Statt and The Sarge will also engage the SpeedFreaks faithful in a heavy topic involving Nextel Cup pilots Allemndinger vs. Montoya. It will be another whiplash and smile style show this Saturday, March 10 on ESPN2 at 11:30am/et [Replayed on ESPN2 Tuesday March 13 at 5:30am/et]. This SpeedFreaks Saturday throw-down was shot from the Lucas Oil Studios in the Mopar Pits in Las Vegas.(more at SpeedFreaks.TV)(3-9-2007)

NASCAR This Week on ESPN: NASCAR Now, ESPN’s first daily news and information show totally dedicated to NASCAR, will air on ESPN2 at its regular 6:30pm/et timeslot Monday through Wednesday of this week. The half-hour program will air at midnight on Thursday, while the Friday episode will air at 1:00am/et on Saturday morning. The program’s weekend edition will air at 10 a.m. Sunday with segments from Martinsville Speedway, site of this weekend’s Nextel Cup race. ALSO: The stars and cars of the IndyCar Series will take it to the streets of St. Petersburg, FL, Sunday for the Honda IndyCar Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by XM. The race will be televised live at 2:30pm/et ESPN.(ESPN PR)(3-28-2007)

NO Cup race this weekend, but Busch Series in Mexico: This Sunday ESPN, Inc. will present ESPN Full Circle: NASCAR Busch Series from Mexico City. The race will be broadcast live from Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez at 2pm/et -- the latest installation of an ESPN Full Circle presentation in which various ESPN outlets carry the event live using different coverage approaches, in addition to extensive content surrounding the race across additional ESPN outlets such as TV, radio, internet, etc. ESPN2, the home of the NASCAR Busch Series in 2007, will present a traditional race telecast (also available on ESPN2 HD), while ESPN will simulcast ESPN Deportes' Spanish-language flag-to-flag coverage. Additionally, ESPN360 will feature a live stream of the ESPN2 telecast.
NASCAR Busch Series at Mexico City ESPN Full Circle highlights include:
ESPN: Will present a simulcast of ESPN Deportes' Spanish-language flag-to-flag coverage of the race to more than 92 million homes in the U.S. ESPN Deportes will feature a unique telecast of the race, with its own on-site production team, Spanish-language graphics and commentary highlighting key Hispanic drivers. Play-by-play commentator Andrés Agulla will be joined in the booth by Alex Pombo for analysis. Claudia Trejos and Marcelo Vivo will serve as pit reporters.
ESPN2 (ESPN2 HD): Will present traditional English-language race telecast utilizing full use of High Definition cameras, Sportvision enhancements and state-of-the-art graphics. Play-by-play commentator Jerry Punch will be joined in the booth by 1989 NASCAR Cup champion Rusty Wallace and two-time NASCAR Cup champion crew chief Andy Petree for analysis. Allen Bestwick, Dave Burns, Jamie Little and Mike Massaro will serve as pit reporters. Coverage will begin at 10 a.m. ET with a live edition of NASCAR Now. Tim Brewer and Brad Daugherty will host the show. ESPN2's NASCAR Busch Series Countdown will be aired live at 1:30pm/et on race day, preceding the 2pm/et race start.
ESPN Deportes: In addition to offering Spanish-language flag-to-flag coverage, the network will present a pre-race show from the track at 1:30pm/et, preceding the 2pm/et green flag. Immediately following the race the network will present a special one-hour edition of SportsCenter with post-race coverage and interviews from on-site.
ESPNEWS: Will offer in-progress highlights, analysis, and expanded post-race coverage.
ESPN360: ESPN's signature broadband service, available in 15 million homes nationwide, will feature a live simulcast of the ESPN2 telecast as part of ESPN.com's RacCast application, plus exclusive content from NASCAR Now, an ESPN360 "Super Highlight" of the race available immediately after the race and complete and post-race coverage including analysis and driver press conferences. In addition, throughout the season ESPN360 will feature exclusive driver-specific video capsules that will be progressively updated to feature season-to-date highlights, interviews, news and all other driver-related video.
ESPN.com: ESPN.com coverage will be highlighted by extensive online video on ESPN.com, as well as ESPN.com's RaceCast live race-day application featuring an in-race simulcast of the ESPN2 telecast, track information, lap leaders, race leaders, driver information and live in-race chat with award-winning ESPN NASCAR writers David Newton and Terry Blount. ESPN.com will also include comprehensive coverage from Blount and Newton, Insiders Marty Smith and Angelique Chenglis as well as ESPN.com's exclusive integration of Jayski.com content. In addition, ESPN.com will carry translated news and columns from ESPNdeportes.com's Andres Agulla, Enrique Vega, Martha Guerra and Alex Pombo.
ESPN Radio: Will present updates on the progress and results within the ESPN Radio SportsCenter reports every 20 minutes.
ESPNdeportes.com: The leading Spanish-language sports Web site in the U.S., will provide additional coverage highlighted by live chats, in-race updates, driver information, and columns from Andres Agulla, Enrique Vega, Martha Guerra and Alex Pombo.
ESPN Deportes Radio: The exclusive Spanish-language radio home of MRN NASCAR, will provide in-race reports, on-site reports from ESPN Deportes Radio NASCAR experts, and much more.
Additional studio programming: Several other programs will also present NASCAR Busch Series at Mexico City content, including ESPN2's Cold Pizza, and SportsCenter. In addition, ESPN Deportes will debut a new episode of ESPN Perfiles, the network's half-hour, in-depth interview show, featuring Brazilian Formula One three-time champion Nelson Piquet on Sunday, March 4 at 1pm/et.
AND Juan Pablo Montoya and his crew chief, Brad Parrott, will be ESPN’s “In-Race Reporter” for coverage of Sunday’s NASCAR Busch Series event at Mexico City. Montoya, a former Indianapolis 500 winner and Formula One driver, has made the move to NASCAR this season in one of the most talked-about switches in motorsports history. ESPN2 will have live coverage of the event beginning at 1:30pm/et, while ESPN will simulcast ESPN Deportes’ Spanish-language race of the event as part of an ESPN Full Circle presentation. Montoya will have special cameras mounted inside his car to show his face as he speaks to ESPN booth analyst Rusty Wallace while on the race’s pace laps and during caution periods, providing the unique perspective of a driver in competition. Parrott will speak to booth analyst Andy Petree at various times throughout the telecast.

