Popular Urban Radio Personality Doug Banks Will Share Host Role

NASCAR drivers Boris Said and Stacy Compton and popular urban radio host Doug Banks have joined the experienced team of hosts, analysts and reporters for NASCAR's return to ESPN's multimedia platforms in 2007. The three will be part of NASCAR Now, ESPN's first-ever daily news show totally dedicated to NASCAR, debuting Monday, Feb. 5.

Said and Compton will bring their years of racing experience to NASCAR Now as expert analysts, joining two-time NASCAR champion crew chief Tim Brewer and five-time NBA All-Star and former winning NASCAR team owner Brad Daugherty in that position. Banks will contribute to the show's host role with primary host Erik Kuselias.

"Boris Said and Stacy Compton are tremendous additions to the NASCAR Now team," said Jack Obringer, ESPN senior coordinating producer, studio production. "Their status as currently-active drivers brings a unique perspective to their position as analysts and they will be able to share their knowledge and insight with our viewers in an extraordinary way. And Doug Banks has a high-energy style that has made him popular with radio listeners across America. We welcome his enthusiasm to NASCAR Now."

NASCAR Now will air at 6:30 p.m. ET Monday through Friday on ESPN2, with special editions to air on NASCAR race weekends. Reporter Shannon Spake and NASCAR Insiders Angelique Chengelis, Tim Cowlishaw and Marty Smith will also contribute to a fast-paced menu of highlights, opinion, debate, analysis and the latest news from drivers, crew chiefs and insiders both on and off the track.

Said, of Carlsbad, Calif., a successful road racing driver for many years, has been a part-time competitor on the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series since 1999, many times driving for top NASCAR teams in road course events on the series' schedule. In the past two seasons, Said has expanded his NASCAR schedule to include oval tracks and last year shocked NASCAR regulars by winning the pole for the Pepsi 400 at Daytona, ultimately finishing fourth in the race.

Compton raced on the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series from 1999-2003, scoring two poles at Talladega Superspeedway in 2001 while driving for Melling Racing. The Grit, Va., resident has raced on the NASCAR Busch Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series on a part-time basis since 2003 and will continue to do so in 2007 in addition to his duties with ESPN.

Banks is a force in urban radio as host of the highly-rated ABC Radio Network program The Doug Banks Morning Show, syndicated by ABC for more than 10 years. The Dallas-based Banks, a passionate NASCAR fan, will do his radio show from ESPN Radio studios when he is in Bristol, Conn. to host NASCAR Now.

Live NASCAR racing returns to ESPN for the first time in six years with coverage of the NASCAR Busch Series season opener at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, Feb. 17, at 1:15 p.m. ET on ESPN2.