Television Contracts:
FOX / FoxSports1 (13 races thru 2014; 16 races thru 2024): signed thru 2024
NBC/NBCSN/USA (20 races): 2015-2024
TNT/Turner (6 races): was thru 2014
ESPN/ABC (17 races): was thru 2014
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NASCAR considering streaming service? However, due to TV contracts they could not show live national series races.[More](11-20-2018)
Mike Joy, Darrell Waltrip, and Jeff Gordon expected to return to Fox booth next season: Gordon's contract is up this year and there was speculation he would not return.[More](6-25-2018)
Tethered drone, record number of in-car cameras highlight Fox Sports' 15th Daytona 500 broadcast: FOX Sports, marking its 15th Daytona 500, is raising its game yet again, adding aerial drone coverage and a record number of in-car cameras to its already standard-setting production lineup for the 60th running of the Great American Race on Sunday, Feb. 18 (2:30 PM ET) on the FOX broadcast network.[More](2-15-2018)
FOX Sports and NBC Sports jointly honored as recipients of 2017 NASCAR Marketing Achievement Award: FOX Sports and NBC Sports will jointly be honored with the 2017 NASCAR Marketing Achievement Award at the NASCAR NMPA Myers Brothers Awards today. FOX Sports and NBC Sports integrated NASCAR into its broader suite of media company assets, putting the sport in front of non-traditional audiences to help grow appeal across key demographics. The networks collaborated to implement a wide-ranging strategy to cross-promote races on both networks during the season.[More](11-29-2017)
Fox announces 2018 broadcasting lineup: As NASCAR prepares to honor its MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES champion this weekend in Las Vegas and teams finalize their 2018 lineups, FOX Sports has begun stacking its broadcaster deck for 2018. New to the FOX NASCAR arsenal next year, the network's 18th consecutive season broadcasting NASCAR races, is veteran driver Regan Smith, who will serve as a pit reporter for the MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES and NASCAR XFINITY SERIES, in addition to continuing his role as a NASCAR RACE HUB analyst.[More](11-29-2017)
Sports TV viewers getting older: According to a striking study of Nielsen television viewership data of 25 sports, all but one have seen the median age of their TV viewers increase during the past decade. The study, conducted exclusively for SportsBusiness Journal by Magna Global, looked at live, regular-season game coverage of major sports across both broadcast and cable television in 2000, 2006 and 2016. It showed that while the median age of viewers of most sports, except the WTA, NBA and MLS, is aging faster than the overall U.S. population, it is doing so at a slower pace than prime-time TV.[More](6-7-2017)
Fox to honor service members during Coca-Cola 600: FOX NASCAR once again will honor American service members who have fallen in the past year with "FOX Sports Remembers" during Sunday's Coca-Cola 600 race broadcast. The tribute, begun in 2009, features a running scroll across the bottom of the TV screen listing the name of every U.S. service member who lost his or her life at home or abroad since last year's Memorial Day Weekend race.[More](5-27-2017)
Shannon Spake named Co-host of NASCAR Race Hub: FOX Sports named Shannon Spake co-host of its NASCAR RACE HUB (Monday through Thursday at 6:00pm/et on FS1) alongside Adam Alexander for the 2017 NASCAR race season. Spake, who joined FOX Sports in July 2016, also will host NASCAR RACEDAY-XFINITY, live from the track preceding each weekend's NASCAR XFINITY SERIES race, in addition to continuing to serve as a sideline reporter for college basketball and several NFL games airing on FOX Sports. Spake has extensive NASCAR television experience after multiple years as a pit reporter covering the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR XFINITY Series, in addition to studio hosting duties, for ESPN.(FoxSports)(2-14-2017)
Danielle Trotta leaves FOX Sports 1: Danielle Trotta, who rose from an intern at WBTV (Channel 3) to prominence in TV motorsports coverage, announced Monday that she was leaving Fox Sports 1, her professional home for the last seven years. "I'm thankful to Fox for the chance to pursue new opportunities and excited for what the future holds," Trotta said in a statement. "My departure comes at a time where I'm ready to grow and tackle new challenges ... this was the right time personally and professionally to follow where the next story leads." Trotta is engaged to Robby Benton, owner of RAB Racing. Trotta had a variety of assignments with Fox, including NFL sideline coverage, "NASCAR Race Hub," "NASCAR Raceday" and NASCAR Xfinity Series, motor sports specials, Supercross and MotoGP races.(Charlotte Observer)(2-14-2017)
Fox announces Cup drivers as XFINITY race analysts: For the third consecutive year, FOX Sports features a rotation of prominent MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES drivers as guest driver analysts for its 2017 NASCAR XFINITY SERIES race telecasts, beginning with the season opener at Daytona. FOX NASCAR adds to the TV booth for the first time Chase Elliott (one race) and Jamie McMurray (one), who join Kevin Harvick (five), Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano (two each). The Cup Series drivers will team with FOX NASCAR play-by-play announcer Adam Alexander and Michael Waltrip to offer analysis for the entire race to which they are assigned. In 2016, Harvick, Keselowski, Logano, Carl Edwards, Clint Bowyer, Danica Patrick and Dale Earnhardt Jr. took a turn in the FOX NASCAR booth. FOX Sports began using MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES drivers as analysts for its NASCAR XFINITY SERIES races in 2015, utilizing Harvick, Keselowski, Bowyer, Jeff Gordon, now a full-time FOX NASCAR analyst, and Patrick.(FoxSports)(2-10-2017)
'The Simpsons' welcome Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr. FOX Sports welcomes back Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, Maggie and the rest of the gang from Springfield - and, this time, The Simpsons are bringing along some of their NASCAR pals. Four-time NASCAR champion and FOX NASCAR analyst Jeff Gordon joins NASCAR's most popular driver, Dale Earnhardt Jr., as part of an animated promo for Daytona Day, the expanded, second-year marketing initiative in support of the Daytona 500. "It was really cool ... it's such a popular show," Gordon said. "Whether they are making fun of you or not, it's just an honor to be a part of it."
Viewers of Sunday's Super Bowl LI on FOX got a sneak peek of the Daytona Day promo with Gordon and Earnhardt, now scheduled to air in episodes of The Simpsons on Feb. 12 and Feb. 19. The Simpsons airs Sundays on FOX. Now, in its second year, the Daytona Day campaign, which now includes support from NASCAR, Daytona International Speedway and multiple consumer marketing partners, continues to recognize and celebrates the parties and social gatherings happening around the country on the day of the Daytona 500.(FoxSports)(2-10-2017)
Dale Earnhardt, Jr. in TV booth for the Clash: Dale Earnhardt Jr. is scheduled to join the FOX NASCAR television booth as a guest driver analyst during FS1's live coverage of THE CLASH AT DAYTONA, the exhibition race that serves as a precursor to the 2017 NASCAR season, on Saturday, Feb. 18. Earnhardt, a two-time winner of THE CLASH, will team with FOX NASCAR announcers Mike Joy, Hall of Famer and three-time champion Darrell Waltrip and four-time champ and former Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon. THE CLASH AT DAYTONA marks Earnhardt's second race in the FOX Sports booth. In June 2016, he served as a driver analyst for the NASCAR XFINITY SERIES race from Michigan International Speedway with Adam Alexander and Michael Waltrip, joining a roster of NASCAR CUP SERIES drivers to rotate in the XFINITY booth.(Fox Sports)(2-3-2017)
Segments should allow fans to see more green flag racing on TV: The NASCAR industry introduced major enhancements for its race format and points structure Monday, setting in motion a wave of new looks and incentives for 2017. But the collaboration also provided the opportunity for incentives for tuned-in fans -- more logical breaks for commercials during race telecasts. Monday's announcement made strides toward achieving that, launching the product of months of cooperation among drivers, tracks, the sanctioning body and TV broadcast partners. Based on the spirit of conversation from the group assembled on stage at the Charlotte Convention Center, the contingents from FOX and NBC Sports had much more than a nominal seat at the table.
"Well, you can never guarantee anything, but I can say that sitting in the room all along the way with us were our two TV partners, and that was one of the core things we looked at," said Steve O'Donnell, NASCAR executive vice president and chief racing development officer. "We listened to the fans and we see the fans, as well, that we don't like breaking away from live action. Can we eliminate that totally? Probably not. But this format allowed us to do that. That's why we put in two breaks."
The new race format, which involves splitting races into three segments, now provides a natural interlude in the action after each of the opening two stages. Both Jeff Burton (NBC Sports) and Jeff Gordon (FOX Sports) -- two racers-turned-analysts -- said that broadcasters intend to use these intermissions to potentially interview stage winners and to take commercial breaks with minimal interruptions of pit stops or other crucial moments.
"I can promise you, I'm in my second year of doing this, there's a tremendous amount of effort by the networks to bring as much racing as possible to the fans," Burton said. "The fans tune in to watch the races, and finding a way to do that is difficult sometimes. This eases that a little bit. This gives a chance for us to go to a break at the right time so the fans miss as little green-flag racing as possible. There's a tremendous amount of effort put into that."(NASCAR.com)(1-24-2017)
Harvick to be TV analyst for 8 races in 2017: #4-Kevin Harvick is scheduled to return to the FOX NASCAR television booth as a race analyst for eight NASCAR events in 2017, beginning with the NASCAR XFINITY Series season opener from Daytona in February on FS1. Harvick also will contribute as an analyst on FS1's NASCAR RACE HUB joining a solid rotation of Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers and crew chiefs. He says he agreed to eight races, in part, to gain reps for what he hopes could become his post-racing career. "I really enjoy calling races," Harvick said. "I enjoy the perspective of sitting up there and trying to figure out what's going on. I also want to be a part of watching these young guys come up through the NASCAR Camping World Truck and XFINITY Series and have the experience of having been in the booth when they raced because, ultimately, it's something I want to do down the road when I'm done driving."(FoxSports)(1-5-2017)
Dunlap not returning to Fox: Asked on Twitter if he was returning to Fox Sports' "NCWTS Setup" pre-race show this season, Ray Dunlap said, "Fox Sports did not renew my contract for 2017. It was 16 great years with a really talented group of friends.".(1-2-2017)
Masarro leaves NBC: NBC Sports' Mike Masarro announced on his Facebook page that he would not return to NBC in 2017:
"With a new year comes new challenges.... Since 1996, Broadcasting NASCAR Races, whether it be radio or TV, has been my life. I fear, however, 2016 may have been my final season. With great sadness I concluded recently, for a wide ranging variety of reasons, my role with NBC Sports was not a good fit and consequently will not return this coming season. My contract will officially expire at midnight tonight. It was a gut wrenching decision. Not one I 'wanted' to make but felt necessary. The reasoning will remain personal. The sadness however is real. Not only because I'm walking away from my dream job, that I worked incredibly hard to achieve (remember the helipads? LOL) but because I can't stand the thought of drifting from a group who've become nothing short of family. Over the course of 20 seasons and over 500 races, relationships have grown. Television pros, drivers, crew chiefs, crew members, PR reps and fellow media members have all become a very real part of my life. I hope one day to see all of you again, but realize there are no guarantees and although I'm exploring other opportunities in the sport, there's a legitimate chance that might not happen."(1-1-2017)
Johnson, Gordon gear up for 'high-spirited races' on Disney Junior: Disney Junior is racing into the new year with "Mickey and the Roadster Racers," a car-racing adventure series for preschoolers, featuring Mickey Mouse and his Disney friends, along with several NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers, including Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon. The first episode of the series -- which features Johnson's animated character -- will premier Sunday, Jan. 15 at 9:00am/et and 9:25am/et on Disney Channel and Disney Junior, respectively. Two additional episodes will air Monday, Jan. 16 at 9:00am/et and 9:25am/et on Disney Channel. Episodes will also be available on the Disney Junior app and Disney Junior VOD, as well as on iTunes. The series follows Mickey, his friends and their transforming vehicles as they race around the world and in their hometown of Hot Dog Hills. Off the track, Minnie and Daisy Duck run the Happy Helpers business, offering a helping hand to anyone in need. Johnson and Gordon appear as recurring race car drivers Jiminy Johnson and Gordon Gear, respectively. The two join a star-studded guest cast which includes Jay Leno, Gordon Ramsay and Hoda Kotb, among others. Designed for children ages two to seven, the episodes and story lines are geared toward teaching kids social and emotional lessons about friendship, teamwork, optimism and good sportsmanship.(HMS)(12-6-2016)
Championship Weekend by the Numbers: NBC Sports presents the 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup series Championship race today at 2:00pm/et on NBC. #22-Joey Logano, #18-Kyle Busch, #48-Jimmie Johnson and #19-Carl Edwards will put it all on the line in hopes of claiming the title. Earlier Saturday, NBCSN presented the final XFINITY race of the season crowning Daniel Suárez as its first Champion under the new Chase playoff format. NBC Sports Group's comprehensive coverage from Homestead-Miami Speedway this weekend is powered by 79 cameras, 150 microphones, 13 on-air talent, 28 miles of cable and 230 production personnel. Listed below are some key metrics about NBC Sports Group's coverage of NASCAR on NBC:
1.......Helicopter providing aerial coverage throughout the weekend
2.......Networks providing coverage of Sunday's Championship race. NBCSN's Hot Pass complements NBC's broadcast of Championship race with spotlight coverage dedicated to Championship Four drivers
5.......Mario Kart characters used during Friday's Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon segment with Joey Logano, Kyle Busch, Jimmie Johnson and Carl Edwards
13.......Members of NBC Sports NASCAR on-air team providing Championship coverage
19.......Number of 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races presented by NBC Sports Group
20.......Laps taken by four-time Olympic medalist, Ato Boldon, in the NBC Sports on-track car at Homestead-Miami Speedway with Jeff Burton. Catch Boldon's ride along segment in Sunday's pre-race coverage
21.......Hours of trackside coverage from Miami
23.......Sony HDC-4300 cameras with 4K capabilities among NBC Sports' complement
28.......Miles of fiber cable surrounding Homestead-Miami Speedway
32.......On-board cameras imbedded within Sprint Cup Series cars
79.......Total on-site cameras
150.......NBC Sports microphones throughout the speedway
230.......Crew members on-site in Miami
(NBC)(11-20-2016)
NBCSN to feature Hot Pass during the Championship race: NBCSN compliments NBC's live coverage of the 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship race from Homestead-Miami Speedway with Hot Pass Sunday November 20th at 2:30pm/et. While NBC provides the primary broadcast of Jimmie Johnson's quest for a historic seventh Championship and the last race of Tony Stewart's career, NBCSN offers simultaneous live coverage dedicated to each of the Championship 4 drivers.
Utilizing multi-window displays and in-car cameras, Hot Pass provides viewers an in-depth look at Johnson, Carl Edwards, Joey Logano and Kyle Busch as they battle for the 2016 title. On-air graphics highlight the point differentials and field changes between the four drives while a pane of race facts and figures give viewers up to the minute statistics. NBCSN's Hot Pass provides continuous in-car audio, highlighting team communication, punctuated with commentary from race announcer Leigh Diffey and NASCAR on NBC reporter Parker Kligerman.
"With NASCAR Hot Pass, you won't miss a move from the four Championship drivers," said Rich O'Connor, NBC Sports motorsports producer. "It provides fans with an inside look at the strategy, communication and pressure felt by the Championship Four drivers." Last year's dual coverage of the 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship, on NBC and NBCSN, averaged 7.64 million viewers and posted a combined 4.42 national HH rating. It was the most-watched NASCAR season finale since NBC presented the championship event in 2005.(NBC Sports)(11-16-2016)
NBCSN and NASCAR Productions present 'NASCAR Seasons: 2001' Sunday: Immediately following this Sunday's Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup coverage at Martinsville Speedway, NBCSN presents "NASCAR Seasons: 2001," a new, 60-minute documentary that chronicles a NASCAR season and a year that will never be forgotten. Unfolding through Dale Earnhardt's tragic death at the 2001 Daytona 500, the enormous outpouring of emotions that followed, and Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s stirring victory at the July Daytona race, "NASCAR Seasons: 2001" also covers the sport's passionate reaction to the tragic events of the September 11th attacks. The story of this unforgettable year illustrates how NASCAR's legion of supporters came together at times of sorrow and jubilation to exhibit a tremendous sense of unity, and how the experiences of 2001 generated several advancements in safety that continue to evolve today. Produced in partnership with NASCAR Productions, the documentary candidly presents the events through rarely seen archival footage and new interviews with those who experienced the season firsthand. "NASCAR Seasons: 2001" premieres Sunday at 6:30pm/et on NBCSN.(NASCAR)(10-30-2016)
Earnhardt Jr. joins the Cup broadcast booth for next two races: NBC Sports announced that Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of Hendrick Motorsports' #88 Chevy, will join the NBC Sports broadcast booth for portions of two upcoming Sprint Cup broadcasts. Earnhardt, who has not raced since July as he recovers from a concussion, will lend his expertise as an analyst during NBCSN's coverage this Sunday from Talladega Superspeedway, as well as the following Sunday from Martinsville Speedway. Inside the NBCSN broadcast booth, Earnhardt will reunite with his former crew chief Steve Letarte, and work alongside race announcer Rick Allen and fellow analyst Jeff Burton. Sunday marks Earnhardt's first ever NASCAR Sprint Cup broadcasting assignment. "I'm excited to see these races from a different vantage point and hopefully offer some insight to the viewers," said Earnhardt. "I thoroughly enjoyed my opportunity to broadcast the XFINITY race at Michigan earlier this year, so I expect getting to spend time in the booth with the NBC team to be just as fun."(NBC Sports)(10-20-2016)
NBC to add throwback coverage to Darlington Sprint Cup race: NBC Sports gears up for a throwback weekend of racing from Darlington highlighted by the NASCAR Sprint Cup series Bojangles' Southern 500 Sunday at 6:00pm/et on NBC. NBC Sports joins Darlington Raceway in celebrating the sights and sounds of the 1975-1984 era with throwback themes integrated into this weekend's coverage. In addition to traditional graphics and historic logos, NASCAR on NBC's on-air team will dress in their best time period apparel. Throughout the weekend NASCAR on NBC's pre-race set will be flanked by a series of old school cars from the decade. Music and footage from the era will also bring viewers in and out of commercial breaks. Race day coverage kicks off with a revamped version of Blake Shelton's NASCAR on NBC "Bringing Back the Sunshine" Open, full of racing moments spanning the track's incredible history. Legendary NASCAR broadcasters Ken Squier and Ned Jarrett return to the booth, alongside Dale Jarrett, to call a portion of the race. Squier adds his voice to a special pre-race feature on the storied Raceway. Pre-race coverage also includes a special three car on-track preview of Darlington Raceway. In addition to Jeff Burton in the Toyota Camry on-track car, Kyle Petty will drive his father's famed 1979 "43 Championship race car alongside Dale Jarrett in fellow Hall of Famer Benny Parsons' #72 car.(NBC)(9-1-2016)
NASCAR and Nickelodeon Wave Green Flag for Third Season of Hammer Down: NASCAR and Nickelodeon are joining forces again to take viewers inside the world of NASCAR racing with the return NASCAR Hammer Down. Premiering Friday, Sept. 23 at 9:30pm (ET/PT) on Nicktoons, the third season of NASCAR Hammer Down features eight, 15-minute episodes hosted by Karsyn Elledge, granddaughter of Dale Earnhardt and daughter of Kelley Earnhardt Miller. This season, Elledge will be joined by her sister, Kennedy Elledge, for driver interviews, goofy antics and behind-the-scenes insight into the technology and people that propel more than 90 annual NASCAR national series events. Ryan Blaney, driver of the #21 Ford for Wood Brothers Racing, and Bubba Wallace Jr., driver of the #6 Ford for Roush Fenway Racing, also return as series regulars for the popular "Bubba & Blaney" segment. Produced by NASCAR Productions, season three premieres with back-to-back episodes, the first of which emanates from the NASCAR Hall of Fame.(NASCAR)(8-25-2016)
TV Info for Bristol August 19-20: As NBC Sports Group's presentation of the 2016 Rio Olympic Games winds down, the engines of NASCAR rev back into action with back-to-back races under the lights of Bristol Motor Speedway. The NASCAR Sprint Cup series returns on Saturday at 7:30pm/et on NBCSN. NASCAR XFINITY Series racing is scheduled for Friday at 7:30pm/et on USA Network.
Saturday's pre-race coverage includes a closer look at the famous speedway that owes its heritage to Olympia. In a feature voiced by Ken Squier, NBC Sports draws comparisons between the Olympics, the greatest test of a man's physical strength, and NASCAR racing, the greatest test of man and machine. Before the cars roll this weekend, NBC reporter Parker Kligerman ventures up to Colossus to get a closer look at the world's largest outdoor center-hung four-sided video screen. NBC Sports continues to surround Jeff Gordon as he suits up for his fourth consecutive race in the #88 car as Dale Earnhardt Jr. remains sidelined with a concussion.
NBC Sports kicks off its Sprint Cup coverage from Bristol on Friday with practice at 10:00am/et, [NO TV] available via live stream on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app, as well as several NBC Sports Regional Networks (CSN New England, CSN Mid Atlantic, CSN Plus-Chicago, CSN Bay Area, CSN Northwest).
Happy Hour (final) practice follows at 12:30pm/et streaming on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app with live coverage of practice starting at 1:00pm/et on USA Network. Friday's Sprint Cup coverage wraps up with qualifying at 5:30pm/et on USA Network.
Saturday's race day coverage begins with Countdown to Green at 7:30pm/et, immediately following the conclusion of the Olympic men's soccer gold medal match on NBCSN (so coverage could be delayed). Race coverage from The Last Great Colosseum begins Saturday at 8:00pm/et. An hour-long on-site post-race show wraps up NBCSN's coverage at 11:00pm/et (after the race).
Race announcer Rick Allen calls this weekend's action alongside analysts Steve Letarte and Jeff Burton. Pre- and post-race coverage is handled by host Krista Voda, and analysts Kyle Petty and Dale Jarrett. Marty Snider, Mike Massaro, Dave Burns and Kligerman report from pit road.(NBC)(8-18-2016)
Watkins Glen Cup TV Schedule different than the norm, race on USA Network: As NBC Sports Group stands just two days away from the Opening Ceremony of the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, this weekend's NASCAR action from Watkins Glen International lands on USA Network and CNBC. Coverage kicks off Saturday with XFINITY Series racing at 1:30pm/et on CNBC, followed by Sprint Cup racing Sunday at 2:00pm/et on USA Network. NBC Sports surrounds Jeff Gordon's continued run in the #88 car, as Dale Earnhardt Jr. remains sidelined with concussion-like symptoms. NBCSN presents a special edition of NASCAR America Friday at 12:00pm/et, with complete live coverage of Earnhardt Jr.'s press conference, when he will address his condition and expected return to racing.
NBC Sports begins its Sprint Cup coverage from one of the most unique tracks in NASCAR Friday with practice at 12:30pm/et on NBCSN, followed by final practice at 3:00pm/et on NBCSN. Saturday's Sprint Cup qualifying begins at 12:00pm/et on CNBC.
USA Network's race day coverage begins at 2:00pm/et with Countdown to Green, followed by Sprint Cup racing from "The Glen" at 2:30pm/et. An on-site post-race show wraps up the afternoon at 5:30pm/et.(NBC)(8-5-2016)
Program Showcases BK Racing: Driven: BK Racing - Slaying the Giant debuts Wednesday, June 29, at 10:30pm/et on FOX Sports Southeast. This latest episode of the Emmy Award-winning original programming series Driven will also be available on FOX Sports GO (FOXSportsGo.com must sign in with provider), a free app that provides live streaming video of content televised on FOX Sports Southeast through select programming distributors.(6-29-2016)
Live With Kelly and... Jeff Gordon? UPDATE: Retired racing legend Jeff Gordon has zoomed to the top of ABC's short list to succeed Michael Strahan as Kelly Ripa's new Live co-host, TVLine has learned. Gordon has experience sitting alongside Ripa. During the Live With Regis and Kelly era, he served as Ripa's sidekick nine times. (He even did a stint opposite Reege in 2001 before Ripa came on board). He most recently appeared on the show in June 2015, but just as a guest. Since retiring from professional stock car racing in 2015, the 44-year-old Gordon has transitioned into broadcasting (he currently serves as a Fox NASCAR analyst). Should he snag the Live gig, his career path would closely mirror that of the man he'd be replacing; Strahan, who exited Live last month for a full-time gig at Good Morning America, also segued into broadcasting after retiring from the NFL. Live is expected to continue pairing Ripa with a parade of guest co-hosts until a final decision is made later this summer. Other names in the permanent co-host mix include former Grinder star Rob Lowe and Ripa's BFF Anderson Cooper. Gordon's spokesperson, declined TVLine's request for comment.(TVLine)(6-18-2016)
UPDATE: Jeff Gordon talks about possible talk show gig: On Saturday morning at Sonoma Raceway, Jeff Gordon affirmed his commitment to his position as an analyst in the FOX Sports television booth. But that doesn't mean Gordon is ruling out moonlighting as co-host for "Live with Kelly." Prevalent rumors have Gordon on the short list to fill the role of departed Michael Strahan as Kelly Ripa's sidekick on the show. "Well, I'm flattered that my name has been associated with that," said Gordon, who has filled in as an occasional co-host of the show. "You know, I've always maintained a great friendship with the show and some of the producers and folks within the show. I had a great time co-hosting on that show, and I mean, I certainly would welcome it. My priority is FOX and FOX Sports and NASCAR, so I will definitely be back in the booth next year. If there was something that would fit into and around that-great. I don't know if that's a reality, but it's been really interesting kind of seeing that unfold. I really don't have anything that I can say about it."(NASCAR Wire Service and see an Q&A at the Charlotte Observer)(6-26-2016)
Patrick to be CMS Music Award presenter: On Wednesday, June 8, #10-Danica Patrick will join the likes of actors Vince Vaughn and Rob Riggle, and country music artists Cole Swindell and Kellie Pickler, as a presenter for the "2016 CMT Music Awards." The event is scheduled to air live on CMT at 8:00pm/et.(SHR)(6-1-2016)
Raceline names first youth reporter: Summer is almost here, and kids across the country are looking forward to a break from school. One young racer from the Richmond, VA area is adding a summer job to his already impressive resume. Garrett Manes will become Raceline's first ever summer youth reporter for eight weeks beginning mid June. Just weeks away from celebrating his fifteenth birthday, Manes already has three Arena Racing USA Championships under his belt, as well as awards for the most poles and most wins in Arena Racing. Like most young racers, Manes has his sights set on NASCAR. He hopes to share unique perspective on the sport with Raceline's viewers.