In addition to the race telecast on Sunday, ESPN2 will have live coverage of practice and qualifying from Mexico City on Friday and Saturday. Coverage of Friday’s one-hour final practice session for the series will be aired from 5-6 p.m. ET on ESPN2. Qualifying will be televised from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Saturday. Calling the action from the booth will be Jerry Punch with Wallace and Petree. Allen Bestwick, Dave Burns Jamie Little and Mike Massaro will report from the pits and garage, while Chris Fowler, Tim Brewer and Brad Daugherty will be in the ESPN Pit Studio.
NASCAR Now weekend edition: Race-day coverage will include the weekend edition of NASCAR Now, ESPN’s first-ever daily news and information show totally dedicated to NASCAR, at 10 a.m. Wallace, Brewer and Daugherty, joined by renowned road course driver Boris Said, will contribute from the ESPN NASCAR pit studio in Mexico City while host Erik Kuselias and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver Stacy Compton will anchor the program from the show’s Bristol, Conn., High Definition studio. Special guest Adrian Fernandez, driver of the Hendrick Motorsports Busch Series No. 5 car and one of Mexico’s most popular drivers and athletes, will be featured. He finished 10th and 12th in the first two Mexico City Busch Series races in 2005 and 2006. Reporter Shannon Spake will examine the recent safety improvements NASCAR has instated which came into play on David Reutimann’s violent crash last Sunday at the California Speedway, and the show will highlight Jeff Gordon’s participation in the Make-A-Wish program, granting a “wish” to one of its youngsters.(ESPN PR)

Motorsports this week on ESPN: In its continued commitment to provide the most comprehensive coverage of the 2007 NASCAR season, ESPN will present ESPN Full Circle: NASCAR Busch Series from Mexico City on Sunday, March 4, at 2:00pm/et, live from Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. Coverage of NASCAR’s only event in Mexico marks the latest installation of an ESPN Full Circle presentation, in which various ESPN outlets carry the event live using different coverage approaches, in addition to extensive content surrounding the race across additional ESPN outlets such as TV, radio and internet. ESPN2, the home of the NASCAR Busch Series in 2007, will present a traditional race telecast (also available on ESPN2 HD), while ESPN will simulcast ESPN Deportes’ U.S. Hispanic Spanish-language flag-to-flag coverage. Additionally, ESPN360 will feature a live stream of the ESPN2 telecast.
ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will present an English-language race telecast utilizing full use of High Definition cameras, Sportvision enhancements and state-of-the-art graphics. ESPN’s Chris Fowler will host the telecast. Play-by-play announcer Jerry Punch will be joined in the booth by 1989 NASCAR champion Rusty Wallace and two-time NASCAR champion crew chief Andy Petree for analysis. Allen Bestwick, Dave Burns, Jamie Little and Mike Massaro will serve as pit reporters. Coverage will begin at 10:00am/et with a live edition of NASCAR Now, ESPN’s first daily news and information show totally dedicated to NASCAR. NASCAR Countdown will be aired live at 1:30pm on race day, preceding the 2pm race start, with Fowler joining studio analysts Tim Brewer and Brad Daugherty.
ESPN will present a simulcast of ESPN Deportes’ Spanish-language flag-to-flag coverage of the race. ESPN Deportes will feature a unique telecast of the race with its own on-site production team, Spanish-language graphics and commentary and the highlighting of key Hispanic drivers. Play-by-play commentator Andrés Agulla will be joined in the booth by Alex Pombo for analysis. Claudia Trejos and Marcelo Vivo will serve as pit reporters. In addition to offering Spanish-language flag-to-flag coverage, ESPN Deportes will present a pre-race show from location at 1:00pm/et, preceding the 2 p.m. green flag. Immediately following the race the network will present a special one-hour edition of SportsCenter with post-race coverage and interviews from on-site. The simulcast will mark the first time in ESPN’s history that it has telecast an entire event in Spanish.
ESPN360, ESPN’s signature broadband service available in 15 million homes nationwide, will feature a live simulcast of the ESPN2 telecast with a race cast application, plus exclusive content from NASCAR Now, an ESPN360 “Super Highlight” of the race available immediately after the race is complete and post-race coverage including analysis and driver press conferences. In addition, throughout the season ESPN360 will feature exclusive driver-specific video capsules that will be progressively updated to feature season-to-date highlights, interviews, news and all other driver-related video.
ESPN2 will have live coverage of practice and qualifying for this weekend’s NASCAR Busch Series event in Mexico City on Friday and Saturday, March 2-3. Live coverage of Friday’s one-hour final practice session for the series will be aired from 5-6:00pm/et. Qualifying will be televised from 11:30 a.m.-1:00pm/et on Saturday. Calling the action from the booth will be Jerry Punch with analysts Rusty Wallace and Andy Petree. Allen Bestwick, Dave Burns and Jamie Little will report from the pits and garage, while Tim Brewer and Brad Daugherty will be in the ESPN Pit Studio.(ESPN PR)(2-28-2007)

