NASCAR broadcast plan shifts to high gear

0 Comments | USA TODAY, February, 2007 | by Seth Livingstone

This season technology and TV will continue to bring fans closer to NASCAR action seven days a week.

A most obvious change for devotees is the return of race coverage to ESPN for the first time in seven years. ESPN and ABC will air the season's final 17 Nextel Cup races, with the 10-race Chase for the Nextel Cup entirely on ABC.

ESPN will have Jerry Punch, Rusty Wallace and Andy Petree in the booth and the latest technology on the track. All NASCAR coverage, from prerace (hosted by Brent Musburger) to in-car cameras will be produced in high definition.

In addition, ESPN will carry complete Busch Series coverage with six races on ABC and the remainder of the schedule on ESPN2.

Fox will cover the first 13 races of the Cup schedule,...