| | February 1, 2000
ESPN and ESPN2 will again combine for television's best motorsports schedule, with extensive coverage of NASCAR, CART's FedEx Championship Car Series, NHRA and -- joining the lineup in 2000 -- the Northern Light Indy Racing League Series, as well as television's only daily motorsports news program, ESPN2's RPM 2Night. The season will begin with extensive coverage of "Speedweeks" at Daytona Speedway with more than 50 hours of coverage beginning February 5 and continuing daily through February 21.
ESPN's auto racing commentator lineup returns intact for NASCAR and Champ Cars, with Ray Evernham joining the ESPN/ABC Sports race team as an analyst for ABC Sports' five Winston Cup events, ESPN's "Happy Hour" telecasts on those weekends, ABC/ESPN IROC telecasts and throughout ESPN/ESPN2 coverage of "Speedweeks" next month. Evernham, formerly Jeff Gordon's crew chief for three Winston Cup Championships, now heads Dodge's return to the sport in 2001. Also, Bob Jenkins will add the Indy Racing League to his duties, hosting the telecasts for both ESPN and ABC Sports. Specific commentator assignments follow, along with highlights for the 2000 racing season on ESPN/ESPN2.
'Speedweeks' from Daytona
Daily coverage February 5-21 totaling more than 50 hours, including extensive coverage of practice and qualifying for NASCAR Winston Cup, Busch Series, Craftsman Truck Series, Goody's Dash Series, ARCA and IROC.
ESPN2's RPM 2Night returns to its daily schedule February 7 with hosts John Kernan (weeknights) and Rece Davis (weekends) live on location through the Daytona 500 on February 20. Matt Yocum and Marlo Klain will return as reporters. RPM 2Day returns with Davis hosting on Sunday mornings starting February 20.
NASCAR 2Day returns as the pre-race show for all Winston Cup events February 20 at 11:30 a.m. on ESPN2. Bill Weber returns as host.
Kenny Mayne will anchor SportsCenter's on-site coverage beginning Thursday, Feb. 17 (the day of the NASCAR Winston Cup Twin 125s) and continuing to Monday, Feb. 21, the day after the Daytona 500.
The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series' first-ever race at Daytona, live on ESPN Friday, Feb. 18 at 11 a.m. (See below for details on the 2000 schedule.)
-- Extensive live coverage of the Grand Am Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona February 5-6 on ESPN2. Marty Reid will host with Jeremy Dale providing analysis and Dave Burns and Bill Weber covering the pits. ESPN2's coverage will be in two parts, a 3 ½-hour show at the start and a 6 ½-hour program leading up to and including the finish.
The ARCA Daytona 200 season opener live on ESPN Sunday, Feb. 13 at 1:30 p.m. ET, the first of four ARCA events on ESPN/ESPN2 (Daytona, Michigan, Talladega and Atlanta).
A one-hour special, The Families of NASCAR, the second in a four-part series of "NASCAR 2000" documentaries, on ESPN Friday, Feb. 18 at 7 p.m.
NASCAR
13 Winston Cup races with Bob Jenkins returning for his 20th year on ESPN NASCAR telecasts as host with analysts Benny Parsons and Ned Jarrett and pit reporters Jerry Punch, John Kernan and Bill Weber. On the four dates that conflict with Indy Racing League events, Punch will host with Ray Dunlap filling in on pit road.
Coverage will also include Winston Cup qualifying and "Happy Hour" (practice on the day before the race) for ESPN/ABC races and NASCAR 2Day before all Winston Cup events.
14 Busch Series races with Punch hosting in the booth with Parsons and Winston Cup racer Kyle Petty as analysts and pit reporters Dunlap and Weber.
21 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races with returnees Marty Reid (host), Parsons (analyst) and pit reporters Dave Burns and Amy East. ESPN will televise the inaugural series event at four tracks: Daytona, Kentucky (Lexington), Chicago and Dover, Del. The 2000 season will be the second in a five-year agreement providing cable exclusivity for the series to ESPN/ESPN2.
CART Fed Ex Championship Car Series
10 of the series' 20 events, including the first race ever scheduled to be aired on ESPN2 (June 25 at 7 p.m. from Portland, Ore.)
The 2000 season begins on ESPN Sunday, March 26 in Homestead, Fla.
Paul Page will return as host, with analyst Parker Johnstone and pit reporters Jon Beekhuis and Gary Gerould.
ESPN2 will televise qualifying for all events held in North America (17 of 20).
CART 2Day returns on ESPN2 as a 30-minute preview on race day (17 of 20).
Northern Light Indy Racing League series
The launch of a five-year agreement with all events aired on ESPN or ABC Sports.
ESPN will televise four of the 10 races in 2000, starting with a Saturday night race from the Texas Motor Speedway on June 10.
Bob Jenkins will call all the races, with analyst Tom Sneva and pit reporters Jack Arute and Vince Welch.
ESPN2 will televise qualifying for all 10 races, including extensive coverage of qualifying and practice for the Indianapolis 500 and will debut Indy Racing 2Day before all events.
NHRA
14 NHRA events on ESPN2, with live elements in addition to same-day coverage.
Dave McClelland returns as host with analyst Shelly Anderson and pit reporter Bill Stephens who will be joined by newcomer Dave Reiff.
ESPN2 will televise qualifying for all 14 events and 13 NHRA Sportsman Series telecasts.
IROC
ESPN and ABC Sports will combine for exclusive coverage of IROC XXIV. ABC Sports will televise the events from Daytona (March 12, taped Feb. 18), Talladega (April 16, taped April 15) and Indianapolis (August 5, taped August 4). ESPN will televise live the third race of the 2000 IROC season, from Brooklyn, Mich. Sat., June 10 at 12 noon.
Bob Jenkins will call the IROC races with analysts Benny Parsons and Ray Evernham and pit reporter Jerry Punch.
More for race fans from ESPN Inc.
ESPN's RPM Radio, a year-round Friday night program hosted by Kernan. The two-hour show reviews qualifying results and other news and presents interviews and features. It debuted in 1998 and is heard on more than 170 affiliates nationwide.
ESPN The Magazine's first-ever special edition previews the 2000 NASCAR Winston Cup season and goes on sale today. The bi-weekly regularly covers motorsports.
ESPN.com features the latest auto racing news, along with commentary, chats, video highlights and "RaceCast" with constantly updated statistics during all Winston Cup races.
ESPN Classic features past Indy 500, NASCAR, CART and IROC races and specials.
| |
ALSO SEE
ESPN/ESPN2 2000 auto racing broadcast schedules
|