ESPN's NASCAR Countdown, wrap-up Daytona. preview California: ESPN’s NASCAR Countdown will preview the NASCAR Busch Series California action Saturday at 7:00pm/et on ESPN2 with host Brent Musburger, five-time NBA All-Star and former winning NASCAR team owner Brad Daugherty, two-time NASCAR Cup champion crew chief Tim Brewer and from the race telecast team, 1989 NASCAR champion and booth analyst Rusty Wallace. NASCAR Countdown will also include reports from pit reporters Mike Massaro, Allen Bestwick, Dave Burns, and Jamie Little as drivers and teams change strategy from Daytona, where it's all about drafting and speed, to California where it is all about downforce and handling. NASCAR Countdown will originate from California Speedway and will be telecast from ESPN’s new, state-of-the-art mobile pit studio as it sets the stage for primetime coverage of the 300-mile Busch Series race Saturday night, Feb. 24. Highlights will include: Kevin Harvick’s Historic Daytona Weekend; Sam Hornish Jr.: Quest to Race NASCAR; Live Interview with Mike Wallace; Clint Bowyer: Daytona Closing Moments; Tim Peters: Sharing a Ride with Kevin Harvick
Sunday's NASCAR Now (10-11:00am/et): Host Erik Kuselias, in the NASCAR Now studio, will be joined by Rusty Wallace, NASCAR driver Stacy Compton, and NASCAR insider Tim Cowlishaw, columnist for the Dallas Morning News. Reporters Mike Massaro and Jamie Little will also contribute, reviewing Saturday night’s NASCAR Busch Series race, and presenting the latest Nextel Cup news leading up to Sunday’s event at California Speedway. Highlights of the show: The Final Turn; Juan Pablo Montoya; Robby Gordon; Mark Martin(ESPN PR)(2-24-2007)

Motorsports this week on ESPN: The NASCAR Busch Series will be featured in primetime Saturday night, Feb. 24, as ESPN2 presents live coverage of the series event from California Speedway in Fontana, Calif. The telecast will begin at 7:00pm/et with the pre-race NASCAR Busch Series Countdown show, followed by coverage of the 300-mile race beginning at 7:30pm/et. Brent Musburger will host the race telecast, while Jerry Punch will handle play-by-play. Joining Punch in the booth for expert analysis will be 1989 NASCAR champion Rusty Wallace and two-time NASCAR champion crew chief Andy Petree. Allen Bestwick, Dave Burns, Jamie Little and Mike Massaro will be pit reporters. For the pre-race show from the ESPN pit studio, Musburger will host, joined by analysts Tim Brewer, a two-time NASCAR champion crew chief, and five-time NBA All-Star and former NASCAR team owner Brad Daugherty. Coverage will shift west at the end of the week toward California Speedway where reporter Jamie Little will make her NASCAR Now debut to help preview Saturday’s NASCAR Busch Series live telecast on ESPN2. Little, an experienced action sports and motorsports reporter for ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC, served as a pit reporter for ESPN’s coverage of the IndyCar Series season the last three years and is working the networks’ NASCAR telecasts in 2007. ESPN2 will have live coverage of practice and qualifying for this weekend’s NASCAR Busch Series event at California Speedway on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 23-24. Live coverage of Friday’s one-hour practice session for the series will be aired from 1:30-2:30pm/et. Qualifying, which will be held on the same day as the 300-mile race, will be televised from 3-5pm/et on Saturday. Brent Musburger will host the practice and qualifying telecasts, joined in ESPN’s pit studio by analyst Tim Brewer. Calling the action from the booth will be Jerry Punch with analysts Rusty Wallace and Andy Petree. Allen Bestwick, Dave Burns and Jamie Little will report from the pits and garage.
Carlos Contreras, one of the most well-known Hispanic drivers in NASCAR history, has joined ESPN Deportes’ team for coverage of the 2007 NASCAR season. Contreras, who will serve as analyst for numerous races, will make his debut this weekend on ESPN Deportes’ flag-to-flag coverage of the NASCAR Busch Series race from the California Speedway in Fontana, Calif. Contreras will join analyst Alex Pombo and play-by-play commentator Andrés Agulla in the booth. ESPN Deportes is ESPN’s domestic Spanish-language television network.(ESPN PR)(2-22-2007)

Dr. Jerry Punch to the rescue: Just because ESPN's Dr. Jerry Punch decided to swap his stethoscope for a microphone doesn't mean the medical degree he earned at Wake Forest hasn't been useful over the years. Twice while working races as an ESPN announcer Punch has been called on to aid seriously-injured drivers. At Bristol he revived Rusty Wallace, who had stopped breathing, and once after an ARCA crash he administered lifesaving first aid to injured racer Don Marnor. And ESPN's Dr. Jerry Punch was addressing a Nashville Superspeedway media luncheon Tuesday at The Palm restaurant downtown when he was interrupted by a loud crash from the back of the room. Someone yelled "Is there a doctor in the house?" Amid the laugher came a more serious shout: "We're not kidding! We need a doctor back here!" Punch immediately rushed from the podium to the back of the room where Jenny Gill [Vince Gill's daughter], a Nashville Superspeedway intern, had fainted. Punch helped to revive the Middle Tennessee State graduate student. She was taken to a local care center for observation and soon recovered, according to Sean Dozier, the superspeedway's public relations director. Punch returned to the podium and resumed his speech.(Tennessean)(2-21-2007)

