Viewer's Guide: Pocono

For the second time this season the Nextel Cup Series will race at Pocono, while for the first time NASCAR races in Canada with Busch Series action in Montreal. And ESPN will be on hand for both.

The network's coverage of the Pennsylvania 500 includes Bud Pole Qualifying at 3:30 p.m. ET Friday and Happy Hour at 11 a.m. ET Saturday, both airing on ESPN2. Pre-race coverage begins with NASCAR Countdown at 1 p.m. ET Sunday on ESPN, with the green flag scheduled shortly after 2 p.m. ET.

ESPN analyst and two-time champion crew chief Andy Petree says viewers should pay close attention to the front straightaway at Pocono.

"Watching them come down that front straightaway, fanning out sometimes four- or five-wide. It's incredible how wide that front straightaway is, and watching those guys using the draft and jockeying for position trying to gain an advantage is really exciting to see," Petree said.

"You're going so fast down that front straightaway, and you've got to slow down to make that Turn 1. You're probably going 200 mph, and that's a lot of speed to bleed off."

Online fans can watch ESPN's live race broadcast from Pocono on NASCAR.COM. (learn more)

With its regular crew busy at Pocono, ESPN will have another team calling the race in Montreal. Allen Bestwick will anchor ESPN2's coverage, with analysis by two-time Busch Series champion Randy LaJoie. Pit reporters will be Gary Gerould, Marty Smith and Vince Welch. Bestwick also will host NASCAR Countdown, which begins coverage of the NAPA Auto Parts 200 at 3 p.m. ET Saturday. The green flag is set to wave shortly after 3:30 p.m. ET.

Lajoie likens the first race in Montreal to when the Busch Series first went to Mexico City in 2005.

"Well I'm sure they did something very similar to what they did in Mexico City. When they tested there, they videotaped the whole track, and then they gave us all a CD. So at least we weren't going there blind. We almost knew where we were going," LaJoie said.

"But Montreal is still a new venue. It's still something that's going to put everybody at a level playing field because nobody's been there before. It's a beautiful road course. I raced in Montreal back in the old NASCAR North days, and the people of Montreal are just going to love it. The enthusiasm of the race fans in Canada is pretty darn cool."

Road racing star Scott Pruett will be ESPN's in-car race reporter for the telecast. Pruett will drive the No. 41 Dodge for Chip Ganassi.

ESPN2 also will broadcast final practice from the world-famous Circuit Gilles Villenueve at 2 p.m. ET Friday and Busch Pole Qualifying at noon ET Saturday.

Online fans can watch history in the making from Montreal with ESPN2's live race broadcast on NASCAR.COM. (learn more)