a coulmn from the Roanoke Times about ESPN’s John Kernan who used to host the now defunct [WEEKLY] RPM 2 Night auto racing show [but still airs on weekends with Kernan], some info in part from the article: In 1996 Kernan rode NASCAR’s growing popularity all the way to the weeknight anchor’s chair of RPM 2Night, a racing news and features show that ESPN promoted as “a 30-minute answer to every gearhead’s dream.” Although the show also included highlights, analysis and behind-the-scenes features from the CART, Indy and Formula One series, its main focus was on Winston Cup racing. In 2000, Fox and NBC outbid Disney, ESPN’s parent company, for NASCAR’s television rights in a deal that eventually sent ESPN’s relationship with NASCAR into the Turn 1 wall. Shortly after the Fox deal was announced, NASCAR decided RPM 2Night could no longer use Winston Cup or Busch series race footage, nor would it allow the “feature show” to send its cameras onto the track. So Kernan wasn’t blindsided when ESPN informed him last August that it was pulling the plug on the weeknight version of RPM 2Night after the 2002 Winston Cup season. “I could see it coming a couple of years ago,” said Kernan, who signed off on the final RPM 2Night weeknight show last November following the season-ending Cup race at the Homestead-Miami Speedway. “I was very disappointed, but I wasn’t shocked,” he said, adding that he harbors no bitterness toward NASCAR or Fox. “I fully understand where they are coming from. It’s strictly a business decision.” ESPN is keeping Kernan busy in the final year of his contract. He serves as host for the Sunday edition of RPM 2Day, which airs an hour before every Winston Cup race, and RPM 2Night, which airs at 10:30pm. He also serves as host for RPM Now, a weekly two-hour syndicated radio show. Kernan plans to be at the Virginia 500 at Martinsville Speedway in April.( Roanoke Times )(2-24-2003)