ESPN NASCAR Countdown: ESPN’s NASCAR Busch Series Countdown will preview the Busch Series season-opener action Saturday at noon ET on ESPN2 with hosts Brent Musburger and Chris Fowler, current NASCAR driver Boris Said, five-time NBA All-Star and former winning NASCAR team ownerBrad Daugherty, two-time NASCAR Cup champion crew chief Tim Brewer and veteran racing TV reporter Shannon Spake. NASCAR Countdown will also include reports from the race telecast team, 1989 NASCAR champion and booth analyst Rusty Wallace, play-by-play announcer Jerry Punch and former team owner and the 1993-94 championship-winning crew chief for the late Dale Earnhardt,booth analyst Andy Petree. Pit reportersMike Massaro and Allen Beswick will also report. NASCAR Countdown will originate from Daytona International Speedway and will be telecast from ESPN’s new, state-of-the-art mobile pit studio as it sets the stage for the Busch Series opener on ESPN2 Saturday at 1:15pm/et. Highlights will include: Continuing his dream: Bobby Hamilton Jr.; Delana Harvick: Life as a Wife and an Owner; X Games and NASCAR; Juan Pablo Montoya; Buschwackers; Aerosmith Rocks.(ESPN PR)(2-16-2007)

Motorsports this week on ESPN: Live NASCAR racing returns to ESPN for the first time in six years Saturday with coverage of the Busch Series season opener from Daytona International Speedway on ESPN2. The telecast begins at 12noon/et with the Busch Series Countdown pre-race show, followed at 1:15pm/et by flag-to-flag coverage of the 300-mile race. The race telecast will be produced in High Definition and with the most advanced technology ever used in motorsports coverage. ESPN is elevating the Busch Series with full-season coverage on its multi-media platforms and the same standards and quality of production as the Nextel Cup Series including the full use HD cameras, Sportvision enhancements and state-of-the-art graphics. Brent Musburger will host the race telecast, while Jerry Punch will handle play-by-play. Joining Punch in the booth for expert analysis will be 1989 NASCAR champion Rusty Wallace and two-time NASCAR champion crew chief Andy Petree. Allen Bestwick, Dave Burns, Jamie Little and Mike Massaro will be pit reporters. For the pre-race show from the ESPN pit studio, ESPN’s Chris Fowler will be studio host, joined by analysts Tim Brewer, a two-time NASCAR champion crew chief, and five-time NBA All-Star and former NASCAR team owner Brad Daugherty.(ESPN PR)(2-15-2007)

ESPN2 to have Live Busch Series Practice/Qualifying from Daytona: As the Busch Series prepares to kick off its 2007 season at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, ESPN2 will have live coverage of practice and qualifying for the season-opening race on Thursday and Friday, Feb. 15-16. Live coverage of the 90-minute final practice session for the series will be aired from 9:30-11 am/et on Thursday, with a condensed replay from 5-6pm/et that afternoon. Qualifying to determine the starting lineup for the race will be covered live from 3-6pm/et. Friday on ESPN2, with a simulcast on ESPN from 5-6pm/et. Brent Musburger will host the practice and qualifying telecasts, joined in ESPN’s pit studio by analyst Tim Brewer. Calling the action from the booth will be Jerry Punch with analysts Rusty Wallace and Andy Petree. Allen Bestwick, Dave Burns and Jamie Little will report from the pits and garage.(ESPN PR)(2-14-2007)

Three Hours of Prime Time NASCAR Shows Wed. night on ESPN2: ESPN2 will air three hours of NASCAR-related programming in prime time Wednesday night, including two season preview shows and a movie about one of NASCAR’s greatest drivers. A pair of half-hour programs previewing the 2007 seasons of both the Nextel Cup Series and Busch Series will be aired on Wednesday night, Feb. 14, starting at 9pm/et with the Nextel Cup show. The evening will continue at 10pm/et with a replay of the ESPN Original Entertainment movie “3,” based on the life of the late Dale Earnhardt, seven-time NASCAR champion.(ESPN PR)()

ESPN’S NASCAR NOW Live from Daytona This week: NASCAR Now, ESPN’s first daily news show totally dedicated to NASCAR, will originate from Daytona International Speedway starting Monday, Feb. 12, and continuing all week. The program will air on both ESPN2 (generally 6:30-7pm/et) and ESPN (generally 5-6pm/et) leading up ESPN2’s live coverage of the Busch Series season opener on Feb. 17 on ESPN2, and the running of the Daytona 500. Hosts Erik Kuselias (M-Th-F) and Chris Fowler (T-W) will be joined by Rusty Wallace, Tim Brewer and reporters Mike Massaro, Marty Smith, Angelique Chengelisand Shannon Spakethroughout the week, along with Brad Daugherty, Tim Cowlishawand driver Boris Said. Guests are expected to include NASCAR star Jeff Gordon as well as the pole winners for both the Daytona 500 and the Busch Series Orbitz 300 and the Gatorade Duel 150 winners. Features will include a Daugherty conversation with Richard Petty and Spake’s look at Michael Waltrip and Toyota entering the Nextel Cup Series.(ESPN PR)(2-12-2007)