"We look forward to working with Garrett this summer," says Joe Moore, Executive Producer and host of Raceline. "Motorsports as a whole is always trying to attract more young fans, and Garrett's contributions will be a great addition to the show." Raceline is currently seen in 85 million homes and is available nationwide on MAVTV.(Raceline Facebook)(6-1-2016)
NASCAR Drivers guest star on Blaze and the Monster Machines show: Nickelodeon shifts into high gear with a series of six all-new race car-themed episodes of the hit animated preschool series Blaze and the Monster Machines, featuring Blaze as a high-octane race car and guest voice appearances from superstar race car drivers Danica Patrick, Jimmie Johnson, Chase Elliott and Kasey Kahne. The first special, "Race Car Superstar," premieres Monday, May 30, at 1:30 pm (ET/PT), followed by "Race to Eagle Rock" on Thursday, June 2, at 1:30 pm (ET/PT) on Nickelodeon. The remaining four race car episodes will roll out this fall. Blaze and the Monster Machines, which currently ranks as the number-one preschool show in its time period on all TV, follows the adventures of the amazing monster truck Blaze and his eight-year-old driver AJ. It's also the first preschool show on TV to comprehensively cover all areas of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) in every episode. Blaze and the Monster Machines airs regularly at 1:30 pm (ET/PT) on Nickelodeon, the top network for preschoolers and kids 2-11.
In the specials, Blaze visits the racing town of VelocityVille, where all the cars love to go fast, and meets four new race cars: Rally (Patrick), a race car who is always first to the track and never misses a chance to hit the raceway; Dash (Johnson), a car that is fun, friendly, fast and the ultimate racing buddy for Blaze; Mark Set-Go (Elliott), VelocityVille's sensational starter who kicks off each racing adventure with rock-star style and a signature rhyme; and Fender (Kahne), a car that rules the raceway, but is excited to share the track with Blaze.(Nickelodeon)(5-30-2016)
Marty Snider's son wins ARCA race in debut: Son of NBC NASCAR announcer Marty Snider, 21-year-old Myatt Snider made his ARCA Racing Series race at Toledo Speedway last Sunday. Starting the #22 Cunningham Motorsports Ford with sponsorship from The Original Louisiana Hot Sauce from the third starting position, Snider won the race. Sunday was the first of nine ARCA races Snider will take part in this season. Dalton Sargeant finished second, followed by Kyle Weatherman, Chase Briscoe and Matt Kurzejewski.(NBC Sports)(5-25-2016)
Documentary Goes Behind the Scenes of #43 Team to Chronicle Offseason Preparation: The cars are faster and the stakes are higher, but nearly 50 years since Richard Petty won a historic ten consecutive races, the spirit of NASCAR racing remains the same. Presented by Smithfield Foods, Building 43 guides viewers through the history of Richard Petty Motorsports, the 1967 season that crowned "The King," and the #43 team's current focus on capturing checkered flags. Building 43 airs Saturday, May 21st at 1:00 pm/et on NBC. Richard Petty Motorsports currently fields two Sprint Cup cars; the #43 driven by Almirola currently in his fifth full Sprint Cup season, and the #44 driven by Brian Scott, who competed full-time in the NASCAR XFINITY Series for six seasons. The team also hosts the #43 XFINITY series car driven by Jeb Burton, son of Ward Burton and the nephew of NASCAR on NBC analyst Jeff Burton.(NBC)(5-21-2016)
Peyton Manning to appear on race broadcast Sunday: NFL legend Peyton Manning will make an appearance in the FOX NASCAR broadcast booth on Sunday, April 17, during live FOX coverage of the NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES race from Bristol Motor Speedway. The two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback, who retired at the conclusion of the 2015 NFL season, will join the FOX NASCAR broadcast team of Mike Joy, four-time champion Jeff Gordon and Hall of Famer/three-time champion Darrell Waltrip for a brief time. Manning is at Bristol this weekend as a guest of Dale Earnhardt Jr.(FOX)(4-17-2016)
Most mentioned drivers of 2016: According to Joyce Julius, a company that tracks media mentions for sport sponsors, #4-Kevin Harvick has been the most-mentioned NASCAR driver on TV this year while #18-Kyle Busch has received the most interview time
Statistics reflect all live race telecasts and replays of the 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season through Fontana.(Joyce Julius & Associates)(4-7-2016)
CMT showing 3-Night Special on NASCAR: Each week millions of NASCAR fans - a massive television and digital audience - tune in to watch NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events and CMT announced an unprecedented six hour, three night special event dedicated to the fearless men who took stock car racing out of the backwoods and into the national spotlight with NASCAR: The Rise of American Speed premiering Sunday May 8, May 15 and May 22 at 10:00pm et/pt. From Stephen David Entertainment, the Emmy Award-winning company behind the miniseries "The Men Who Built America," "Gold Fever" and "The World Wars," the special event is not only a unique look into NASCAR's legendary beginnings, but in the spirit of racing, it is a no-holds-barred account of the sport's early pioneers and ascention to national prominence. The film features archival footage, reenactments and interviews with NASCAR personalities and experts including Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Jeff Gordon, Kevin Harvick, Matt Kenseth, Brad Keselowski, Kyle Larson, Joey Logano, Richard Petty, Tony Stewart and Darrell Waltrip.
It's the story about how a generation of Southern bootleggers and gangsters pursued their version of the American dream and created an industry that defined them. Despite a destitute South, they became wildly rich, while in the process forming the nation's greatest racing league through their persistence, sweat and moonshine. The success of NASCAR surpassed even their wildest dreams and inspired a new generation of Southern icons. But in the race to always go bigger and faster, sometimes there were casualties along the way. "NASCAR: The Rise of American Speed" is a tale of fearless men who didn't just live their lives, they raced them to the finish.
To see a sneak peek of "NASCAR: The Rise of American Speed," click on the trailer here.(CMT)(4-7-2016)
Kenseth surprises Steve Byrnes' family: The wife and son of the late Steve Byrnes showed up at the NASCAR Hall of Fame on Tuesday expecting to take a photo with Matt Kenseth. The one-year anniversary of Kenseth's win at Bristol Motor Speedway - the "Food City 500 in Support of Steve Byrnes and Stand Up To Cancer" - was approaching, so they didn't have reason to suspect an ulterior motive. But Karen Byrnes and her seventh-grader son Bryson were surprised with a pair of gifts upon their arrival. Kenseth presented them with a replica sword given to the winner of the Bristol race along with a framed picture of the #20 team in victory lane holding up signs in support of Steve, a beloved FOX Sports announcer who died two days after the event.
Bryson, a well-spoken young man who seemed comfortable addressing reporters Tuesday, has dreams of becoming a college football announcer if his own football career doesn't work out (last season he played both center and defensive end on his middle school team). He said all the outpouring of support for his father has been "overwhelming and kind of magical to see."
Karen Byrnes said the last year has been "bittersweet." She and Bryson have been supported in many ways by the NASCAR community, but they've also lived through many firsts - the first Father's Day without Steve, the first Christmas, the first Easter. And this month, they'll mark Steve's birthday (April 14) and the anniversary of his death (April 21).
"Those are challenging times," she said. "But we've tried to be purposeful in also living, too. (We're) moving forward and experiencing life because I think we do a disservice to him by not going out and living life."(USA Today)(4-6-2016)
NBC Sports announces 2016 NASCAR Broadcast Schedule:After presenting more than 360 hours of live, trackside NASCAR coverage across 22 states in 2015, NBC Sports Group returns as the home of NASCAR's Championship run in 2016. NBC Sports' NASCAR XFINITY and Sprint Cup Series racing schedule kicks off in primetime, amid Independence Day weekend festivities, on Friday, July 1 and Saturday, July 2, at the newly-renovated Daytona International Speedway. NBC Sports Group's exclusive coverage of the 2016 Chase for the Sprint Cup swings into action on Sunday, Sept. 18 from Chicagoland Speedway and culminates with the Sprint Cup Championship from Miami on Sunday, Nov. 20.
NASCAR XFINITY Series racing makes its 2016 return to NBC Sports Group on Friday, July 1, at 7:30 pm/et on NBCSN. NBC Sports Group's coverage of the XFINITY Series, where "Names Are Made," consists of four races on NBC, 12 races on NBCSN, two races on USA Network, and one race on CNBC.
NASCAR on NBC's 12-person on-air team returns in 2016 for NASCAR Sprint Cup and XFINITY Series race coverage. Lead race announcer Rick Allen returns to the booth alongside Daytona 500-winning crew chief Steve Letarte and 21-time Sprint Cup race winner Jeff Burton. Krista Voda returns to host pre- and post-race coverage, alongside NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Dale Jarrett and analyst Kyle Petty. Marty Snider, Mike Massaro, Kelli Stavast, and Dave Burns return to report from pit road in 2016, in tandem with features reporter Rutledge Wood and NBCSports.com lead motorsports writer Nate Ryan.(NBC)(3-16-2016)
Changes to NASCAR sanctioning agreements this year: NASCAR has added new language to its sanction agreements that prohibit anything resembling the Sprint Cup Series at tracks that have Sprint Cup races. Because Dover International Speedway's entire business is virtually reliant on its two NASCAR weekends, Dover filed select financial information as well as its entire Sprint Cup sanction agreements with the Securities and Exchange Commission last week. The money Dover will get from the NASCAR television package will increase from 3.37% to 4.25% annually over the next five years. Dover will receive $30.7 million in television money for its two Sprint Cup weekends ... and it will increase anywhere from $1.1 million to $1.4 million a year through 2020.
The sanction agreement also includes some new language -- interesting language from the standpoint that NASCAR has now banned any races of similar cars at the tracks where Sprint Cup competes. Among other new items in the five-year sanction agreements:
* NASCAR will tell promoters by April 1 the dates of their races for the following year.
* There is a new section on "secondary ancillary rights" fees that will be distributed 60% to teams, 30% to promoters and 10% to NASCAR. These would be non-live broadcast rights for highlights and other digital content, including licensing to fantasy games for use of driver and team images.
* There is a new section called "event standards" that creates a promoter council and requires that the tracks and NASCAR will work together to create series-wide and event-specific criteria relative to fan experience, remote viewers experience, promotion of events and stature of events - and that NASCAR and the track would put together a plan to rectify any shortfalls or deficiencies.
* NASCAR will now require pace vehicles to be only those from manufacturers that participate in NASCAR competition, with any track deals with other manufacturers grandfathered in for 2016.(ESPN.com)(3-4-2016)
Edwards Added To FOX Sports' NASCAR Xfinity Series Booth Lineup: FOX Sports returns four NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers as race analysts for its coverage of the NASCAR XFINITY Series coverage in 2016 and adds Carl Edwards this season for the first time. Rotating in the FOX and FS1 booth are Edwards, Kevin Harvick, Clint Bowyer, Brad Keselowski and Danica Patrick. Harvick, Bowyer, Keselowski and Patrick rotated in the FOX Sports booth in 2015. Harvick, is up first, calling the season opener from Daytona. Bowyer is on deck, joining the FS1 team of play-by-play announcer Adam Alexander and analyst Michael Waltrip at Atlanta on Saturday, Feb. 27.
This season, FOX Sports airs the first 14 NASCAR XFINITY Series of the year. FS1 telecasts 10 of the events while FOX broadcasts the races from Phoenix, Talladega, Dover and Pocono. Below is a list of NASCAR XFINITY Series races on FOX and FS1 for which Cup Series drivers are scheduled to serve as guest analysts:
Race, Date/Airtime, Network, Driver/guest analyst
Daytona, Feb. 20 (3:30pm/et), FS1, Harvick
Atlanta, Feb. 28 (1:30pm/et), FS1, Bowyer
Las Vegas, March 5 (4:00pm/et), FS1, Bowyer
Phoenix, March 12 (2:30pm/et), FOX, TBA
Fontana, March 19 (4:00pm/et), FS1, Keselowski
Texas, April 8 (8:30pm/et), FS1, Edwards
Bristol, April 16 (12:30pm/et), FS1, Keselowski
Richmond, April 23 (12:30pm/et), FS1, TBA
Talladega, April 30 (3:00pm/et), FOX, TBA
Dover, May 14 (2:00pm/et), FOX, Keselowski
Charlotte, May 28 (2:30pm/et), FS1, Bowyer
Pocono, June 4 (1:00pm/et), FOX, Patrick
Michigan, June 11 (1:30pm/et), FS1, TBA
Iowa, June 19 (1:30pm/et), FS1, Larry McReynolds
*subject to change
(FoxSports)(2-20-2016)
FOX offers 100 Hours of NASCAR Daytona Speedweeks Coverage: Headlined by the addition of four-time NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon, FOX broadcasts the 58th running of the Daytona 500 -- the Great American Race -- from the newly renovated Daytona International Speedway on Sunday, Feb. 21, with live coverage beginning at 12:00pm/et with FOX NASCAR Sunday.
Marked by the network's 16th consecutive season covering the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, FOX NASCAR's presentation of Daytona Speedweeks features approximately 100 hours of multi-platform programming, including the Sprint Unlimited, Can-Am Duel at Daytona, and NASCAR XFINITY Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season openers. FOX NASCAR returns in 2016 armed with seven championships' worth of analysis and insight from Hall of Famer and three-time champ Darrell Waltrip alongside Gordon, with veteran play-by-play announcer Mike Joy, covering his 41st Daytona 500.
The FOX NASCAR booth trio is bolstered by a deep and experienced on-air team featuring former crew chief and race analyst Larry McReynolds and pit reporters Jamie Little, Chris Neville, Vince Welch and Matt Yocum. Chris Myers hosts FOX NASCAR Sunday and the network's coverage from the famed Hollywood Hotel alongside Michael Waltrip, Darrell Waltrip and Gordon.
"The Great American Race" is streamed live in both English and Spanish through FOX Sports GO, the critically acclaimed app that provides live streaming video of FOX Sports content at home or on-the-go. All FOX NASCAR programming in 2016 is live streamed on FOX Sports GO. FOX Deportes, the #1 Spanish-language sports network in the U.S., also offers live coverage of the Daytona 500.
FOX Sports' Daytona Speedweeks coverage kicks off Friday, Feb. 12 on FS1 with NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Practice for the Sprint Unlimited (5:00pm/et).
The Sprint Unlimited, the first NASCAR event of the 2016 season, airs live on FOX on Saturday, Feb. 13 (8:00pm/et). Joy, Darrell Waltrip and Gordon call the 75-lap, non-points race with race analyst Larry McReynolds and pit reporters Little, Welch and Yocum. Myers and Michael Waltrip host the network's coverage from the Hollywood Hotel. This year's edition features 25 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers, including all 16 who qualified for the 2015 NASCAR Chase for the Sprint Cup, 2015 pole winners, former Sprint Unlimited winners and former Daytona 500 pole winners.
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers hit the track the next day, Sunday, Feb. 14, for Daytona 500 Qualifying, live on FOX at 1:00pm/et, setting the prestigious first and second starting positions for the Daytona 500, as well as the starting order for the Can-Am Duel at Daytona.
The complete Daytona 500 starting order is determined following the Can-Am Duel at Daytona, live on FS1 on Thursday, Feb. 18 at 7:00pm/et. The pair of qualifying races, historically one of Daytona Speedweeks' most exciting events, are under the lights with Joy, Darrell Waltrip and Gordon on the call with race analysis by McReynolds and pit reporting by Little, Neville and Yocum. Myers and Michael Waltrip host.
FOX Sports kicks off its sophomore year of coverage of the NASCAR XFINITY Series from Daytona on Saturday, Feb. 20 with the season opener at 3:30pm/et. Adam Alexander calls the action alongside Michael Waltrip and 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick with pit reporting by Little, Neville and Yocum. NASCAR Raceday - XFINITY, FS1's XFINITY Series pre-race show, previews the action at 3:00pm/et. Trotta hosts with analysis from McReynolds and Kenny Wallace.
The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series opens its season on Friday, Feb. 19 (7:30pm/et) on FS1, with complete pre-race coverage beginning with NCWTS Setup at 7:00pm/et. Vince Welch, in his first year as FS1's Truck Series play-by-play announcer, has the call alongside Phil Parsons and Michael Waltrip. Hermie Sadler, Yocum and Kaitlyn Vincie cover pit road. Trotta hosts NCWTS Setup live from the Hollywood Hotel with analysis from two-time Series champion Todd Bodine and reporting by Sadler and Vincie.
Before FOX coverage of the Daytona 500 begins on Sunday, Feb. 21, NASCAR Raceday is live on FS1, bringing viewers the latest news amidst the buzz as drivers prepare to start the biggest race of the year. John Roberts hosts from the Charlotte studio and Trotta co-hosts from the FOX Sports set inside the new Daytona Rising stadium. They are joined by analysts McReynolds, Jeff Hammond and Wally Dallenbach. NASCAR Raceday also airs immediately preceding the Sprint Unlimited and the CAN-AM DUEL on FS1.
Daytona 500 Media Day is live from Daytona International Speedway on Tuesday, Feb. 16 (9:00 am-12:00pm/et) on FS1, followed by a special two-hour edition of NASCAR RACE HUB, also from Daytona 500 Media Day (5:00-7:00pm/et). Adam Alexander, John Roberts and Danielle Trotta co-host with analysis from McReynolds and reporting by Alan Cavanna and Little.
In addition, FOX Sports has several NASCAR specials planned during Daytona Speedweeks. On the eve of "The Great American Race," FOX Sports and FOX NASCAR analyst and four-time champion Jeff Gordon celebrate the race and 2016 season with Jeff Gordon'S Daytona 500 Kickoff Celebration on FOX on Saturday, Feb. 20 (9:00pm/et). FS1 also premieres three NASCAR original specials during Speedweeks in a special three-hour programming block on Friday, Feb. 12. Untold Stories: Daytona airs at 7:30pm/et, followed by NASCAR Race Classic: 1993 Daytona 500 (8:30pm/et) and Beyond the Wheel Short Film Series (9:00pm/et). Fans are also invited to share their Daytona 500 experience by uploading videos to social media using #100KCams and #NASCAR for an opportunity to have footage included in the 30-minute special 100,000 Cameras: Daytona 500, which premieres Saturday, Feb. 27 on FS1 immediately following live coverage of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway.(FoxSports)(2-12-2016)
Fox teaming with SI to cross promote Daytona 500, Swimsuit Issue: Fox Sports and SI announced they are joining forces to cross promote the Feb. 21 Daytona 500 and '16 SI swimsuit issue, which comes out Feb. 15. A major facet of the deal will come the night before the race, when new Fox analyst Jeff Gordon will co-host a 200-person VIP party. The event will air on Fox at 9:00pm/et and see models Erin Heatherton and Hannah Ferguson in attendance. The telecast will offer features on Daytona's renovation, plus the upcoming NASCAR season. Meanwhile, on its digital and social channels and during the party, Fox will give coverage to two other events around the issue leading up to its release -- the two-day Swim City fan festival in N.Y. and the two-day Swim Beach festival in Miami.(Sports Business Journal)(2-7-2016)
Harvick back to FOX Sports NASCAR XFINITY booth: Former NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES champion Kevin Harvick is scheduled to return as race analyst for FOX Sports' coverage of the NASCAR XFINITY SERIES in 2016, beginning with the season opener from Daytona on Saturday, Feb. 20 on FS1. The 2014 champion was the first of five NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES drivers in 2015 to rotate in the FOX and FS1 booth for FOX Sports' inaugural year of NASCAR XFINITY SERIES coverage. Harvick, who called three races for FOX in 2015, also kicked off his roster of races at Daytona last year. In 2016, offers analysis at Daytona alongside play-by-play announcer Adam Alexander and analyst Michael Waltrip. Announcements regarding additional Cup Series drivers in the FOX NASCAR booth for XFINITY Series races are forthcoming.(FoxSports)(2-2-2015)
NASCAR America Returns on Tuesday: NASCAR America hits the ignition switch on its third season next week with live coverage from NASCAR's three-day media tour in Charlotte that leads into the 2016 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. NBCSN's daily 5:00pm/et editions of NASCAR America return on Tuesday, January 19. The lineup of shows is capped by a 90-minute NASCAR America: Hall of Fame Special on Friday, January 22, at 6:30pm/et, leading into the NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at 8:00pm/et on NBCSN. NASCAR on NBC reporters Kelli Stavast, Dave Burns and Marty Snider report live from the Charlotte Motor Speedway Media Tour Tuesday through Thursday, covering all the announcements and developments affecting the sport.
Carolyn Manno and Kyle Petty cover all the major storylines heading into the 2016 season from NBC Sports Group's International Broadcast Center in Stamford, Conn. Topics range from Kyle Busch's successful off-season surgery to personnel and manufacturer changes within racing teams. Leading into Friday's Hall of Fame Induction, NASCAR America profiles the 2016 inductees: Jerry Cook, Bobby Isaac, Terry Labonte, Bruton Smith and Curtis Turner. NASCAR America will also catch up with Chase Elliott as he readies to take over the famed #24 car in the wake of Jeff Gordon's retirement.
Friday's NASCAR America: Hall of Fame Special features lead race announcer Rick Allen alongside Krista Voda, NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Dale Jarrett, analysts Steve Letarte and Kyle Petty. The 90-minute special includes driver interviews and pre-induction festivities. At 8:00 pm/et NBCSN presents live coverage of the NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony from the Crown Ballroom at the Charlotte Convention Center.(NBC Sports)(1-19-2016)
Jeff Gordon Ready for FOX's NASCAR Booth: With fewer than 50 days remaining until the Daytona 500 on FOX, planning for the FOX portion of the 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season is in full swing. This year, of course, marks the full-time broadcasting debut of four-time Sprint Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon, who will join veteran broadcasters Mike Joy and Darrell Waltrip in the FOX NASCAR booth beginning in February with Daytona Speedweeks. See Jeff Gordon interview / Q&A / Photos at FOX Sports and/or FOX Sports (1-5-2016)
NBCSN Recaps 2015 NASCAR Season with Special Editions of NASCAR America: NBCSN closes out the year with 12 30-minute special editions of NASCAR America. The custom shows include highlights and a look back at a season flush with controversies, victories and storylines.(more at NBC Sports)(12-20-2015)
Congrats to Kyle Petty on his wedding Saturday to Morgan Castano. Petty announced the news on his Twitter account. Morgan is the executive director of the Kyle Petty Charity Ridea, an annual fundraising trip for the Victory Junction Gang Camp.(12-14-2015)
NASCAR TV series could debut by late next year: The producers of a NASCAR-based drama series said this week in Las Vegas that they're hopeful the show can debut in late 2016 or early 2017. Husband-wife producers Mark Burnett and Roma Downey made the comment this week at Sports Business Journal's Motorsports Marketing Forum. Sports Business Journal reported that a writer for the series has been selected. Burnett, described this year by AdWeek as "the most powerful producer in television" for being responsible for such shows as "Survivor," "The Voice," and "The Bible," said one storyline in the NASCAR drama viewers could expect to see would focus on the wives of drivers. Zane Stoddard, NASCAR vice president entertainment marketing and content development, said at the forum that the goal of the series: "While it can be about sports, we're talking about a general audience, so at the heart of it, it has to be about characters, relationships and families - and our sport is laden with those things and some of the attributes that really drive great storytelling, like independence, rebellion and ... family."(NBC Sports)(12-6-2015)
NASCAR on NBC: 2015 season by the numbers: NBC Sports Group's first season return as the home of NASCAR's Sprint Cup and XFINITY Series Championships continues this Friday on NBCSN with the 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards at 9:00pm/et from Las Vegas, NV. The special presentation wraps up an exciting 2015 season featuring live coverage from 22 states, more than 12 thousand miles of racing and 569 hours of NASCAR programming. Listed below are some key metrics from NBC Sports Group's 2015 NASCAR coverage.
2 - NASCAR Champions crowned on NBC
19 - NASCAR XFINITY Series races on NBC and NBCSN
20 - NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races on NBC and NBCSN
21 - Consecutive weeks of NASCAR Sprint Cup and XFINITY Series race coverage
22 - States NASCAR on NBC delivered Sprint Cup and XFINITY Series race coverage
363 - Total hours of live trackside coverage across NBC, NBCSN and CNBC
206 - Total hours of non-trackside NASCAR coverage on NBCSN
569 - Total hours of NASCAR Programming in 2015
3,370 - NASCAR XFINITY Series race laps covered on NBC and NBCSN
4,559.75 - Total miles of NASCAR XFINITY Series races on NBC and NBCSN
5,696 - NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race laps covered on NBC and NBCSN
7,548.21 - Total miles of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races on NBC and NBCSN
15,196 - Miles traveled by NBC Sports Group's NASCAR mobile production convoy covering races on NBC and NBCSN
84,000 - Unique users who watched 2015 Sprint Cup Championship from Miami on NBC Sports Live Extra
12.4 Million - Number of TV viewers watching as Kyle Busch captured the Ford EcoBoost 400 checkered flag and the 2015 Sprint Cup Championship on NBC
(NBC Sports)(12-1-2015)
NBC official talks about sticking with NASCAR on network TV Sunday: On Monday, [SI's Richard Deitsch] spoke with NBC Sports chairman Mark Lazarus to get a sense of how the decision-making [to continue NASCAR coverage on NBC] came together. NBC was put in the situation because of a weather delay. The network had hoped the race would re-start at 4:30pm/et but it started around 4:50. Lazarus was on site for the NASCAR race. "We figured we would end in the 7:15-7:30pm/et. range but there were a few more cautions [flags] than we counted on," Lazarus said. "It was a fluid process. From our team there was myself, [NBC Sports executive producer] Sam Flood and [president of programming] John Miller, discussing the pros and cons and the constituencies involved. First, there is the viewers and the fans of both sports. Then there are both leagues, NASACAR and the NFL. Then there is the advertising community. Then there are our broadcast affiliates who sell football inventory and NASCAR inventory. So there is a lot of input you are trying to balance to think through. As it appeared that the race would end in the 7:45pm range, we worked quickly and were on the phone with our advertising sales people, the people who work with our broadcast affiliates to let them know our plans. I also spoke with the NFL and NASCAR officials to let them know.(Sports Illustrated)(11-25-2015)
NBC Sports presents dual coverage of Sprint Cup Championship: In an unprecedented offering, NBC Sports Group will present dual national coverage of the 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship race from Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 22. While NBC provides the primary broadcast of Jeff Gordon's quest to close out his Hall of Fame career in storybook fashion, NBCSN offers a simultaneous live feed dedicated to each of the Championship 4 drivers racing for a historic victory on Sunday in South Florida. Live race coverage on both NBC and NBCSN begins at 3:00pm/et.
