NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Season Finale Live on ABC
 
The 2009 season finale for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is this weekend at Florida’s Homestead-Miami Speedway as the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup ends with the crowning of the champion. ESPN’s live, flag-to-flag coverage of the Ford 400 airs Sunday, Nov. 22, on ABC and ABC HD beginning with NASCAR Countdown at 2:30 p.m. ET. The race’s green flag is at 3:30 p.m.
 
Also from Homestead, ESPN2 airs coverage of NASCAR Sprint Cup qualifying on Friday, Nov. 20, at 3 p.m., as well as coverage of final practice on Saturday, Nov. 21, at 3 p.m.
 
Dr. Jerry Punch will be lap-by-lap announcer for ESPN’s coverage, with analysis by 1999 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Dale Jarrett and two-time NASCAR champion crew chief Andy Petree. Reporting from the pits will be Dave Burns, Jamie Little, Shannon Spake and Vince Welch, with two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion crew chief Tim Brewer in the ESPN Craftsman Tech Garage.
 
Allen Bestwick will host the pre-race NASCAR Countdown program with analysis by 1989 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Rusty Wallace, Brad Daugherty, co-owner of a winning team in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, and three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion crew chief Ray Evernham in the ESPN pit studio.
 
 
SportsCenter Special Originates from Homestead on Championship Day
 
ESPN’s flagship program SportsCenter will present a 90-minute special from Homestead-Miami Speedway on Sunday, Nov. 22, at 1 p.m. ET, following NFL Countdown on ESPN. The telecast will lead up to NASCAR Countdown on ABC at 2:30 p.m.
 
SportsCenter presented by AutoZone at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship will be hosted by Allen Bestwick and will give NASCAR fans the opportunity to see things that go on prior to a race that they normally don’t get to see.
 
Mike Rowe, host of Dirty Jobs on the Discovery Channel, will be a special on-site reporter for ESPN and look at some of the dirty jobs of NASCAR. Rowe’s voice has been heard by NASCAR fans as the narrator of segments during ESPN’s coverage of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup this season.
ESPN’s Dave Burns will spend the program shadowing the #48 Lowe’s Chevrolet of Jimmie Johnson, taking viewers behind-the-scenes as the car goes through final race preparation and NASCAR inspection. And ESPN’s Marty Smith will shadow Johnson himself in the hours before he attempts to make history as the first driver to win four consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup championships.
 
The program also will include a heartwarming story of how the building of Homestead-Miami Speedway in 1994 and 1995 helped bring the Homestead area back from the devastation wrought by Hurricane Andrew, one of the worst natural disasters in history, on Aug. 24, 1992.
 
Joining Bestwick in the ESPN Pit Studio will be analysts Rusty Wallace, Brad Daugherty and Ray Evernham. Several NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers also are expected to stop by the studio during the course of the program.
 
 
NASCAR Nationwide Series Finale Live from Homestead on ESPN2
 
ESPN2 completes its season-long coverage of the NASCAR Nationwide Series this weekend as the series concludes 2009 with the Ford 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The live, flag-to-flag telecast airs Saturday, Nov. 21, at 4 p.m. ET, with the green flag at 4:45 p.m. ESPN2 is the home of the NASCAR Nationwide Series all season, with selected races on ESPN and ABC.
 
Marty Reid will be lap-by-lap announcer for ESPN’s coverage, with analysis by 1999 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Dale Jarrett and two-time NASCAR champion crew chief Andy Petree. Reporting from the pits will be Dave Burns, Jamie Little, Shannon Spake and Vince Welch, with two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion crew chief Tim Brewer in the ESPN Craftsman Tech Garage.
 
Allen Bestwick will host the pre-race NASCAR Countdown program with analysis by 1989 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Rusty Wallace, Brad Daugherty, co-owner of a winning team in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, and three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion crew chief Ray Evernham in the ESPN pit studio.
 
 
NASCAR Now Originates from Homestead for Season Finale
 
NASCAR Now, ESPN2’s daily NASCAR news and information program, will close out its 2009 season with four shows originating from Homestead-Miami Speedway, site of this weekend’s final races of the NASCAR season. Allen Bestwick will host the programs with analysts including Rusty Wallace, Brad Daugherty, Ray Evernham and Dale Jarrett, and reporters Mike Massaro, Nicole Manske and Marty Smith.
 
The first program from Homestead airs Friday, Nov. 20, at 12:30 a.m. ET (late Thursday night), with another airing Saturday, Nov. 21, at 12:30 a.m. (late Friday night). The one-hour weekend edition airs Sunday, Nov. 22, at 10 a.m. with a preview of that day’s NASCAR Sprint Cup finale at Homestead, with the final NASCAR Now of the season airing at 10 p.m. Sunday.
 
Massaro hosts half-hour editions of NASCAR Now from ESPN’s high definition studios in Bristol, Ct., on Wednesday, Nov. 17, at 1:30 a.m. (late Tuesday night), and Wednesday at 6 p.m. Smith will report from Miami for both programs.
 
 
ESPN Classic Returns to North Wilkesboro Speedway
 
With long-dormant North Wilkesboro (NC) Speedway scheduled to re-open late in 2010, ESPN Classic will bring NASCAR fans back to the 0.625-mile short track with a look at the 1989 Holly Farms 400, a NASCAR Winston Cup race. A one-hour highlights program airs Monday, Nov. 23, at noon ET.
 
 
NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Action Airs Sunday The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series will air Sunday, Nov. 22, at 11 p.m. ET on ESPN2 with coverage of series action from the event held at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona, Calif.
 
Featuring race vehicles that range from 5-second Top Alcohol Dragsters and Top Alcohol Funny Cars to 15-second Stockers, the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series is the premier Sportsman series in drag racing. Eight categories are included in the series, which is showcased at selected NHRA national events. ESPN’s Dave Rieff will anchor the coverage from Pomona.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Live from Texas on ABC
 
The Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup is down to three races to go and this weekend the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth for 500 miles on Sunday, Nov. 8. ESPN’s live, flag-to-flag coverage of the Dickies 500 airs on ABC beginning with NASCAR Countdown at 2:30 p.m. ET. The race’s green flag is at 3:30 p.m.
 