Contreras joins ESPN Deportes’ NASCAR Team: Carlos Contreras, one of the first Hispanic drivers in NASCAR, has joined ESPN Deportes’ experienced team of hosts, analysts and reporters for ESPN Deportes’ coverage of the 2007 NASCAR season. Contreras will serve as analyst for numerous races, joining analyst Alex Pombo and play-by-play commentator Andrés Agulla in the booth. He will make his first appearance on ESPN Deportes’ flag-to-flag coverage of the NASCAR Busch Series: Stater Bros 300 Saturday, Feb. 24 at 7:30pm/et live from the California Speedway in Fontana, CA. “We are excited to have Carlos on our team,” said Chris Calcinari, vice president of production and operations, ESPN Deportes. “Carlos will bring real world insight, experience, and inside information to our productions, and his on-the-track experience will be a tremendous asset for our NASCAR telecasts. For the first time in the history of Spanish-language television fans will be able to follow NASCAR action in Spanish and we have assembled the most knowledgeable team to offer top-notch coverage.” Contreras, an eight-time Mexican racing champion, has 84 career starts in NASCAR’s top series, including 70 in the Craftsman Truck Series and 14 in the Busch Series, the most of any Hispanic driver. Contreras made his NASCAR debut by qualifying 7th and finishing 14th in the season finale Craftsman Truck Series at the California Speedway in 1999. He ran the full Truck Series season in 2000 and was runner-up in the Rookie of the Year standings to future Nextel Cup champion Kurt Busch. In addition to his duties with ESPN Deportes, this 2007 season Contreras is slated to run several Busch series races for Armando Fitz and Fitz Motorsports, beginning with Mexico City on March 4th.(ESPN PR)(2-12-2007)

ESPN Sets Nextel Cup Schedule Times: Nextel Cup Series racing will return to ESPN for the first time in six years with the network’s coverage of the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard on Sunday, July 29, from Indianapolis Motor Speedway. ESPN and ESPN on ABC will have live coverage of the final 17 races of the 2007 season, including all 10 races in the “Chase for the Nextel Cup” by ESPN on ABC, the first time that all Chase races will be on the same network. ESPN’s full schedule for the 2007 Nextel Cup Series season will include telecasts of practice and qualifying from 13 races, the season-ending banquet and season preview and review specials. There will also be a dedicated pre-race program for each race telecast called Nextel Cup Series Countdown. And, for the first time in televised motorsports, all will be produced totally in High Definition. ESPN’s return to NASCAR will begin with live coverage of the NASCAR Busch Series season opener from Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 17. ESPN2 will be the home of the NASCAR Busch Series all season, with six select races televised by ESPN on ABC. "The Allstate 400 at the Brickyard has always been a marquee event on the Nextel Cup schedule and we cannot wait to provide our flag-to-flag coverage from such an historic race track," said John Wildhack, ESPN senior vice president, programming. "We will dedicate unprecedented multimedia resources to the sport beginning with the season-opening NASCAR Busch Series race at Daytona, continuing with our opening NEXTEL Cup race at Indianapolis on ESPN, and until the season champions are crowned."(ESPN PR), see my 2007 Nextel Cup Schedule page for the race/tv times.(2-8-2007)

NASCAR and ESPN Zone team up for Daytona 500 party: The 2007 Nextel Cup Season gets underway on Sunday, February 18th with the "Great American Race," the Daytona 500. NASCAR, Q 104.3 FM and ESPN Zone are going to be holding an official Daytona 500 Viewing Party at ESPN Zone in New York.
Who: NASCAR, Q 104.3 FM and ESPN Zone.
What: The official New York City Daytona 500 Viewing Party.
Where: ESPN Zone, located at 1472 Broadway on the corner of 42nd and Broadway in Times Square.
When: Sunday, February 18th from 2:00 - 6:00pm/et.
Promotions for the viewing party include a Lap Leader Ballot and Trivia Contests. The Lap Leader Ballot will be distributed to guests prior to the start of the race. Viewers will guess the correct lap leader after laps 50, 100, 150 and 200 (race winner). Winners of the lap leader ballot contest will be entered to win NASCAR prizes. Winners of the trivia contests will receive Nextel Cup Series t-shirts, NASCAR hats, and Anheuser Busch/Dale Jr. Premiums.(NASCAR PR)(2-5-2007)

NASCAR Now to debut on Monday Night, ESPN2: After more than a year of planning and preparation, NASCAR Now, ESPN’s first-ever daily news show totally dedicated to NASCAR, will premiere Monday, Feb. 5, at 6:30pm/et on ESPN2. NASCAR Now will be produced in High Definition and originate from a new state-of-the-art studio at ESPN’s campus in Bristol, Conn. Host Erik Kuselias will guide viewers through 30 minutes of fast-paced highlights, opinion, debate, analysis and the latest news from drivers, crew chiefs and insiders both on and off the track. For the debut show, as well as episodes on Tuesday and Wednesday, Feb. 6-7, Kuselias will be joined in the studio by ESPN motorsports analysts Rusty Wallace, the 1989 NASCAR Cup Series champion, and two-time Cup Series champion crew chief Tim Brewer. Wallace and Brewer will select their top five drivers of 2007 in addition to discussing and debating topics including the Car of Tomorrow, Toyota’s emergence in the top levels of NASCAR and NASCAR’s announced changes to the format of the Chase for the NASCAR Nextel Cup. Defending Nextel Cup champion Jimmie Johnson will appear on Monday’s show, while NASCAR Now will check in with 2006 Busch Series champion Kevin Harvick on Tuesday. Viewers will hear from Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Tony Stewart, Juan Pablo Montoya and Michael Waltrip later in the week. “In the history of ESPN, news and information has been a key part of our growth, and it’s at the heart of everything we do,” said Norby Williamson, ESPN executive vice president, studio and remote production. “First there was SportsCenter, and then ESPNEWS, ESPN.com, ESPN Radio and other platforms that are part of our DNA. We’re really proud to have the opportunity to extend that on a daily basis to NASCAR Now.” Kuselias, who has been the host of ESPN Radio’s SportsBash since 2003, said that he looks forward to the challenge of NASCAR Now. NASCAR Now will air at 6:30pm/et Monday through Friday on ESPN2, with special editions to air on NASCAR race weekends. Reporters Mike Massaro and Shannon Spake and NASCAR insiders Angelique Chengelis, Tim Cowlishaw and Marty Smith will also contribute to the show along with analysts Brad Daugherty, Boris Said and Stacy Compton. Compton and Cowlishaw will appear in the studio with Kuselias on Thursday and Friday of premiere week.
Live NASCAR racing returns to ESPN for the first time in six years with coverage of the NASCAR Busch Series season opener at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, Feb. 17, at 1:15pm/et on ESPN2.(ESPN PR)(2-2-2007)

