In advance of the 50th running of the Daytona 500 on Feb. 17, ESPN Classic will be televising six of the best Daytona 500 races of all time every Monday at 2 p.m. ET through Feb. 11. On Monday, Jan. 28, ESPN Classic will air the 1998 Daytona 500.

The 1998 race is widely-remembered for Dale Earnhardt finally winning NASCAR’s biggest race after nearly 20 years of frustration. After holding off a snarling pack of cars for the win, Earnhardt drove his black No. 3 down pit road and was greeted by crew members from all teams in the race as they shared in the celebration.

ESPN.com’s NASCAR page features a poll where viewers can log on to choose their favorite Daytona 500 from the six. Then, on Saturday night, Feb. 16, the night before the 2008 version of NASCAR’s biggest race, ESPN Classic will show the top five races as chosen by the fans in their order of preference, starting at 10 p.m.

Controversial 1989 North Wilkesboro NASCAR Race on ESPN Classic

ESPN Classic will give NASCAR fans a chance to see an exciting race with a controversial finish with an airing of highlights of the 1989 Holly Farms 400 from North Wilkesboro (N.C.) Speedway Friday, Jan. 25, at 3 a.m. ET.

While Geoff Bodine won the race, the event is remembered more for an on-track confrontation between Dale Earnhardt and Ricky Rudd. As they battled side-by-side for the lead entering turn one on the last lap, the two touched and spun, opening the door for Bodine to win the race.

North Wilkesboro Speedway held races for NASCAR’s top series until it closed following the 1996 season.

Jeff Gordon SportsCentury Program Airing Tuesday on ESPN Classic

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series star Jeff Gordon is the focus of an episode of SportsCentury airing Tuesday, Jan. 15, at 9:30 a.m. ET on ESPN Classic.

ESPN Classic’s Emmy and Peabody Award-winning signature series, SportsCentury, airs weekday mornings at 9 a.m.

NHRA Fans Can Relive Events from 2003 and 2005 on ESPN Classic

Fans of the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series will have opportunities all week to relive some of the great events of the 2003 and 2005 seasons as ESPN Classic opens the archives and brings the events back to life on TV. The programs air at 11 a.m. ET each day.

On Tuesday, Jan. 22, fans can watch the action of the 2005 ACDelco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals, while Wednesday’s program features the 2005 Auto Club of Southern California NHRA Finals. The 2003 NHRA K&N Filters NHRA Winternationals air Thursday with the 2003 Checker Schuck’s Kragen NHRA Nationals on the air Friday.

The nostalgia continues Monday, Jan. 28, with the 2003 Mac Tools NHRA Gatornationals airing at 11 a.m. on ESPN Classic.

ESPN2 is the home for the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series and the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series.

ESPN Classic Highlights Russo and Steele Classic Car Auction Program

ESPN2 and ESPN Classic are the home for lovers of classic car auction programs, and ESPN Classic will be running a marathon of episodes of Russo and Steel Car Auction beginning at 8 a.m. ET Sunday, Jan. 26. Ten hour-long episodes of the program will air, ending at 6 p.m.

ESPN Classic also will air an episode of Russo and Steele Tuesday, Jan. 22, at 9 p.m., while ESPN2 will air episodes Thursday, Jan. 24, at 2 p.m. and Saturday, Jan. 26, at 10 a.m.

Two episodes of RM Classic Car Auctions air Sunday, Jan. 27, beginning at 10 a.m. on ESPN2.

Visit www.espnmediazone.com for ESPN’s latest releases, schedules and other news, plus photos, video and audio clips and more.

Posted: 01|22|08 at 4:17 pm. Filed under: Press Release.