Dr. Jerry Punch will be lap-by-lap announcer for ESPN’s coverage, with analysis by 1999 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Dale Jarrett and two-time NASCAR champion crew chief Andy Petree. Reporting from the pits will be Dave Burns, Jamie Little, Shannon Spake and Vince Welch, with two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion crew chief Tim Brewer in the ESPN Craftsman Tech Garage.
 
Allen Bestwick will host the pre-race NASCAR Countdown program with analysis by 1989 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Rusty Wallace and Brad Daugherty, co-owner of a winning team in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, in the ESPN pit studio.
 
 
NASCAR Nationwide Series Live from Texas on ESPN2
 
ESPN2 continues its season-long coverage of the NASCAR Nationwide Series this weekend as the series races at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth. The live, flag-to-flag telecast airs Saturday, Nov. 7, at noon ET, with the green flag at 1:01 p.m. ESPN2 is the home of the NASCAR Nationwide Series all season, with selected races on ESPN and ABC.
 
Marty Reid will be lap-by-lap announcer for ESPN’s coverage, with analysis by 1999 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Dale Jarrett and two-time NASCAR champion crew chief Andy Petree. Reporting from the pits will be Dave Burns, Jamie Little, Shannon Spake and Vince Welch, with two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion crew chief Tim Brewer in the ESPN Craftsman Tech Garage.
 
Allen Bestwick will host the pre-race NASCAR Countdown program with analysis by 1989 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Rusty Wallace and Brad Daugherty, co-owner of a winning team in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, in the ESPN pit studio.
 
 
Evernham, Craven, Said on NASCAR Now Roundtable
 
NASCAR on ESPN analysts Ray Evernham, Ricky Craven and Boris Said will be panelists on NASCAR Now’s weekly roundtable discussion program on Monday, Nov. 9, at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN2. Allen Bestwick will host the edition of ESPN2’s daily NASCAR news and information program.
 
Mike Massaro hosts half-hour episodes of NASCAR Now airing Tuesday through Thursday of this week at 5 p.m., and Saturday at 12:30 a.m. (late Friday night). Massaro will be joined by Said for the one-hour weekend edition that airs Sunday, Nov. 8, at 10 a.m. with a preview of that day’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Texas Motor Speedway. The weekend wrap-up edition airs at 10 p.m. Sunday. Nicole Manske and Marty Smith will report from the speedway for both programs. . 
 
NASCAR Now is hosted by Massaro, Bestwick and Manske and originates from ESPN’s high definition studios in Bristol, Conn. Contributors include NASCAR Insiders Marty Smith and Angelique Chengelis, analysts Ray Evernham, Tim Brewer, Brad Daugherty, Boris Said, Ricky Craven and Randy LaJoie, and ESPN.com reporters Ed Hinton, Terry Blount and David Newton. The NASCAR on ESPN team event coverage team of Rusty Wallace, Dale Jarrett, Dr. Jerry Punch, Andy Petree, Dave Burns, Jamie Little, Spake and Vince Welch also make frequent contributions to NASCAR Now.
 
 
Petty, Earnhardt Documentaries Air on ESPN Classic
 
Seven-time NASCAR champion Richard Petty and fan favorite Dale Earnhardt Jr. will be featured in episodes of the ESPN signature series SportsCentury airing this week on ESPN Classic.
 
The episode featuring Earnhardt airs Thursday, Nov. 5, at 11 a.m. ET, while the Petty program airs Sunday, Nov. 8, at 8 a.m.
 
 
ESPN2 To Air NHRA Lucas Oil Sportsman Series Racing
 
The NHRA Lucas Oil Sportsman Series will be in action from The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway as ESPN2 televises highlights on Sunday, Nov. 8, at 5 p.m. ET.
 
The Sportsman Series is the developmental series for the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series.
 
Also this week, ESPN Classic will air highlights from the 2004 Fram Autolite NHRA Nationals in Sonoma, Calif., on Monday, Nov. 9, at noon.
 
 
Traxxas TORC Series Action on ABC Sunday
 
Action from the Traxxas TORC Series presented by AMSOIL returns to ABC on Sunday, Nov. 8, at 1:30 p.m. ET with an event in Las Vegas. The premier short-course racing series with the top stars in off-road racing, this exciting form of door-to-door action is appearing on both ESPN2 and ABC this season.    
 
 
Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League Action Airs Sunday on ESPN2
 
The Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League, which features modified trucks, tractors and other vehicles, will be in action on Sunday, Nov. 8, in a half-hour program beginning at 1 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
 
The programs will feature highlights from an event held in Hamburg, N.Y. The league is sanctioned by the American Tractor Pulling Association.

Motorsports This Week on ESPN and ABC
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Live from Talladega on ABC
 
The Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup only has four races to go and this weekend the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races on NASCAR’s longest track, Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway, for 500 miles on Sunday, Nov. 1. ESPN’s live, flag-to-flag coverage of the AMP Energy 500 airs on ABC beginning with NASCAR Countdown at noon ET. The race’s green flag is at 1:19 p.m.
 
Dr. Jerry Punch will be lap-by-lap announcer for ESPN’s coverage, with analysis by 1999 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Dale Jarrett and two-time NASCAR champion crew chief Andy Petree. Reporting from the pits will be Dave Burns, Jamie Little, Shannon Spake and Vince Welch, with two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion crew chief Tim Brewer in the ESPN Craftsman Tech Garage.
 
Allen Bestwick will host the pre-race NASCAR Countdown program with analysis by 1989 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Rusty Wallace, Brad Daugherty, co-owner of a winning team in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, and three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion crew chief Ray Evernham in the ESPN pit studio.
 
 
Evernham, LaJoie, Craven on NASCAR Now Roundtable
 
NASCAR on ESPN analysts Ray Evernham, Randy LaJoie and Ricky Craven will be panelists on NASCAR Now’s weekly roundtable discussion program on Monday, Nov. 2, at 5 p.m. ET on ESPN2. Allen Bestwick will host the edition of ESPN2’s daily NASCAR news and information program.
 