ESPN names Said and Compton Analysts of NASCAR Now: NASCAR drivers Boris Said and Stacy Compton and popular urban radio host Doug Banks have joined the experienced team of hosts, analysts and reporters for NASCAR’s return to ESPN’s multimedia platforms in 2007. The three will be part of NASCAR Now, ESPN’s first-ever daily news show totally dedicated to NASCAR, debuting Monday, Feb. 5 [at 6:30pm/et]. Said and Compton will bring their years of racing experience to NASCAR Now as expert analysts, joining two-time NASCAR champion crew chief Tim Brewer and five-time NBA All-Star and former winning NASCAR team owner Brad Daugherty in that position. Banks will contribute to the show’s host role with primary host Erik Kuselias. NASCAR Now will air at 6:30pm/et Monday through Friday on ESPN2, with special editions to air on NASCAR race weekends. Reporter Shannon Spake and NASCAR Insiders Angelique Chengelis, Tim Cowlishaw and Marty Smith will also contribute to a fast-paced menu of highlights, opinion, debate, analysis and the latest news from drivers, crew chiefs and insiders both on and off the track. Live NASCAR racing returns to ESPN for the first time in six years with coverage of the NASCAR Busch Series season opener at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, Feb. 17, at 1:15pm/et on ESPN2.(ESPN PR)(1-30-2007)

ESPN signs Compton as lead analyst: Stacy Compton has agreed to terms on a contract that will make him ESPN's "lead analyst," the driver confirmed Thursday. He said the contract is for one year with a two-year option for 2008 and 09. ESPN will make a formal announcement of Compton's hiring next Tuesday. Compton made his first ESPN appearance on Thursday night's 6 p.m. SportsCenter. He will be a regular contributor to the ultra-popular sports news show, and he will share his racing expertise on three racing-exclusive programs a week during the season. He and host Erik Kuselias will do a Monday "NASCAR Now" program, and Compton will also appear on two Sunday "RaceDay" shows. Most of the programs will air from ESPN's Bristol, Conn., studios, but Compton expects to do some work from NASCAR tracks. Official airdates of "NASCAR Now" [Feb 5th at 6:30pm/et and weekdays at that time] and "RaceDay" will be announced next week. Compton's only regret about his budding television career is it will cut into his racing slate. He recently signed to drive an abbreviated Craftsman Truck Series schedule for 2007 with Wood Brothers/JTG Motorsports, the team he drove for in the Busch Series from 2001-06. Compton will share the driving duties of the #09 Ford F-150 with Georgia driver Joey Clanton. Compton is signed to pilot the truck for nine races, and Clanton is scheduled to drive the other 16. There also are plans for Compton to drive some Busch Series races for Wood Brothers Racing. Compton is talking with other teams about possible race dates, too.(News and Advance)(1-27-2007)

ESPN Unviels First Phase of Marketing Campaign for NASCAR: ESPN is unveiling the first phase of its multimedia marketing campaign for NASCAR on ESPN, announced by Katie Lacey, senior vice president, marketing. Created by Wieden+Kennedy New York, the campaign honors NASCAR’s rich heritage and pays tribute to the teams, drivers and dedicated legions of fans whose combined passion has fueled the sport’s tremendous growth. This is the opening campaign for NASCAR’s eight-year, multi-platform return to ESPN. “Our NASCAR on ESPN brand campaign is intended to generate awareness and excitement of NASCAR coming to ESPN and, importantly, demonstrate our understanding of the sport and the passionate culture that surrounds it,” said Lacey. The brand campaign bears the new NASCAR tagline, “NASCAR on ESPN: It’s The Life”, and provides an inside look and behind-the-scenes glimpse of the sights, sounds, energy and fandom that makes up the NASCAR experience. An additional phase of the campaign is scheduled to roll out in February and will run throughout the NASCAR NEXTEL and NASCAR Busch Series season, as well as the 10-race “Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup.” This year will mark the first time all of “The Chase” races will air on one network - ESPN on ABC. The NASCAR on ESPN brand campaign will run on all ESPN TV and Radio networks and will include outdoor, print and online components. Flag-to-flag NASCAR racing returns to ESPN on February 17th with the NASCAR Busch Series season-opener from Daytona International Speedway.(ESPN PR)(1-17-2007)

