France Bemoans Move Of Race To ESPN2, But Supports TV Partners

France Didn't Anticipate ABC's Decision To Move The End Of Sunday's Race To ESPN2

NASCAR Chair & CEO Brian France yesterday said that he "wasn't pleased with ABC's decision to bump the final laps" of Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race in Phoenix to ESPN2 so ABC could broadcast "America's Funniest Home Videos," according to Will Graves of the AP. France: "We didn't like it, that was not what we had anticipated but we have talked to them repeatedly in the last couple days. There were lots of circumstances that we have to consider. They have their own issues they had to manage around. Unfortunately we got the short end of that." But France said that the "interests of NASCAR and its television partners are 'in line.'" France: "They do not like the idea of having to pull out of ABC and operate the way they did Sunday. It is imperative we work closely together with them for scheduling" (AP, 11/11). France: "While we're not pleased with what happened on Sunday, ... they do not want to do anything but the best coverage for our fans" (K.C. STAR, 11/12).