The NBCSN Hot Pass multi-window display provides viewers an in-depth look at Gordon, Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch and Martin Truex, Jr., with up to three different angles from in-car cameras. A dynamic track map keeps viewers aware of Championship 4 driver positions and changes throughout the field, while a pane of race facts and figures illustrates live point differentials and key shifts in the race. Race announcer Leigh Diffey and NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Dale Jarrett host NBCSN Hot Pass coverage as the Championship 4 compete for the 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship.
"Get ready to experience history in real time from the drivers' headset and perspective," said Dan Steir, SVP of Production for NBCSN. "NBCSN Hot Pass will deliver a constant spotlight on the Championship 4 drivers and allow the race fan to access the strategy and drama in a more focused manner." NBCSN Hot Pass also provides a simultaneous cycle of in-car audio, showcasing team communications between the driver, crew chief and spotter as each Championship 4 driver turns laps around the 1.5-mile track. Diffey and Jarrett punctuate the in-car audio, explaining key situations and communications among the four teams. NBCSN Hot Pass and NBC's broadcast of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship race are both available for live stream via NBC Sports Live Extra.
NBC Sports Live Extra - NBC Sports Group's live streaming product for desktops, mobile devices, tablets, and connected TVs - will stream this weekend's NASCAR coverage via "TV Everywhere," giving consumers additional value to for their subscription service, and making high quality content available to MVPD customers both in and out of the home and on multiple platforms. The NBC Sports Live Extra app is available on the iTunes App Store, Google Play and Windows Store, Roku Channel Store and Apple TV.(NBC)(11-19-2015)
Jimmie Johnson Narrates SportsCenter Jeff Gordon Tribute Today: ESPN SportsCenter will air a tribute to the career of retiring NASCAR star Jeff Gordon in the 6:00pm/et edition of tonight's program, with the feature also running in other editions through the evening. Gordon's Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson narrates the feature, which includes highlights of the four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion's career as he prepares to race for a fifth in Sunday's season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Lindsay Czarniak hosts the 6 p.m. SportsCenter, which will air on ESPN and stream on WatchESPN.(ESPN)(11-18-2015)
FOX Sports Redesigns NASCAR Coverage for 2016: As NASCAR prepares to crown its national Series champions this weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway, FOX NASCAR already has begun preparations for the 2016 season, announcing today its full broadcaster lineup for next year, including a new NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team featuring veteran play-by-play announcer Mike Joy and analysts Darrell Waltrip, together for their 16th season, and newcomer and four-time champion Jeff Gordon, plus new NASCAR Camping World Truck Series play-by-play announcer Vince Welch.
Waltrip, a NASCAR Hall of Famer, and Gordon, currently campaigning for his fifth title in 2015, combine for seven Cup Series championships and 177 Series wins, while Joy marks his 30th year as a NASCAR broadcaster. The FOX NASCAR deck is stacked well beyond the booth, though, with veteran crew chief Larry McReynolds returning for his 16th year with the network, providing in-race analysis during each event armed with 40 years in the sport.
"In 2016, we have the unique opportunity to take a four-time champion, Jeff Gordon, directly from the Chase to the booth, pairing him with Darrell Waltrip to offer fans seven championships' worth of expertise," said Eric Shanks, President and COO, Executive Producer, FOX Sports. "Led by Mike Joy, one of the sport's most talented play-by-play announcers ever, there is a ton of enthusiasm building around our 2016 talent lineup."
The team is joined on pit road by reporters Jamie Little, Chris Neville, Welch and Matt Yocum. FOX broadcasts 10 of FOX Sports' 16 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races, while FS1 telecasts six. Chris Myers hosts FOX NASCAR SUNDAY, the network's fast-paced prerace show from the traveling Hollywood Hotel, alongside Gordon and brothers Darrell and Michael Waltrip.
The NASCAR XFINITY Series returns to FOX Sports for the second consecutive season in 2016, with Adam Alexander once again handling fulltime play-by-play duties alongside analyst Michael Waltrip and a rotation of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers. In 2015, FOX Sports featured five Cup Series drivers in the XFINITY booth throughout the season, offering fans a variety of knowledgeable viewpoints. Neville, Hermie Sadler, Little, Welch and Yocum alternate to cover pit road.
For the 14th consecutive year, FS1 offers exclusive coverage of the entire NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season. Welch, longtime pit reporter covering the Cup and XFINITY Series, moves into the Truck Series play-by-play role fulltime in 2016 with veteran analysts Phil Parsons and Michael Waltrip. Welch, who also calls play-by-play for select FOX Sports college basketball games this season, pitched in to call Truck Series races on FS1 in 2015, as well as select NASCAR XFINITY Series races prior to joining FOX. Sadler leads pit road reporting with Yocum and Kaitlyn Vincie. FS1 telecasts 22 of the Series' 23 races live in 2016, while FOX broadcasts the October Talladega race.
NASCAR RACEDAY, FS1's popular prerace show, continues to deliver the excitement behind-the-scenes and up-to-the-minute reports from the garage prior to the start of each Sprint Cup race. Myers, Danielle Trotta and John Roberts share hosting duties, while the entire FOX NASCAR on-air team joins analysts Kenny Wallace, Jeff Hammond and Wally Dallenbach and reporters Alan Cavanna, Andrew Doud and Vincie.
In addition, FOX Sports offers a dedicated 30-minute prerace show immediately prior to each NASCAR XFINITY Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race. Trotta returns to host NASCAR RACEDAY-XFINITY with McReynolds and Wallace providing analysis. Roberts has the honors for NCWTS SETUP leading into all Truck Series races with insight from two-time Series champion Todd Bodine and feature reports from Ray Dunlap.
NASCAR RACE HUB, the sport's most watched news and information program, continues live at 6:00 PM ET every Monday through Thursday on FS1. Alexander, Trotta and Roberts co-host the hour-long program with analysts McReynolds, Hammond and Dallenbach, who are joined by a rotating team of active drivers and crew chiefs. The trio of Cavanna, Doud and Vincie are back with daily reports from NASCAR race shops, while Dunlap delivers Truck Series feature reports and analysis.
NASCAR RACE HUB WEEKEND EDITION once again is a Friday and Saturday fixture on FS1, delivering at-track updates and news as it breaks throughout the course of the race weekend, while NASCAR VICTORY LANE recaps each Sprint Cup Series race with highlights and analysis.(FoxSports)(11-18-2015)
Chase drivers to appear on "The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon" tonight: The four NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship 4 drivers, #24-Jeff Gordon, #78-Martin Truex Jr., #4-Kevin Harvick and #18-Kyle Busch are scheduled to appear on "The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon" Tuesday night, November 17th, scheduled for 11:35pm/et on NBC. Also scheduled to appear is singer Justin Bieber.(11-17-2015)
Gordon completes first rehearsal with 2016 FOX Sports team: NASCAR Hall of Famer and three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Darrell Waltrip and veteran FOX NASCAR broadcaster Mike Joy welcomed future FOX NASCAR analyst #24-Jeff Gordon into the booth Friday night to get a little "seat time" in front of the cameras together, as the trio rehearsed their craft during the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race in Texas. "Any time you can get seven championships together in the booth, it's special," said FOX Sports President & COO Eric Shanks. "And getting eight championships in the 2016 booth is still a very real and electrifying possibility. ... Friday night, we got a glimpse of the future, and it looks great." Gordon, who announced he is retiring after the 2015 season, has qualified for the NASCAR Chase for the Sprint Cup finale in Homestead, with his mind set firmly on a fifth NASCAR Sprint Cup Series title. He joins the FOX NASCAR team beginning in Daytona in 2016.(FoxSports)(11-11-2015)
Dale Jr. to serve as TV analyst for XFINITY Series in 2016 UPDATE oops: During an interview with "FOX Sports Live" co-hosts Dan O'Toole and Jay Onrait, #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. revealed he'll join the FOX NASCAR team in the booth as a driver analyst for FOX Sports' coverage of the NASCAR XFINITY Series in 2016. "I had tweeted that I was interested in doing some XFINITY races, so I think I would like to try it," Earnhardt said in a video posted in "The Jay and Dan Podcast. (FOX) extended the offer to me that we can give it a shot. I want to go up there next year and watch a few races, or watch one race, and see what I'm getting myself into. It looks like a lot of fun." Sprint Cup drivers Jeff Gordon, Kevin Harvick, Brad Keselowski, Clint Bowyer and Danica Patrick have all taken turns behind the mic for FS1's XFINITY Series coverage this season. "All the drivers who did it ... looked great, sounded great, and they seemed to have a lot of fun doing it," Earnhardt said. "I don't know if it's a career path for me -- it just depends -- or whether I even have any talent in the booth."(FoxSports)
UPDATE: Clarification from FOX Sports Regarding the Possibility of Dale Earnhardt Jr. Working as a Race Analyst in the NASCAR XFINITY SERIES Booth in 2016: While FOX Sports has had informal conversations with Dale Earnhardt Jr. about joining the FOX Sports NASCAR XFINITY Series booth in the future, as several of his fellow racers did in 2015, nothing has been determined. FOX apologizes for the confusion.(FoxSports)(9-24-2015)
NASCAR Productions new documentary short film series entitled Beyond the Wheel: FS1 with NASCAR Productions will present, as a part of FS1's NASCAR RACE HUB, a new documentary short film series entitled Beyond the Wheel to offer an inside look at the sport's most interesting stories and traditions. The documentaries further NASCAR RACE HUB's expansion into dynamic storytelling, taking a new approach to explore pivotal moments and provide never-before-seen insights on influential NASCAR legends and fascinating historical characters. Premiering Wednesday evenings during NASCAR RACE HUB, the first film will launch Sept. 23 on FS1 at 6:00pm/et. The four-part documentary short film series is comprised of the following themes: Chasing Davey; The Kiss; The Last American Hero; and White Knight. The subsequent three films in the Beyond the Wheel series air on Sept. 30, Oct. 7 and Oct. 21, respectively. Each documentary will also be available via FOX Sports GO.(NASCAR)(9-10-2015)
Earnhardt Sr.'s granddaughter to host NASCAR Hammer Down: Season 2 of "NASCAR Hammer Down" is back with the addition of Karsyn Elledge as the show's new host. Elledge, granddaughter of Dale Earnhardt and daughter of Kelley Earnhardt Miller, will undoubtedly bring her expertise and extensive knowledge as a racer herself and member of one of racing's most storied families. "NASCAR Hammer Down" is a part of the Nick Sports fall lineup on NickToons. Nick Sports broadcasts sports-specific content for kids who are interested in athletics. Along with its new, 14-year-old host, the show is changing up its format. "NASCAR Hammer Down" is being promoted as a magazine show for its sophmore season. The NASCAR-themed show is set to air alongside NFL RUSH, in a two-hour programming block. During Elledge's turn to play host in the two-hour Nick Sports TV block, she will take viewers to the track and back to the studio with interviews, pranks, celebrity guests and lots of fun facts. Each episode will also include a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) NASCAR-based curriculum. NFL RUSH is set for a September 9th premiere date while "NASCAR Hammer Down" is slated to start on Sept. 30, both collectively airing from 9:00 - 11:00pm/et.(NASCAR.com)(9-9-2015)
NBC releases details of Darlington coverage: Retro paint schemes are only part of the throwback celebration with the Southern 500's return to Labor Day weekend for the first time since 2003. NBC, which will broadcast Saturday's Xfinity race and Sunday night's Sprint Cup race from Darlington Raceway, also will add to the nostalgia. Among the nods to years past in Sunday's broadcast:
• Ken Squier, Ned Jarrett and Dale Jarrett will call the race at some point, taking over briefly for NBC's crew of Rick Allen, Jeff Burton and Steve Letarte.
• Features during the Countdown to Green show include Squier's essay on Darlington Raceway, Kyle Petty talking with Bill Elliott and Chase Elliott on the 30th anniversary of Bill Elliott's Southern 500 win that also earned him the Winston Million bonus, and Jeff Burton going around the track in the NBC Sports Toyota Camry On Track Car while Petty is on track as well in the Wood Brothers' #21 car from 1971.
• Booth and studio talent will appear in 1970s-era clothing.
• Also featured throughout the weekend will be retro highlights, graphics and music.
"To bring it back on Labor Day, I think this is perhaps one of the best moves that NASCAR had made in a decade," Squier said in a conference call with reporters Tuesday about the Southern 500's return to this date.(NBC Sports)(9-2-2015)
Dave Moody to join NASCAR Race Hub each Monday: SiriusXM NASCAR Radio host Dave Moody, one of NASCAR's most popular and opinionated on-air personalities, will join NASCAR RACE HUB, the most-watched daily NASCAR show on television, every Monday beginning Monday, Sept. 7. Moody will host his live listener call-in show, SiriusXM Speedway, from the FOX Sports 1 studios in Charlotte, N.C., each Monday through the conclusion of the 2015 NASCAR season. While in-studio, Moody will join NASCAR RACE HUB live for a segment titled "The Pulse with Dave Moody" that will be simulcast on FOX Sports 1 and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. This segment offers NASCAR RACE HUB viewers the opportunity to hear both Moody and SiriusXM Speedway listeners as they discuss the previous weekend's race. The concept is the product of a relationship that began after Moody, also lead turn announcer for Motor Racing Network's NASCAR race coverage, sat down with NASCAR RACE HUB co-host Danielle Trotta on July 16 following her visit to his studio during a live show broadcast. FOX Sports 1 took viewers behind-the-scenes of Moody's program, offering a first-hand look at what goes into a live listener-participation radio show.(Fox Sports)(9-2-2015)
Vince Welch's son joins MRN at Road America: A number of father/son duos have filled the pages of NASCAR history books over the past half-century. While several NASCAR patriarchs have passed down their driving skills to future generations, rarely in the modern era has a son followed his father into NASCAR broadcasting. That changes Saturday, Aug. 28 when the green flag waves for the NASCAR XFINITY Series race at Road America. Dillon Welch, son of FOX NASCAR reporter/host Vince Welch, joins the Motor Racing Network team as a turn announcer for the network's live race broadcast. Dillon, 21, has one semester remaining at Ball State University, also Vince's alma mater, and has called more than 50 national sprint, midget and silver crown events per year for United States Auto Club (USAC) during the past 18 months. Dillon, a digital sports broadcasting major who produces regional Emmy-winning programs through his school's sports production unit, was given an audition as a turn announcer in June at Michigan International Speedway. The Indianapolis native, who began racing quarter midgets at seven and even won several championships, first dipped his toes into broadcasting after curtailing his racing schedule during college and due to lack of sponsorship. The most recent sons who followed their father into NASCAR broadcasting on a national network level were Dale and Glenn Jarrett, but both men and their father, Ned, first were drivers before seguing into announcing. Preceding them were Earl Kelley, a member of the Universal Racing Network radio broadcast team, and his son, Winston Kelley, who first joined the MRN broadcast team in 1988.(Fox Sports)(8-28-2015)
Why the Coke Zero 400 was run on July 5th and not July 4th? For 29 years, the summer race at Daytona International Speedway was a part of the nation's birthday. The event was always run on Independence Day, no matter what day of the week. The race was in the morning, and the drivers and their families were celebrating on the beach by late afternoon. The tradition that began in 1959 ended in 1988 when the event was moved into prime time on whatever Saturday was part of the holiday weekend. Now it has been moved once more, to Sunday night, to accommodate the return of NASCAR to NBC.
Mark Lazarus, chairman of NBC Sports Group, said the change was simply about audience. "The Fourth of July is annually the lowest night of television watching of the year - fewer people watch TV that night because they are all out watching fireworks," Lazarus told The Associated Press on Saturday. "In order for us to start our relationship with as big a splash as we can, we wanted to give ourselves the best chance and opportunity to have a big audience. It was simply math." The switch still comes with challenges. By moving it to Sunday night, the race now goes head-to-head against the United States playing in the Women's World Cup final. NBC's pre-race show begins at the same time as the game, but the race doesn't actually go green for another 78 minutes. Lazarus anticipates, barring overtime and penalty kicks, only about 35 minutes of direct competition. He is hopeful, though, that World Cup viewers will flip to the NASCAR race when the game ends. "It's a mixed blessing - it will bring a lot of different people to the television set," he said. "We're hopeful, if we continue to market, that we'll get some people who wouldn't be home watching TV to transfer over and check us out."
Although both NASCAR and Daytona officials signed off on the switch to Sunday, it's not the most ideal situation for track President Joie Chitwood. Running the race a day later hurts attendance because campers usually return home on Sunday, and now the World Cup likely will cut into viewership. Chitwood understood NBC's desire for the Sunday night race, but is thankful the race will return to Saturday night in 2016. "In our conversation with them, it was just the one time," he said. "We all talked about what we could do special for NBC, and this was one of their components, and it made a lot of sense when we sat down and really talked about it. When you look at what they've done with 'Football Night in America,' they are just knocking it out of the part. They've really captured that. Hopefully, they can sprinkle a little bit of that magic on this event this Sunday. I don't think anybody a year ago, though, knew about World Cup soccer, so that's the way the breaks are."(see full article at the Associated Press)(7-5-2015)
NBC gears up for NASCAR on NBC: NBC Sports Live Extra, NBC Sports Group's live streaming product for desktops, mobile devices, tablets, and connected TVs, will provide racing fans with unparalleled interactive digital access to every NASCAR Sprint Cup series race, including exclusive camera angles, custom diver information, and insider track information, beginning this 4th of July weekend. When accessing NBC Sports Group's NASCAR Sprint Cup series coverage on NBC Sports Live Extra, viewers will be able to experience NASCAR like never before, by selecting from curated video and infographic options including:
Multi-view options that bring fans inside the race, combining NBC Sports Group's race simulcast and alternative camera angles, ranging from in-car views to various key track locations. For the Coke Zero 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on July 5th, one specialty camera will offer an innovative speed shot from turn four, capturing the cars as they speed by at over 150 mph.
Dedicated full-view, on-board alternate cameras.
Additional features on the desktop/laptop experience, bringing fans comprehensive race-day information to their fingertips:
Driver updates, cup standings, and biographies
Track infographics with key facts and history
NASCAR on NBC coverage begins on Saturday July 4th at 7:00pm/et with the Subway Firecracker 250 NASCAR XFINITY Series Race on NBCSN. Coverage continues with one of the most anticipated events of the season, the 57th running of the Coke Zero 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at 7:00pm/et on NBC.
NBC Sports Live Extra will stream NASCAR coverage on NBC and NBCSN via "TV Everywhere," giving consumers additional value to for their subscription service, and making high quality content available to MVPD customers both in and out of the home and on multiple platforms. The NBC Sports Live Extra app is available on the iTunes App Store, Google Play, Windows Store, Roku Channel Store and Apple TV. For desktops, NBC Sports Live Extra can be accessed at NBCSports.com/liveextra.(NBC Sports)(7-4-2015)
NBCSN Introduces new post-race show: Following NBC's Sunday night coverage of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coke Zero 400, NBCSN will debut NASCAR Victory Lap, a new weekly one-hour NASCAR program recapping the biggest moments of each weekend's Sprint Cup Series and XFINITY Series races on NBC and NBCSN. NASCAR Victory Lap is scheduled to air Sundays at 11:00pm/et on NBCSN, through the Chase for the Sprint Cup Championship at Homestead. NASCAR Victory Lap, hosted by Carolyn Manno with analyst and current NASCAR driver Brian Vickers, will serve as a destination for NASCAR fans each Sunday night, utilizing highlights from NBC and NBCSN's race coverage, scanner audio from the teams, and post-race interviews and commentary to provide a comprehensive look back at the most compelling stories from each race weekend. In addition, the program will also feature exclusive interviews with the winner of the Sprint Cup Series race from NBC Sports' trackside studio. The 60-minute program will feature insight and analysis from NBC Sports Group's NASCAR broadcast team, including 21-time NASCAR Sprint Cup winning driver Jeff Burton, Daytona 500-winning crew chief Steve Letarte, engaging NASCAR personality Kyle Petty, and three-time Daytona 500 champion and Hall of Fame driver Dale Jarrett. NBC Sports Group's team of veteran pit reporters, comprised of Marty Snider, Kelli Stavast, Dave Burns and Mike Massaro, will take viewers through the field following each race, while lead NASCARTalk writer Nate Ryan and NBC Sports' NASCAR features reporter Rutledge Wood will also contribute. In addition to NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and XFINITY Series coverage, NASCAR Victory Lap will also provide recaps and analysis of Formula One and Verizon IndyCar Series races throughout the season.(NBC Sports)(7-2-2015)
NBC Sports NASCAR Launch by the Numbers: NBC Sports Group's multiplatform coverage of NASCAR Sprint Cup and XFINITY Series racing is gearing up in a big way over 4th of July weekend. Coverage begins Saturday, July 4th, at 7:00pm/et with the Subway Firecracker 250 NASCAR XFINITY Series race on NBCSN. On Sunday evening, NBC presents the 57th running of the Coke Zero 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at 7:00pm/et. The events wave the green flag over NBC Sports Group's 10-year chapter as the home of NASCAR's championship run, and NBC Sports' production team in Daytona will employ a crew of more than 195 personnel, 70 cameras, and a wide collection of other tools to deliver the action.
Listed below are some key metrics surrounding NBC Sports Group's upcoming NASCAR coverage:
1 Helicopter providing aerial footage
2 Open-air infield set locations for NBC Sports' pre- and post-race coverage
3 Daytona 500 victories captured by pre-race analyst Dale Jarrett
5 Trucks that comprise "Peacock One," NBC Sports' state-of-the-art, mobile production unit group, designed in partnership with Game Creek Video
12 Members of NBC Sports NASCAR on-air broadcast team on site at Daytona
16 Race Analyst Steve Letarte's age when he took a job sweeping the floors at Hendrick Motorsports
18 Robotic cameras, some with high speed heads capable of tracking cars topping 200 MPH
19 NASCAR XFINITY Series slated to air on NBC and NBCSN this season
20 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races on NBC(7) and NBCSN(13) this season
21 Number of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races won by race analyst Jeff Burton
23 HDK 4300 cameras with 4K capabilities
24 On-board cameras imbedded within Sprint Cup Series cars
70 Total cameras on site including: in-car, robotic, hard, hand-held, studio, jib, SSM, booth, beauty, pit, aerial, and grass cameras
80 NBC Sports microphones placed throughout Daytona International Speedway
195 NBC Sports Group personnel on-site in Daytona.
250+ NASCAR AMERICA shows on NBCSN since the weekday news and highlights program's debut after the 2014 Daytona 500.
150,000 Feet of fiber cable (more than 28 miles), surrounding Daytona International Speedway.(NBC Sports)(7-1-2015)
New TV show being developed based on NASCAR: Roma Downey and Mark Burnett have joined forces in a deal with NASCAR to develop a scripted television drama based on the legendary racing world. The series will weave exciting dramatic stories within the backdrop of this beloved sports franchise. "We have wanted to develop an original, scripted drama inside our sport for some time, but have been waiting to find the right partner," said Zane Stoddard, NASCAR vice president of entertainment marketing and content development. "Mark and Roma are two of the biggest, most well-respected names in Hollywood. They share our vision for this project and we are very excited to collaborate with them on the show."
"From the first time we got to attend NASCAR, we fell in love with their racing world. The teams, the drivers, the fans, it's an electric atmosphere and is quintessentially American," said executive producers Roma Downey and Mark Burnett. "Now to be able to partner with NASCAR, Brian France and Zane Stoddard is a dream come true." Burnett and Downey will serve as executive producers of the NASCAR series, along with Zane Stoddard.(NASCAR)(6-30-2015)
Blake Shelton perform song for NBC Sports Sprint Cup Series Theme: NBC Sports Group tapped country music superstar Blake Shelton to perform his hit "Bringing Back the Sunshine," within the opening theme of its NASCAR Sprint Cup Series coverage this season on NBC and NBCSN. Shelton, a judge on NBC's The Voice, makes his NASCAR on NBC debut on Sunday, July 5th at 7:00pm/et, prior to coverage of the Coke Zero 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. Marking a first for any NBC Sports open, the complete number is available for view prior to its network television debut via the NASCARonNBC Facebook and Twitter accounts. The opening theme package will be updated throughout the remainder of the season with fresh faces, updated footage of action on the track and scenic visuals of NASCAR's storied venues, getting viewers geared up for NASCAR Sprint Cup action. Shelton and NBC Sports' production team traveled to several NASCAR venues earlier this season to produce the open, interacting with many NASCAR drivers, including Dale Earnhardt Jr., Clint Bowyer, Danica Patrick, Jimmie Johnson, Austin Dillon and more.(NBC Sports)(6-30-2015)
FoxSports Season Finale at Sonoma: FOX Sports wraps up its portion of the NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES race season with live coverage of a critical event for drivers still trying to fight their way into the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Live coverage from the Sonoma Raceway road course gets underway Friday, June 26 on FOX Sports 2 (3:00pm/et) with practice. FOX Sports' weekend programming culminates with live race coverage on Sunday, June 28 (3:00pm/et) on FOX Sports 1 with pre-race coverage on a 90-minute edition of NASCAR RACEDAY (2:00pm/et) on FOX Sports 1. FOX Sports remains the exclusive home of the NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES for the rest of the season, and popular programs NASCAR RACE HUB and NASCAR RACEDAY continue delivering the stories behind the racing all season long.(FOX Sports)(6-26-2015)
NBC Sports Finalizes Broadcast Team: NBC Sports Group has finalized the on-air broadcast team that will present the organization's first live slate of NASCAR racing action since 2006, when a hand-picked team of proven experts and motorsports journalists make their 4th of July Weekend debut from Daytona International Speedway. "NBC Sports has always taken great pride in the belief that we surround each of our broadcasts with the very best on-air talent in the business and this NASCAR team is exemplary," said Flood. "We're bringing fresh viewpoints from behind the wheel and on top of the pit box, multi-generational perspectives and Hall of Fame credentials, journalistic muscle, and an entertaining style that fans will enjoy and ultimately feel closer to the action."