ESPN the Magazine allows fans to vote for next cover: Each year, ESPN The Magazine's trademark NEXT issue looks ahead and identifies those athletes whose talent and style will shape the landscape of sports in the years to come. This year, in addition to showcasing the innovations and trends that are changing the games we love, The Magazine has selected five finalists to vie for the prize of NEXT cover athlete: Dwight Howard, Calvin Johnson, Evgeni Malkin, Juan Pablo Montoya and Jose Reyes. For the second year in a row, fans can log on to ESPN.com, from January 10-17, to vote on who should be NEXT. The winner of the poll will appear on the cover of The Magazine’s NEXT issue, on sale January 31. Previous NEXT cover athletes include Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Yao Ming, Alex Rodriguez and Brian Urlacher.(ESPN PR)(1-12-2007)

NASCAR Now Daily News Shows to Debut Feb 5th on ESPN2: ESPN2’s NASCAR Now, ESPN’s first daily program dedicated solely to NASCAR news and information, will debut February 5 at 6:30pm/et. Starting February 18, NASCAR Now will also be aired Sundays at 10:00am/et. Erik Kuselias will serve as NASCAR Now host, giving up his role hosting ESPN Radio’s SportsBash (4:00-7:00pm M-F), but maintaining a fill-in role at ESPN Radio. For the week of February 12, NASCAR Now will originate from Daytona International Speedway. NASCAR Now’s Daytona coverage will include the Busch Series’ Daytona 300 on February 17, the first race on ESPN2. When NASCAR Now returns to Bristol (Connecticut, not Tennessee) Monday, Feb. 19, the show will originate from a high-tech, garage-like, HD studio. “We’re looking forward to providing NASCAR fans the latest news, analysis and opinion in the timeliest and best format -- HD -- six days a week,” said Jack Obringer, NASCAR Now coordinating producer. “Erik will elicit the best information from our team of NASCAR reporters, experts and insiders.” Kuselias will serve as the show’s spotter, navigating viewers through 30 minutes of highlights, opinion, debate, analysis, and the latest news from drivers, crew chiefs and insiders both on and off the track. NASCAR Now will also feature Busch Series news and fantasy elements. Additionally, joining the ESPN and ABC NASCAR team will be the front-tire changer for the #8 Budweiser Chevy D.J. Copp, who’ll lend pit-crew expertise as a NASCAR Now contributor. Kuselias will be joined by reporters, crew members, drivers and former drivers, allowing NASCAR Now to cover every angle of the sport. The NASCAR Now team will include:
Tim Brewer, two-time NASCAR Cup champion crew chief
Tim Cowlishaw, Dallas Morning News NASCAR writer and columnist
Marty Smith, NASCAR.com senior writer
Angelique S. Chengelis, Detroit News NASCAR writer and columnist
D.J. Copp, front tire changer on the #8 Budweiser Chevy
Shannon Spake, reporter for SPEED’s NASCAR Nation and Backseat Drivers host
Brad Daugherty, five-time NBA All-Star and former winning NASCAR team owner
NASCAR Now viewers will also benefit from frequent contributions by the ESPN / ABC NASCAR team including Rusty Wallace, Jerry Punch, Andy Petree, Allen Bestwick, Dave Burns, Jamie Little, Mike Massaro, Dale Jarrett andESPN Deportes’ NASCAR commentators Andrés Agulla and Alex Pombo.(ESPN PR)(1-10-2007)

2006 News

ESPN adds more auto racing to their coverage: ESPN has further bolstered its motorsports lineup with the announcement of a new, multi-year agreement that will mark the return of the Champ Car World Series in 2007. At least 11 events of the international open-wheel racing series will be televised on ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN on ABC in 2007, with the networks exclusively airing the series in 2008. With the addition of Champ Car to its motorsports lineup, ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN on ABC will televise races in 2007 featuring the four major North American auto racing sanctioning bodies: NASCAR, NHRA, Champ Car and IndyCar. ESPN2 will have more than 500 hours of motorsports programming in 2007. The new arrangement also provides for coverage of races of Champ Car’s feeder series, the Champ Car Atlantic Series, which will be aired primarily on ESPN2.(ESPN PR)(11-17-2006)

Where is Marty? [Waldo?] been asked by many readers: where is Marty Smith? looks like he is formerly of nascar.com as his columns and videos are no longer there, have not heard anything for sure and emails go un-answered, but hearing Smith has signed with ESPN/ESPN.com/ABC to do TV and other duties, but have heard nothing official. Smith has been doing some NASCAR reporting on ESPNews Monday nights most of the season.(11-3-2006)

