Motorsports This Week on ESPN and ABC

Wallace, Craven, Said on NASCAR Now Monday Roundtable

NASCAR driver Mike Wallace will join ESPN NASCAR analysts Ricky Craven and Boris Said as panelists on NASCAR Now’s weekly roundtable discussion program on ESPN2 on Monday, June 15, at 5 p.m. ET. Nicole Manske will host the edition of ESPN2’s daily NASCAR news and information program.

Half-hour episodes of NASCAR Now will air Tuesday through Thursday of this week at 5 p.m. and Friday at 6 p.m. leading into ESPN2’s live coverage of NASCAR Nationwide Series practice at Kentucky Speedway. Mike Massaro hosts the Tuesday and Wednesday shows while Manske is in the host role Thursday and Friday. Manske also hosts the one-hour weekend edition that airs Sunday, June 14, at the special time of 9 a.m. with a preview of that day’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Michigan International Speedway. Said will join Manske on the set, while Marty Smith and Angelique Chengelis will report from the track.

NASCAR Now is hosted by Manske, Massaro and Allen Bestwick 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.

ESPN’s Jamie Little Appearing on Food Network’s Iron Chef

Jamie Little, pit reporter for ESPN’s coverage of NASCAR, will step out of her element as a guest judge on the popular Food Network program Iron Chef America.

The program pits a challenging chef against one of the network’s star chefs in a one-hour contest staged in “Kitchen Stadium." The chefs must make a multi-course meal using a “secret ingredient" that they only learn about moments before the contest begins. Their work is then judged by a three-person panel to determine a winner.

Little taped her appearance in New York City nearly a year ago and was sworn to secrecy. “I even had to sign documentation that I would not reveal what the secret ingredient was," she said.

The program, which debuted June 7, re-airs Thursday, June 11, at 8 p.m. ET, and again June 13 at 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. and Sept. 12 at 10 p.m.

NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing from New Jersey on ESPN2

The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series travels to Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown, N.J., this weekend, and ESPN2 will air qualifying and eliminations action on a same-day basis. Qualifying from the United Association NHRA Supernationals airs Saturday, June 13, at 7 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. ET, with eliminations airing Sunday at 10 p.m. Finals coverage re-airs Monday, June 15, at 1 p.m. on ESPN Classic.

One of NHRA’s original seven national events, this race is steeped in legend: a historic facility, some of the sport’s most knowledgeable (and definitely most boisterous) fans, and a score of dramatic moments. The event, once known as the Summernationals, has shifted on the schedule from its original scorchingly hot and humid July slot to May and June, and upsets have become the norm. This event is the final chance for Pro Stock teams to earn points toward making the field for the K&N Horsepower Challenge.

Paul Page anchors ESPN2’s coverage with analysis by 22-time NHRA winner Mike Dunn. Gary Gerould and Dave Rieff 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 action on ESPN2 this week includes the Lucas Oil Sportsman Series, with highlights from the recent event at Route 66 Raceway airing Sunday, June 14, at 12:30 p.m.

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, June 14, in two half-hour programs beginning at 1:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2.

The programs will feature highlights from events held in Hamburg, N.Y., and Indianapolis The league is sanctioned by the American Tractor Pulling Association.