Who's Ready For NASCAR Documentaries???
Thursday, July 19, 2007
In the essence of fairness (since people think I'm so "anti" ESPN) I'm just going to "report" on this new ESPN programming feature that you'll be sure to see in the weeks leading up to the network's first NASCAR telecast. You can decide if you think it's a good idea or not (in the comments).
ESPN will be kicking off "Ultimate NASCAR Week" in which it plans to air it's 11 hours of programming on the history of NASCAR.
ESPN Ultimate NASCAR has continued in July with three countdown shows: NASCAR’s Greatest Drivers, Hottest Rivalries and Biggest Races, and will culminate with “Old Spice Presents ESPN Ultimate NASCAR Week” – seven hours of NASCAR documentaries, including The Explosion, The Dirt; The Cars; Speed and Danger; and The Families.The week of fun will begin July 23rd with the first of 5 documentaries (one each weekday) and will finish with the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard on July 29th.
Dr. Jerry Punch will be your host and actor JK Simmons (The ESPN movie 3) will narrate. If you actually care about the documentaries and when they air...they are listed after the jump.
(Source: ESPN Press Release)
The Explosion- "A two-hour documentary that debuts at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN, examines stock car racing as a national craze “particularly in the last decade or so, in the American sporting landscape,” Dahl said. “And we look at the various pieces of that overall explosion, from the marketing of it, the fan base and how a loyal, core fan base has been such a big part in NASCAR having such growth and popularity.""
The Dirt- "At 9 p.m. ET Tuesday, July 24, fans who have joined the NASCAR Nation in recent years will get to play in The Dirt as ESPN looks back to the days of racing on dirt tracks across America. Two-time NASCAR Cup champion Tony Stewart chimes in with his take on dirt-track racing and why he still loves its ever-changing conditions."
The Cars- At 9 p.m. ET Wednesday, July 25, The Cars revs up the crowd as it details the basic appeal of the machine and the special bond between man, fan and car. NASCAR Cup champions Jeff Gordon and Darrell Waltrip talk about their favorite and not-so-favorite cars, all of which have earned affectionate or disdainful nicknames based on their performance.
Speed and Danger- Which will debut on ESPN at 9 p.m. ET Thursday, July 26, reveals the elemental thrill and risk of racing, the parts of the sport that help some tracks earn nicknames like “The Track Too Tough to Tame” and the “Monster Mile.”
The Families- ESPN Ultimate NASCAR Week culminates with a poignant look at racing’s royalty. The Families, set to debut on ESPN at 8 p.m. ET Friday, July 27, circles around three dynasties of NASCAR: the Pettys, the Allisons and the Earnhardts.
4 Comments:
I never used to understand the appeal of NASCAR, but a friend recently explained to me it's an excuse to drink and no one actually watches the races. I'm intrigued by this.
hoot, hoot, hoot
Technically, it's not ESPN's first NASCAR telecast. It showed a lot of it before it got the rights back this year, and it has been televising the Busch Series all year.
But still, this is bullshit.
I'm still waiting for some new hockey documentaries. Of course, we're more likely to see a documentary on Jon Bon Jovi and Arena Football than that.
GAY!!
Actually the only good thing is that Dr. Jerry Punch is doing some of this. Just like that old song.. Dr. Jerry Punch, He punched DEATH DEAD!