Championship-winning crew chief Tim Brewer and award-winning journalists Marty Smith, Angelique Chengelis, Terry Blount and David Newton have joined the experienced team of hosts, analysts and reporters for NASCAR’s return to the ESPN’s multimedia platforms in 2007.

Aligning their expertise with that of previously announced hosts, analysts and pit reporters -- Brent Musburger, Rusty Wallace, Jerry Punch, Andy Petree, Allen Bestwick, Dave Burns, Jamie Little, Mike Massaro, Dale Jarrett, Brad Daugherty, Shannon Spake and ESPN Deportes’ NASCAR commentators Andrés Agulla and Alex Pombo -- Brewer, Smith, Chengelis, Blount and Newton add more than 75 years of combined experience to the already-accomplished team.

Brewer, a two-time NASCAR Cup Series championship-winning crew chief for Cale Yarborough in 1978 and Darrell Waltrip in 1981, will join Daugherty and Spake as an analyst on NASCAR Now, the network’s first-ever daily program solely dedicated to NASCAR. Additionally, he also will work from the pit studio on NASCAR Countdown, which will immediately precede all NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series and NASCAR Busch Series races televised on ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC.

“Tim Brewer’s wealth of knowledge and experience is a tremendous addition to our NASCAR studio programs,” said ESPN coordinating producer Jill Frederickson. “He has more than 35 successful years of history with the sport and we welcome the contributions he will make.”

Smith, a former writer for NASCAR.com, and Chengelis, longtime motorsports writer for the Detroit News, join ESPN as NASCAR Insiders, reporting on the latest news and information behind-the-scenes and breaking stories on teams, drivers, owners and crew chiefs. Two of the industry’s most respected journalists, both will serve several of ESPN’s multi-media platforms, reporting for NASCAR Now, NASCAR Countdown, ESPN Radio, ESPNEWS and SportsCenter, as well as provide weekly content on ESPN.com.

Nationally acclaimed motorsports writers Blount and Newton recently began serving the leading online sports destination, ESPN.com, as part of the one-two punch on the NASCAR beat, providing expanded coverage of NASCAR and other racing events. Their columns are among the many features that NASCAR enthusiasts will find on the Web site, in addition to the weekly Monday Rundown, Wallace’s weekly Rusty Nails It column and regularly updated NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Power Rankings. ESPN.com will continue to collaborate with the popular Jayski’s Silly Season Site that features news, rumors and commentary on the happenings in NASCAR.

“NASCAR continues to have one of the most passionate and dedicated fan bases, and in adding David and Terry to ESPN.com's award-winning editorial staff, we'll be able to deliver extensive news and information to meet the interests of those fans,” said Patrick Stiegman, vice president and executive editor, ESPN.com. "They join the signature voices of Rusty Wallace, Jayski.com and others who provide depth and variety to the coverage we deliver daily."

ESPN’s return to NASCAR kicks off with up-to-date news and information each weekday evening on NASCAR Now, debuting Feb. 5, 2007, at 6:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2.

Coverage of the NASCAR Busch Series season-opener at Daytona International Speedway takes place Feb. 17, 2007, on ESPN2.

ESPN and ABC will have comprehensive, multi-platform coverage featuring telecasts of the final 17 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup races including the 10-race “Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup” championship on ABC. Additionally, ESPN2 will be the home of the NASCAR Busch Series all season.

ESPN aired 262 NASCAR Cup Races over a 20-year period starting in 1981. The network's award-winning, live flag-to-flag coverage on ESPN was honored with 17 Sports Emmy Awards, as well as many industry honors. It is widely credited for helping to popularize the sport nationwide. NASCAR races have appeared on ABC for decades, beginning with broadcasts on the award-winning Wide World of Sports program in the 1960s.