Mike Massaro hosts half-hour episodes of NASCAR Now airing Tuesday through Thursday of this week at 5 p.m., and Saturday at 1 a.m. (late Friday night). Massaro will be joined by LaJoie for the one-hour weekend edition that airs Sunday, Nov. 1, at 10 a.m. with a preview of that day’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Talladega Superspeedway. The weekend wrap-up edition airs at 10 p.m. Sunday. Nicole Manske and Marty Smith will report from the speedway for both programs. . 
 
NASCAR Now is hosted by Massaro, Bestwick and Manske and originates from ESPN’s high definition studios in Bristol, Conn. Contributors include NASCAR Insiders Marty Smith and Angelique Chengelis, analysts Ray Evernham, Tim Brewer, Brad Daugherty, Boris Said, Ricky Craven and Randy LaJoie, and ESPN.com reporters Ed Hinton, Terry Blount and David Newton. The NASCAR on ESPN team event coverage team of Rusty Wallace, Dale Jarrett, Dr. Jerry Punch, Andy Petree, Dave Burns, Jamie Little, Spake and Vince Welch also make frequent contributions to NASCAR Now.
 
 
Countdown to 1 Continues in NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing
 
The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series continues its Countdown to 1 playoffs as the series visits The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway this weekend. ESPN2 will air qualifying and eliminations action from the NHRA Las Vegas Nationals, with qualifying airing Saturday, Oct. 31, at 11 p.m. ET. Eliminations action airs Sunday, Nov. 1, at 7 p.m., with a re-air Monday, Nov. 2, at 11 a.m. on ESPN Classic.
 
As the next-to-last event that will decide the season’s NHRA Full Throttle world championships, plenty is at stake in Las Vegas. Every run will be important because a slip at this point could be worse than snake eyes at the other Strip’s craps tables. The venue is the same as in the spring, but the weather may be different, making for high drama at an event where previous world champions have been crowned.
 
Paul Page anchors ESPN2’s coverage with analysis by 22-time NHRA winner Mike Dunn. Gary Gerould, Dave Rieff and John Kernan report from the pits. Rieff and Dunn host NHRA RaceDay on Sunday at 11 a.m. to set the stage for that day’s eliminations action.

Jeremy Mayfield on ESPN’s Outside the Lines Sunday
Suspended NASCAR driver Jeremy Mayfield tells reporter Steve Delsohn, in Mayfield’s first one-on-one nationally televised interview, that NASCAR is using his situation to scare the sport’s marquee drivers who he says use drugs, such as marijuana and cocaine. The interview airs on Outside the Lines on Sunday, Oct. 25, at 9 a.m. ET on ESPN.
NASCAR suspended Mayfield in May after he tested positive for methamphetamine. Mayfield vehemently denies the validity of the results, claiming the positive result was due to his use of Claritin-D and Adderall for allergies and ADHD, respectively. Five days after Mayfield’s suspension was lifted, however, he tested positive again, with methamphetamine levels usually only seen in chronic users. A handful of estranged friends and family say they have seen Mayfield use methamphetamine repeatedly, but he insists his relationships with them are strained and that they are lying.
Some quotes from Outside the Lines:
“I wish I could sit here and say ‘No, it’s not over,’ but realistically, I would have to have a sponsor, or own my own team, or find a ride, and all those are virtually impossible with the baggage that comes along with me now.” — Jeremy Mayfield, on whether his NASCAR career is over
“No, they could never be confused for methamphetamine in a confirmation.” — Dr. Anthony Butch, director of the UCLA Olympic Analytical Laboratory, which performs drug testing for U.S. Olympic athletes, the NFL and the NCAA, on whether a combination of Adderall and Claritin-D could cause a positive test for methamphetamine
“You use me as an example to let everybody know who may have already tested positive for marijuana, cocaine or whatever, that they haven’t got anybody for, and it puts the fear of God in everybody in the whole sport. I was a good example, a good pawn who wasn’t going to cost them any money at all. I was worth more to them as a failed drug test then I am as a driver, owner for my own team.” – Jeremy Mayfield

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Goes Short Track Racing Live on ABC
 
The Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup begins its final five races this weekend as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races on NASCAR’s smallest track, the half-mile Martinsville (Va.) Speedway, for 500 laps on Sunday, Oct. 25. ESPN’s live, flag-to-flag coverage of the race is presented by Goodyear and will air on ABC. The telecast begins with NASCAR Countdown at 1 p.m. ET and the race’s green flag is at 1:43 p.m.
 
ESPN’s coverage of the final 11 races of the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup schedule airs on ABC, including all 10 races in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. ESPN’s coverage from Martinsville also includes NASCAR Sprint Cup qualifying on Friday, Oct. 23, at 3 p.m., practice on Saturday, Oct. 24, at 10 a.m. and same-day coverage of final practice on Saturday at 6:30 p.m., all on ESPN2.
 
Dr. Jerry Punch will be lap-by-lap announcer for ESPN’s coverage, with analysis by 1999 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Dale Jarrett and two-time NASCAR champion crew chief Andy Petree. Reporting from the pits will be Dave Burns, Jamie Little, Shannon Spake and Vince Welch, with two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion crew chief Tim Brewer in the ESPN Craftsman Tech Garage.
 
Allen Bestwick will host the pre-race NASCAR Countdown program with analysis by 1989 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Rusty Wallace and Brad Daugherty, co-owner of a winning team in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, in the ESPN pit studio.
 
Also this week, ESPN Classic airs an episode of the signature series SportsCentury featuring NASCAR star Tony Stewart on Monday, Oct. 26, at 8 a.m.
 
 
NASCAR Nationwide Series Live From Memphis on ESPN2
 
ESPN2 continues its season-long coverage of the NASCAR Nationwide Series this weekend as the series races at Memphis Motorsports Park. The live, flag-to-flag telecast airs Saturday, Oct. 24, beginning with NASCAR Countdown at 3 p.m. ET, with the green flag at 3:45 p.m. ESPN2 is the home of the NASCAR Nationwide Series all season, with selected races on ESPN and ABC.
 
Also airing on ESPN2 will be coverage of NASCAR Nationwide Series final practice on Friday, Oct. 23, at 4:30 p.m. and qualifying on Saturday at 10:45 a.m.
 
Marty Reid will be lap-by-lap announcer for ESPN’s coverage, with analysis by 1989 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Rusty Wallace and two-time NASCAR Nationwide Series champion Randy LaJoie. Reporting from the pits will be Jack Arute, Rick DeBruhl and Mike Massaro.
 
