CRAFT-ING THEIR OWN NICHE: ESPN TO CARRY NASCAR TRUCK SERIES

          ESPN/ESPN2 will become the exclusive cable home to the
     NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series beginning in '99, and ABC
     Sports will televise its first-ever race from the series
     when it airs the season-opener on March 20.  ESPN/ESPN2 will
     televise 21 events per year, including some in primetime. 
     ESPN/ESPN2 televised 12 events this season (ESPN).  The
     Nashville Network and TBS "were dropped" as cable partners
     and NASCAR VP/Administration Dennis Huth said, "By having
     only one cable network, it helps create an awareness factor. 
     You can do a lot of internal promotion that way."  The 25-
     race season will end October 30.  Three tracks (Walt Disney
     World Speedway, Sonoma, CA, and Flemington, NJ) and two
     races have also been dropped (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 10/24).