5-Time NBA All-Star Daugherty Shifting Gears: Basketball fans know Brad Daugherty as an accomplished and well-known NBA and college basketball star, but few may know of Daugherty’s lifelong passion of NASCAR racing. Daugherty’s racing interests date back to his childhood when he met Richard Petty at the Daytona International Speedway in 1977. Daugherty would later choose to wear Petty’s number – 43 – throughout his NBA career with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Now, Daughterty has joined the ESPN and ABC team of hosts, analysts and pit reporters in 2007 to provide what he describes as the “fan’s perspective” in the network’s comprehensive, multimedia coverage devoted to NASCAR. “I’m just really excited about being able to get involved on this level,” said Daugherty. “I have a little bit of technical and ownership experience, but mostly, I am a fan.” In his second year in the NBA, Daugherty took a serious interest in racing and in 1987, co-founded a late-model stock race team with driver Robert Pressley in Asheville, N.C. The team raced in the Mid-Atlantic Region of the NASCAR Racing Series, winning the regional championship in 1987 and 1988. In 1989, they joined the NASCAR Busch Series and earned the team’s first major victory at the Orange County Speedway in North Carolina. While continuing to play pro hoops, Daugherty supported and mentored several up-and-coming drivers as an owner in the NASCAR Busch Series and Craftsman Truck Series, explaining that he wanted to nurture their talents and see their careers grow. Drivers included the late Kenny Irwin Jr., Wayne Anderson and Kevin Harvick. Irwin won two Craftsman Truck Series races driving for Daugherty in 1997, the first at Homestead-Miami Speedway in March and the second at Texas Motor Speedway in June. "I hope to draw in a new audience,” he added. “NASCAR is a sport that business-wise, has to continue to grow and go international. It needs to broaden horizons and I hope my presence gives fans even more reason to turn it on and watch.”
A long-time fan of the sport, Daugherty will sit alongside fellow commentators on two new shows -- NASCAR Countdown and NASCAR Now. NASCAR Countdown will immediately precede all Nextel Cup Series and Busch Series races televised on ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC, while NASCAR Now, the network’s first-ever daily program solely dedicated to NASCAR, will deliver the most up-to-date news and information each weekday. NASCAR Now will debut on ESPN2 on Feb. 5, 2007. “It’s like taking a fan out of the stands and into the booth,” said Daugherty. “I’m as interested in the stories and sagas as the competition. I know those little pieces that nobody talks about.” Daugherty previously served as a college basketball game sideline reporter and analyst for ESPN and ABC (1999-2001), covering the ACC conference telecasts. Before ESPN, Daugherty served as a game analyst for the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers from 1996-1998 on the Hometown 43/Cavaliers Television Network and in those same years did limited work as an analyst for the San Antonio Spurs.(ESPN PR)(11-1-2006)

ESPN Daily Show: hearing the ESPN 'Daily NASCAR/Racing Show' will be called "NASCAR Now". No word who will host the shows, but told that John Kernan will not and will not be part of the ESPN NASCAR TV Crew at the track in 2007. Kernan was the host of the Bass Master Fishing Show on ESPN until it was recently cancelled and the host of the late great RPM2Nite show on ESPN until 2001, no word on his plans but hear his looking for a gig.(8-28-2006)

ABC Sports Will Carry ESPN Brand: The ESPN look is moving to ABC. ESPN will become the brand for all sports programming carried on ABC, starting with the debut of ABC's college football season on Sept. 2. "ESPN on ABC" will begin with the College Football Countdown, followed by regional college football games that day. The first prime-time college football series on broadcast television, "Saturday Night Football," will debut at 8pm with Notre Dame at Georgia Tech. "Our collection of multimedia sports assets is unmatched in the industry, and we will now extend the ESPN brand across all platforms," said George Bodenheimer, president of ESPN and ABC Sports and co-chairman of Disney Media Networks, on Thursday. The new approach covers all production efforts, including on-air, graphics and branding. Sporting events on ABC will be promoted on ESPN. "ESPN has been infused with ABC Sports' history of innovation, and we are committed to building upon that legacy as we continue to serve fans and our partners more effectively through ESPN on ABC," Bodenheimer said. The network will acquire NASCAR's Nextel Cup next year, including the Chase for the championship. ABC already features the NBA finals, Indy 500, Rose Bowl, Belmont Stakes, British Open, World Cup, WNBA, MLS and the Little League World Series, broadcasting 500 hours of sports a year.(Associated Press)(8-11-2006)

Smith to ESPN/ABC?: NASCAR.com's Marty Smith is rumored to be one of the commentators for ESPN's live race coverage when the cable network resumes live NASCAR broadcasts next year.(Ford Racing)(6-13-2006)

FOX Producer back to ESPN? UPDATE: hearing that Neil Goldberg is leaving as FOX Producer and going back to ESPN. Pocono is supposedly his last race.
UPDATE: been told that Goldberg going back to ESPN isn't a done deal nor does he have a contract already signed with ESPN. Apparently, Goldberg and FOX are taking the next three weeks to look at all options.(6-9-2006)

ESPN Sports Poll Tabs NASCAR as Top Racing Series: NASCAR tops the list as the favorite type of motorsports according to fans polled from January-December 2005 on ESPN.com. It received 59.5% of the votes compared to the next-highest total of 13.4% for the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA). Following in third place were motorcycle events at 9.7, Formula 1 with 6.3, the Indy Racing League (IRL) with 6.1, Champ Car World Series with 1.4 and other racing series at 0.4. NASCAR also led the 2004 version of the ESPN Sports Poll, with fans sampling conducted from January through February of that year. In the 2004 poll, NASCAR led with 57.6% of fans’ response, followed by the NHRA with 13.9, motorcycle events with 9.8, the IRL with 6.8, Formula 1 with 6.0, Champ Car World Series with 1.8 and other racing series at 0.5.(NASCAR PR)(5-15-2006)

NASCAR, ESPN International announce venture: ESPN International will become the exclusive worldwide syndication agent for NASCAR outside of North America, officials for both groups announced. Beginning in 2007, ESPN International will handle the worldwide television syndication for NASCAR and will also help find broadcast partners on a country-by-country basis. Therefore, both companies will expand the scope of their operations. ESPN and ABC take over broadcasting of the portion of the NASCAR Nextel Cup schedule currently carried on NBC beginning next season. The group also has the rights to the Busch Series broadcasts as of 2007. "This agreement is an important step in the continued growth of NASCAR beyond the U.S.," Robbie Weiss, international managing director for NASCAR, said in a news release. "We are excited to partner with ESPN International and their worldwide syndication team to help strengthen NASCAR's reach and bring NASCAR to audiences all over the world."(SceneDaily.com)(4-18-2006)

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