 
 
Evernham, LaJoie, Said on NASCAR Now Roundtable
 
NASCAR on ESPN analysts Ray Evernham, Randy LaJoie and Boris Said will be panelists on NASCAR Now’s weekly roundtable discussion program on Monday, Oct. 26, at 5 p.m. ET on ESPN2. Allen Bestwick will host the edition of ESPN2’s daily NASCAR news and information program.
 
Mike Massaro hosts half-hour episodes of NASCAR Now airing Tuesday and Wednesday of this week at 5 p.m., and then Nicole Manske hosts the program the rest of the week. Episodes air Thursday at 5 p.m. and then Friday at 6 p.m. following NASCAR Nationwide Series practice at Memphis.
 
Manske will be joined by Said for the one-hour weekend edition that airs Sunday, Oct. 25, at 10 a.m. with a preview of that day’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Martinsville Speedway. The weekend wrap-up edition airs at 10 p.m. Sunday. Marty Smith will report from the speedway for both programs. . 
 
NASCAR Now is hosted by Massaro, Bestwick and Manske and originates from ESPN’s high definition studios in Bristol, Conn. Contributors include NASCAR Insiders Marty Smith and Angelique Chengelis, analysts Ray Evernham, Tim Brewer, Brad Daugherty, Boris Said, Ricky Craven and Randy LaJoie, and ESPN.com reporters Ed Hinton, Terry Blount and David Newton. The NASCAR on ESPN team event coverage team of Rusty Wallace, Dale Jarrett, Dr. Jerry Punch, Andy Petree, Dave Burns, Jamie Little, Spake and Vince Welch also make frequent contributions to NASCAR Now.
 
 
NHRA Programming Airs on ESPN Classic
 
Drag racing fans will have several hours of programming airing Monday, Oct. 26, on ESPN Classic. Highlights include the 2004 Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals from Denver at noon ET, featuring the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series.
 
Two half-hour episodes of The American Dragster air back-to-back beginning at 5 p.m., and then at 6 p.m. the NHRA Lucas Oil Sportsman Series will be in action from Texas.
 
 
Visit www.espnmediazone.com for ESPN’s latest releases, schedules and other news, plus photos, video and audio clips and more.

Motorsports This Week on ESPN and ABC
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Live from Charlotte in Prime Time Race on ABC
 
The Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup continues this weekend as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races for 500 miles under the lights in prime time on Saturday night, Oct. 17, at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C. ESPN’s live, flag-to-flag coverage of the NASCAR Banking 500 only for Bank of America will air on ABC. The telecast begins with NASCAR Countdown presented by Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen on DVD at 7 p.m. ET and the race’s green flag is at 7:41 p.m.
 
ESPN’s coverage of the final 11 races of the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup schedule airs on ABC, including all 10 races in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. ESPN’s coverage from Lowe’s Motor Speedway also includes NASCAR Sprint Cup qualifying on Thursday night, Oct. 15, at 7 p.m. and final practice on Friday, Oct. 16, at 6:30 p.m., both airing on ESPN2.
 
Dr. Jerry Punch will be lap-by-lap announcer for ESPN’s coverage, with analysis by 1999 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Dale Jarrett and two-time NASCAR champion crew chief Andy Petree. Reporting from the pits will be Dave Burns, Jamie Little, Shannon Spake and Vince Welch, with two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion crew chief Tim Brewer in the ESPN Craftsman Tech Garage.
 
Allen Bestwick will host the pre-race NASCAR Countdown program with analysis by 1989 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Rusty Wallace and Brad Daugherty, co-owner of a winning team in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, in the ESPN pit studio.
 
Also this week, ESPN Classic relives one of the great NASCAR races of the past with highlights of the 1990 ACDelco 500 at the former North Carolina Motor Speedway in Rockingham, N.C., on Monday, Oct. 19, at 2 p.m.
 
 
Danica Patrick Special Airs Sunday on ESPN
 
A star of the Indianapolis 500 and the IndyCar Series since 2005, Danica Patrick may be making a move to NASCAR in 2010. Racing fans can learn more about the Roscoe, Ill., native in the Peak Performance Fast World of Danica Patrick, a 30-minute special program airing Sunday, Oct. 18, at 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
 
The program is an in-depth look at Patrick during the recently-completed IndyCar Series season, as told by her, and examines her life away from the racetrack.
 
 
 
NASCAR Nationwide Series Live Under the Lights on ESPN2
 
ESPN2 continues its season-long coverage of the NASCAR Nationwide Series this weekend as the series races under the lights in prime time at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C. The live, flag-to-flag telecast airs Friday, Oct. 16, at 7:30 p.m. ET, with the green flag at 8:16 p.m. ESPN2 is the home of the NASCAR Nationwide Series all season, with selected races on ESPN and ABC.
 
Also airing on ESPN2 will be coverage of NASCAR Nationwide Series final practice on Thursday, Oct. 15, at 6 p.m. and qualifying on Friday at 3 p.m.
 
Marty Reid will be lap-by-lap announcer for ESPN’s coverage, with analysis by 1999 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Dale Jarrett and two-time NASCAR champion crew chief Andy Petree. Reporting from the pits will be Dave Burns, Jamie Little, Shannon Spake and Vince Welch, with two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion crew chief Tim Brewer in the ESPN Craftsman Tech Garage.
 
Allen Bestwick will host the pre-race NASCAR Countdown program with analysis by 1989 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Rusty Wallace and Brad Daugherty, owner of a winning team in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, in the ESPN pit studio.
 
 
 
Live Coverage of NASCAR Hall of Fame Announcement Wednesday
 
ESPNEWS will have live coverage on Wednesday, Oct. 14, at 4 p.m. ET as the first five inductees into the new NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, N.C., are announced. NASCAR Chairman Brian France will reveal the names of the first five in a news conference at the Charlotte Convention Center adjacent to the site of the under-construction Hall of Fame.
 
NASCAR Now host Mike Massaro will host the telecast with ESPN NASCAR analyst Brad Daugherty. Following the news conference, more reports and analysis of the announcement will air on NASCAR Now at 5 p.m. on ESPN2.
 
