Update: Rain stopped Nationwide Series qualifying with only two cars left to go and cancelled Cup quals totally. Nationwide Series on ESPN tonight at 7:30PM with entire field set on points.
ESPN2 is up first with coverage from Daytona of Nationwide Series qualifying at 1PM ET. Dr. Jerry Punch, Dale Jarrett and Andy Petree will be calling that session. Dave Burns, Jamie Little, Shannon Spake and Mike Massaro will be handling the interviews.
This is a race that features many Sprint Cup drivers crossing-over to race. Unfortunately, qualifying coverage at Daytona is tough on TV because of the lack of drama. The NASCAR on ESPN team is going to have to use interviews and lots of commentary to make this program interesting.
There are lots of stories going on in the sport and it should be interesting to see if ESPN has the Infield Studio open for this session. Allen Bestwick, Brad Daugherty and Rusty Wallace sitting in the air conditioning could really lend a hand to this coverage.
It is a steaming hot day in Daytona with rain on the way later in the afternoon. ESPN's goal is certainly going to be to get this session over without an incident or delay on the track. Then, let everyone get cool and begin the build-up to one of the biggest Nationwide Series races of the season at 7:30PM on ESPN.
SPEED will come along at 4PM and handle qualifying for the Sprint Cup Series. Steve Byrnes will be joined by Larry McReynolds and Jeff Hammond. Ralph Sheheen and Matt Yocum will cover pit road.
The drama of this session should only be at the rear of the field. Most top teams are concentrating on race set-up and not putting effort into an attempt at the pole. SPEED offers coverage that focuses more on the cars on the track than other stories in the sport. It is a straightforward presentation that should serve as a good warm-up for Saturday night.
A half-hour version of Trackside airs on SPEED at 7PM, while NASCAR Now airs at the same time on ESPN2. Then, Bestwick and company begin the primetime coverage of the Nationwide Series race over on ESPN. TDP will be live blogging that event.
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