FX announces inaugural NASCAR Busch Series Schedule for 2001

NEW YORK, N.Y. – FX waves the flag for its inaugural season of live television coverage of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing in February, and the network's first season schedule of NASCAR features 12 Busch Series events. FX will also air three live Winston Cup races in the first half of the NASCAR season.

"We are thrilled with this announcement of exciting NASCAR events, which will be a cornerstone of our sports lineup," said Peter Liguori, president of FX Networks. "With both FX and NASCAR enjoying incredible growth, we believe this partnership will be a benefit to NASCAR fans and our viewers alike."

The first Busch Series race to air on FX will be on Saturday, Feb. 24 (1-3 PM ET) from the North Carolina Speedway in Rockingham, North Carolina. Other featured races will be on Saturday, March 24 (1-3 PM ET) from the Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee; on Saturday, June 2 (1-3:30 PM ET) from Dover Downs International Speedway in Dover, Delaware; and FX's final race on Sunday, July 1 (2-4:30 PM ET) from The Milwaukee Mile in Milwaukee, WI, where current Busch points leader Jeff Green was last year's winner.

NASCAR racing legend Darrell Waltrip and veteran Crew Chief Larry McReynolds will provide expert analysis for Winston Cup Series races on FX. NASCAR on FX, produced by FOX Sports, will possess its own distinctive and unique on-air look. The network will develop special print and electronic marketing campaigns featuring NASCAR drivers designed to capture a more in-depth, personal look at these superstars of racing.

In 2001, the first of an eight-year agreement, FX will pair with its broadcast partner FOX Sports for live, weekly coverage of the first half of the NASCAR season. NBC and Turner Sports will provide weekly coverage for the second half of the NASCAR season.

FX is a branded general entertainment basic cable network geared toward viewers with a young, savvy mindset. The diverse schedule includes a growing roster of fearlessly original programs, daring acquired series, provocative event films, plus marquee sports. The network launched in June of 1994 and is currently in more than 54 million homes nationwide. FX had added more new homes than any other network over the past 12 months making it the fastest growing network in cable (Aug. 99-Aug. 00) For more information go online at www.FXnetworks.com.

NASCAR On FX 2001 Schedule

Track Time Series Feb. 24 North Carolina Speedway 1 PM Busch Mar. 3 Las Vegas Motor Speedway 4 PM Busch Mar. 10 Atlanta Motor Speedway 1 PM Busch Mar. 17 Darlington Raceway 1 PM Busch Mar. 24 Bristol Motor Speedway 1 PM Busch Apr. 14 Nashville Speedway 1 PM Busch May 4 Richmond Int'l Speedway 7 PM Busch May 5 Richmond Int'l Speed 7:30 PM Winston Cup May 12 New Hampshire Int'l Speedway1 PM Busch May 19 Lowe's Motor Speedway 8 PM Winston Cup May 20 Nazareth Speedway 1 PM Busch June 2 Dover Downs Int'l Speedway 1 PM Busch June 10 Michigan Int'l Speedway 1 PM Winston Cup June 16 Kentucky Speedway 8 PM Busch July 1 The Milwaukee Mile 2 PM Busch

All times Eastern Schedule subject to change