RPM 2Night

"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 1, 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".

"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".

ee also

NASCAR Now- ESPN's new NASCAR news and analysis show that began broadcasting in February 2007.