Accomplished race announcer Rick Allen joins 21-time NASCAR Sprint Cup winning driver Jeff Burton and Daytona 500 champion crew chief Steve Letarte in the NBC Sports broadcast booth to call two primetime races over the holiday weekend. NBC Sports Group first race is on Saturday July 4th at 7:00pm/et with the Subway Firecracker 250 NASCAR XFINITY Series Race on NBCSN. Allen, Burton and Letarte return the next evening to call the Coke Zero NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at 7:00pm/et on NBC.
NBC Sports' Krista Voda will sit alongside engaging NASCAR personality Kyle Petty, as well as three-time Daytona 500 champion and Hall of Fame driver Dale Jarrett, from a state-of-the-art open-air studio located atop pit road to set the stage for both races. Rutledge Wood, NBC Sports' NASCAR features reporter and "man about the track," will present pieces that delve into the experience of attending a race at the famed Daytona International Speedway and NBCSports.com lead motorsports writer Nate Ryan will be on hand to cover news and timely information affecting the sport. Once each checkered flag is captured, the set location will shift to Victory Lane in order to take in the post-race festivities and break down the pivotal moves and strategic decisions that dictated the outcome. Experienced motorsports reporters Marty Snider, Kelli Stavast, Mike Massaro, and Dave Burns will cover pit road during both 4th of July Weekend telecasts,(NBC Sports)(6-25-2015)
Raceline TV to air on MAV-TV: Raceline TV, the nation's longest-running TV Show covering NASCAR Racing, has reached an agreement with MAV-TV to carry the show weekly. Starting the first week of June. Raceline will air on Saturdays at 9AM and again at noon EST, 52-weeks a year. Raceline also returns to FOX SportSouth and Root Sports SouthWest and will be adding several other west coast networks soon. Joe Moore, President and Host of Raceline, also co-host for Motor Racing Network, started the show in 1993 on a local TV Station in the Norfolk, VA market. Moore purchased the show in 2000, expanding distribution and covering NASCAR Sprint Cup, Xfinity Series and NASCAR Camping World Series racing. Raceline features one -on-one interviews with the top drivers and crew chiefs in the sport and employs two veteran field reporters in Steve Post and Jeff Taylor, who work in the Charlotte bureau.(PR)(5-26-2015)
NASCAR Race Hub dedicates Charlotte studio to Steve Byrnes: Steve Byrnes always carried a huge presence around the FOX Sports studios in Charlotte, North Carolina. From his tireless preparation, to helping those around the office and offering a word of advice to anyone that asked, Byrnes was integral to success of FOX Sports 1, "NASCAR Race Hub" and everyone around him. While Steve passed away on April 21 after a long battle with cancer, his presence will remain a permanent fixture in the Charlotte office. On Thursday, FOX Sports "NASCAR Race Hub" studio was dedicated to the memory of Steve Byrnes. After comments from FOX Sports executive vice president Steve Craddock, a moving story by FOX Sports digital content producer Branden Williams about Steve's willingness to help a young kid, and more kind words from FOX Sports president Erick Shanks, Steve's son Bryson helped unveil the plaque that will sit in the studio honoring his late father. The plaque includes a picture of Steve, with the following inscription: "This studio is dedicated in memory of and in upmost appreciation for the time Steve Byrnes spent not only within its four walls, but in our lives. A FOX Sports broadcaster whose career spanned three decades, Byrnes consistently led by example both on the air and off. Garnering a rare profound respect and admiration of every competitor he covered and countless colleagues he encountered. Few put more passion into their work, honesty into their friendships or effort into mentoring others than Byrnes. "His legacy of hard work, integrity and professionalism, humility, fairness and faith served as an inspiration to his thousands of friends and extended to the millions of viewers who watched him over the years. Byrnes became a tangible example of strength, courage and fortitude to all who witnessed his cancer battle and his inspiring personal campaign to be present in every moment of his family members' lives. For his FOX Sports family, his family is forever present in this studio and in our hearts." The commemorative plaque ends with the signoff Byrnes would always end his shows with, "Have an awesome night."(FoxSports)(5-23-2015)
Jeff Gordon joins the NASCAR Sprint Cup Broadcast booth in 2016: Jeff Gordon joins FOX NASCAR fulltime in 2016 as race analyst for its 16th year of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series coverage, teaming with three-time champion Darrell Waltrip to offer seven championships' worth of expertise. Gordon, currently competing in his 23rd and final fulltime Sprint Cup Series season, served as race analyst for FOX Sports' coverage of three NASCAR XFINITY Series races this year. He has agreed to a multi-year contract that begins this season with in-race reporting from the #24 Chevy during select Cup Series races, and segues to an analyst role that commences with Daytona Speedweeks in February 2016. "NASCAR has provided me so many incredible memories, experiences and opportunities throughout my 23 years as a driver, and I can't wait to start a new chapter in racing with this new relationship with FOX and to be in the booth with Mike (Joy) and Darrell," said Gordon. "I feel so lucky to be a part of a sport that I'm very passionate about, and now I get the opportunity to share that passion to millions of race fans from a whole new perspective."
Gordon will call all NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races, practice and qualifying sessions for FOX Sports alongside play-by-play announcer Mike Joy and NASCAR Hall of Famer and analyst Darrell Waltrip. Chris Myers hosts the network's coverage alongside analysts Larry McReynolds and Michael Waltrip.
"Jeff is not only a champion but an icon of a racing generation," said Eric Shanks, FOX Sports President, COO & Executive Producer. "We are thrilled he has chosen to become a part of the FOX Sports family and pair his experience with Darrell. Each is credited with helping elevate NASCAR to the popularity it attained in his respective era, and alongside Mike Joy, this duo will treat fans to unmatched insights each and every week."
Gordon's move to the FOX booth furthers a career in which his affability and crossover appeal have provided him numerous high-profile television and movie opportunities that include: Becoming the only auto racing driver ever to host Saturday Night Live; co-hosting Live! With Regis and Kelly more than 10 times; appearances as himself on The Simpsons, Spin City and The Drew Carey Show; movie appearances in Taxi, Herbie: Fully Loaded and Looney Tunes: Back in Action; TV appearances on Late Show with David Letterman, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Jimmy Kimmel Live! and Sesame Street; and participation on television's Celebrity Poker Showdown and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire: Sports Edition, among others. Gordon also voiced the character "Jeff Gorvette" in the animated film Cars 2.
The California native, one of the most versatile drivers of his era, has driven for Hendrick Motorsports since November 1992, winning four NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championships (1995, 1997, 1998 and 2001), 92 races and 80 pole positions. With his first Cup Series championship in 1995, Gordon became the youngest champion (24) in NASCAR's modern era in only his third full season. He sits third behind only NASCAR Hall of Fame drivers Richard Petty (200) and David Pearson (105) in all-time victories, is a three-time Daytona 500 champion and record five-time Brickyard 400 winner. He holds the record for most consecutive seasons with a pole (23), among numerous other accolades. Furthermore, Gordon is NASCAR's winningest road-course driver with nine wins, and is the all-time leader with 12 restrictor-plate track victories.
Off the track, Gordon, named one of "NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers" in 1998, established the Jeff Gordon Children's Foundation, which supports pediatric cancer research, treatment and patient support programs. He traveled to Rwanda with the Foundation in 2011, and also visited the Democratic Republic of Congo in conjunction with the Clinton Global Initiative. Gordon was honored with the National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA) Myers Brothers Award in 2012, recognizing those who have made outstanding contributions to the sport of stock-car racing. That same year, he received the Heisman Humanitarian Award, established to recognize those in sports who give significantly to communities and improve the lives of others.
FOX Sports, which began its FOX NASCAR coverage in 2001, currently is in the first of a 10-year media rights agreement with NASCAR. In 2013, FOX Sports extended its agreement with NASCAR, ensuring the FOX family of networks' broadcast of the first 16 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races each season beginning in 2015, as well as the first 14 NASCAR XFINITY Series races of the season and all NASCAR Camping World Truck Series events, through 2024.(FOX)(2-21-2015)
Steve Byrnes' son totes $1 million prize around Charlotte track: NASCAR lost one of its favorite sons when FOX analyst Steve Byrnes died last month. So at Saturday's All-Star Race, it was only right to share it with another favorite son. Byrnes' 12-year-old son, Bryson, was invited to partake in some prerace festivities, and he got the sweetest assignment of the night: toting the $1 million prize money around the Charlotte Motor Speedway track with Michael Waltrip. It was a lot of money to entrust to a boy, but Bryson showed remarkable financial restraint as he teased the drivers who wanted to grab the cash.(vidoe at FoxSports)(5-19-2015)
Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown on NBCSN TONIGHT: The Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown, presented by FedEx, will air as a primetime, one-hour special on NBCSN this Saturday, May 2 at 9:00 pm/et. Providing commentary and analysis are Rick Allen, Steve Letarte and Jeff Burton. NBCSN will re-air the Showdown broadcast on May 7 at 12:00 am/et, following NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Tucson coverage, and again on May 9 at 12:30 am/et, following NHL playoffs coverage. The Showdown special features top NASCAR drivers competing against the best regional Late Model drivers. The 2015 field includes Hamlin and fellow NASCAR drivers Chase Elliott and David Ragan, plus Virginia natives Timothy Peters, Jeb Burton, Curtis Markham and Hermie Sadler. Previous Showdown winners representing the Late Model lineup are 2014 winner Matt Bowling, a Whelen All-American Series driver, and 2010 winner C.E. Falk. Both are the only non-NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers to win the event. Proceeds from the 200-lap Showdown go to support the Denny Hamlin Foundation, which has donated $150,000 in grants to help fund the Denny Hamlin Cystic Fibrosis Research Lab at Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU and support the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation-accredited Therapeutics Development Center at VCU.(DHF)(5-2-2015)
Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown to be shown tap-delayed on NBCSN: The Denny Hamlin Foundation announced that the eighth-annual Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown, presented by FedEx, has partnered with NBCSN to present the April 23rd celebrity Late Model charity race held at South Boston Speedway. Thursday's race is expected to air as a one-hour special in May amid the network's coverage of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Showdown, which features top NASCAR drivers competing against the best regional Late Model drivers, again serves as a weekday prelude to the weekend NASCAR races at Richmond International Raceway. Proceeds from the 200-lap Showdown go to support the Denny Hamlin Foundation, which has donated $150,000 in grants to help fund the Denny Hamlin Cystic Fibrosis Research Lab at Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU and support the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation-accredited Therapeutics Development Center at VCU. Last month, South Boston Speedway announced two new fan-friendly features for the Showdown, including a post-event fireworks show sponsored by Danville Toyota and Scion and a very limited special suite ticket package available to the first 25 people. The $200 package includes a suite ticket, invitation to the driver's meeting and the opportunity to attend a celebrity driver meet-and-greet and autograph session. General admission tickets are still available for $25 and children, ages six and under, will be admitted free with a paid adult.(South Boston Speedway)(4-21-2015)
Fans, NASCAR to honor Steve Brynes at Bristol: Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race from Bristol Motor Speedway -- the Food City 500 In Support Of Steve Byrnes And Stand Up To Cancer -- is including race teams, NASCAR officials and race fans in a heartfelt gesture to support one of the sport's most popular broadcasters and all of those battling cancer. As race fans enter Bristol Motor Speedway Sunday morning, they have the opportunity to receive a Stand Up To Cancer placard, writing in the name of someone they are supporting in their battle against the deadly disease. Race team crews and NASCAR officials have placards specifically honoring Byrnes. There are two opportunities to display the placards during the race airing live on FOX on Sunday, April 19 -- during parade laps, when crews are asked to stand atop the pit wall with their salutes, and again on lap 250 of the 500-lap race, when fans are asked to Stand Up To Cancer with their placards. In addition, NASCAR is offering race teams the option to carry a special car decal with Byrnes' initials, honoring him with placement on the B-post or C-post of any Sprint Cup, SFINITY, or K&N Series entry. Byrnes' brother, Dan Byrnes, and his family (wife Tammy; Steve's nephews Tyler and Dylan; and niece Samantha) are attending Sunday's race on behalf of Steve Byrnes and his family. Byrnes has been battling courageously against head and neck cancer. He is the co-host of NASCAR Race Hub and the play-by-play announcer for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.(Fox Sports)(4-18-2015)
Evernham and Sheheen join NBC Sports: NBC Sports Group dded three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion crew chief Ray Evernham and seasoned broadcaster Ralph Sheheen to its growing lineup of motorsports experts. Evernham and Sheheen will handle coverage of NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour and NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour Events on NBCSN. 2015 marks the 30th Anniversary season for the northeast-based NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, which traces its roots back to the very first NASCAR-sanctioned race on the beach and road course at Daytona Beach, Fla. in 1948. Evernham, who began his remarkable career in motorsports working on short track race cars at age 15, will first team with Sheheen to cover the 41st running of the Icebreaker from Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park in Thompson, Conn., airing on Saturday, April 18 at 12:30am/et. NASCAR's Whelen Modified Tours, the association's only open-wheeled division, compete at historic short tracks spanning from New Hampshire to North Carolina. The southeast-based NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour was established in 2005 as a sister tour to the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour.(NBC Sports)(4-16-2015)
Steve Byrnes hospitalized: Fox Sports' Steve Byrnes, who has been on leave from the network while battling Stage 4 head-and-neck cancer, is currently hospitalized. Byrnes tweeted Wednesday morning,"I am in ICU with pneumonia and a Pulmonary Embolism (blood clot) in my lung. Kind of a perfect storm on top of cancer. Thanks for prayers."(4-8-2015)
Fox tested virtual reality system in Fontana: Fox Sports is exploring virtual reality with NextVR, a technology company that captures and delivers live and on-demand virtual reality experiences. The network tested the experience last weekend at Auto Club Speedway in California, where NextVR enabled the live streaming of the race in virtual reality. NextVR's software application, which is embedded in a mobile phone that is then connected to a Samsung Gear VR headset, enables viewers to experience the event as if they were there. The footage was streamed to Fox Sports executives and producers working from the at-track television compound. Two cameras captured 180-degree and 360-degree views from an area on pit road and a second spot between the track and the pits. "NextVR has spent the last six years perfecting their VR technology, which made them the logical first choice for Fox Sports to partner with for this test," said Mike Davies, Fox Sports senior vice president of field operation. "NextVR currently is one of the only companies with the ability to transmit live in VR, and their technology is built on a broadcast platform, making it infinitely scalable."(Associated Press)(3-26-2015)
Sprint Cup purses down as NASCAR shifts money to XFINITY, Trucks: Sprint Cup Series teams appear to be racing for just a little bit less money in 2015 as NASCAR has quietly increased the purses for its two national developmental series while Sprint Cup purses have dropped by a tick this year. NASCAR Chairman Brian France said last year that NASCAR would consider giving Xfinity (formerly Nationwide) Series and Camping World Truck Series teams a bigger portion of the new television deal that went into effect this year. That is what NASCAR has done, although it won't say by how much. It never announced the change, but it did confirm to ESPN.com that that was the case when asked about the change in the purses after the first four races.
In comparing the purses for the first four tracks to what the purses for those tracks' races were last year, the only Sprint Cup race to have an increase in purse was the Daytona 500. It certainly wasn't much of an increase at $24,408, virtually nothing (up 0.1 percent) when considering the purse was $19.8 million. The rest have gone down, none by more than $98,000 -- the purses for the three races since Daytona have been between $5 million and $6.5 million -- for an overall season drop of 0.2 percent for the first four races. Xfinity races, though, are up 9.1 percent with increases of $60,000 to $155,000 per race; Xfinity purses this year generally are $1.1 million-$1.5 million (the opener was $2.66 million). The truck race at Daytona was up 16.4 percent to $806,373, and that was for a 32-truck field instead of a 36-truck field. There was no Atlanta truck race last year with which to compare the earlier purse.(ESPN.com)(3-21-2015)
NASCAR signs extension with FOX Sports Latin America: NASCAR announced it has signed a seven-year media broadcast extension with FOX Sports Latin America, ensuring that sports fans in Latin America can continue to enjoy NASCAR events and news on FOX Sports through 2021. Through this extension, FOX Sports Latin America will continue to be the home of live races for all three of NASCAR's national series - the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR XFINITY Series and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series - across Latin America, including Brazil. Additional NASCAR programming on FOX Sports Latin America includes the NASCAR K&N Pro Series. All NASCAR content will air exclusively on FOX Sports 3 in Spanish speaking countries in Latin America and on FOX Sports 2 in Brazil. In addition, FOX Sports' original production "Central FOX Nitro," - a daily motorsports news show - will feature NASCAR news and highlights.(NASCAR)(3-17-2015)
NASCAR Productions and SPIKE TV Present 'I Am Dale Earnhardt' TONIGHT: NASCAR Productions and SPIKE TV have joined forces to create a captivating and revealing documentary on the life of a legendary American sports hero - Dale Earnhardt. The original film, "I AM DALE EARNHARDT," premieres exclusively on Monday, March 2 at 10:00pm/et/pt on SPIKE TV [it runs 91 minutes and there is NO scheduled re-air of the special]. With in-depth and insightful interviews with some of the biggest names in the sport, unforgettable highlights from Earnhardt's greatest moments on the track, and rare footage of Earnhardt's life off-the track, the film is an up-close-and-personal look at the man behind the iconic mustache. Among those interviewed for the film include some of the biggest names in NASCAR such as Jimmie Johnson, Darrell Waltrip, Rusty Wallace, Jeff Gordon, Richard Childress and Dale Earnhardt Jr.(NASCAR)(2-26-2015)
MORE: NASCAR Productions and SPIKE TV have joined forces to create a captivating and revealing documentary on the life of a legendary American sports hero - Dale Earnhardt. The original film, "I AM DALE EARNHARDT," premieres exclusively on Monday, March 2 at 10:00pm/et/pt on SPIKE TV. With in-depth and insightful interviews with some of the biggest names in the sport, unforgettable highlights from Earnhardt's greatest moments on the track, and rare footage of Earnhardt's life off-the track, the film is an up-close-and-personal look at the man behind the iconic mustache. The film includes in-depth interviews with Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon, Richard Childress, Darrell Waltrip, Morgan Spurlock, Michael Rooker and others across sports and entertainment, as well as highlights from Earnhardt's greatest moments on and off the track. (RCR)(3-2-2015)
Fox swaps networks for Martinsville and Richmond: FOX Sports announced the Sunday, March 29 (1:00pm/et) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series STP 500 from Martinsville Speedway will air on FOX Sports 1, in turn moving the Saturday, April 25 (7:00 pm/et) Toyota Owners 400 night race from Richmond International Raceway to the FOX broadcast network. With approval from NASCAR, the swap is being made to avoid a potential conflict with another live event on FOX Sports 1 that leads into the Richmond event. Martinsville now marks the debut of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series racing on FOX Sports 1.(FOX Sports)(2-25-2015)
Bowyer latest Cup driver to be guest analyst of FOX: Clint Bowyer is the latest NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver confirmed as a race analyst for FOX and FOX Sports 1's coverage of the NASCAR XFINITY Series in 2015. Bowyer is scheduled to offer analysis alongside Adam Alexander and Michael Waltrip for the NASCAR XFINITY Series races from Auto Club Speedway in March and Charlotte in May. Bowyer is the fifth NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver announced as part of a rotation in the FOX and FOX Sports 1 booth for FOX Sports' coverage of the 2015 NASCAR XFINITY Series season.
Bowyer's appearances in the booth bring to 12 the number of NASCAR XFINITY Series races for which FOX Sports has confirmed a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver as guest analyst. Also scheduled as guest analysts this season are reigning NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick, who debuted in the booth last weekend at Daytona; four-time champion Jeff Gordon; 2012 champion Brad Keselowski; and Danica Patrick. The five drivers assist Alexander and Waltrip in calling their respective races.
Keselowski is up next this weekend from Atlanta, offering analysis alongside Alexander and Waltrip on Saturday, Feb. 28 at 2:00pm/et on FOX Sports 1. Below is a list of 12 NASCAR XFINITY SERIES races on FOX and FOX Sports 1 for which Cup Series drivers are scheduled to serve as guest analysts:
Race Date/Airtime Network Driver/guest analyst
Daytona Feb. 21 (3:30pm/et) FOX Sports 1 Harvick
Atlanta Feb. 28 (2:00pm/et) FOX Sports Keselowski
Las Vegas March 7 (4:00pm/et) FOX Sports 1 Harvick
Phoenix March 14 (4:00pm/et) FOX Keselowski
Fontana March 21 (4:00pm/et) FOX Sports 1 Bowyer
Texas April 10 (8:30pm/et) FOX Sports 1 Gordon
Bristol April 18 (1:30pm/et) FOX Sports 1 Gordon
Richmond April 24 (7:30pm/et) FOX Sports 1 Keselowski
Talladega May 2 (1:30pm/et) FOX Gordon
Charlotte May 23 (2:30pm/et) FOX Bowyer
Dover May 30 (2:30pm/et) FOX Harvick
Michigan June 13 (1:30pm/et) FOX Sports 1 Patrick
*subject to change
This season, FOX Sports adds coverage of the NASCAR XFINITY SERIES for the first 14 races of the year. FOX Sports 1 telecasts 10 of the events while FOX broadcasts the races from Phoenix, Talladega, Charlotte and Dover.(FOX)(2-25-2015)
Patrick joins FOX Sports 1 NASCAR XFINITY Coverage: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Danica Patrick is scheduled to be full-race analyst during FOX Sports 1's coverage of the NASCAR XFINITY Series from Michigan on Saturday, June 13 (1:30pm/et), creating another first for the popular driver. It is believed to be the first time a woman has served in this capacity during a NASCAR race broadcast. Also scheduled as guest analysts this season are Jeff Gordon, Kevin Harvick and Brad Keselowski. The four drivers offer analysis alongside play-by-play announcer Adam Alexander and analyst Michael Waltrip.(FOX)(2-22-2015)
FOX Sports to air more NASCAR in Canada: FOX Sports announced the re-branding of SPEED International, its motor sports and automotive network in Canada and the Caribbean, as FOX Sports Racing, bolstering the high-octane programming lineup to deliver additional motor sports and big-event competition programming for 2015 and beyond. FOX Sports Racing returned to Rogers in Canada on Friday, February 20. Additionally, FOX Sports Racing continues to be available to pay-TV subscribers in the Caribbean. With a 2015 schedule that includes 785 events and nearly 900 hours of competition-driven programming, the FOX SPORTS RACING lineup is highlighted by a full season of live NASCAR Camping World Truck Series racing, practice and qualifying sessions from NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and NASCAR XFINITY Series events. For a look at the complete FOX Sports Racing programming lineup, please visit: FOXSportsRacing.com.(FOX Sports)
ALSO: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races will be televised in Canada on the TSN network, see the Sprint Cup and XFINITY series schedules at tsn.ca.(2-21-2015)
Ray Evernham starts 2nd season of Americana: This February, Velocity returns on its cross-country road trip to open the garage doors and lift the hoods of four-wheeled treasures that have had a profound effect on American culture. Three-time NASCAR champion crew chief Ray Evernham returns as host of AMERICARNA, scouting the incredible hidden stories of American automotive history that defined our cultural identity. From the last car Elvis Presley drove to the epic memoir of the Ford Mustang, and a tour of prototype cars in the General Motors vault, AMERICARNA presents a look at our national story through the lens of one of its greatest inventions: the automobile. Season two of AMERICARNA world premieres on February 17th with two all-new episodes back-to-back at new 10:00 PM (ET/PT) and 10:30PM (ET/PT). "Cars have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember, both personally and professionally", said Ray Evernham. "I'd like to think that my experience very much mirrors the American automobile experience. Cars are an undeniable part of our history and this season of AMERICARNA tackles some of the most extraordinary accounts from America's automotive story."(VMG)(2-17-2015)
Petree hired by FoxSports: FOX Sports announced the addition of former racer, team owner and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship crew chief Andy Petree to the newly created on-air position of rules analyst for the 2015 FOX NASCAR race season. With the imminent debut of NASCAR's new video officiating system on pit road, Petree is tasked with explaining any technical violations to the viewing audience, beginning this week at Daytona. "Not unlike what Mike Pereira does for us during or NFL on FOX broadcasts, we felt the new technical environment in NASCAR lends itself to creating a similar voice on the FOX NASCAR broadcast team," said John Entz, FOX Sports EVP of Production/Executive Producer. "Andy will work into the role of 'rules guru,' giving our audience a strong and consistent point of reference from the broadcast booth." NASCAR's new officiating system utilizes 45 cameras arranged in six-camera clusters on the grandstand side of a racetrack, with violations reported in real-time to the event broadcaster.(FoxSports)(2-11-2015)
NBC Sports Group to broadcast regional touring races: NASCAR and NBC Sports Group announced an unprecedented broadcast line-up of NASCAR's popular regional touring series, with a 39-race telecast schedule for racing's premiere grassroots series as their landmark partnership begins this season. NBCSN's slate features all 25 K&N Pro Series races between the top developmental series, the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and NASCAR K&N Pro Series West. The coming season will also see triple the television exposure from previous years for the stars and cars of the exciting Whelen Modified Tours, NASCAR's only open-wheeled division, which competes at historic short tracks from New Hampshire to North Carolina. A total of 14 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour and NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour events are included on this season's schedule. NBCSN's inaugural touring series event is the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East season-opener at famed Florida short-track New Smyrna Speedway. The New Smyrna 150 will be contested on Feb. 15 and will air four days later on Feb. 19 on NBCSN. All 39 races are scheduled to be presented by NBCSN in one-hour shows the week following the event.(NASCAR)(2-4-2015)
NBC Sports' NASCAR Gridiron Challenge debuts Jan. 30th: NBC Sports' NASCAR Gridiron Challenge presented by Toyota, a one-hour special pairing NASCAR drivers with former NFL greats in a series of stock car races and a football challenge, debuts Friday, January 30, at 10:00pm/et on NBCSN, immediately following the NASCAR America Hall of Fame Special. A capsule from the Gridiron Challenge will air as part of NBC's Super Bowl XLIX pre-game show on Sunday, February 1, beginning at 12:00pm/et.