 
Evernham, Craven, Smith on NASCAR Now Roundtable
 
NASCAR on ESPN analysts Ray Evernham and Ricky Craven and NASCAR Now lead reporter Marty Smith will be panelists on NASCAR Now’s weekly roundtable discussion program on Monday, Oct. 19, at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN2. Allen Bestwick will host the edition of ESPN2’s daily NASCAR news and information program.
 
Mike Massaro hosts half-hour episodes of NASCAR Now airing this week leading to the weekend races at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Episodes air at 5 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday, and at 5:30 p.m. Thursday prior to live coverage of NASCAR Nationwide Series final practice. Another episode airs at 6 p.m. Friday prior to that night’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race.
 
Massaro will be joined by Craven for the one-hour weekend edition that airs Saturday, Oct. 17, at 10 a.m. with a preview of that night’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race. The weekend wrap-up edition airs at 12:15 a.m. Sunday (late Saturday night). Smith and Nicole Manske will report from the speedway for both programs. . 
 
NASCAR Now is hosted by Massaro, Bestwick and Manske and originates from ESPN’s high definition studios in Bristol, Conn. Contributors include NASCAR Insiders Marty Smith and Angelique Chengelis, analysts Ray Evernham, Tim Brewer, Brad Daugherty, Boris Said, Ricky Craven and Randy LaJoie, and ESPN.com reporters Ed Hinton, Terry Blount and David Newton. The NASCAR on ESPN team event coverage team of Rusty Wallace, Dale Jarrett, Dr. Jerry Punch, Andy Petree, Dave Burns, Jamie Little, Spake and Vince Welch also make frequent contributions to NASCAR Now.
 
 
NHRA Programming Airs on ESPN Classic
 
Drag racing fans will have three hours of programming airing Monday, Oct. 19, on ESPN Classic. Highlights include the 2004 O’Reilly NHRA Mid-South Nationals from Memphis, Tenn., at noon ET.
 
Two hours of action on ESPN Classic will feature the NHRA Lucas Oil Sportsman Series. Racing from Indianapolis will air at 1 p.m., with action from Pomona, Calif., airing at 6 p.m.

BREAST CANCER ORGANIZATIONS AND VESPA USA ZOOM TOWARD NEW PINK VESPA
FUND-RAISING MILESTONES
   
NEW YORK, Oct. 14, 2009 – As National Breast Cancer Awareness Month nears
the midway point, several nonprofit agencies participating in Vespa USA’s
Pink fund-raising program are reaching – and reaching for – impressive new
milestones.  The newest initiative underway is
www.armyofwomen.org/Pink_Vespa_Contest from the Love/Avon Army of Women, a
program of the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation, whose goal is to
encourage members to recruit one million women to take part in breast cancer
research.  The top five individuals who recruit the most new members for the
Army of Women will be entered into a drawing to win a pink Vespa LX 50.
Others, like Young Survival Coalition (YSC), are just a few paces away from
reaching their target of recruiting 10,000 fans on their Facebook fan page
www.facebook.com/youngsurvivalcoalition.

Vespa USA is working with a number of women’s organizations as part of
Lifetime Networks’ 15th annual National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
campaign, “Stop Breast Cancer for Life: The Power of 15.” Each agency
received a donated pink Vespa LX 50 to help raise funds for their unique
missions – from research and education to peer and resource support.
Consumers who want to help support these causes are invited to check out all
the current Pink Vespa initiatives at www.vespausa.com.
     
PURSUING THE CURE: MILES TO GO BEFORE WE SLEEP

Large or small, professionally organized or grassroots; it is these
nonprofit organizations that have put the national spotlight on breast
cancer and garnered strong public and corporate support to fight the
disease; by providing patients and affected families with important tools
and resources.  There is still much work to be done, and Vespa USA invites
everyone to support these or any of the great ongoing efforts by individuals
and companies alike.

Now through Nov. 23, 2009, the Army of Women is adding a special incentive
to those helping the organization reach its goal of one million members.
The top five registered member recruiters will be entered into a drawing and
will have a chance to win a limited edition pink Vespa LX 50 by recruiting
the most new members during the specified dates.  Official details for the
contest can be found at www.armyofwomen.com. The winner also agrees to
extend the reach of this campaign by using the pink Vespa to promote the
Army of Women and documenting their recruitment journey through a blog on
the Army of Women Web site.

Young Survival Coalition (YSC), an organization focused on women under 40
affected by breast cancer, is inviting supporters to become fans on their
Facebook page.  With a goal of recruiting 10,000 Facebook fans – currently
their page has more than 9,000 – the YSC is rapidly approaching the finish
line.  Anyone who becomes a fan prior to Nov. 16, 2009, will be eligible to
win the pink Vespa LX 50.

Vespa fans also have a chance to support breast cancer awareness by bidding
and ultimately donating their purchase price to one of a number of online
auctions.  Several auctions are ending soon, such as the Breast Cancer
Research Foundation’s (www.bcrfcure.org) online auction through
charitybuzz.com – which ends Oct. 22, 2009.

Cup With Love (www.cupwithlove.org), an organization providing emotional
support to anyone impacted by cancer; and Nueva Vida (www.nueva-vida.org),
an organization that informs, supports and empowers Latinas whose lives are
affected by cancer; are also raffling off a pink Vespa through their
respective Web sites during October.

The Vespa Pink Campaign invites all current and future scooter fans to
actively participate in one or all the Breast Cancer Awareness Month
programs. Agencies adding a pink Vespa to their October fund-raising
initiatives include: Breast Cancer Network of Strength, The Breast Cancer
Research Foundation, Breastcancer.org, Bright Pink, Cup With Love, Dr. Susan
Love Research Foundation, The Greater New York City Affiliate of Susan G.
Komen for the Cure, My Vision Foundation, Nueva Vida, Prevent Cancer
Foundation, SHARE and Young Survival Coalition. For more information on all
of the participating breast cancer organization programs, visit
www.vespausa.com and learn how to support unique breast cancer fundraising
efforts around the country.

Breast cancer affects everyone.  This year alone, 192,370 new cases of
invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed among women in the United States.
It is the leading cause of cancer death in women ages 15 to 54, and nearly
half of all Vespa riders are women.  A woman is diagnosed with breast cancer
every three minutes and the disease claims a life every 13 minutes. These
women are mothers, sisters and wives – but breast cancer also directly
touches men.  Every year almost 2,000 men are diagnosed with breast cancer
and 440 will die.

