For the first time in its history, ESPN will present a Spanish-language telecast of a major sporting event with this Sundays flag-to-flag coverage of the NASCAR Busch Series race in Mexico City.
While ESPN2, home of the NASCAR Busch Series, will cover the race at Autdromo Hermanos Rodrguez in English, ESPN will provide a rare simulcast of ESPN Deportes, ESPNs domestic Spanish-language network. Those telecasts highlight 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.
“The NASCAR Busch Series race in Mexico City is a special event, said John Wildhack, ESPN senior vice president, programming and acquisitions. It presents a unique and history-making opportunity for a Spanish-language telecast on a major cable network as well as a traditional English-speaking telecast. Interest in this event is high and we’re pleased to be able to provide multiple viewing options for NASCAR fans.
Coverage from Mexico City will begin at 1:30 p.m. ET with the pre-race NASCAR Countdown on ESPN2 as well as Cuenta Regresiva a NASCAR on ESPN and ESPN Deportes. The race telecasts begin at 2 p.m.
ESPN2 is the home of the NASCAR Busch Series in 2007, with six select events to be televised by ESPN on ABC. ESPN is covering the series with the same standards of production that it will use later this season for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series, including the full use of High Definition cameras, Sportvision pointers and technology and state-of-the-art graphics.
“We are committed to the NASCAR Busch Series, said Wildhack. ESPN’s Full Circle approach will showcase the excitement and competitiveness of the Busch Series across a variety of multimedia platforms.
NASCAR Busch Series at Mexico City Full Circle highlights:
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 as well as highlighting key Hispanic drivers. Play-by-play commentator Andrs Agulla will be joined in the booth by Alex Pombo for analysis. Claudia Trejos and Marcelo Vivo will serve as pit reporters. NASCAR team owner Felix Sabates will join Agulla and Pombo in the booth for 30 minutes during the race.
ESPN2 (ESPN2 HD): Will present the traditional English-language race telecast as ESPN2 is doing all season for the NASCAR Busch Series. Lead 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. A live edition of NASCAR Now, ESPNs first daily news and information show totally dedicated to NASCAR, will air at 10 a.m. Analysts Tim Brewer and Brad Daugherty will join ESPNs Chris Fowler on NASCAR Countdown at 1:30 p.m. The ESPN2 telecast will be simulcast on the ABC Supersign in New York Citys Times Square.
ESPN Deportes: In addition to offering Spanish-language flag-to-flag coverage, the network will present the Cuenta Regresiva a NASCAR pre-race show at 1:30 p.m. 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.
ESPNEWS: The nations only 24-hour sports news network will offer in-progress highlights, analysis, and expanded post-race coverage.
ESPN360: ESPNs 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.
ESPN.com: ESPN.com coverage will be highlighted by extensive online video as well as ESPN.coms RaceCast live race-day application featuring an in-race animated graphic display, track information, lap leaders, race leaders, multimedia, driver information and live in-race chat with ESPN NASCAR contributor Tim Cowlishaw. ESPN.com will also include comprehensive coverage from award-winning motorsports writers Terry Blount, David Newton, NASCAR Insiders Marty Smith and Angelique Chengelis.
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 and Alex Pombo.
ESPN Deportes Radio: The exclusive Spanish-language radio home of MRN Radio will provide in-race reports, commentary from ESPN Deportes Radio NASCAR experts Bernardo Pillati and Carlos Arratia from onsite.
Additional studio programming: Several other programs will also present NASCAR Busch Series at Mexico City content, including ESPN2s Cold Pizza, and SportsCenter.
In addition, ESPN Deportes will debut a new episode of ESPN Perfiles, the networks half-hour, in-depth interview show, featuring Brazilian Formula One three-time champion Nelson Piquet Sunday, March 4 at 1 p.m. ET.(ESPN PR)(2-27-2007)