The Gridiron Challenge features six retired NFL greats, including NBC Super Bowl XLIX pre-game analyst Hines Ward, suiting up to compete in races alongside current NASCAR stars at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Viewers will watch as NFL legends experience the thrill of a lifetime learning how to drive official Toyota racecars at the Richard Petty Driving Experience. In addition, six NASCAR stars, representing Joe Gibbs' and Michael Waltrip's racing teams, will participate in a challenge throwing passes through a Toyota target. The series culminates with a 20-lap competition, where the former NFL players will sit in the passenger seat alongside NASCAR drivers, and race around the track at speeds up to 180 mph.
NASCAR on NBC lead announcer Rick Allen will call the action from Charlotte Motor Speedway, alongside NBC Sports Group's motorsports team of NASCAR Hall of Fame drivers Jeff Burton and Kyle Petty, Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s former crew chief Steve Letarte, and NASCAR America reporter Kelli Stavast. In addition, Coach J.D. Gibbs will be present to give tutelage, and award the winners with their trophies.(NBC)(1-29-2015)
Fox NASCAR Commences 15th Year of NASCAR Coverage: FOX NASCAR opens the 2015 season, its 15th year broadcasting NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events and the first of its new 10-year media rights agreement, with expanded coverage and the return of its popular broadcast team, coupled with new on-air faces that include a rotation of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champions. "Broadcasting any sports property for 15 years is a labor of love and a tremendous privilege," said Eric Shanks, President and COO, Executive Producer, FOX Sports. "NASCAR has been part of the fabric of FOX Sports since we first hit the air at Daytona in 2001, and with our new 10-year commitment, FOX NASCAR is poised to showcase what we expect to be the most riveting competition in years with what certainly is our deepest pool of on-air personalities ever."
Mike Joy, Hall of Famer Darrell Waltrip and Larry McReynolds, the original FOX Sports broadcast team which began its NASCAR run at the 2001 Daytona 500, return to the booth for NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races on FOX and FOX Sports 1. The team is joined on pit road by reporters Matt Yocum and newcomers Jamie Little and Chris Neville. FOX NASCAR expands its schedule from 13 to 16 races in 2015 with 10 on FOX and six on FOX Sports 1. Chris Myers hosts FOX NASCAR SUNDAY, the network's fast-paced prerace show from the traveling Hollywood Hotel, alongside brothers Darrell and Michael Waltrip.
This season, FOX Sports adds coverage of the NASCAR XFINITY Series, second only to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series as the most-watched racing series in the country, the first 14 races of the year. FOX Sports 1 telecasts 12 of the events while FOX broadcasts the races from Phoenix and Talladega. Adam Alexander calls play-by-play alongside Michael Waltrip and a rotation of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers scheduled to contribute as analysts, including reigning champion Kevin Harvick, four-time champ Jeff Gordon and 2012 champion Brad Keselowski. Vince Welch leads reporting on pit road for every XFINITY Series race, joined by a rotation of Little, Neville and Yocum.
FOX Sports 1 continues with exclusive coverage of the entire NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season for the 13th consecutive year with Alexander, Joy and Brian Till filling in on play-by-play until Steve Byrnes returns from a medical leave of absence. Joy has the call from Daytona for the season opener. Longtime FOX Sports 1 analysts Phil Parsons and Michael Waltrip are back in 2015. Hermie Sadler leads pit road reporting with a regular rotation of Welch, Yocum and Kaitlyn Vincie. FOX Sports 1 telecasts 22 of the series' 23 races live in 2015, while FOX broadcasts the Talladega race.
NASCAR RACEDAY, FOX Sports 1's popular prerace show, heads back to the track in 2015, live from the middle of the fans at the new and versatile FOX Sports Stage, which puts fans in the center of prerace activities prior to each Sprint Cup race. Danielle Trotta hosts during the FOX portion of the year with McReynolds and Kenny Wallace before handing off hosting duties to John Roberts for the second half of the season. Vincie and FOX Sports 1 newcomers Alan Cavanna and Andrew Doud report alongside FOX NASCAR team pit reporters covering the day's race.
For NASCAR XFINITY SERIES prerace coverage, Trotta hosts NASCAR RACEDAY - XFINIITY live from the track, with McReynolds and Wallace offering analysis and Little, Neville, Welch and Yocum reporting. Roberts hosts NCWTS SETUP live before each Truck Series race with analysis from two-time series champion Todd Bodine.
NASCAR RACE HUB, FOX Sports 1's daily news and update program, kicks off the 2015 season live from the Charlotte Motor Speedway Media Tour on Monday, Jan. 26 at its new time of 6:00pm/et. Alexander, Trotta and Roberts co-host the hour-long program. The network bolsters its analyst pool in 2015 to include Wally Dallenbach, Jeff Hammond and McReynolds, who are joined by a rotating team of drivers and crew chiefs that features AJ Allmendinger, Greg Biffle, Drew Blickensderfer, Bodine, Chad Knaus and Joey Logano. For the first time, NASCAR RACE HUB features three fulltime reporters with Cavanna, Doud and Vincie reporting daily from NASCAR race shops and Ray Dunlap delivering Truck Series feature reports. NASCAR RACE HUB airs Mondays through Thursdays at 6:00pm/et.
NASCAR RACE HUB expands to the weekend in 2015 to offer at-track updates and news as it breaks throughout the course of the race weekend. Roberts hosts alongside Hammond with reporting by Cavanna and Vincie. In addition, NASCAR VICTORY LANE on FOX Sports 1 recaps each Sprint Cup Series race with highlights and analysis. Myers hosts with Wallace and Michael Waltrip and post-race reports from the garage.
DAYTONA 500: FOX Sports kicks off the season by offering multi-network, multi-platform coverage from Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway, culminating with live coverage of the DAYTONA 500 on Sunday, Feb. 22 (1:00 pm/et) on FOX with live pre-race coverage on FOX NASCAR SUNDAY (12:00 pm/et). FOX also carries POLE DAY QUALIFYING on Sunday, Feb. 15 (1:00 pm/et) and the SPRINT UNLIMITED on Saturday, Feb. 14 (8:00 pm/et), both live. FOX Sports 1 presents live coverage of its first NASCAR XFINITY SERIES race on Saturday, Feb. 21 (3:30 pm/et), the BUDWEISER DUEL AT DAYTONA on Thursday, Feb. 19 (7:00 pm/et) and live coverage of the season-opening NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES race on Friday, Feb. 20 (7:30 pm/et).
In addition, FOX Sports 1 premieres two NASCAR original specials during Speedweeks in a special programming block on Friday, Feb. 13. A PERFECT STORM, debuting at 7:30 pm/et, chronicles the events of Feb. 18, 1979, detailing how a major blizzard struck the Eastern seaboard, creating a "captive" audience for the first live flag-to-flag television broadcast of the Daytona 500. The one-hour special, produced by NASCAR Productions, features excerpts from the race broadcast, recently discovered archival footage and first-person accounts from the network broadcasters, drivers and fans who witnessed the historic event that is credited with putting NASCAR on the map. A second special, entitled 1979 DAYTONA 500, premieres at 8:30 pm/et.
Also back by popular demand in May for the second consecutive year is FOX SPORTS 1 - 10 DAYS OF THUNDER. The special multi-sport programming block is anchored by two weekends of NASCAR racing from Charlotte Motor Speedway, highlighted by live coverage of the NASCAR SPRINT ALL-STAR RACE, NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES race and the COCA-COLA 600, in addition to comprehensive support programming and premieres of FOX Sports 1 originals.
All NASCAR programming on FOX and FOX Sports 1 is streamed live through FOX Sports GO, the critically acclaimed app that provides live streaming video of FOX Sports content. FOX Deportes, the leading sports network in Spanish, returns in 2015 for its third season of NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES coverage with eight live races, beginning with the Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb 22. Mexican driver and NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES competitor German Quiroga joins the broadcast booth as analyst.(FOX Sports)(1-26-2015)
NBC adds Dale Jarrett to NASCAR Broadcast Team: NBC Sports Group has reached an agreement with 1999 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion and 2014 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee Dale Jarrett, who will serve as a pre- and post-race analyst during live coverage of select NASCAR Sprint Cup and NASCAR XFINITY Series racing on NBC and NBCSN. Jarrett, a three-time Daytona 500 winner, will be among the first to welcome fans to NBC Sports' 10-year chapter as the home of NASCAR's championship run when he, Krista Voda and Kyle Petty open up NBC's live pre-race coverage from Daytona International Speedway this 4th of July weekend. In addition to handling pre- and post-race coverage, Jarrett will also serve as a booth analyst during select NASCAR XFINITY Series races and contribute to NASCAR AMERICA on NBCSN. "We are excited to welcome Dale and his Hall of Fame credentials to our NASCAR broadcast team," said Sam Flood, Executive Producer, NBC Sports and NBCSN. "As a former Champion, his experience and insights will help us set the stage and break down key races throughout the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup."
The appointment of Jarrett follows previous NBC Sports NASCAR on-air announcements for analysts Jeff Burton, Steve Letarte and Kyle Petty, race announcer Rick Allen, pre- and post-race host Krista Voda, and reporters Marty Snider, Kelli Stavast, Mike Massaro, Dave Burns and Rutledge Wood. "I'm very pleased and excited to be a part of NBC Sports and their NASCAR coverage," said Jarrett. "NBC has assembled an All-Star crew for their coverage, and I'm honored to be a part of this group that will bring NASCAR fans inside the sport we all love."
Of NBC Sports Group's 20 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events, seven will be carried on NBC annually, with 13 airing on NBCSN. Four of NBC Sports Group's 19 NASCAR XFINITY Series races will air on NBC, with 15 airing on NBCSN.(NBC Sports)(1-26-2015)
Is a NASCAR TV analyst career in Jeff Gordon's future? UPDATE: Would Jeff Gordon trade his helmet for a headset after exiting his #24 Chevy after the 2015 Sprint Cup Season? The four-time series champion said Friday morning he would consider a career as a TV analyst in NASCAR after he leaves full-time competition this year. "I love the sport," Gordon said during an interview with "The Morning Drive" on SiriusXM Radio's NASCAR channel. "I'm very passionate about it. I love to critique it. I think I could do a good job with that. I don't think it's an easy job. I'll be honest. I have a lot of respect for those that do it from radio and TV. I'd entertain it." Multiple sources have told MotorSportsTalk that Gordon put out feelers to TV networks last year about the possibility of eventually entering the broadcast booth. But Gordon, who hasn't ruled out racing in myriad series beginning in 2016, said he would be spend the season mulling his next step. "I don't know if (TV is) at the top of my list right now," Gordon said. "Throughout this year, one of the things I have to get acclimated to is actually to have a real job. That's going to be an adjustment".(NBC Sports)(1-24-2015)
UPDATE: Jeff Gordon's TV career will start this year, as the soon-to-be-former Sprint Cup Series driver will serve as a rotating analyst for FOX Sports' Xfinity Series broadcasts. Gordon will switch off his Xfinity Series (formerly called Nationwide Series) analyst role with defending Cup champion Kevin Harvick and former Cup champ Brad Keselowski. Those are just part of many changes for FOX, which goes into this season splitting TV broadcasting duties with NBC. The news will officially be announced Monday.(USA Today)(1-25-2015)
Nate Ryan and Dustin Long join NBCSN's NASCAR AMERICA lineup: NBC Sports announced Tuesday the addition of veteran journalists Nate Ryan and Dustin Long to its coverage team, dovetailing with the media group's expanded presence as a returning NASCAR broadcast partner in 2015. Ryan, who has been a regular contributor to NBC Sports Network's "NASCAR America" program since the start of the 2014 season, will leave his spot as USA Today's primary motorsports writer for a multi-faceted role with NBC. According to a release provided by the media company, Ryan will serve as an on-air reporter during broadcasts, but will also contribute to the organization's online publishing arm as a writer. Long, who most recently served as a writer and editor with Motor Racing Network (MRN) Radio's website, will transition to the same role with NBC Sports, also working alongside Ryan to produce video content. Before his stint with MRN, Long was the lead NASCAR writer for the Landmark newspaper group. In a related move, USA Today Sports announced that Brant James -- most recently a correspondent for ESPN -- would fill the vacancy created by Ryan's departure on the newspaper's motorsports staff.(NASCAR.com)(1-21-2015)
Fox Sports & NBC will focus on "second screen" in NASCAR coverage: As Fox Sports heads into 2015, it is taking more of a "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" philosophy with the second screen. Fox Sports executives view established social media sites like Facebook and Twitter as the place where its viewers can have a second-screen experience. During this year's NASCAR coverage, for example, Fox Sports plans to program highlights, commentary, photographs and behind-the-scenes information on its NASCAR Facebook pages.
"You go where the people are," Fox Sports President Eric Shanks said at an industry conference last month. "It's naïve to think that you can wave a magic wand and that there's going to appear a second screen that's more powerful than Facebook."
Sports networks are making some second-screen inroads with the launch of streaming services. NBC Sports Group executives, for example, have found that putting content around the live streams for "Sunday Night Football" helps keep online viewers watching the game longer. Both NBC and Fox plan to stream every NASCAR race this season and will program second-screen applications around those services.
"We'll play around as much as we are allowed to around our streaming product and make that not only a first-screen but a second-screen experience," NBC Sports Group Chairman Mark Lazarus said last month. Both Lazarus and Shanks believe the streaming services will help Fox and NBC attract younger viewers to their NASCAR programming. Lazarus also said that NBC's marketing plan, which will include NBC's entertainment and news assets, also should help attract younger viewers.(Sports Business Daily)(1-16-2015)
William Levy working with NASCAR on reality TV series: William Levy, star of movies and television, has teamed with Emmy Award-winning NASCAR Productions to produce a non-scripted reality series about Hispanic race car drivers. "I'm truly thrilled about partnering with NASCAR and I can't wait to show my fans worldwide this creative endeavor," the Cuban-born actor and star of telenovela "Triunfo del Amor" ("Triumph of Love") said. The show will follow drivers as they attempt to make it in NASCAR while transitioning to life in America, and it will be pitched to networks in February. Levy, who will join Vince Vaughn on the big screen in "Term Life" later this year, attended the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. "Our goal is to produce original TV, film and digital projects that highlight some of the most compelling stories in NASCAR," Zane Stoddard, NASCAR's vice president of entertainment marketing and content development, said. "We are excited about the opportunity to partner with William Levy and his team on a project we believe both sports and non-sports fans alike will enjoy."(NASCAR)(1-10-2015)
Dick Berggren named to Maine Motorsports HOF: The Maine Motorsports Hall of Fame has announced that on April 4, 2015, Dick Berggren, President of the Racing History Preservation Group that is the parent company of the North East Motor Sports Museum, will be inducted. Dick will be one of six inductees who have influenced motorsports in Maine. He made his mark on the sport in his #80 Super Modified at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway in the mid-1970s and raced Modifieds there in the early 1980s. As editor of Stock Car Racing Magazine and later his own Dick Berggren's Speedway Illustrated, he put Maine motorsports on the national stage with his stories about Beech Ridge, the Oxford 250 and Maine racing personalities. In total, only 80 other significant Maine racing figures have been inductee into the Maine Motorsports Hall of Fame. In addition to his time behind the wheel of a racecar and writing about motorsports, he became best known for reporting from pit road at NASCAR tracks all over the United States. In his long storied career, Dick could be found on some of the biggest TV networks including CBS, ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, TNT, Speed and Fox Sports just to name a few. Never to shy away from a story, he was ready with the microphone and the ever important questions that the TV audience wanted to know the answer to. Recently, Dick was asked what being inducted into the Maine Motorsports Hall of Fame meant to him and the response was "Many of my friendships that I formed in and around Maine back in the 70s still exist today. Maine has been a special place for me, not only because I won a race at Beech Ridge but more importantly many of my hero's come from Maine such as Ricky Craven, Andy Cusack, Mike Rowe, Dick McCabe, Bob Bahre and so, so many more." Dick also went on to note that "I love the state of Maine and all it stands for, the people, the landscape, life in general and of course it has been and still is my favorite vacation place. I have traveled the world over and there is no place like Maine, anywhere."(PR)(12-20-2014)
Fox to air 2015 NASCAR preview show Sunday: This Sunday will mark 63 days until the 2015 Daytona 500, and FOX will mark nine weeks until the Great American Race with a NASCAR Productions-produced "NASCAR 2015: A New Era" season preview. The hour-long show will air at 4:30pm/et to 78% of the country. Those fans slated to see the National Footbal League game between New York Giants at the St. Louis Rams will get "NASCAR 2015: A New Era" at 3:00pm/et. The special will focus on the Daytona 500 on February 22, including "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" star Terry Crews explaining the magnitude of the season-opening race. Then, the show will take a look at the new second race of the season at Atlanta and a West Coast swing among the 2015 schedule changes. Team and driver swaps as well as NBC coming on board as a new television partner will be examined. As they did during the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup on FOX Sports 1's "NASCAR RaceHub," analysts Larry McReynolds, Michael Waltrip, Jeff Hammond, pit reporter Matt Yocum and host Adam Alexander will make predictions in special installment of the NASCAR War Room.(NASCAR.com)(12-19-2014)
Rutledge Wood joins NBC Sports: NBC Sports Group added reporter Rutledge Wood to its multiplatform coverage of NASCAR, Formula 1, IndyCar, Global Rallycross and Mecum Auctions. Among his contributions, Wood will present features on the storied raceways, unique towns and enthusiastic fans that make NASCAR an American treasure. The announcement was made by Jeff Behnke, Vice President of NASCAR Production for NBC Sports and NBCSN. "Rutledge brings a unique combination of knowledge and enthusiasm to his work that will help us shine a spotlight on the tracks and communities we visit throughout the year, and bring them to life," said Behnke. Wood's first experience in NASCAR came during his first job in entertainment: traveling with the NASCAR circuit for Country Music Television's mobile marketing activation. Soon after, he was hired by SPEED, where he has worked continuously for the past 10 seasons covering NASCAR. Wood most recently was a correspondent for NASCAR Sprint Cup Series pre-race show, NASCAR RaceDay, on Fox Sports 1, and has also hosted or co-hosted several NASCAR events, including the annual NASCAR Awards Banquet. In addition, Wood has been the co-host of Top Gear on the History Channel, the American iteration of the BBC program of the same name, for the past four seasons.(NBC Sports)(12-16-2014)
HBO State of Play: First Ladies premieres Tuesday, Harvick's featured: HBO Sports and executive producers Peter Berg and Sarah Aubrey team up again for the innovative topical series STATE OF PLAY, continuing with FIRST LADIES on TUESDAY, DEC. 9 at 10:00pm/et, exclusively on HBO. Presented by Film 44 and HBO Sports, STATE OF PLAY takes on complex, multi-layered themes in sports, exploring their relationship to larger society. Each edition spotlights a topic or person with undeniable impact on the contemporary sports world, opening with a brief overview, followed by a cinéma vérité documentary and an in-depth roundtable discussion featuring filmmakers, subjects and guest experts, hosted by Berg.
STATE OF PLAY: FIRST LADIES
Debut: TUESDAY, DEC. 9 (10:00-11:00pm/et/pt)
Other HBO playdates: Dec. 10 (6:15pm, 11:30pm), 11 (2:30pm), 12 (4:15pm), 13 (1:00pm), 14 (11:30am) and 15 (12:45pm)
HBO2 playdates: Dec. 10 (2:30am) and (10:00pm)
A deeply personal look at another side of professional sports, this film focuses on the challenges of balancing the pursuit of professional success and family obligations. FIRST LADIES focuses on three couples whose vows shape their decisions on the field and at home. What role has each of these spouses played in her family's success? Profiled are Mike and Kiya Tomlin, Kevin and DeLana Harvick, and Scott and Megan Lehnhoff. Mike Tomlin is head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Kevin Harvick captured his first NASCAR Sprint Cup championship last month, and Scott Lehnhoff is head football coach at Steele High School in Cibolo, Tex. After the documentary, Berg hosts a roundtable discussion featuring Kiya Tomlin, DeLana Harvick and Megan Lehnhoff.(HBO)(12-8-2014)
Kyle Petty joins NBC's Broadcast team: NBC Sports Group welcomes one of the most-liked personalities in motorsports to its multiplatform NASCAR coverage as Kyle Petty joins its upcoming race day broadcast team on NBC and NBCSN. Petty will work alongside host Krista Voda as an analyst during pre- and post-race shows surrounding Sprint Cup and XFINITY Series race coverage, which launches this July. In addition, Petty will continue his role as a regular contributor to NASCAR AMERICA on NBCSN. The announcement was made today by Sam Flood, Executive Producer, NBC Sports and NBCSN.
"Kyle Petty brings a lifetime of experience to our team that is unmatched," said Flood. "As a driver, team owner, philanthropist, and multigenerational observer of the sport, he has seen it all, and has great perspectives across NASCAR's full spectrum."
"I learned the history of this sport from my grandfather, I saw the history made by my father, and I was a competitor to some of the greatest drivers in the history of NASCAR," said Petty. "I'm excited to be a part of NBC's return to NASCAR. During this past year as a guest analyst on NASCAR AMERICA, I saw firsthand the commitment, energy and excitement that this team has for the sport that I love. I can't wait for the fans to see the same."
The appointment of Petty follows previous NBC Sports NASCAR on-air announcements for analysts Jeff Burton, Steve Letarte, race announcer Rick Allen, pre- and post-race host Krista Voda, and reporters Marty Snider, Kelli Stavast, Mike Massaro and Dave Burns.
Petty is as much a product of racing as he is of his famous forebears: his grandfather, Lee Petty, and his father, Richard Petty, also known as "the King." He grew up in Level Cross, N.C., and places like Daytona, Charlotte and Talladega. For more than three decades as a driver, owner and media commentator, Kyle Petty has earned a reputation as a classy competitor and one of the greatest philanthropists that NASCAR has ever known.
Inspired by the vision of his late son Adam, Kyle and the Petty family partnered with the NASCAR community and corporate sponsors to create Victory Junction, a camp where more than 20,000 children with chronic or life-threatening illnesses have found hope, laughter and relief. For more than 20 years, Petty has hosted hundreds of NASCAR fans, drivers and motorcycle enthusiasts on his annual Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America - raising more than $15 million for Victory Junction and children with chronic or life-threatening illnesses.
Over the course of a 30-year racing career, Petty amassed 173 Top-10 finishes. Throughout his racing years and since retirement in 2008, he has worked as an on-air commentator for several networks, including TNT, SPEED, ESPN, Turner, Fox Sports 1 and the Performance Racing Network.(NBC)(12-4-2014)
NBC & FOX join forces to co-create on-air promotion: FOX Sports and NBC Sports have co-created an adrenaline-charged on-air promotion that is set to unfold on multiple network platforms. The announcement was made as part of a panel featuring NBC Sports Group Chairman Mark Lazarus and FOX Sports President, COO and Executive Producer Eric Shanks at the 2014 Sports Business Journal Motorsports Marketing Forum in Las Vegas. Overseen by NBC Sports Group's CMO John Miller and Robert Gottlieb, EVP of Marketing, FOX Sports, the collaboration is designed to promote the 2015 season and further the momentum NASCAR has been enjoying since the thrilling conclusion of the 2014 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. In February, the green flag waves over a new 10-year broadcasting partnership in which FOX Sports and FOX Sports 1 handle the Daytona 500 and first half of the Sprint Cup and XFINITY Series seasons, before turning over the keys to NBC and NBCSN for the seasons' second half and the reinvigorated Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.(NBC / FOX)(12-4-2014)
ESPN's NASCAR personalities transition to new roles: ESPN's affiliation with NASCAR, providing coverage of the second half of the season's Sprint Cup Series races as well as the entire 33-race Nationwide Series schedule, came to an end earlier this month at Homestead-Miami Speedway. ESPN had been a television partner for the sport since 2007 and overall, had been involved in NASCAR coverage for 28 years.
Allen Bestwick will remain in the booth, serving as the lead announcer for the Indianapolis 500 and ESPN's association with the IndyCar Series. He will also be involved in college football and basketball, pro tennis and golf coverage.
Dave Burns, Jamie Little, Dr. Jerry Punch and Vince Welch served as pit reporters for ESPN. Burns will join NBC Sports next season when that network begins its Sprint Cup affiliation while Little will move over to FOX Sports as a pit reporter.
Welch has worked the IndyCar series as well for ESPN and could possibly resume those duties. Jarrett, the 1999 premier series champion, Petree and Punch have not announced their plans for 2015 and beyond.
Former driver Ricky Craven and reporter Marty Smith will remain entrenched with the Bristol, Connecticut-based network and tethered to NASCAR.
Those out front for the pre-race NASCAR Countdown show included host Nicole Briscoe, Brad Daugherty and Rusty Wallace. Briscoe will move into the role of an anchor for SportsCenter starting in January and is expected to do other in-studio work as well. Daugherty, the former NBA standout who currently co-owns the JTG Daugherty Racing Sprint Cup Series team, will transition to ESPN's coverage of college and pro basketball. Wallace, like Jarrett a member of the NASCAR Hall of Fame, has not announced his plans for next season.
NBC Sports will begin its portion of live NASCAR race coverage at Daytona International Speedway in July of 2015. In addition to Burns, former ESPN reporter Mike Massaro will join the group as a pit reporter, along with Marty Snider and Kelli Stavast. Krista Voda will serve as host of pre- and post-race shows for NBC; Rick Allen (lead announcer), Jeff Burton and Steve Letarte (analysts) will be in the booth.(NASCAR.com)(11-29-2014)
Update on Steve Byrnes: Fox Sports' Steve Byrnes, who has been on leave from the network while battling Stage 4 head-and-neck cancer, tweeted Wednesday evening, "My Oncologist just called and said my PET scan showed 'progress.' Thanks for your prayers, and Happy Thanksgiving. Grateful!"(11-27-2014)
SportsCenter To Follow NASCAR Championship Contenders All Week: With the revised Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship having determined the four drivers who have a chance to win what will be the first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship for each, ESPN SportsCenter will follow the four contenders all week as they prepare for Sunday's Ford Ecoboost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, the final race of the season. The four finalists are Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, Joey Logano and Ryan Newman. Though all drive for multi-car race teams, the four finalists represent four different race teams and three different manufacturers. The driver among the four who finishes highest in Sunday's race, no matter where he finishes overall in the 43-car field for the event, will be the new champion.
