Catchfence

ESPN Analysts Make Laps to Learn New Speedway Pavement

NASCAR Sprint Cup champions and ESPN analysts Dale Jarrett and Rusty Wallace returned to the cockpits of NASCAR race cars today at Daytona International Speedway to help them prepare for their analyst duties during Saturday’s NASCAR Nationwide Series season opener.

Jarrett and Wallace drove for about 25 minutes together around the 2.5-mile oval while recording material that will be used in the NASCAR Countdown program that airs prior to ESPN2’s live telecast. During the run, ESPN’s signature news and information program SportsCenter did a live look-in and viewers were able to watch the cars make several laps and hear Wallace and Jarrett describing the action. To stay current as analysts, the two champions were driving on the new Daytona pavement for the first time.

“We’ve been talking to the drivers about how the new pavement feels, but there’s nothing like experiencing it for yourself,” said Jarrett, a three-time Daytona 500 winner. “They really did an incredible job. It’s like you were used to driving on a bumpy dirt road and then they pave it and it’s like a different road.”

The drivers were lapping the track in the 175-180 mph range. On their final lap, Wallace bumped Jarrett’s car from behind, making a large dent in the rear bumper. “Just thought I’d do a little bump draft,” he said.

“Rusty cheated,” said Jarrett. “His rev limiter was set higher than mine.”

Wallace a

lso complimented the new asphalt that has been universally praised by NASCAR drivers during Daytona Speedweeks. “I know it’s the same length around and the same width, but it seems wider because it’s so smooth,” he said. “We used to run low, the middle, or the top and they would all be different, but they’re the same now.”

Asked if the experience made him want to return to racing, Jarrett was quick to answer. “No thanks, I’m good,” he said. “It was fun with just two cars out there but that’s plenty for me now. I’m happy I just get to watch them and talk about them on TV.”

NASCAR Countdown airs at noon on ESPN2 on Saturday, Feb. 19, followed by the race telecast at 1:15 p.m.

About NASCAR on ESPN:

ESPN produces comprehensive, multi-platform coverage featuring telecasts of the final 17 NASCAR Sprint Cup races, including the 10-race “Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Additionally, ESPN2 is the television home of the NASCAR Nationwide Series. ESPN’s 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.

- ESPN Communications, Press Release