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FREE WHEELIN': ESPN SIGNS OFF; WALTRIP WORRIES FRANCE?

          The NAPA 500 from Atlanta Motor Speedway was rained out
     yesterday, and is running today and televised on ESPN,
     marking the network's final Winston Cup broadcast. Despite
     yesterday's postponement, ESPN's Bob Jenkins closed the
     broadcast by saying, "We now arrive at a moment that every
     member of this team has wished would never come for over a
     year.  The time we knew that we all must go our separate
     ways and end, hopefully for just awhile, our NASCAR Winston
     Cup coverage.  As a senior member of the team, I have
     accepted the responsibility of saying farewell, and believe
     me, it is not easy. ... Most importantly, we thank you, our
     fans, who have contributed so much to our coverage down
     through the years.  It was for you that we've done this
     since 1981.  Without you, there would have been no magic. 
     And so, it is to you we dedicate these last few moments.  We
     hope you take pride, as we will, in what we've accomplished
     on those more than 200 Sunday afternoons" ("NAPA 500," ESPN,
     11/19).  In Charlotte, David Poole wrote that ESPN's racing
     coverage has earned 16 Emmys "and has set a standard for
     others."  Poole: "Perhaps the greatest accomplishment ESPN
     can be paid is this -- the network's coverage has earned the
     fans' respect, trust and loyalty" (CHARL. OBSERVER, 11/19). 
          STILL FIGURING OUT ACCESS: ESPN's "RPM 2Night" host
     John Kernan told Mike Mulhern of the WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL
     that NASCAR has not made a decision about what type of
     access ABC/ESPN will have to the Winston Cup garage in light
     of NASCAR's new TV deal with Fox and NBC/Turner.  Kernan:
     "We have, just this weekend, made what I think is a very
     good proposal to (NASCAR), for us to be allowed to send six
     people to the races -- a reporter, two producers, two camera
     guys, and a satellite truck.  We're still planning on
     sending a satellite truck to every race next year, the way
     we've been doing it the last five years.  Hopefully, it will
     all get resolved soon" (WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL, 11/20).  
          IS WAL-TRIPPIN' OUT? Retiring driver Darrell Waltrip
     will broadcast NASCAR races for Fox next season, and he
     tells USA TODAY's Skip Wood, "I do believe next year I'll be
     in a better position to discuss controversy and examine
     controversy and exploit other things than I've ever been in
     before."  NASCAR President Bill France Jr., responding to
     Waltrip's remarks: "Well, I think he ought to be accurate in
     what he says. ... I'm not trying to control what he says,
     and I don't expect him to be a public relations reporter for
     NASCAR.  On the other hand, I would hope he would have some
     appreciation for the sport that got him to where he is now. 
     Having said that, nobody is expecting him to be a yes-man or
     a rubber-stamper for NASCAR or anybody else" (USA TODAY,
     11/20). ESPN's Benny Parsons said Waltrip will have a
     "passion" in the booth "because he wants to take this sport,
     our sport, to the next level" (ESPN, 11/19).  

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