ESPN reporters will be embedded with the championship contenders early this week, with SportsCenter airing multiple live reports from the four contending race shops between 9:30am/et and 2:00pm/et each day on Monday and Tuesday. The 6:00pm/et and 11:00pm/et editions of SportsCenter will air larger all-access features from each team, summarizing what the teams did on those days to prepare for the championship race.
The Wednesday night editions of SportsCenter will air interviews and reports from that evening's NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship contender's press conference in Miami, including the four drivers and their team owners, while Thursday's SportsCenter reports will follow work back at the race shops and what the drivers are doing in South Florida before on-track action begins Friday.
Dave Burns will follow Logano from the Penske Racing headquarters, while Ryan McGee will report on Hamlin from Joe Gibbs Racing. Mike Massaro will report on Newman from Richard Childress Racing and Marty Smith will be with Harvick and Stewart-Haas Racing.
ESPN NASCAR analyst Ricky Craven will appear on SportsCenter frequently throughout race weekend, including during extended post-race coverage Sunday that will feature an interview with the new NASCAR Sprint Cup champion. Sunday's 400-mile race airs live on ESPN. A special two-hour edition of NASCAR Countdown at 1:00pm/et will lead up to the 3:16pm/et green flag. All four championship contenders will appear live on Countdown from the ESPN Pit Studio, and the program also will include extended "the week that was" features on all four. The champion will visit ESPN on Wednesday, Nov. 19, and appear on a variety of ESPN programs and platforms.(ESPN)(11-11-2014)
Fox Sports 1 gears up for 21 hours of NASCAR Championship Week Coverage: FOX Sports wraps a riveting 2014 NASCAR season next week with 21 hours of live coverage surrounding the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship from Homestead-Miami Speedway. FOX Sports 1 delivers comprehensive and live NASCAR Championship Week programming beginning Monday, Nov. 10, highlighted by NASCAR Race Hun's live coverage of Wednesday's Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship Press Conference from Miami, live telecasts of on-track activity across the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Nationwide Series and NASCAR Ccamping World Truck Series from Homestead beginning Friday, Nov. 14, and live presentation of Friday's Truck Series season finale (8:00pm/et).
Highlights of FOX Sports 1's coverage of Championship Week include:
· Special two-hour NASCAR Rrace Hub (Wednesday from 5:00-7:00pm/et) - includes live coverage of the Chase for the Sprint Cup Championship Press Conference from Miami, featuring the four drivers competing for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup championship and their respective car owners. Bob Dillner reports live from the Trump National Doral in Miami. John Roberts and Danielle Trotta co-host in-studio with analysis from Ray Dunlap.
· Thursday's NASCAR Race Hub (5:00-6:00 pm/et) delivers coverage of the NASCAR Nationwide Series/NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Championship Press Conferences from Homestead-Miami Speedway, featuring the drivers, owners and crew chiefs battling for the Nationwide and Truck Series championships. Ray Dunlap reports from Homestead, with John Roberts and Danielle Trotta co-hosting in-studio and Matt Clark alongside with analysis.
· Live coverage of Friday's NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season finale from Homestead on FOX Sports 1 (8:00pm/et), with pre-race coverage beginning at 7:30pm/et with NCWTS Setup.
· Sunday's NASCAR Raceday (12:00pm/et) on FOX Sports 1 features sit-down interviews with all four Championship Round drivers; a "Chase War Room" roundtable discussion among NASCAR on FOX analysts, who break down the season finale and debate the four championship contenders; and an essay on the prestige of being a champion, related from the perspective of stars across various sports. Adam Alexander, Larry McReynolds, Bob Dillner and Rutledge Wood are live from Homestead, with John Roberts, Jeff Hammond and Kenny Wallace in-studio in Charlotte, N.C.
· Complete post-race and championship coverage on NASCAR Victory Lane (7:00pm/et) on Sunday, Nov. 16 on FOX Sports 1. Alexander, McReynolds and Dillner deliver the latest from Homestead, with Roberts, Hammond and Wallace in-studio in Charlotte.(FoxSports)(11-11-2014)
NBC announces pit reporters for 2015 TV team: NBC Sports Group has reached agreements with motorsports reporters Dave Burns and Mike Massaro, who will join NBC's multiplatform NASCAR coverage in 2015. In addition to covering pit road during Sprint Cup and XFINITY Series action on NBC and NBCSN, Massaro and Burns will contribute to NASCAR AMERICA on NBCSN, as well as handle assignments throughout various NBC Sports properties. The announcement was made today by Sam Flood, Executive Producer, NBC Sports and NBCSN.
"We've known Dave Burns for a long time, and are excited to welcome back his ability to make strong contributions," said Flood. "Dave was a member of NBC Sports' Emmy Award-wining NASCAR broadcast team during our last partnership, and brings extensive knowledge and experience into his role."
"Mike Massaro has developed into a talented reporter and host, with great relationships that have formed over the course of two decades in motorsports," said Flood. "We're happy to welcome him to NBC Sports and are looking forward to his work on pit road, as well as his contributions to NASCAR AMERICA on NBCSN."
The appointments of Massaro and Burns follow previous NBC Sports NASCAR on-air announcements for analysts Jeff Burton, Steve Letarte, race announcer Rick Allen, pre- and post-race host Krista Voda, and fellow reporters Marty Snider and Kelli Stavast.
Burns has more than 25 years of motorsports experience, having covered everything from NASCAR Sprint Cup to Sports Cars at LeMans, Daytona and Sebring, to SuperBikes, Formula cars and Legends. His on-air career began as a hobby, announcing American Speed Association stock car races. Radio and television roles with the ASA led to his first NASCAR coverage of their truck series on ESPN, where he developed the skills that led to his appointment as one of NBC Sports' NASCAR pit road reporters in 2001. His success in that role contributed to NBC Sports' Outstanding Live Sports Series Emmy Award for NASCAR coverage in 2006. In 2007, Burns re-joined ESPN, where he has handled NASCAR Sprint Cup coverage as both a reporter and announcer over the last eight years. Burns lives in Charlotte, N.C., with his wife and daughter.
"I feel truly blessed to be back with the NBC Sports team, or more accurately: NBC Sports family," said Burns. "NASCAR is such a cool sport to cover, and I enjoyed a great run of success with NBC from 2001-06. I've developed great working relationships throughout NASCAR over the years, and could not be more excited about the future."
Massaro also joins NBC Sports from ESPN, where he has been handling motorsports coverage and other assignments since 2001 as a reporter during live events and contributing to properties such as SportsCenter and Outside the Lines. Over the past eight years, Massaro has been working alongside Burns on pit road during ESPN's NASCAR Sprint Cup series coverage. Previously, Massaro served as a reporter for RPM2Night, and as host/reporter for ESPN2's NASCAR Now. In his first announcing duties, he handled the public address system at Stafford Motor Speedway in upstate Connecticut. From there, he joined MRN Radio, which led to increased exposure as a reporter for Inside NASCAR on TNN, and assignments on pit road for NBC and TBS. In 2000, he earned a National Motorsports Press Association and Russ Catlin Motorsports Journalism Award for a feature on the late Dale Earnhardt. To date, Massaro has won three Russ Catlin Motorsports Journalism awards, and four from the NMPA. Massaro lives outside of Hartford, Conn.
"I'm extremely thankful to have experienced many amazing things over the last two decades, and this opportunity to join NBC's NASCAR coverage is the validation of a dream," said Massaro. "NBC's dedication to storytelling is something that I value and look forward to advancing as part of the next generation of NASCAR coverage."(NBC)(11-6-2014)
NASCAR Races Onto Nicktoons' NickSports TV Block: NASCAR is racing into kids' living rooms with an all-new docu-series on Nickelodeon titled, "Hammer Down," which will premiere Wednesday, Nov. 5 at 10:00pm/et during the NickSports programming block on Nicktoons. "Hammer Down" is an original, four-episode series featuring four of NASCAR's rising stars - Kyle Larson, Ryan Blaney, Darrell Wallace Jr. and Kenzie Ruston. It is the latest programming from a major sports league to join the sports block lineup, which airs every Wednesday from 9-11pm/et. Produced by EMMY Award-winning NASCAR Productions, the eight- to 12-minute episodes will give audiences an all-access pass into the young athletes' lives as they aspire to become elite NASCAR drivers, while also enjoying time with friends and coming of age as young adults.
"'Hammer Down' gives young sports fans an inside look into the world of NASCAR through relatable personalities," said Zane Stoddard, NASCAR vice president of entertainment marketing and content development. "Nickelodeon is the leader in the kids' entertainment space and we're thrilled about the opportunity to align with such an influential brand to reach the next generation of NASCAR fans."
The first two episodes titled "A Picture of Speed" and "The Family Business" will debut on Nov. 5 spotlighting Wallace and Blaney, respectively. In the episodes, the drivers will share their racing roots, walk viewers through a NASCAR race shop and garage and open up about their hobbies and the practical jokes that continue to bond them as friends. On the track, Wallace has solidified himself as a fierce competitor with four NASCAR Camping World Truck Series career wins, including a stirring victory at Virginia's Martinsville Speedway on Oct. 25. A third generation NASCAR driver, Blaney is also making his mark on the sport with 10 top-five and 15 top-10 finishes in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series this season.
The final two episodes will be centered on NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Kyle Larson and NASCAR K&N Pro Series East driver Kenzie Ruston, and are scheduled to air later this month. Larson won the 2013 NASCAR Nationwide Series Sunoco Rookie of the Year award and the 2012 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East championship -- and is the run-away leader of this year's rookie standings in NASCAR's top series, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. As the highest finishing female in NASCAR K&N Pro Series history, Ruston brings a unique perspective to the "Hammer Down" line-up.
"Partnering with NASCAR offers our audience new, original content that showcases the excitement that NASCAR brings. The launch of Hammer Down in the NickSports block connects kids and their families with NASCAR's rising stars, allowing them to follow these young drivers as they pursue their dreams," said Keith Dawkins, senior vice president and general manager, Nicktoons, TeenNick and Nick Jr.
In addition to "Hammer Down," NASCAR Productions will create four 60- to 90-second vignettes that will air during the NickSports block. The vignettes will focus on key strategic NASCAR initiatives that reflect principles of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math), the athleticism of NASCAR drivers and the sanctioning body's Green efforts, among other topics.
Prior to "Hammer Down," NASCAR partnered with Nickelodeon to integrate NASCAR talent and content into its network programming such as the "Kids' Choice Awards" (Danica Patrick, 2012 and 2013), "Kids' Choice Sports" (Danica Patrick, 2014), "Team Umizoomi" (Jeff Gordon, 2012) and an upcoming "Bubble Guppies" episode (Jimmie Johnson, premiering in 2015). Drivers Gordon and Ryan Newman have also driven Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles-themed vehicles in past NASCAR races. Additionally, Stoddard serves on the "Kids' Choice Sports" council, consisting of influencers in the sporting world who lend their expertise to help inform the awards show.(NASCAR)(11-4-2014))(11-4-2014)
Krista Voda moves to NBC in 2015: NBC Sports Group announced that Krista Voda has signed a multi-year agreement to serve as host of NBC Sports' upcoming NASCAR Sprint Cup and XFINITY Series pre- and post-race coverage, beginning in 2015. Her on-air duties will also include regular appearances as host of NASCAR AMERICA on NBCSN, as well as a range of assignments across NBC Sports and NBC Olympics. The announcement was made by Sam Flood, Executive Producer, NBC Sports and NBCSN. "Krista is a talented host that has established a strong connection with NASCAR viewers over the course of an already impressive career," said Flood. "Her passion for the sport and comprehensive grasp of its stars, personalities and history will provide for an engaging and informative race day experience for the fans."
Krista's résumé is among the strongest in NASCAR broadcasting. When she joins NBC Sports in 2015, it will mark her 14th continuous year covering the sport on network television. She is the current host of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series pre-race show for Fox Sports, and was the first female to ever host NASCAR's Daytona Duels, as well as the NASCAR All-Star Race in Charlotte. She recently concluded her eighth season as a pit reporter for NASCAR Sprint Cup Series coverage on Fox and has hosted or co-hosted every NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction ceremony, many NASCAR Awards Banquets, and several Fox Sports studio shows. Outside of motorsports, Krista has an impressive breadth of experience, including NFL sideline reporting, and on-air contributions to numerous major sporting events, including postseason MLB broadcasts, Bowl Championship Series coverage, the Kentucky Derby, multiple NCAA men's basketball tournaments and the PGA Championship.
"This role is a dream opportunity for me and I'm honored to be a part of NBC's return to NASCAR," said Voda. "We say it often, but it's true: NASCAR is more than a sport, it's a community. I've been blessed, for many years, to stand alongside colleagues who I also consider dear friends. I'm looking forward to this new chapter and the chance to share my knowledge and enthusiasm for storytelling."
On July 23, 2013, NASCAR and NBC Sports Group reached a comprehensive agreement that grants NBCUniversal exclusive rights to the final 20 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races, final 19 NASCAR XFINITY Series events, select NASCAR Regional & Touring Series events and other live content, beginning in 2015.(NBC Sports)(10-29-2014)
Brad Daugherty to Remain with ESPN: Brad Daugherty, a former five-time NBA All-Star and college basketball standout, will serve as an NBA and college basketball analyst beginning in November. Daugherty will appear regularly on NBA Tonight, NBA Coast to Coast, SportsCenter and on additional news and information programming. He will also serve as an analyst for most games in ESPNU's ACC Sunday night package, in addition to other select games, beginning Dec. 1. "I'm ecstatic about having the opportunity to remain a part of the ESPN family," said Daugherty. "I thoroughly look forward to working with the talented individuals and crews that bring basketball into millions of homes on ESPN throughout the season."
Daugherty most recently served as an ESPN NASCAR analyst on NASCAR Countdown, NASCAR Now and across ESPN platforms. He previously covered college basketball as a reporter for ESPN and ABC on ACC telecasts from 1999-2001. Before joining ESPN, Daugherty served as a game analyst for the Cleveland Cavaliers and the San Antonio Spurs local telecasts. Daugherty played eight seasons in the NBA for the Cavaliers after being selected as the first overall pick in the 1986 Draft. Throughout his career, Daugherty averaged 19 points and 9.5 rebounds a game. His No. 43 jersey, a number he wore in honor of Richard Petty, was retired by the Cavaliers in 1997. A 1986 graduate of the University of North Carolina, Daugherty joined the Tar Heels as a 16-year-old freshman. He was a two-time All-ACC player and a first-team All-America in his senior year, when he averaged 20.2 points and 9 rebounds per game.(ESPN)(10-29-2014)
Craven to remain with ESPN: Former NASCAR Sprint Cup race winner Ricky Craven has agreed to a new contract and will remain with ESPN as NASCAR analyst for SportsCenter and other ESPN news platforms. Craven, who started with ESPN as an analyst in 2008, will make regular appearances in the ESPN studio around NASCAR Sprint Cup races and to analyze breaking news as warranted. ESPN is in its final year of televising live NASCAR racing. "Our news and information platforms will continue to provide NASCAR fans with coverage of the sport and insightful analysis going forward," said Michael Shiffman, senior coordinating producer, SportsCenter. "Ricky Craven has proven to be a valuable voice and analyst and we are very happy that he is remaining part of the ESPN team into the future."
As the 2014 NASCAR season heads toward the finish line, NASCAR fans will see Craven and hear his analysis on SportsCenter on the day before, day of and day after each of the three remaining races in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. "I'm completing my seventh year with ESPN and I've been challenged and rewarded," said Craven. "I've thoroughly enjoyed my experience and greatly appreciate the vote of confidence."(ESPN)(10-27-2014)
Marty Smith to remain with ESPN: Marty Smith, who has been lead NASCAR reporter for SportsCenter and other ESPN platforms since 2007, has agreed to a new contract and will remain with ESPN as a bureau reporter. From his base in Charlotte, N.C., Smith will travel to cover a variety of sports for the network, including NASCAR, pro and college football and basketball, and other sports. He also will still write for ESPN.com on NASCAR and other topics and will continue the popular Marty & McGee podcast on ESPN.com, which he co-hosts with ESPN the Magazine senior writer Ryan McGee. Smith's new role officially begins January 1 but as he focuses on covering the final four weeks of the NASCAR season, he will be expanding his duties, including reporting on the Oct. 28 home opener for the NBA's Charlotte Hornets. ESPN is in its final year of televising live NASCAR racing. Prior to joining ESPN, Smith was a senior writer for NASCAR.com, an analyst and host on the former SPEED Channel and a NASCAR analyst on Fox Sports Net. A Radford University graduate, Smith covered sports for daily newspapers in Roanoke and Lynchburg, Va., before joining NASCAR.com. Over the past eight years, Smith has broken multiple big news stories from the NASCAR world on various ESPN platforms. In addition to reporting for SportsCenter and writing news and features for ESPN.com, Smith also has contributed to ESPN's NASCAR event television coverage with numerous unique features and extensive, in-depth and revealing interviews with nearly every top driver in the sport.(ESPN PR)(10-23-2014)
ESPN employees visit Hendrick Motorsports: Five years ago, Rich Feinberg - ESPN vice president, motorsports, production - came up with an idea. "At ESPN, we cover all sports, but it's a very stick-and-ball culture," Feinberg explained. So he brought a concept to ESPN management and eventually NASCAR management. Why not gather a group of ESPN employees and bring them inside the world of NASCAR? "By immersing people in it, they learn about it, they have a new respect for it, and when it comes down to working on it, they do better," he said. ESPN and NASCAR loved the idea, and for five years, Feinberg has hand-picked a group to make the trek to Hendrick Motorsports headquarters in Concord, North Carolina. In the 2014 version of the immersion program, that certainly proved true. In addition to NASCAR and Hendrick Motorsports employees, among the participants were SportsCenter anchors Jay Harris, Chris Hassel, Darren Haynes, Lisa Kerney and Jaymee Sire in addition to ESPN Radio host Freddie Coleman, executive producers Mike Shiffman and Andy Tennant, senior news editor Jodi Herbert and Director of Talent, Planning and Development Chris Duffy. Included in the immersion was an overview of the human performance element of the race teams, featuring a tour of the training field, gym and pit pad. At the pit pad, the group got a chance to take a shot at changing a tire, splitting into two teams racing against the clock for the win. After the competition, the group went on to tour the engine shop and the race shops for the #5, 24, 48 and 88 teams. Finally, the group got to take an exclusive tour of Hendrick Motorsports Owner Rick Hendrick's Heritage Center, featuring his extensive car collection. It was just part of their immersion, as the group later got the chance to take in the Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.(Hendrick Motorsports)(10-15-2014)
Three Sprint Cup Races to Air Live in Spanish: ESPN Deportes will air live telecasts in Spanish of three of the last five races in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup starting with the race at Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday, Oct. 19, at 2:00pm/et. ESPN Deportes also will air live telecasts of the Oct. 26 event at Martinsville, Va., and the Nov. 9 event in Phoenix. The network airs all NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series races but normally on a delayed basis. The leading multimedia, Spanish-language sports brand dedicated to providing the widest variety of sports to the U.S. Hispanic sports fan, ESPN Deportes is the highest rated and most watched Spanish-language sports cable network, currently available in 6.1 million Hispanic households. Featuring more than 2,500 live and/or original hours of sports programming, the network is also available via WatchESPN. Andres Agulla and Alex Pombo will call the NASCAR action on ESPN Deportes.(ESPN)(10-14-2014)
Steve Byrnes' cancer has returned UPDATES: Longtime NASCAR on FOX on-air personality Steve Byrnes is taking an indefinite medical leave of absence, effectively immediately, to focus on his health after receiving news he has suffered a recurrence of cancer. Byrnes, who was diagnosed and successfully treated for head-and-neck cancer in late 2013, steps away from his NASCAR Race Hub co-hosting and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series play-by-play duties for FOX Sports 1 to concentrate on his upcoming medical treatment and time with his family. Any further updates on Byrnes will come at the discretion of the family.(FoxSports)(10-8-2014)
UPDATE: Byrnes tweeted, "On behalf of my family, thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the kind expressions. Starting chemo next week and I'm ready to fight!"(10-11-2014)
UPDATE 2: Leavine Family Racing will be running a special decal on the #95 at Charlotte Motor Speedway Saturday night in support of Fox reporter Steve Byrnes.(LFR PR)(10-11-2014)
Jamie Little moves to Fox starting 2015: FOX Sports announced the addition of veteran motor sports reporter Jamie Little to the NASCAR on FOX family beginning in January 2015. Little will serve as a pit reporter for NASCAR on FOX's 15th season of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series coverage and its first year televising the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Her assignments also include select additional races and special events throughout the year. "Bringing Jamie into the NASCAR on FOX fold is a huge addition for FOX Sports," said John Entz, EVP, Production & Executive Producer, FOX Sports. "While her versatility is remarkable, her ability to think on her feet and report not only the news but also the sport's human-interest stories, with a down-to-earth presentation, makes her a perfect fit for FOX."
The move to FOX after multiple years with ABC and ESPN represents a "homecoming" of sorts for Little. She covered a variety of motor sports events for FOX Sports' SPEED in 2002 and 2003, including the network's live coverage of Daytona Supercross. "Of all the racing events I've covered in my career, one of the most special was my first-ever live national broadcast in 2002 when I covered Daytona Supercross for SPEED," Little recalled. "At that time, most of the shows I worked were pre-packaged and tape-delayed, so being live on a national broadcast was a reporter's dream." More than 12 years later, Little remains equally grateful for the opportunity with the FOX Sports family.
"Jumping over to FOX will be a big change for me, but this is the perfect time in my life and I welcome the challenge," Little said. "For some broadcasters, NASCAR often is a steppingstone to where they want to be in another sport or realm of entertainment. But NASCAR is my NFL, and the Daytona 500 is my Super Bowl. All I've ever wanted to do is cover racing, so the fact FOX approached me with the opportunity to continue covering the sport I love so much is a true honor. I've covered 11 Indy 500s and eight Brickyard 400s, and now I'll have the chance to cover my first Daytona 500 in February. That will be a huge feather in my cap."
The versatile broadcaster has covered the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series for ESPN since 2007, and the IZOD IndyCar Series since 2004, in addition to extensive work with the Summer and Winter X Games. She was the first female pit reporter for the television broadcast of the prestigious Indianapolis 500, the first female to cover a televised Supercross and Motorcross event, and was one of the first female reporters in X Games history. Little, who has worked for ABC, ESPN, SPEED, NBC and TNN, has hosted non-racing sporting events ranging from Paintball Championships to the Great Outdoor Games.
Little embarked on her broadcasting career in 2002 as a motocross and motorcycle reporter, and credits her passion for the sport and affinity for dirt bikes as the springboard for her entry into television. The Las Vegas resident is well-rounded outside the four corners of a race track, as well. In 2013, she released her first book, entitled Essential Car Care for Women, and has worked the red carpet for the ESPYs, in addition to hosting numerous NASCAR events away from the track. Furthermore, the popular racing video game "MX World Tour Featuring Jamie Little" bears her name and likeness. She also held a cameo role in the 2005 feature film, Fantastic Four, which included an X Games-themed scene.
The San Diego State University graduate got her television start on ESPN2 reporting on various motor sports while interning at a local news station, in addition to live announce work for Supercross as a college student. In 2013, FOX Sports extended its media rights agreement with NASCAR, ensuring the FOX family of networks' broadcast of the first 16 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races each season beginning in 2015, as well as the first 14 NASCAR XFINITY Series races of the season and all NASCAR Camping World Truck Series events, through 2024. FOX Sports will announce its full 2015 NASCAR on FOX on-air lineup in the near future.(Fox Sports)(9-26-2014)
Complete Replays Of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Races Now Available: YouTube and NASCAR Digital Media have collaborated to give race fans the chance to relive every moment of NASCAR's completely revamped playoffs. For the remainder of NASCAR's postseason, fans will be able to view full-length replays of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races on NASCAR's official YouTube channel, free of charge. Complete race replays of each Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup race broadcast will be available at www.youtube.com/NASCAR each week following the event. Fans may visit the playlist entitled, "Full NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race Replays - 2014" on the channel's landing page to access the videos.(NASCAR)(9-23-2014)
"American Restoration" Features NASCAR Hall of Fame: A new episode of "American Restoration" titled "Dales of Thunder" is scheduled to air on the HISTORY Channel. The episode features the NASCAR Hall of Fame, Charlotte Motor Speedway and numerous NASCAR industry executives and drivers including NASCAR Hall of Fame Executive Director Winston Kelley, Charlotte Motor Speedway President Marcus Smith and NASCAR drivers Kyle Busch, Greg Biffle, Danica Patrick and Kyle Larson. In the episode, NASCAR driver Kyle Busch and Charlotte Motor Speedway's Marcus Smith commissioned "American Restoration" host Rick Dale to design a trophy inspired by NASCAR's history and heritage for the 2014 NASCAR Nationwide Series HISTORY 300 race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Rick met up with Winston Kelley and NASCAR driver Greg Biffle at the NASCAR Hall of Fame for inspiration on the trophy design. The initial showing of the episode garnered 1.8 million viewers. The episode is scheduled to air on the HISTORY Channel on Wednesday, Sept. 10 at 2:00pm/et.(NHOF)(9-9-2014)
NBCSN's NASCAR America expands to an hour on Monday's: As the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season races to a dramatic finish this weekend at Richmond International Raceway, NBCSN's NASCAR AMERICA is gearing up for an expanded set of 60-minute Monday shows that begins on Monday, September 8 at 4:30pm/et, and will continue each week through the 2014 playoffs. In addition, NBCSN will present a 60-minute NASCAR Sprint Cup Chase special on Thursday, September 11. On July 23, 2013, NASCAR and NBC Sports Group reached a comprehensive agreement that grants NBCUniversal exclusive rights to the final 20 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races, final 19 NASCAR XFINITY Series events, select NASCAR Regional & Touring Series events and other live content beginning in 2015.(NBC)(9-7-2014)
NASCAR's TV money split won't change for 2015: NASCAR won't change the formula for how it distributes television money from its current split among tracks, teams and the sanctioning body when its new television deal kicks in next year, a deal that likely will be worth nearly 4% more in 2015 than in 2014. In a news release to announce the impact of the schedule changes and the new 10-year television deal that goes into effect next season, track operator International Speedway Corp. said the split will remain at 65% to the tracks, 25% to the teams through the purse and 10% to NASCAR.
