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)
