ESPN began showing NASCAR races in 1981 when even top drivers weren't known outside the South. That was not long after Winston came onboard with marketing and paint for racetracks to showcase a more presentable sport. The sport grew, but it has only exploded in popularity within the past decade and ESPN was part of that growth factor. A contract change in 2000 banished ESPN from track coverage but didn't prevent them from covering drivers and teams in the background.

The organization known as the national eyes for grand games has proven instant after instant their ability to bring the best of sports to avid fans. ESPN focus seems to include what's important and what fans want. When working best that production slips across any screen with ease. To telecast at optimum levels requires relentless effort and expertise if smooth viewing is to be consistent day after day, month after month, season after season. Delivering results has defined ESPN.

ESPN/ABC will telecast all Busch Series races in 2007 and return to NASCAR Nextel Cup Series with the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard Indianapolis Motor Speedway July 29th through the remainder of the season.

Zoomster.com sought the opinions of ESPN officials and most importantly the thoughts of 17 NASCAR drivers some of whom telecast for other networks about the big return. The verdict seems unanimous, but don't take our word for that - take theirs.

Select Quotes:

"That's a media home run for our sport for sure."
Tony Stewart

"The reason why I say it's great is because ESPN is the world-wide leader in sports."
Michael Waltrip

"I remember when those guys first came and they sort of paved the way for the rest of the guys."
Ricky Rudd

"When I started there were only four or five races a year that you could watch. ESPN did so much for our sport to help grow it."
Ken Schrader

"I think ESPN has had a tremendous amount to do with the amount of success that our sport has had."
Jeff Burton

"They are what got NASCAR to where it is today."
Kevin Harvick

"I spent a lot of time as a kid watching NASCAR races on ESPN."
J.J Yeley

"They have a place in racing and they need to be here."
Frank Kimmel

Source: Busch Series Championship Week, Preseason ESPN NASCAR teleconference and 2007 NASCAR media day
Interviewer: Dwight Drum

It's obvious that ESPN has put a ton of preparation and thought into programming, what if anything worries you about the 2007 NASCAR season?

Brent Musburger - Host ESPN NASCAR Race Coverage:

"Dwight I can answer first. The traffic jams when the race is over. (laughter) If that's the only thing that worries me, we're in good shape."

John Skipper - ESPN Executive Vice President, Content:

"We worry about everything and nothing. I don't think there is anything that we think is on the horizon that is a big concern to us. This a growth sport. We are very confident in our plan. We are very happy with our production team headed up by Neil (Goldberg) and our talent team headed up by Brent (Musburger). We've just think we've got the best collection of guys that have been on the races ever. We worry now by execution and we got to make it happen. We got to make the right calls and say the right things and get our facts right. I will tell you we don't stay up late at night worried that there is anything fundamentally wrong here. We feel very comfortable. It's just going to be a really good opener for us, and couldn't be more excited to be back in NASCAR just in general."

Drivers Respond -- One Question, 17 answers

Do you have a comment on ESPN coming back to NASCAR?

Tony Stewart

"I'm excited about it. I think ESPN being back with NASCAR is media-wise that's a media home run for our sport for sure."

Juan Montoya

"I think it's great. It's what the sport needs, to just keep growing and get bigger and bigger."

Michael Waltrip

"I'm going to tell you it's great. The reason why I say it's great is because ESPN is the world-wide leader in sports. That means that a lot of people are going to hear about NASCAR because of ESPN's involvement. It benefits FOX Sports that ESPN is out there selling the same product that FOX sports is selling. It's just a great thing to have them a partner like ESPN signed up to go forward, because you know if you want to know what's going on in sports television that's where you turn. SPEED is where turn on to learn about NASCAR racing specifically, but if you're not even a NASCAR fans and you're just wanting to see who won the baseball game, you're going to learn a lot about NASCAR because ESPN is going to show it. That's why I think it's important for us to be on ESPN because non-fans are going to become interested because of their participation with us.

"I think when you watch racing on TV and you become a fan of it. The more you learn the more you like it. If we ever get you to come to the track, you're hooked because it's that much fun. The pageantry, the speed, the colors, it's just everything you'd want in a sporting event. We'll get more people watching, thinking about it than ever before and hopefully those people will wind up showing up at the racetrack and then we know we just scored us some more fans."

Greg Biffle

"I think it's great. I think they do a very good job broadcasting the other sports they have on there. I've watched some of the preseason coverage a little bit. I haven't been in front of a TV set a lot. I'm certainly excited about them coming back. You've got to remember that's where I got my start, ESPN2 in Tucson with Benny Parsons and Bob Jenkins doing the coverage. Certainly I'm excited about them getting back into the swing of things."

Ken Schrader

"Oh, I'm just glad to see them coming in because like when I started living in St. Louis there were only four or five races a year that you could watch. ESPN did so much for our sport to help grow it. I'm glad to see them back."

Ricky Rudd

"I'm excited about it. I'm a big ESPN fan. I remember when those guys first came and they sort of paved the way for the rest of the guys. The old ESPN and I hope the new ESPN works the same way; they were there to cover the racing. Whether it was at the front of the pack, the middle of the pack, back of the pack, they were there for one reason to give the best coverage that they could. It wasn't really biased. It was their best interpretation of putting that fan at home that couldn't make it to the event, and they brought the race to them. And not a sort of molded preconceived what the race should look like; they are going to bring the race to them. I'm excited about that."

Steve Wallace

"I really don't know that much about it. ESPN, they are the world-wide leaders in sports for sure. They're the big dogs of this business. I think they are going to coming over here really take it under their wing and promote the heck out of it. I'm not saying anything bad about NBC, I like it all. I just think ESPN is a bigger name and more people watch it."

Kevin Harvick

"I am excited. They are what got NASCAR to where it is today. They are going to be 100% behind the Busch series and everything they do. It is sports TV. Excited to see Jerry (Punch) back up in the garage and Rusty (Wallace) in the booth. It is going to be a lot of fun."

For more affirmative comments from 10 NASCAR drivers including Kasey Kahne and Jeff Burton click on MORE