RPM 2Night
Encyclopedia
RPM2Night was an American nightly news program seen on ESPN2
that was devoted entirely to motorsports.
The program aired six nights a week (except Saturday) from 1995 to 2003. Hosts included Jerry Punch
, Kenny Mayne
, Bob Jenkins
, John Kernan, Rece Davis
, and Whit Watson
.
All forms of racing were included, whether it was the big-league racing of NASCAR
, IndyCars, or Formula One
, or the local Saturday night short tracks. "Eat My Dust," a Tuesday-night package of highlights of sprint cars
and other vehicles racing on non-pavement tracks, was a cult favorite, along with the segment Open-Wheel Wednesday.
On occasion, a Sunday morning version titled RPM 2Day aired as a pre-race show before major events. During the month of May in 2002-2003, the daily coverage of the Indianapolis 500
practice was billed RPM 2Night at Indy.
The Monday through Friday versions of the show originated from ESPN Regional Television studios in Charlotte, NC, while the weekend versions originated from ESPN's main headquarters in Bristol, CT.
RPM2Night hit a major snag in 2001, when ESPN lost NASCAR rights in a consolidated TV package. Shortly after the sale of the rights, ESPN was told that it could only show NASCAR highlights on two programs: SportsCenter
and ESPNEWS
. From that point forward, RPM2Night could only show still photographs from the weekly Sprint Cup Series race. Furthermore, ESPN's reporters had their track credentials pulled. Interviews with drivers and other principals took place either at the track's parking lots or at nearby commuter airports.
Media reports of the time suggested that NASCAR imposed the new procedures to give a benefit to Fox Sports Net
, which was launching a similar NASCAR-only show, Totally NASCAR
, at the time. NASCAR officials denied this and claimed that they merely wanted to give ESPN an incentive to provide NASCAR more exposure on SportsCenter, which had a higher viewership.
RPM2Night signed off for the last time on November 16, 2003.
ESPN produces shows devoted to the NHRA
and IndyCar Series that air on race days only. They can be said to be spin-offs
of RPM 2Night.
- ESPN's new NASCAR news and analysis show that began broadcasting in February 2007.
ESPN2
ESPN2 is an American sports cable television network owned by ESPN. The channel debuted on October 1, 1993.Originally nicknamed "the deuce," ESPN2 was initially branded as a network for a younger generation of sports fans featuring edgier graphics as well as extreme sports like motocross,...
that was devoted entirely to motorsports.
The program aired six nights a week (except Saturday) from 1995 to 2003. Hosts included Jerry Punch
Jerry Punch
Dr. Jerry Punch is an American auto racing and college football commentator on ESPN. Punch also does local radio spots in Knoxville.-Early life and career:...
, Kenny Mayne
Kenny Mayne
Kenneth "Kenny" Wheelock Mayne is a sports journalist and comedian for ESPN.-Sports career:A native of Kent, Washington, Mayne is a former honorable mention junior college All-American quarterback in 1978 at Wenatchee Valley Community College in Wenatchee, WA...
, Bob Jenkins
Bob Jenkins
Bob Jenkins is an American television and radio sports announcer with NBC Sports Network, also known for his work at ABC and ESPN calling IndyCar and NASCAR telecasts. He is currently the lead commentator for the IndyCar Series on NBC Sports Network.-ESPN and ABC:Bob Jenkins was born in Richmond,...
, John Kernan, Rece Davis
Rece Davis
Rece Davis is a sports television journalist for ESPN. Davis works as an anchor on SportsCenter, and host of various other programs on the network.-Early life and career:...
, and Whit Watson
Whit Watson
Whit Watson is a sportscaster for Golf Channel, hired in August of 2010.Prior to that position, Watson was a primary host for Sun Sports and Fox Sports Florida, the Florida-based regional cable networks owned and operated by Fox Television. He joined the network in August 2003 after nearly seven...
.
All forms of racing were included, whether it was the big-league racing of NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
, IndyCars, or Formula One
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
, or the local Saturday night short tracks. "Eat My Dust," a Tuesday-night package of highlights of sprint cars
Sprint car racing
Sprint cars are high-powered race cars designed primarily for the purpose of running on short oval or circular dirt or paved tracks. Sprint car racing is popular in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa....
and other vehicles racing on non-pavement tracks, was a cult favorite, along with the segment Open-Wheel Wednesday.
On occasion, a Sunday morning version titled RPM 2Day aired as a pre-race show before major events. During the month of May in 2002-2003, the daily coverage of the Indianapolis 500
Indianapolis 500
The Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, also known as the Indianapolis 500, the 500 Miles at Indianapolis, the Indy 500 or The 500, is an American automobile race, held annually, typically on the last weekend in May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana...
practice was billed RPM 2Night at Indy.
The Monday through Friday versions of the show originated from ESPN Regional Television studios in Charlotte, NC, while the weekend versions originated from ESPN's main headquarters in Bristol, CT.
RPM2Night hit a major snag in 2001, when ESPN lost NASCAR rights in a consolidated TV package. Shortly after the sale of the rights, ESPN was told that it could only show NASCAR highlights on two programs: SportsCenter
SportsCenter
SportsCenter is a daily sports news television show, and the flagship program of American cable network ESPN since the network launched on September 7, 1979. Originally broadcast only daily, SportsCenter is now shown up to twelve times a day, replaying the day's scores and highlights from major...
and ESPNEWS
ESPNEWS
ESPNEWS , launched on November 1, 1996, is a 24-hour-a-day sports news television channel...
. From that point forward, RPM2Night could only show still photographs from the weekly Sprint Cup Series race. Furthermore, ESPN's reporters had their track credentials pulled. Interviews with drivers and other principals took place either at the track's parking lots or at nearby commuter airports.
Media reports of the time suggested that NASCAR imposed the new procedures to give a benefit to Fox Sports Net
Fox Sports Net
The Fox Sports Regional Networks, or simply Fox Sports Net , are a collection of cable TV regional sports networks in the United States owned and operated by News Corporation.- Beginnings :...
, which was launching a similar NASCAR-only show, Totally NASCAR
Totally NASCAR
Totally NASCAR is a newscast about NASCAR racing that airs on Fox Sports Net. The program returned in 2010, but in a different format from the show that was originally shown from 2001 to 2004...
, at the time. NASCAR officials denied this and claimed that they merely wanted to give ESPN an incentive to provide NASCAR more exposure on SportsCenter, which had a higher viewership.
RPM2Night signed off for the last time on November 16, 2003.
ESPN produces shows devoted to the NHRA
National Hot Rod Association
The National Hot Rod Association is a drag racing governing body, which sets rules in drag racing and host events all over the United States and Canada...
and IndyCar Series that air on race days only. They can be said to be spin-offs
Spin-off (media)
In media, a spin-off is a radio program, television program, video game, or any narrative work, derived from one or more already existing works, that focuses, in particular, in more detail on one aspect of that original work...
of RPM 2Night.
See also
NASCAR NowNASCAR Now
NASCAR Now is a NASCAR news and analysis show that airs year round Monday through Friday as a thirty minute show at 5:00pm ET on ESPN2. NASCAR Now, that debuted on February 5, 2007, is broadcast in HD from Bristol, Connecticut and also has a daily segment on SportsCenter...
- ESPN's new NASCAR news and analysis show that began broadcasting in February 2007.