ISC, a publicly traded company whose majority of voting stock is controlled by the NASCAR-owning France family, is obligated to tell investors some details about the deal because it is the biggest revenue stream for ISC. For 2015, ISC said it will take in 3.8% more than in 2014 from the NASCAR television package with the amount increasing 3-5% each year at an average of 3.9% per year. The new package reportedly is worth $8.2 billion over 10 years, up 46% from the eight-year, $4.5-billion deal that ends after this season.
Purses will go up unless NASCAR requires less from the track for the purse. For its 21 Cup events (19 points races, Sprint Unlimited, Daytona 500 qualifying races), ISC said it will take in $316 million next year, including what it will then pay out as part of the purse. Using the NASCAR formula, it appears ISC will have $228 million in revenues in 2015 from the television deal.(in part from Sporting News)(8-28-2014)
Fox Sports 1 to air uncovered Tim Richmond Interview: To commemorate the 25th anniversary of the death of NASCAR driver Tim Richmond, NASCAR RACE HUB airs a newly unearthed interview with the former Hendrick Motorsports superstar on Wednesday, Aug. 13 at 5:00pm/et on FOX Sports 1. "At a Crossroads: The Lost Tim Richmond Interview" features lost footage from January 1987, when legendary broadcaster Ken Squier traveled to Richmond's hometown of Ashland, Ohio, for an interview regarding Richmond's medical condition and to inquire as to what the future might hold for his racing career. The interview was conducted soon after Richmond, one of the first open-wheel drivers to successfully cross over to stock cars, announced he would miss the 1987 Daytona 500 due to health issues, just weeks after winning a NASCAR Winston Cup Series-high seven races in 1986 and scoring a third-place points finish with Hendrick Motorsports. On Tuesday, Aug. 12, NASCAR RACE HUB begins its celebration of Richmond's life with a feature documenting his racing career.(FOX Sports)(8-11-2014)
Turner Sports could disappear in potential media mergers: The latest machinations of the corporate media giants could result in the end of one of sports broadcasting's great brands. According to multiple reports, 21st Century Fox is pushing to acquire rival giant Time Warner. Even after an initial $80 billion bid was rebuffed, Fox and its leader Rupert Murdoch are said to be "determined and unlikely to walk away anytime soon". Much of the talk surrounding a potential Fox acquisition of Time Warner has focused on sports and with good reason. Through Turner Sports, Time Warner has one of the most impressive sets of sports rights on cable television. Adding Turner Sports' haul to the existing Fox Sports line-up - the rest of the MLB playoffs, the NFL, NASCAR and college football - would turn the latter into the dominant player in TV sports. ESPN would still be the leader in many ways, but FOX and Fox Sports 1 would have a virtually unmatched portfolio. Such a move would be a boon to 21st Century Fox and a major loss for sports television. Turner Sports has been one of the most successful alternatives to ESPN and is generally well-regarded. Despite being unaffiliated with any of the Big Four broadcast networks, Turner Sports has managed for decades to acquire some of the biggest blue-chip properties in sports (even the NFL in the 1990s). A potential merger would wipe out both a competitor for Fox and an alternative for viewers, making the sports TV business a little less risky for the remaining giants. Fox would not be the only one happy to see Turner Sports go - ESPN would be happy to no longer see comparisons between its NBA studio show and Inside the NBA, and all the networks would presumably be glad to have one less rival driving up rights fees. Now, the threat exists of the big five turning into the big four. CBS and NBC would still be formidable, but the industry would primarily turn into a battle of Goliaths between ESPN and FOX.(Sports Media Watch)(7-20-2014)
NASCAR And Turner Sports Culminate 32-Year Broadcast Partnership at NHMS: For more than three decades, NASCAR and Turner Sports have partnered to tell the stories of stock car racing - longer than many of the drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series have been alive. On Sunday when the checkered flag flies at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, it will mark the conclusion of a long and prosperous partnership between NASCAR and Turner Sports.
"There is no question that the folks at Turner have been fantastic partners for the past 32 years, and we can't thank them enough for everything they've done to grow the sport during that time frame," said Brian France, NASCAR chairman and chief executive officer. "Their dedication to producing first-class, innovative NASCAR broadcasts has never wavered, and this weekend's race from New Hampshire should bring an exciting yet bittersweet conclusion to TNT's NASCAR Summer Series."
Turner has been instrumental in helping grow the sport through innovative and creative NASCAR coverage and promotions. Some highlights in the history of the partnership include:
- 1983 - 2001: TBS was the longtime home for select races in all three national series, including events from Richmond, Atlanta, Rockingham, Riverside, Charlotte and Pocono; Ken Squier, Buddy Baker and Dick Berggren made up the broadcast team for the majority of races.
- July 2001: The first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race was aired on TNT from New Hampshire Motor Speedway; Allen Bestwick, Benny Parsons and Wally Dallenbach manned the broadcast booth.
- September 2004: TNT presented its first race in HDTV, the Rock and Roll 400 from Richmond International Raceway.
- December 2004: TNT announced it would carry their entire portion of the 2005 season in 1080i high definition.
- May 2011: Turner implemented new "directional audio" marketing technology in public areas of Charlotte, North Carolina, allowing visitors to hear engines revving and race tune-in information when stepping on TNT logos.
- June 2012: NASCAR and Twitter launched a first-of-its-kind editorial partnership for the first TNT race from Pocono Raceway, creating a unique complementary second screen experience to enhance TNT's broadcast of the race.
- June 2013: TNT introduced "all-access coverage" during the Countdown to Green prerace show, a feature where the network follows a different driver throughout the week to document how they prepare for the race.
Finally, there are countless memorable moments on the track that Turner has covered over the last three-plus decades. But most notably, TBS will always be known as the network that carried the first-ever race in which Dale Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt Jr. competed against each other. In a 300-mile exhibition race at Twin Ring Motegi in Motegi, Japan in 1998, Earnhardt Jr. ran the No. 1 car while his father was in the iconic No. 3. What was the result? Son bested Dad by two positions, as the pair finished sixth and eighth, respectively. Turner Sports will continue to oversee advertising sales and sponsorships across NASCAR-branded digital platforms. The 2014 NASCAR Summer Series on TNT officially concludes with the Camping World RV Sales 301 live from New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Sunday, July 13.(NASCAR)(7-13-2014)
ESPN cancels "NASCAR Now".: The popular daily news show which launched in 2007 and was the first program on ESPN devoted strictly to NASCAR has been on hiatus since the start of World Cup Soccer started last week Network spokesperson Andy Hall said ESPN "just decided to make a change in the programming schedule." And although ESPN will not be an official broadcast partner beyond 2014 as FOX and NBC takeover the entire schedule Hall added the move was "totally unrelated to our telecast of NASCAR races. "We will continue to present the race telecasts at the same high level fans expect from ESPN for the remainder of our final season," Hall said. ""We will continue to aggressively cover NASCAR across our news platforms, including SportsCenter, ESPN.com and others" (like Jayski.com).(Motorsport)(6-23-2014)
Fox's Artie Kempner to wave green flag at Dover: Wilmington [Delaware] resident Artie Kempner will take brief a break from directing FOX's telecast of Sunday's NASCAR race to wave the starting flag for the Sprint Cup Series FedEx 400 benefitting Autism Speaks. It's an appropriate honor for Kempner, the founding president of Autism Delaware who has been driven by son Ethan's life with autism. Kempner credited Dover Downs and FedEx for their enthusiasm in partnering with Autism Speaks, where he is a board member, and striving to bring awareness to autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Mark Rossi, Dover Downs vice president for sales and marketing, said there was a quest to create "something bigger than just a race." The link with Autism Speaks did just that, transforming it into a "lighthouse event" that draws attention toward an important cause.(Delaware News Journal)(6-1-2014)
TNT Revs Up for NASCAR Coverage: TNT's presentation of the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will feature all-access coverage throughout the six-week NASCAR Summer Series. TNT's coverage will start Sunday, June 8, at Pocono, continuing throughout the summer with behind-the-scenes content featuring a select driver and their team, along with special "off the track" segments and more.
The Toyota Camry Test Car, a new addition for this year's race coverage, will take viewers inside the car and bring them closer to the action. TNT analysts Kyle Petty and Wally Dallenbach will use the car for pre-race driving segments on the track, taking viewers into the turns and down the straightaways before the green flag drops each week. Additionally, the car will be a resource for analyst Larry McReynolds during the race as the former crew chief will outline key performance features and mechanical challenges during the race.
TNT will once again follow a driver and their team over the course of the entire week as they travel and prepare for the upcoming race, with coverage beginning when the driver leaves the previous track and continuing throughout the network's next NASCAR Summer Series telecast. Featured drivers will include #42-Kyle Larson (Pocono), #3-Austin Dillon (Michigan) and #47-AJ Allmendinger (Daytona), among others. The all-access pieces will air during the pre-race Countdown to Green served by Sonic show.
The network will return its marquee commentator crew with analysts Petty, Dallenbach and McReynolds joining play-by-play announcer Adam Alexander for each race. Alexander will also host the network's 60-minute Countdown to Green served by Sonic pre-race show with Petty, Dallenbach and McReynolds. In addition, veteran reporters Ralph Sheheen, Marty Snider, Matt Yocum and Chris Neville will patrol pit road to bring viewers comprehensive coverage and access prior to and during each race.(Turner Sports)(5-29-2014)
USA Today's Nate Ryan joins NBC NASCAR AMERICA: Amid final preparations for Monday's launch of NASCAR AMERICA on NBCSN, NBC Sports welcomes USA TODAY Sports auto racing writer Nate Ryan to the Group's expanding roster of on-air talent. Ryan, who will cover his ninth Daytona 500 for USA TODAY Sports on Sunday, is set to join NASCAR AMERICA host Rick Allen, fellow reporters Kelli Stavast, Marty Snider, and a rotating panel of guest analysts when the show premieres on Monday, February 24 at 5:00pm/et. The announcement was made today by Jeff Behnke, Vice President of NASCAR Production, NBC Sports Group.
"Nate's work ethic, relationships throughout the sport and sharp journalistic instincts have earned him an elite position within NASCAR over the last decade," said Behnke. "He is a terrific addition to the NBC Sports family and will add a lot to NASCAR AMERICA."
Ryan's contributions to NASCAR AMERICA will include interaction with NBCSN's new daily NASCAR show via reports from NASCAR venues nationwide and regular visits to NBC Sports' studio locations in Charlotte, N.C. and Stamford, Conn. Ryan's work will surround breaking news as well as feature stories, which melds nicely with his continuing role at USA TODAY Sports.
"The first NASCAR race I covered was also the first that I attended, and it bred an insatiable curiosity about a sport that is fueled by so many moving parts, both literally and figuratively," Ryan said. "I've tried to remain true to exploring the myriad storylines with a fresh and unique perspective, and I'm enthused and humbled to be afforded such a terrific platform with NBC Sports."
Ryan joined USA TODAY Sports in January 2006 as an auto racing writer and recently completed his 11th full season of covering the Sprint Cup Series. He has covered more than 300 races in NASCAR's premier series, beginning with the June 22, 1997 opening of California Speedway as a writer with the San Bernardino County Sun. He moved to the Richmond (Va.) Times-Dispatch as a backup NASCAR writer in 1998 and took over the full-time beat in May 2002.
Ryan is a four-time winner of the Russ Catlin Motorsports Journalism Award of Excellence and was named a two-time writer of the year by the National Motorsports Press Association. He has held a weekly Thursday morning spot on Sirius Satellite Radio's "The Morning Drive" since 2007 and has been a regular fill-in for the hosts and other programs since 2008, co-hosting several dozen times. He was a guest panelist on ESPN's "NASCAR Now" several times from 2009-11 and was a regular weekly contributor to Fox Sports One's "Race Hub" from 2012-13. Ryan graduated from Northwestern University in June 1995 with a bachelor's degree in journalism.(NBC Sports)(2-20-2014)
NBCSN to launches new NASCAR Show: The day after the next Daytona 500 Champion is crowned, NBCSN introduces NASCAR AMERICA, a new 30-minute daily show dedicated to the nation's longstanding fascination with speed and stock car racing. Making its debut on NBCSN at 5:00pm/et on Monday, February 24, and returning each weekday at the same time and place, NASCAR AMERICA will cover the sport from all angles, delivering news, highlights and access to NASCAR's dynamic stars and personalities. Originating from NBC Sports Group's International Broadcast Center in Stamford, Conn., as well as a new NBC Sports' studio located in Charlotte, N.C., NASCAR AMERICA's primary host is Rick Allen. Allen, who will usher in NBC Sports' live coverage of NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series racing as lead announcer in July 2015, will interact daily with NBC Sports motorsports reporters Marty Snider and Kelly Stavast. Snider and Stavast, both based in Charlotte, N.C., will operate on location throughout the country to deliver the latest news and features on NASCAR's drivers and race teams. NBC Sports Group's IndyCar and Formula One play-by-play voice Leigh Diffey will also serve as host of NASCAR AMERICA.
Alongside Allen in the studio will be a constant rotation of guest analysts offering fresh perspectives and insights. Guest analysts who will join NASCAR AMERICA throughout February and March include NBC Sports NASCAR analyst Jeff Burton, Sprint Cup Champion Bobby Labonte, Kyle Petty, Ken Schrader, and crew chief Frank Stoddard. Future guest analysts, which will include former and current drivers and crew chiefs, NASCAR executives, and even prominent fans such as NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams, will be announced at a later date.(NBC)(2-11-2014)
Steve Byrnes back with new perspective: You hear it often from cancer patients about the diagnosis: The word stings. In an instant, mortality is very real and oddly tangible, and priorities shift instantly. Steve Byrnes [of FoxSports1, formerly SPEED] was no different. It was early August 2013 when Byrnes' doctor called with the news: throat cancer, which had spread to a lymph node. Byrnes wasn't panicked, especially. But his life rushed at him like a freight train, thoughts of and fears for his family, not so much himself. "When you hear that word -- I'm not going to lie -- I had uncomfortable moments," said Byrnes, 54, a veteran Fox Sports motorsports broadcaster. "'Will I see my son grow up?' He's 11 now. 'What's going to happen to my family?' You think all those deep thoughts that we don't really ever want to deal with." Treatment began immediately. Doctors told Byrnes to prepare for a difficult 10-week span. He chose to take chemotherapy and radiation simultaneously; a very aggressive treatment protocol. The first day of chemo was Sept. 11, at Levine Hospital in Pineville, N.C.
When news of Byrnes' illness filtered through the sport, the resulting support from folks he'd touched was overwhelming to him. Dale Earnhardt Jr. called to offer well-wishes, and noted that if Byrnes needed plane rides or doctor appointments, whatever, it would be arranged. Just call. Jimmie Johnson sent Byrnes a text message from the championship banquet. Just this week, with Byrnes back on the set of Fox Sports 1's "NASCAR Race Hub" program, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. gave Byrnes a bear hug and a "glad you're back." That matters to Byrnes deeply.(see full article by Marty Smith at ESPN.com)(2-7-2014)
Evernham leaves ESPN: Former crew chief Ray Evernham, who created one of NASCAR's most dominant teams in the 1990s with Jeff Gordon, will serve as a consultant to Hendrick Motorsports where he will be involved with the competition department. Evernham made the announcement Tuesday on "SiriusXM Speedway" with hosts Dave Moody and Angie Skinner. Evernham, who has served as a consultant for Hendrick Companies since 2011, also said that he no longer will be a part of ESPN's NASCAR broadcasts. "Now not doing the ESPN thing will allow me to be involved in some of the management and some of the things that they're doing at (Hendrick) Motorsports,'' Evernham told SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. "The best way to avoid a conflict of interest is to choose one or the other. I'm excited about being able to go and being involved in the management team on the motorsports side.'' Evernham told "SiriusXM Speedway" that he is not seeking to be a crew chief - something he's stated often in the past. He admits he will be on a pit box, though, but in a different capacity. "I'll be working with everybody at Hendrick Motorsports,'' Evernham told the show. "I've met with crew chiefs. I think I've got a good perspective as they face different challenges. I will be going to meetings and be involved in competition things that I've not been involved with in the past three years or so." Evernham said he plans to attend about 15 races - nearly the same total he worked for ESPN.(MRN)(2-5-2014)
Dale Jarrett unsure of future plans: Dale Jarrett stepped right out of a racecar and into the ESPN broadcast both, having worked as ESPN's lead NASCAR analyst since 2008. He has one more year left on his contract before ESPN ends its NASCAR race telecast rights. The 2014 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee isn't sure what he will do in 2015. "Obviously this sport of NASCAR has been my world and I don't know (about 2015), honestly," Jarrett said. "I don't have any feelings as to what may happen. I would love to (stay). I don't think I need to look at moving on and trying anything else." But what will he do? NBC already has announced its broadcast team and Fox seems fairly set with its group. "There doesn't look like there's going to be anything in the broadcast world," Jarrett said. "I'll have to figure something out. If it's going and working with a race team or something like that, that's something I'm going to have to start putting some feelers out there and talking to some of my friends and see what may be available."(Sporting News)(1-28-2014)
Update on Steve Byrnes: RaceHub co-host/longtime NASCAR on Fox personality Steve Byrnes tweeted Monday afternoon, "My Radiologist called this afternoon. Great news...scans look good! Thank you all for you support, prayers and kindness. We are humbled!!!". Byrnes took a medical leave of absence in September of 2013 to battle cancer. He will return to RaceHub next week and plans to be back at Daytona.(1-21-2014)
NBC Sports Group adds Crew Chief Steve Letarte to NASCAR Broadcast Team: NBC Sports Group's upcoming NASCAR coverage continues to take shape as another prominent figure from the sanctioning body's elite series joins NBC and NBCSN's expanding broadcast team. Current Hendrick Motorsports crew chief Steve Letarte, who once stood at the helm of Jeff Gordon's famed #24 race team, and now leads the crew behind the ultra-popular #88 car driven by Dale Earnhardt Jr., has reached an agreement to join NBC's multi-platform NASCAR coverage beginning in 2015. The announcement was made today by Sam Flood, Executive Producer, NBC Sports and NBCSN, and will be discussed in further detail at a Media Conference scheduled for 8:30am/et tomorrow [Jan 10, 2014] at Daytona International Speedway. "I've always been impressed with Steve Letarte's interviews, and feel smarter after hearing him break down the crucial elements of each race," said Flood. "It wasn't long into our first meeting about this potential role on our broadcast team when I realized that Steve is going to be 'Must See TV.'" Letarte will join fellow analyst Jeff Burton and race announcer Rick Allen across NBC Sports Group's exclusive coverage of NASCAR's Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series action on NBC and NBCSN, which includes races, pre- and post-race shows, qualifying, and studio programming.
"As soon as I met with Sam Flood and his team at NBC Sports it became obvious to me how excited they are to be covering NASCAR in 2015 and beyond. Their excitement, along with my love for racing, solidified my decision to move away from the pit box and into the broadcast booth," said Letarte. "I want to thank Rick Hendrick and everyone at Hendrick Motorsports for the opportunities they have given me over the last 18 years, and I want to reaffirm my commitment to Dale Jr. and the entire 88 team to go win races and challenge for the championship in 2014."
Letarte has worked for Hendrick Motorsports since he was just 16 years old. In 1996, after graduating from high school early, Steve started traveling with the No. 24 race team, driven by Jeff Gordon, as a full-time mechanic and tire specialist. His impressive work ethic moved him up the ranks quickly, assuming the role of car chief in 2002, and then crew chief for the four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion in 2005 when Steve was 26. After five successful seasons with the No. 24 team and Gordon, Letarte embarked on a new challenge and joined Hendrick's No. 88 team driven by Dale Earnhardt Jr. Letarte and the No. 88 team started the 2011 season strong by capturing the pole at the Daytona 500, and went on to qualify for the Chase, the first time for Earnhardt since 2008. In 2012, Letarte and Earnhardt combined for their first win together, on Father's Day at Michigan International Speedway. Throughout the 2013 season, the No. 88 team solidly remained in the Top 10 in points and made the Chase for the Sprint Cup yet again. Steve and his wife, Tricia, live in North Carolina with their two children.
On July 23, 2013, NASCAR and NBC Sports Group reached a comprehensive agreement that grants NBCUniversal exclusive rights to the final 20 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races, final 19 NASCAR Nationwide Series events, select NASCAR Regional & Touring Series events and other live content beginning in 2015.
With this partnership, NBC's 20 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race schedule includes a designation as the exclusive home to the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, when the elite national series races through its final 10 events of the season. The Chase culminates with the season-ending championship event, which returns to network television in 2015 for the first time since 2009. Of NBC Sports Group's 20 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events, seven will be carried on NBC annually, with 13 airing on NBCSN. Four of NBC Sports Group's 19 NASCAR Nationwide Series races will air on NBC, with 15 airing on NBCSN.
In addition to NASCAR's Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series races, NBC also obtained exclusive rights to practice and qualifying sessions for NBC's national series events during their portion of the season, as well as rights to broadcast the NASCAR K&N Series, NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, NASCAR Toyota (Mexico) Series, the NASCAR Hall of Fame induction ceremony and NASCAR's season-ending banquets. Further, NBC is granted Spanish-language rights, certain video-on-demand rights and exclusive TV Everywhere rights for its NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and NASCAR Nationwide Series events.(NBC)(1-9-2014)
Statement from Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports: "You never want to see a talented and all-around quality person like Steve (Letarte) move on, but we understand this is an exciting opportunity for him and his family. He has all the tools to be a terrific broadcaster, and I know our fans will enjoy hearing his perspective. We're looking forward to a successful year in 2014 with Steve and Dale (Earnhardt Jr.) leading the #88 together. They have some of the best chemistry in the garage, and we know they'll build on last season and continue to be a championship-contending team. We don't expect to address the crew chief position until after the season. Everyone with the team is focused on 2014 and committed to having another great year."(Hendrick Motorsports)(1-9-2014)
Letarte Heading For TV Booth In 2015 UPDATE: Dale Earnhardt, Jr. will have a new crew chief in 2015. GodfatherMotorsports.com has learned that crew chief Steve Letarte will relinquish his spot atop the #88 team's pit box at season's end to accept a new position as a television analyst with NBC and NBC Sports Network, beginning in 2015. Multiple sources say Letarte will join Rick Allen and driver Jeff Burton in the broadcast booth for the final 20 races of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season, as well as the final 19 NASCAR Nationwide Series events. The network also holds rights to select NASCAR Regional Racing Series events, Mexico's NASCAR Toyota Series, the annual NASCAR Hall of Fame induction ceremony and various post-season awards banquets. Letarte has served as crew chief for NASCAR's Most Popular Driver since 2011, with one win, 24 Top-5 and 54 Top-10 finishes in 106 starts. Earnhardt finished fifth in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship standings last season, despite failing to win a race. He recorded Top-5 finishes in five of the final eight races and is expected to challenge for the 2014 title. An official announcement of Letarte's new position is expected this week in Daytona Beach. Reached for comment, Letarte said, "I will be the crew chief for the #88 Chevrolet in in 2014. That's all I know right now."(Godfather Motorsports)(1-9-2014)
Bestwick to move to IndyCar Series broadcasts: Sportscaster Allen Bestwick will remain with ESPN /ABC after it loses its NASCAR contract and work primarily as play-by-play announcer for the network's broadcasts of IndyCar Series events. Bestwick currently serves in the same role for network's NASCAR broadcasts but ESPN/ABC will lose broadcast rights to those races at the conclusion of the 2014 season. NBC and Fox and their respective sports networks will broadcast all NASCAR events beginning in 2015. Bestwick will do both IndyCar and NASCAR events this season for ESPN/ABC. In 2015, Bestwick will do IndyCar broadcasts and work in other sports. An ESPN spokesman declined to comment (Charlotte Observer).(1-3-2014)
Dave Despain back on TV: Renowned motor racing broadcaster Dave Despain {formerly of SPEED's Wind Tunnel show] has signed a two-year contract with MAVTV American Real to host the network's five live events, beginning with the Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals presented by General Tire on Jan. 18, and a series of 30-minute, one-on-one programs interviewing drivers and other personalities from across the diverse American racing landscape. The 67-year old Despain was attracted to joining the burgeoning independent network owned by Forrest Lucas by the opportunity to return to working at the race track and hosting the "Dave Despain Show."
"I'm really excited to get back to the grass roots of racing," Despain said. "And I'm also excited about being able to do a series of long-form interviews, the majority of which will feature the legends of grass-roots racing. We'll try to mix it up and have an interesting variety of personalities from all over the racing world.(AutoWeek)(1-2-2014)
Rick Allen named lead announcer for NBC Sports: NBC Sports Group announced that Rick Allen has signed a multi-year agreement to serve as the lead race announcer for NBC's upcoming NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series coverage, beginning in 2015. Alongside Allen in the NBC Sports Broadcast booth will be current driver Jeff Burton, who announced yesterday that he also will be joining NBC's multi-platform NASCAR coverage. For more information on Jeff Burton, click here.
