UK fans get set for live Daytona 500 spectacle.

NASCAR fans in the United Kingdom will be able to watch today's Daytona 500 live for the first time in four years providing they have signed up to the Digital North American Sports Network channel (NASN).

Available through SKY Digital (ch420) and ntl:home Digital (ch917) in the UK, the channel recently signed Europe's most comprehensive deal to cover the Winston Cup and Craftsman Truck Series in 2003 and subscribers have already enjoyed 'as-live' coverage of the Budweiser Shootout and live coverage of Thursday's Gatorade 125-mile qualifying races, a first in Britain.

Although not currently available through the old analogue satellite system or on cable, the service is already proving its worth thanks to its direct feed from the host broadcasters in the United States which allows British viewers to see more of the race unfold than their American counterparts.

As the host broadcasters cut to commercials roughly once every six or seven minutes (!!!), British viewers are able to stay with the coverage, sans commentary, and during Thursday's broadcast were treated to some excellent in-car, live telemetry footage which included Kevin Harvick's (unseen in the US) brief pass for the lead in the second 125 miler on Thursday.

NASN's coverage of 'America's Great Race' begins at 5pm with FOX's hour-long pre-race show, which includes Mariah Carey signing the National Anthem, before the green flag waves at 6pm.

Fans wishing to get a last minute paid subscription to NASN may be able to do so in time for Sunday's race by phoning 08708 503030 (SKY) or 0800 052 2000 (ntl:home). Subscriptions can also be taken online by visiting www.nasn.com although there may be a 24 hour wait before the channel is decrypted with online applications.