WEEKLONG COVERAGE CULMINATES IN '48 HOURS OF ALL-STAR' - DESPAIN, VENTURINI TO HOST ALL-STAR SPECIALS

SPEED will deliver nearly 90 hours of All-Star programming in support of the network's second consecutive year as exclusive home of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race on May 17 at 7 p.m. ET.

"We started thinking about this year's NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race about 30 seconds after Kevin Harvick crossed the finish line at last year's event," said SPEED President Hunter Nickell. "This event is all about having a great time, celebrating the sport we are all very passionate about. When fans finish watching All-Star Week on SPEED, we want them to feel totally spent … like they just left the greatest party they've ever experienced."

Highlighted by live coverage of the NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge (May 15, 9 p.m. ET), the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race (May 16, 8 p.m. ET), a special three-hour NASCAR RaceDay Built by The Home Depot (May 17, 4 p.m. ET), the NASCAR Sprint Showdown and the 24th running of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race from Lowe's Motor Speedway, SPEED's weeklong coverage will culminate in 48 consecutive hours of All-Star coverage beginning at 6 a.m. ET on May 16.

Krista Voda will return to host All-Star coverage on SPEED, with Mike Joy, Darrell Waltrip and Larry McReynolds in the booth for race coverage. Steve Byrnes will host coverage of the NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge with help from Larry McReynolds, Jeff Hammond and Bob Dillner.

In addition to live coverage of on-track action, including all practice and qualifying efforts for the weekend's races, SPEED will offer multiple special programs, including Making the Race, Countdown to All-Star, Hometown Heroes with Wendy Venturini and special All-Star editions of This Week in NASCAR, Wind Tunnel with Dave Despain, Trackside, NASCAR Performance, Tradin' Paint, The SPEED Report, NASCAR Live!, NASCAR in a Hurry and NASCAR Victory Lane.

Last year, in its inaugural year as home to the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race, SPEED scored its highest rating in network history, earning a Nielsen Media Research mark of 3.53 (2,480,000 Households). The event, now in its second of eight seasons on SPEED, peaked at 4.37 (3,064,000 Households) and held a 4-plus rating for the final 90 minutes of the telecast.

SPEED is the nation's first and foremost cable television network dedicated to motor sports and the passion for everything automotive. From racing to restoration, motorcycles to movies, SPEED delivers quality programming from the track to the garage. Now available in more than 78 million homes in North America, SPEED is among the fastest-growing sports cable networks in the country and, the home to NASCAR on SPEED and an industry leader in interactive TV, video on demand, mobile initiatives and broadband services. For more information, please visit SPEEDtv.com, the online motor sports authority.

2008 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Week Broadcast Schedule

Subject to change

May 12
This Week in NASCAR - All-Star Edition (8 p.m. ET)
NASCAR All-Star '08 - Making the Race (9 p.m. ET)
Unique Whips - All-Star Edition w/Kevin Harvick (10 p.m. ET)
 
May 13
Countdown to All-Star (8 p.m. ET, LIVE)
All-Star Spotlight (8:30 p.m. ET)
Wind Tunnel with Dave Despain - All-Star Special (9 p.m. ET)
Unique Whips - All-Star Edition w/Tony Stewart (10 p.m. ET)

May 14
Countdown to All-Star (8 p.m. ET, LIVE)
NASCAR All-Star '08 - Hometown Heroes with Wendy Venturini (9 p.m. ET)
Unique Whips - All-Star Edition w/Jeff Gordon (10 p.m. ET)

May 15
NASCAR All-Star '08 special TBD (7 p.m. ET)
Countdown to All-Star (8 p.m. ET, LIVE)
NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge (9 p.m. ET)
NASCAR Sprint All-Star special TBD (11 p.m. ET)
 
May 16
All-Star Spotlights (7 a.m. - 9 a.m. ET)
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series practice (9 a.m. ET, LIVE)
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series All-Star practice (Noon ET)
NASCAR Live (3 p.m. ET, LIVE)
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series qualifying (3:30 p.m. ET, LIVE)
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series All-Star qualifying (5 p.m. ET, LIVE)
NASCAR Live (7 p.m. ET, LIVE)
NCTS Setup w/Krista Voda (7:30 p.m. ET)
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race (8 p.m. ET)
Trackside (10:30 p.m. ET)
 
May 17
NASCAR Live (Noon ET)
NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge (12:30 p.m. ET, replay)
Tradin' Paint (2:30 p.m. ET)
NASCAR Performance (3 p.m. ET)
NASCAR in a Hurry (3:30 p.m. ET)
NASCAR RaceDay Built by The Home Depot (4 p.m. ET)
NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race coverage begins (7 p.m. ET)
NASCAR Victory Lane (11 p.m. ET)
NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race (Midnight ET, replay)