ABOUT VESPA USA:

Vespa USA is a division of Piaggio Group USA. Established in 1884, by
Rinaldo Piaggio, in the industrial town of Pontedera in Tuscany, Italy – a
province of Pisa; the Piaggio Group is one of the world’s top manufacturers
of two-wheeled vehicles.  With more than 7,000 employees, an annual
production of more than 650,000 vehicles in 2008, five R&D centers, seven
production facilities in Europe and Asia, and operations in more than 50
countries – the Piaggio Group has a consolidated leadership in the European
two-wheeler market.  The company produces scooters, motorcycles and mopeds
in the 50cc to 1,200 cc displacement range, marketed under the Piaggio,
Vespa, Gilera, Derbi, Aprilia, Scarabeo and Moto Guzzi brands.  Piaggio also
manufactures three- and four-wheel light transportation vehicles for the
Ape, Porter and Quargo ranges. For more information about Vespa USA visit
www.vespausa.com. Get social with Vespa USA by following the latest news and
events on Twitter at www.twitter.com/vespausa or becoming a fan on Facebook
at www.facebook.com/vespausa.

Motorsports This Week on ESPN and ABC

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Live from Kansas on ABC

The Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup continues this weekend as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races for 400 miles on Sunday, Oct. 4, at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan. ESPN’s live, flag-to-flag coverage of the race will air on ABC. The telecast begins with NASCAR Countdown at 1 p.m. ET and the race’s green flag is at 2:15 p.m.

ESPN’s coverage of the final 11 races of the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup schedule will air on ABC, including all 10 races in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. ESPN’s coverage from Kansas includes NASCAR Sprint Cup qualifying on Friday, Oct. 2, at 4:30 p.m. and a same-day telecast of NASCAR Sprint Cup final practice on Saturday, Oct. 3, at 6:30 p.m., both on ESPN2.

Dr. Jerry Punch will be lap-by-lap announcer for ESPN’s coverage, with analysis by 1999 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Dale Jarrett and two-time NASCAR champion crew chief Andy Petree. Reporting from the pits will be Dave Burns, Jamie Little, Shannon Spake and Vince Welch, with two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion crew chief Tim Brewer in the ESPN Craftsman Tech Garage.

Allen Bestwick will host the pre-race NASCAR Countdown program with analysis by 1989 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Rusty Wallace and Brad Daugherty, co-owner of a winning team in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, in the ESPN pit studio.

NASCAR Nationwide Series Live from Kansas on ESPN2

ESPN2 continues its season-long coverage of the NASCAR Nationwide Series this weekend as the series races at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan. The live, flag-to-flag telecast airs Saturday, Oct. 3, at 3 p.m. ET, with the green flag at 3:46 p.m. ESPN2 is the home of the NASCAR Nationwide Series all season, with selected races on ESPN and ABC.

Coverage of NASCAR Nationwide Series final practice airs Friday, Oct. 2, at 6 p.m. on ESPN2.

Marty Reid will be lap-by-lap announcer for ESPN’s coverage, with analysis by 1999 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Dale Jarrett and two-time NASCAR champion crew chief Andy Petree. Reporting from the pits will be Dave Burns, Jamie Little, Shannon Spake and Vince Welch, with two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion crew chief Tim Brewer in the ESPN Craftsman Tech Garage.

Allen Bestwick will host the pre-race NASCAR Countdown program with analysis by 1989 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Rusty Wallace and Brad Daugherty, owner of a winning team in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, in the ESPN pit studio.

Evernham, Said, Craven on NASCAR Now Roundtable

NASCAR on ESPN analysts Ray Evernham, Boris Said and Ricky Craven will be panelists on NASCAR Now’s weekly roundtable discussion program on Monday, Oct. 5, at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN2. Allen Bestwick will host the edition of ESPN2’s daily NASCAR news and information program.

Mike Massaro hosts half-hour episodes of NASCAR Now airing Tuesday through Thursday of this week at 5 p.m. and Friday at 7 p.m. following ESPN2’s coverage of NASCAR Nationwide Series final practice at Kansas Speedway. 

Massaro will be joined by Said for the one-hour weekend edition that airs Sunday, Oct. 4, at 10 a.m. with a preview of that day’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Kansas. The weekend wrap-up edition airs at 10 p.m. Sunday. Nicole Manske and Terry Blount will report from Kansas for both programs. . 

NASCAR Now is hosted by Massaro, Bestwick and Manske and originates from ESPN’s high definition studios in Bristol, Conn. Contributors include NASCAR Insiders Marty Smith and Angelique Chengelis, analysts Ray Evernham, Tim Brewer, Brad Daugherty, Boris Said, Ricky Craven and Randy LaJoie, and ESPN.com reporters Ed Hinton, Terry Blount and David Newton. The NASCAR on ESPN team event coverage team of Rusty Wallace, Dale Jarrett, Dr. Jerry Punch, Andy Petree, Dave Burns, Jamie Little, Spake and Vince Welch also make frequent contributions to NASCAR Now.

Countdown to 1 Continues in NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing

The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series continues its Countdown to 1 playoffs as the series visits Memphis Motorsports Park for the O’Reilly NHRA Mid-South Nationals this weekend. ESPN2 will air qualifying and eliminations action, with qualifying airing Saturday, Oct. 3, at 10:30 p.m. ET. Eliminations action airs Sunday, Oct. 4, at 7 p.m., with a re-air Monday, Oct. 5, at 5 p.m. on ESPN Classic.

The tour’s annual stop in “the birthplace of the Blues” is being contested for the third straight season in what should be cooler climes from its previous late-August date. For the teams still in the Countdown to the Championship for NHRA Full Throttle world titles, this is the halfway point of the Countdown to 1, the third of six events that will determine the world champions.

Paul Page anchors ESPN2’s coverage with analysis by 22-time NHRA winner Mike Dunn. Gary Gerould, Dave Rieff and John Kernan report from the pits. Rieff and Dunn host NHRA RaceDay on Sunday at 11 a.m. to set the stage for that day’s eliminations action.

