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)