Other NHRA programming airing on ESPN Networks this week includes highlights from the 2004 Pontiac Excitement NHRA Nationals in Columbus, Ohio, airing Monday, Oct. 5, at 3 p.m. on ESPN Classic. In addition, action from the recent Lucas Oil Sportsman Series event in Dallas airs Sunday, Oct. 4, at 6 p.m. on ESPN2.

Traxxas TORC Series Action on ESPN2 Sunday

Action from the Traxxas TORC Series presented by AMSOIL returns to ESPN2 on Sunday, Oct. 4, at 11:30 a.m. ET with highlights of the event held in Perris, Calif. The premier short-course racing series with the top stars in off-road racing, this exciting form of door-to-door action is appearing on both ESPN2 and ABC this season.    

The 2009 season features eight total rounds of racing. ESPN2 will air five rounds with three to appear on ABC. Marty Reid, lap-by-lap announcer for ESPN on ABC’s coverage of the Indianapolis 500 and selected NASCAR races, will call all of the Traxxas TORC Truck Series events on ESPN2 and ABC. Joining Reid will be long-time extreme sports announcer Tes Sewell and former Miss USA Kimberly Pressler as pit reporter.

Vespa Pink Campaign Supports Fight Against Breast Cancer

A partnership with Lifetime Networks helps boost fund-raising horsepower for
a diverse group of non-profit agencies passionate about changing breast
cancer statistics

NEW YORK – Sept. 9, 2009 – The next time you see a distinctively pink Vespa
zooming by, it might just be one of the Vespa LX 50 scooters that more than
a dozen non-profit agencies devoted to battling breast cancer are adding to
their autumn Breast Cancer Awareness initiatives. Through a partnership with
Lifetime Networks’ 15th annual National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
campaign, “Stop Breast Cancer for Life: The Power of 15,” Vespa USA
(www.vespausa.com), is bringing a boost of extra horsepower to each of the
participating agencies’ Breast Cancer Awareness Month programs by donating a
limited-edition pink Vespa.  Each agency, from internationally known
organizations like The Breast Cancer Research Foundation and the Dr. Susan
Love Research Foundation to the Breast Cancer Network of Strength, My Vision
Foundation, BreastCancer.org and the Prevent Cancer Foundation, is creating
its own unique Vespa-fueled fund-raising initiative, from online auctions to
special events and membership incentives.

“In today’s economy, people are being more and more selective about how they
donate, which means we are always considering creative ways to connect with
new audiences,” said Dr. Susan Love, President of the Dr. Susan Love
Research Foundation.  “While the color pink is now universally associated
with breast cancer awareness, simply being aware is not enough.  Our mission
is to move breast cancer beyond a cure and we are doing it by recruiting one
million women nationwide to sign up and be part of our Army of Women
initiative.  We welcome Vespa to our arsenal and plan to use our pink Vespa
to ignite all women to reach out and recruit every woman in their life to
sign up and be part of the movement to find the cause and prevent breast
cancer once and for all.”

The Vespa Pink Campaign invites all current and future scooter fans to
actively participate in one or all the Breast Cancer Awareness Month
programs. The agencies adding a pink Vespa to their October fund-raising
initiatives are: Breast Cancer Network of Strength, The Breast Cancer
Research Foundation, BreastCancer.org, Bright Pink, Cup With Love, Dr. Susan
Love Research Foundation, The Greater New York City Affiliate of Susan G.
Komen for the Cure, My Vision Foundation, Nueva Vida, Prevent Cancer
Foundation, SHARE and the Young Survival Coalition.

Since its post-World War II debut in Italy, Vespa has been a symbol of
freedom – a perfect match for the organizations whose mission it is to help
the millions of women and men touched by the disease to prevent, manage and
survive its indiscriminate reach.  Prior to the launch of October’s Vespa
Pink Campaign, Vespa USA dealers already ordered 1,000 limited-edition pink
Vespa LX 50s, some of which were purchased by local supporters of breast
cancer-related causes.  Vespa aims to build on the popularity of the retail
models by offering the donated scooters as a platform for catching the eyes
– and donation dollars – of even more supporters.

“There are so many unique needs in the fight against breast cancer, and
we’re happy to play a small part in helping these agencies get the word out
about their special work,” said Paolo Timoni, President and CEO of Piaggio
Group Americas.  “For instance, Nueva Vida’s efforts focus on the Latina
community, Breast Cancer Network of Strength provides information from a
survivor’s perspective and the Young Survival coalition is devoted to
education and supporting young women affected by breast cancer – these
organizations and their missions are as diverse as the people who ride
Vespas.”

Here is the current list of charity events and activities that feature a
pink Vespa LX 50:

• Breast Cancer Network of Strength www.networkofstrength.org will host an
event on October 6 at the Hard Rock Café in Chicago, IL;

• BreastCancer.org will host an event in Philadelphia November 14 with
Fuelthecure.net;

• The Breast Cancer Research Foundation’s www.bcrfcure.org auction,
including the pink Vespa LX 50, goes live on charitybuzz.com September 29
and ends October 22, 2009;

• Bright Pink www.BeBrightPink.org will list its pink Vespa on eBay during
the month of October with eBay’s Giving Works;

• Cup with Love www.cupwithlove.org will conduct a raffle from October 1 –
31, 2009

• Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation www.dslrf.org will launch a social
media contest titled “How Would You Recruit an Army of Women?,” October
through November, 2009;

• The Greater New York City Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure
www.komennyc.org will offer the Vespa as a reward incentive to fundraisers
who exceed their Komen NYC
Race for the Cure pledge goals between September 14 and October 31;

• My Vision Foundation www.myvision.org make a minimum $100 donation through
October for a chance to win the pink Vespa LX 50;

• Nueva Vida www.nueva-vida.org will conduct a raffle from September 23
through October 31;

• Prevent Cancer Foundation  www.preventcancer.org Sign up for “Screen Your
Boobs” alerts through October and participants are automatically entered to
win the pink Vespa;

• SHARE’s www.sharecancersupport.org sixth annual “A Second Helping of Life”
tasting and live auction event features leading female chefs and chance to
bid on the pink Vespa LX 50.  The event is scheduled for September 21, 2009
from 6 to 9:30 p.m. at Chelsea Piers in New York City. Tickets can be
purchased by calling (212) 719-0364, ext. 239;

• Young Survival Coalition www.youngsurvival.org Through November 16, become
a “fan” on the Young Survival Coalition’s Facebook page and you can have a
chance to win the pink Vespa LX 50; 

Vespa USA will announce the final details concerning each of the charities’
pink Vespa fundraising initiatives during the middle of September.
Information about the charities and their programs can also be found on the
Vespa USA Web site (www.VespaUSA.com).

For 15 years, Lifetime’s Stop Breast Cancer for Life initiative has been
dedicated to offering women the most up-to-date, comprehensive information
about breast cancer.  Lifetime has also collected more than 24 million
petition signatures on myLifetime.com, and for 13 years has fought to urge
Congress to pass the bipartisan Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act.  The
bi-partisan bill would end the practice of “drive-through mastectomies,”
which refers to the practice where women are sometimes forced to leave the
hospital just hours after invasive breast surgery. 

Breast cancer affects everyone.  This year alone, 192,370 new cases of
invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed among women in the United States.
It is the leading cause of cancer death in women ages 15 to 54, and almost
half of all Vespa riders are women.  A woman is diagnosed with breast cancer
every three minutes and the disease claims a life every 13 minutes. These
women are mothers, sisters, wives – but breast cancers also directly touches
men.  Every year almost 2,000 men are diagnosed with breast cancer and 440
will die.

About The Piaggio Group:

Established in 1884 by Rinaldo Piaggio and based in Pontedera (Pisa), Italy,
the Piaggio Group is one of the world’s top manufacturers of two-wheel motor
vehicles.  With more than 7,000 employees, an annual production of more than
650,000 vehicles in 2008, five R&D centers, seven production facilities in
Europe and Asia, and operations in more than 50 countries, the Piaggio Group
has a consolidated leadership in the European two-wheeler market.  The
company produces scooters, motorcycles and mopeds in the 50cc to 1,200 cc
displacement range, marketed under the Piaggio, Vespa, Gilera, Derbi,
Aprilia, Scarabeo and Moto Guzzi brands.  The Group also manufactures three-
and four-wheel light transportation vehicles for the Ape, Porter and Quargo
ranges. For more information about Piaggio USA, visit: www.piaggiousa.com.

NASCAR Star Kurt Busch Visits ESPN Campus Ahead of Chase

With the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup beginning Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, NASCAR star Kurt Busch, one of 12 drivers eligible to compete for the NASCAR championship, appeared on multiple ESPN platforms Wednesday during a visit to ESPN’s campus in Bristol, Conn.

ESPN’s live telecasts of all 10 races in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup will air on ABC, beginning with the New Hampshire event on Sunday, Sept. 20, at 1 p.m. ET.

Busch, driver of the Miller Lite Dodge owned by Roger Penske, appeared on SportsCenter, ESPN First Take and ESPNEWS while at ESPN. He also conducted a live chat with fans on ESPN.com and co-hosted NASCAR Now on ESPN2 with Mike Massaro.

During the First Take interview, Busch was asked by host Jay Crawford about the emotions of winning the first Chase in 2004, not qualifying last year and then being back in this year.

“What it’s all about is like making the playoffs,” Busch said. “You can be a good football team all year, end up finishing 8-8 and you’re not going to make it. And then there’s the good years that you have when you’re 12-4, then you go in as the favorites and you’re the guys to beat.

“So sometimes you make the playoffs, sometimes you don’t, but all it takes nowadays is to get locked into the Chase, and now we have a perfect shot at the championship, we’re 30 points behind.”

Crawford also asked Busch about his brother Kyle not making the Chase after winning four races this season.

“I was devastated for him, I couldn’t believe it that he didn’t make it,” he said, “He won four races so far this year, and the way that their team has been running. They just didn’t put that consistency together throughout the summer run. And so him outside looking in right now is tough. But hey, I’ll be the Busch brother to carry the banner for this year’s Chase.”

Later, during the live chat on ESPN.com, Busch discussed his team’s strategy for the Chase.

“The mentality changes to where every point counts,” he said. “When you’re in the race to the Chase, you are racing and trying to get in position, but now every point counts. We’re going to try to win Loudon and the rest of the way.”

NASCAR Now Previews Chase in 90-Minute Expanded Episode

As the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup begins Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, ESPN2’s NASCAR Now will report from Chase Media Day in New York and from historic Fenway Park in Boston in an expanded 90-minute episode on Thursday, Sept. 17, at 5 p.m.

Host Mike Massaro will be joined in the studio by NASCAR driver Jeff Burton to preview the Chase and talk to some of the participating drivers, while ESPN’s Jamie Little will have additional driver interviews from New York. Allen Bestwick will be at Fenway Park for interviews with members of the Roush Fenway Racing team and guests from the Boston Red Sox. Live coverage of the race airs Sunday, Sept. 20, at 1 p.m. on ABC.

While on ESPN’s campus on Thursday, Burton also will appear on ESPNEWS and conduct a live chat on ESPN.com. In addition, NASCAR star Tony Stewart will appear on Thursday’s 6 p.m. SportsCenter.

Visit www.espnmediazone.com for ESPN’s latest releases, schedules and other news, plus photos, video and audio clips and more.

Click on images to download high-resolution versions.

About NASCAR on ESPN:

ESPN and ABC have comprehensive, multi-platform coverage featuring telecasts of the final 17 NASCAR Sprint Cup races, including the 10-race “Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup” on ABC. Additionally, ESPN2 is the home of the NASCAR Nationwide Series all season. All programming is produced totally in high definition. ESPN’s comprehensive, multimedia NASCAR coverage extends to ESPN.com, SportsCenter, ESPN the Magazine, ESPN Classic, ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes, ESPN Radio and ESPN International, among other ESPN platforms. ESPN aired 262 NASCAR Cup Races over a 20-year period starting in 1981 and returned to NASCAR coverage in 2007. The network’s award-winning, live flag-to-flag coverage on ESPN has been honored with 19 Sports Emmy Awards, as well as many industry honors. It is widely credited for helping to popularize the sport nationwide. NASCAR races have appeared on ABC for decades, beginning with broadcasts on the award-winning Wide World of Sports program in the 1960s.