"I met Rick early on in his career and it has been fun to watch him develop into one of the most talented voices in motorsports," said Sam Flood, Executive Producer, NBC Sports and NBCSN. "His energetic delivery, great voice, and ability to bring the best out of his analysts have led him to this well-earned position of covering NASCAR's most-watched events." Allen's sports background is wide-ranging, and includes his own impressive run as a decathlete, which sent him to the 1992 USA Olympic Trials. As a broadcaster, he currently serves as Fox Sports' race announcer for NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and the ARCA Racing Series. In addition to his on-camera television work, Allen is widely recognized as a top voice-over talent. Allen's voice has been utilized for narrations and national campaigns for companies including Goodyear, Sears, Alltel and Toyota. Allen has hosted multiple motorsports studio shows on SPEED, has presided over several post season awards banquets, and has served on the Voting Panel for the NASCAR Hall of Fame since its inception in 2010. A native of Grand Island, Neb, Allen began his career in 1994 as the public address announcer at Memorial Stadium during University of Nebraska football games.(NBC Sports)(12-4-2013
NBC hires Jeff Burton as NASCAR analyst UPDATE: NBC Sports Group has reached a multi-year agreement with NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Jeff Burton, who will transition out of full-time driving and into the role of NASCAR analyst when the green flag waves over NBC Sports and NBCSN's upcoming slate of NASCAR coverage. The addition of Burton, who has already won 48 times on NASCAR's national circuits over an exciting 25-year career, places one of the most respected and passionate voices in motorsports into the center of NBC's soon-to-be-introduced NASCAR broadcast team. The announcement was made by Sam Flood, Executive Producer, NBC Sports and NBCSN.
"Jeff Burton was always the first person we would seek out when there was breaking news or an issue that needed to be covered throughout our previous contract with NASCAR, so he was the first person we called for this role," said Flood. "His insights, keen observations and many trophies have earned the respect of everyone involved with the sport. He will be an outstanding analyst, and has everyone here looking even more forward to getting started."
Burton will assume double duties throughout the 2014 season, racing a schedule of select Sprint Cup Series races while also contributing to NASCAR programming on NBCSN. When NBC Sports Group's exclusive coverage of NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series racing begins in 2015, Burton will serve as a full-time analyst on NBC and NBCSN.
"This is an exciting new challenge and I am thrilled to be joining the NBC Sports family," said Burton. "I will prepare for each race as if I were driving in it, and I look forward to sharing my experience, views and insights with all the dedicated and passionate NASCAR fans."(NBC Sports)(12-3-2013)
UPDATE: Burton said Tuesday his [race] schedule would probably be between six and 14 races [in 2014]. His deal with MWR is for one year, while he characterized his agreement with NBC as long term. Although he may continue to test or even compete occasionally beyond next season, Burton said once the NBC broadcast season begins, he's committed to the booth. "I am 100 percent committed to being in the booth and doing my job for NBC. ... It would be unfair for me to treat this as a part-time gig," Burton said. "... It's a job, and it's going to take effort and it's going to take work. And you can't do that as effectively as you need to if you have too many other things going on. You just can't do it. The job deserves more effort than that." Burton will begin to appear on NBC's networks in 2014, as a regular guest on a daily NASCAR program on NBC Sports Network. NBC on Monday named Jeff Behnke as its vice president of NASCAR production, and will base the former Turner Sports producer out of Charlotte, N.C. Flood said more talent announcements are still to come, with one anticipated as early as Wednesday. The network has not yet revealed whether it will use a two- or three-person booth during races.(NASCAR.com)(12-4-2013)
Behnke to head NBC's NASCAR production: NBC Sports Group has reached an agreement with Emmy Award-winning sports television producer and executive, Jeff Behnke, who joins NBC and NBCSN in January as Vice President of NASCAR Production. Operating out of Charlotte, N.C., Behnke will serve as the day-to-day leader in all areas, marking the first time that the head of a network NASCAR production team will be based in the racing hotbed that is home to many of the sport's most prominent figures. The announcement was made by Sam Flood, Executive Producer, NBC Sports and NBCSN.
Behnke's expertise covers all aspects of production, including live remotes, studio broadcasts and on-air talent acquisitions. Behnke, who has amassed an impressive record of leading production teams covering NASCAR, NBA, MLB and more, will work closely with Flood during the lead-up to NBC Sports Group's highly anticipated return to NASCAR.
Prior to joining NBC Sports Group, Behnke served as Executive Producer of Turner Sports for seven years, where he coordinated and provided strategic direction for all productions and personnel covering NASCAR, NBA, MLB and several of golf's Major Championships.(NBC Sports)(12-3-2013)
TNT & ESPN will finish out TV contracts: Statement from Steve Herbst, NASCAR Vice President of Broadcasting and Production: "Despite speculation over the last month that NASCAR's new television agreement could be pushed up to the start of the 2014 season, NASCAR has informed our broadcast partners today that FOX, Turner and ESPN will finish the current term as originally planned. While we were humbled by the desire of NBC and FOX to start 12 months early, we now consider this matter closed and look forward to finishing our current agreement in 2014 with our great partners at FOX, Turner and ESPN."(NASCAR)(10-6-2013)
Get Well Steve Byrnes: RaceHub co-host/longtime NASCAR on Fox personality Steve Byrnes will take a medical leave of absence for the remainder of the 2013 NASCAR season, effective immediately. Adam Alexander, one of the show's original hosts, will fill in for Byrnes alongside Danielle Trotta. Any updates on Byrnes will come at the discretion of the family.(Fox Sports)(9-23-2013)
ESPN, TNT could exit NASCAR early UPDATE: ESPN and Turner Sports are talking with NASCAR about getting out of their broadcast rights agreement a year early, a move that could allow Fox Sports and NBC Sports Group to become the sport's broadcasters next year. It's unlikely that the four TV companies will be able to reach a deal, sources say. But the fact that these types of talks are occurring is precedent-setting in an industry where live sports rights are held sacred. For at least the past decade, no rights holder has exited a major media agreement with a property early. ESPN and Turner executives told the series that they are interested in forgoing the final year of their contract. Fox and NBC executives told NASCAR that they are interested in picking up those rights. And sources say NASCAR executives are open to the switch. But any deal faces significant hurdles. Sources said it would have to be a complete switch, not a partial one in which Turner exits its six Sprint Cup races or ESPN exits part of its Nationwide Series season. That means it would require an agreement between four competitors - ESPN, Turner, Fox and NBC - and one property, which would be difficult to structure. ESPN and Turner Sports are willing to sell their rights back to NASCAR for some sort of compensation. Fox Sports and NBC Sports Group are willing to buy the rights from NASCAR, but they feel they should be compensated for letting ESPN and Turner Sports out of their deals early. As the middleman, NASCAR would have to navigate those opposing interests. Representatives from the four media companies, as well as NASCAR, declined comment. ESPN and Turner Sports have told NASCAR they are prepared to carry the races next year, but both would prefer avoiding that lame-duck status. Both opted not to submit final bids to retain NASCAR rights when the sport held TV negotiations last month, and they see upside in exiting their deals a year early.(full story at the Sports Business Daily)(8-26-2013)
UPDATE: Statement From NASCAR Vice President Of Broadcasting And Production Steve Herbst On 2014 Broadcast Partners: "Despite recent reports to the contrary, nothing substantive has been presented to NASCAR regarding broadcast partners' plans to alter our TV agreement in 2014. We're very happy with our current broadcast partners and fully expect and are excited to be back with FOX, Turner and ESPN next year. These types of discussions happen regularly across the sports television landscape, very rarely resulting in changes to a media rights agreement."(NASCAR)(8-28-2013)
Fox Sports 1 to Launch Saturday, August 17th UPDATE: DirecTV, Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks are likely to carry Fox Sports 1 at its launch on Saturday, according to sources with direct knowledge of the deals. The three distributors still have not signed deals to carry the channel, but the sources expect all three providers to have it available on Saturday. Dish Network did not respond to email requests for comment. But sources said they expected Dish to carry the channel, as well. The Los Angeles Times is reporting that Dish Network has agreed to carry FS1 at launch. Fox Sports executives have said that they expect FS1 to launch in 90 million homes. These deals are certain to get the channel to that number.(Sports Business Daily)
UPDATE Fox's new national sports network, FOX Sports 1, will debut on Saturday, August 17th, with every major distributor on board, making this the biggest sports cable network launch in history, and one of the largest network launches ever. The announcement was made by Mike Hopkins, President, Distribution, Fox Networks.
"We are thrilled that virtually all pay-television customers across America will have access to FOX Sports 1," said Mr. Hopkins. "This network launch is a major milestone for Fox and will alter the sports television landscape. We are grateful to our distribution partners for making this all possible." At the outset, FOX Sports 1 boasts nearly 5,000 hours of live event, news and original programming annually. A robust schedule of live events forms the backbone of FOX Sports 1's programming from Day 1, with college basketball, college football, NASCAR, soccer, boxing and UFC all on tap between launch and year's end. In fact, the schedule on August 17th features live events morning, noon and night including a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race from Michigan and UFC FIGHT NIGHT: SHOGUN VS. SONNEN in prime time. In 2014, FOX Sport's new rights agreement with MLB takes effect, bringing regular and postseason games to FOX Sports 1. Viewers can learn where to find FOX Sports 1 on their system by visiting FOXSports1.com.
NASCAR Programming - Select NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races as soon as 2015; NASCAR Nationwide Series races; NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races; NASCAR Sprint All-Star race; all Speedweeks events leading up to the Daytona 500 including: Daytona 500 Qualifying, Sprint Unlimited at Daytona (2014, 2017-22) and the Budweiser Duel, now in prime time; NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and NCWTS Practice and Qualifying sessions; NASCAR RaceDay, providing pre- and post-race coverage; NASCAR Victory Lane, a post-race wrap-up for Sprint Cup races; and Race Hub, a daily mid-day studio show with the latest from drivers, owners and garages.(FOX)(8-15-2013)
Cable providers still negotiating with Fox over Fox Sports 1: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice sessions and the Camping World Truck Series race Aug. 17 from Michigan International Speedway will be among the live telecasts on the first day Fox Sports 1 goes on air in place of the Speed cable network. And that could be a problem. Among those still negotiating carriage fees with Fox Sports 1 are DirecTV, Dish and Time Warner Cable. Spokesmen for DirecTV and TWC said Thursday that discussions are ongoing and Dish also has not signed a deal, according to the SportsBusiness Daily. Speed is in nearly 86 million homes, but millions of its current subscribers won't be able to see Fox Sports 1 unless a carriage deal is finalized. According to the SportsBusiness Journal, Speed costs about 23 cents each month per subscriber, and Fox is looking to increase that to 80 cents per month. It's not surprising that these negotiations go down to the wire, but it's enough to make NASCAR fans nervous as the channel they know as Speed will cease to exist when Fox Sports 1 is launched in its place in about a week.(Sporting News)(8-9-2013)
FOX Sports extends and expands NASCAR agreement UPDATE: FOX Sports and NASCAR solidified their future together last October when they announced a multi-platform, multi-series media rights agreement through 2022. Today, less than 10 months later, the two organizations announced they have extended that agreement, which begins in 2015 and runs through 2024. In addition, FOX Sports has added exclusive rights to three additional NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events and the first 14 NASCAR Nationwide Series events of each season. FOX Sports secured exclusive rights to the entire NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season through 2022 last fall and that part of the agreement also has been extended through 2024. Financial terms of the extended agreement were not disclosed.
NASCAR's media rights package for 2015 and beyond is now complete with FOX Sports holding rights to the first 16 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races, first 14 NASCAR Nationwide Series races and entire NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season. NBC, which last broadcast NASCAR events in 2006, will televise the final 20 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races, final 19 NASCAR Nationwide Series races and the NASCAR K&N Pro Series and NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour events beginning in 2015.
In total, NASCAR will have the same number of NASCAR Sprint Cup races on network television - 16 - as it does in the current television package. FOX Sports will broadcast nine races and NBC will show seven.
Summary of FOX Sports' Exclusive Rights (2015-2024):
• First 16 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points races of each season, including the Daytona 500
• Nine on FOX Sports and seven on FOX Sports 1
• First 14 NASCAR Nationwide Series points races of each season
• Fourteen races on FOX Sports 1
• NASCAR Sprint Unlimited, Budweiser Duel and NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race
• All NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races
(NASCAR)(8-1-2014)
UPDATE: As expected, Fox Sports and its new Fox Sports 1 network announced Thursday they would broadcast three additional NASCAR Sprint Cup and 14 Nationwide Series races annually beginning in 2015. What was a surprise was Fox - which had already agreed to a contract extension through 2022 last fall - extended its newly expanded deal an additional two years through 2024. Industry sources told the Observer the total cost of the now 10-year Fox deal is $3.8 billion, slightly less than the 10-year, $4.4 billion deal announced last week by NBC, which will broadcast the second half of each season in Cup and Nationwide. Both networks' contracts will now expire at the same time. Beginning in 2015, NASCAR will reap an average of $820 million a year from its TV partners. By comparison, the NFL's current deal among four networks, which expires after this season, averages $3.085 billion a year.(Charlotte Observer)(8-2-2013)
NBC Acquires NASCAR Rights, ESPN/TNT Out UPDATE2 & Money: ESPN and Turner Sports will be out of the NASCAR business after next season, ending associations with the sport that go back three decades. NASCAR plans to announce this afternoon a new rights deal with NBC for the second half of the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series seasons -- a package that previously had been held by ESPN. Beginning in 2015, NBC will share NASCAR coverage with Fox, which signed an extension with NASCAR last year. Financial terms of NBC's deal were not available, but sources familiar with it said it was as much as a 50% increase from what ESPN paid for the Sprint Cup series and half of the Nationwide Series. Turner's package of six Sprint Cup races, as well as the first half of the Nationwide Series, remain available, according to sources. Fox is considered a likely bidder for both those packages. Turner and ESPN, which are in the seventh year of eight-year agreements valued at $2.74B overall, had an exclusive negotiating window with NASCAR that ended July 14. When they did not finalize extensions, NASCAR turned to NBC. ESPN and Turner both were interested in keeping the rights, but were not willing to pay as much as NBC was offering, sources said. (full story at the Sports Business Daily)
UPDATE - announcement: NASCAR and NBC Sports Group announced today they have reached a comprehensive agreement that grants NBCUniversal exclusive rights to the final 20 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races, final 19 NASCAR Nationwide Series events, select NASCAR Regional & Touring Series events and other live content beginning in 2015. Financial terms of the agreement, which runs through the 2024 season, were not disclosed.
With this partnership, NBC's 20 Sprint Cup race schedule includes becoming the exclusive home to the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, NASCAR's final 10 races of the season, including its season-ending championship event which will return to network television in 2015 for the first time since 2009. Of NBC Sports Group's 20 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events, seven will be carried on NBC annually, with 13 airing on NBC Sports Network (NBCSN). Four of NBC Sports Group's 19 NASCAR Nationwide Series races will air on NBC, with 15 airing on NBCSN.
In addition to rights to NASCAR Sprint Cup and NASCAR Nationwide Series races, NBC has also obtained exclusive rights to practice and qualifying sessions for NBC's national series events during their portion of the season, as well as rights to broadcast the NASCAR K&N Series, NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, NASCAR Toyota (Mexico) Series, the NASCAR Hall of Fame induction ceremony and NASCAR's season-ending banquets. Further, NBC has been granted Spanish-language rights, certain video-on-demand rights and exclusive TV Everywhere rights for its NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and NASCAR Nationwide Series events.
Summary of key NBC Sports Group Exclusive Rights - 2015-2024:
· Final 20 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races (7 on NBC, 13 on NBCSN)
· Final 19 NASCAR Nationwide Series races (4 on NBC, 15 on NBCSN)
· NASCAR K&N Series and NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour events
· NASCAR Toyota (Mexico) Series events
· NASCAR Hall of Fame induction ceremony and season-ending banquets
· 'TV Everywhere' live-streaming rights for NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and NASCAR Nationwide Series
· Spanish-language broadcast rights on Telemundo and Mun2 for national series events and NASCAR Toyota (Mexico) Series.(NASCAR)
ESPN Statement on NASCAR Statement from John Skipper, President of ESPN: "ESPN has enjoyed a long and mutually beneficial relationship with NASCAR. We have tremendous respect for the France family, the drivers and all in the sport and wish them well. We will continue to serve NASCAR fans through SportsCenter and our other news platforms as we continue to enhance our industry-leading collection of quality assets. We are looking forward to the start of our Sprint Cup season and will continue with our deep commitment to the highest quality coverage."(ESPN)(7-23-2013)
UPDATE2: NBC will pay $4.4B over 10 years for rights to ESPN's entire NASCAR package, plus half of Turner's six races, according to sources familiar with the deal. That represents a significant media rights increase for NASCAR over the more than $2.28B paid by ESPN and Turner Sports combined for the same number of Sprint Cup and Nationwide races in their current 8-year agreements. This comes after NASCAR received a more than 30% increase in its earlier deal with Fox that covers the first half of its season.(Sports Business Daily)(7-24-2013)
NASCAR suspends use of aerial cameras by networks: Friday, NASCAR suspended the use aerial camera systems in response to the accident cause by a Fox camera at Charlotte Motor Speedway. NASCAR's statement: "Pending further investigation of the cable camera system incident during the NASCAR race in Concord, North Carolina in May, NASCAR has decided, in collaboration with its broadcast partners, to suspend all media partner usage of aerial camera systems that hang over race tracks during its sanctioned events. The safety of our competitors and our fans remains NASCAR's number one priority, and until total evaluation and analysis have been completed, usage of this particular technology enhancement and any similar enhancements, has been suspended."(NASCAR)(7-19-2013)
Fox asking for increased fees for Fox Sports 1: Sports Business Daily reported yesterday that FOX Networks will ask cable and satellite providers to pay 80 cents per month per subscriber for the newly rebranded Fox Sports 1, with carriage fees climbing to $1.50 monthly over the life of multi-year contracts. Affiliates currently pay approximately 23 cents per month for SPEED. FOX has already inked a new deal with Comcast Cable, but major carriers Time Warner Cable, DirecTV and Dish Network have reportedly balked at the price increase. Fox Sports 1 - formerly known as SPEED - will televise college football and basketball, NASCAR racing, UFC mixed martial arts events and sports news programs.(Godfather Motorsports)(7-17-2013)
A Tribute to Chris Economaki: The achievements of Chris Economaki, the late dean of American motorsports, will be celebrated on Saturday, June 15, at the International Motor Racing Research Center. The free talk, part of the on-going Center Conversations speaker series, will be at 1 p.m. at the Center located at 610 S. Decatur St., Watkins Glen, N.Y. It is open to all. "A Tribute to Chris Economaki" will be led by a panel composed of Corinne Economaki, Chris' daughter and motorsports insider; Leo Levine, retired automotive industry executive and author; and Judy Stropus, noted motorsports publicist. Economaki's 70-year career in motorsports spanned print reporting, track announcing, television commentating and book authorship. He wrote his popular National Speed Sports News weekly column, "The Editor's Notebook," for 60 of those years. Economaki died in September 2012 at the age of 91. After nearly 77 years of continuous publication, NSSN issued its final print edition in March 2011. The NSSN archives were donated to the Racing Research Center in August 2011, with funding from the Dyson Foundation. For more information about this event and the Center's work and its programs, visit www.racingarchives.org or call (607) 535-9044.(6-11-2013)
Fox apologizes to drivers, fans for camera cable: Fox officials made two public apologies Sunday in regard to last week's broken camera rope at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Artie Kempner, lead director for Fox network's coverage of NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series, apologized to drivers and officials during Sunday's drivers' meeting at Dover international Speedway. During the network's pre-race show, host Chris Myers read a statement from the network, saying "Many of you saw last week's race at Charlotte, where a television camera cable dropped on to the track, interrupting the race, and unfortunately, injuring some race fans. At Fox Sports, we pride ourselves on bringing you the best race coverage and being a part of the NASCAR family. We regret what happened and we apologize to our partners at NASCAR, the drivers, our friends at Charlotte Motor Speedway, and most of all, the fans."(NASCAR.com)(6-3-2013)
Mechanical parts did not fail on cable cam: Officials could know Friday what caused a cable to snap on an overhead camera at last weekend's Coca-Cola 600, injuring at least 10 race fans. A spokesman for CAMCAT, an Austrian company that operated the aerial camera rig for Fox Sports, said it would know by Friday or next week at the latest what caused one of three cables attached to a TV camera to break during lap 121 of Sunday night's race. The incident caused cuts and abrasions to fans and sent three to the hospital. Workers dismantling the system at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Sunday night determined none of the mechanical parts of the camera or pulley system caused the cable to break, CAMCAT chief executive officer Alexander Brozek said. Officials with CAMCAT and the manufacturer of the synthetic cable Dyneema are investigating.(Charlotte Observer)(5-31-2013)
FOX Sports Follow-up Statement - Camera rope: Everyone at FOX Sports is relieved and thankful to know that the injuries to fans caused when CAMCAT malfunctioned Sunday at Charlotte Motor Speedway were minor, and those who received hospital treatment were released last night. As stated previously, we regret that the race was affected, and we apologize to the racers whose cars were damaged, to everyone at CMS, NASCAR, and NASCAR fans, especially those who were hurt. At this time, we still do not have a cause for what happened, but a full investigation is underway, and use of the camera is suspended indefinitely. The rope is made of Dyneema, an ultra-strong synthetic that has the same approximate strength of a steel wire with the same diameter, and is less than a year old. According to the company, it had been factory-tested by the manufacturer and its breaking strength is certified before shipment. It was also inspected by CAMCAT upon receipt last June. The rope was certified to have a breaking strength of over 9,300 pounds. The force exerted during last night's race was less than 900 pounds. FOX Sports is reviewing with CAMCAT equipment maintenance records, history and installation information and will share those findings with NASCAR and CMS.(FOX Sports)(5-28-2013)
TV Camera cable breaks, damages cars, injures fans UPDATE: On lap 126 of the Coca Cola 600 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, a cable for Fox's overhead camera broke and fell on to the track, #18-Busch, who was 3rd at the time, caught the cable and it tore up the right front fender. The red flag was issued and cars were parked on pit road while crews cleaning up the cable. #9-Ambrose also had brake line tore off from the rope/cable and stuck in the grill and some damage to the roof. Busch got a phone/camera and took pictures of the damage as the crew was not allowed on pit road to look at the car. Once the cable/rope was removed, the cars took a lap and were brought to pit road for 15 minutes. Each team was allowed to check their cars for any damage the cable/rope may have caused. The team for #18-Busch, replaced a lot of the right fender. #55-Martin ran over the cable/rope and had some front splitter damage, then the rope went over the #9 Ford and wrapped around the left rear wheel area and broke a brake line. #42-Montoya had some slight damage and the team made repairs. #11-Hamlin had some damage to a roof flap. The red flag lasted 26 minutes.
FOX later reported that CMS announced that ten fans in the stands were injured by the cable and seven were treated and released, three were taken to the local hospital for observation.(5-26-2013)
UPDATE: Charlotte Motor Speedway said 10 fans were injured Sunday at the Coca-Cola 600 and three of them were taken to the hospital after a nylon rope supporting a Fox Sports overhead television camera fell from the grandstands and landed on the track surface. CMS vice president of communications Scott Cooper said after the race that all three fans were treated and released from the hospital. He said he couldn't discuss the nature of their injuries due to privacy laws. Cooper said seven other people were treated with minor cuts and scrapes at the track and released.(Associated Press)(5-27-2013)
Official Statement from FOX Sports: "At this time, we do not have a cause for the failure of the camera drive line that interrupted tonight's Coca Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, and our immediate concern is with the injured fans. The camera system consists of three ropes -- a drive rope which moves the camera back and forth, and two guide ropes on either side. The drive rope failed near the Turn 1 connection and fell to the track. The camera itself did not come down because guide ropes acted as designed. A full investigation is planned, and use of the camera is suspended indefinitely.
This camera system had been used successfully at this year's Daytona 500, last week's NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race and other major events around the world. We certainly regret that the system failure affected tonight's event, we apologize to the racers whose cars were damaged, and our immediate concern is for the race fans. We also offer a sincere 'thank you' to the staff at CMS for attending to the injuries and keeping us informed on this developing situation. When we have more information on the cause of the equipment failure, we will share it with you immediately."(FOX Sports)(5-26-2013)
NASCAR TV Negotiations update: NASCAR chairman Brian France said during a Saturday state-of-union address that negotiations for a new television contract that would go into effect in 2015 are "getting down to the last bit of it.'' France said his hope is to renew with the incumbents. Fox already has renewed from 2015-2022 for a reported $300 million a year. ESPN and TNT are the other current partners. NBC also is a player for a major portion of the 36-race schedule. "My hope is to remain where we are,'' France said. "But that's why you have negotiations and discussions. We'll have to see how that plays out.''(ESPN)(5-26-2013)
NBC to pick up TNT's NASCAR races? ESPN to cut back?: NASCAR has signed one contract for 2015-2022, for the first 13 Cup races, with Fox Sports, which includes the new Fox Sports 1 that replaces Speed in August. Fox considered it a priority to get NASCAR as one of its anchor sports for its all-sports Fox Sports 1 network, so it already signed a deal for 2015-2022 (at a 36% rate increase). While the sport might have lost some of its buzz, Fox Sports recognized the loyalty of NASCAR fans to watch its programming. It will eventually put some Cup races on that cable network to boost its profile. The big question now turns to who will televise the remaining 23 races of the season. Right now, TNT has six and ESPN/ABC has 17. NBC is expected to make a run at NASCAR. It could replace TNT for those six races but there's also speculation it could take 12 or 13 races and ESPN/ABC gets the final 10 or 11 events. With Turner relinquishing NASCAR.com to NASCAR, it makes little sense for it to have the six races. It's not enough time to really get in a good flow. The TNT telecasts aren't bad at all, but it's just too short of a bridge from Fox to ESPN for any continuity or for the announcers to get into a groove. If NBC lands races, that would put more Cup events on network television, which is important considering the addition of cable races to the Fox portion of the schedule.(Sporting News)(5-15-2013)
NASCAR related TV specials: There will be a couple of opportunities for fans to catch a little NASCAR outside of the weekend competition when the sport appears on the Game Show Network and USA Network tonight, Thursday, April 18.
First, at 9:00pm/et on "American Bible Challenge" on the GSN, #21-Trevor Bayne will appear from the Roush Fenway Racing museum to present the category "Biblical Bumper Stickers" on the faith-based game show hosted by Jeff Foxworthy.
Immediately following at 10:00pm/et on USA Network, former NFL MVP Kurt Warner will get up close and personal with Richard Childress Racing (see story here) and NASCAR in an all-new episode of "The Moment." Kyle Shields, a once young, aspiring race car driver, had given up on his dream when Warner, who hosts the all-new show, surprises him with a special offer: a second opportunity at becoming a NASCAR driver. After studying with NASCAR Camping World Truck Series veteran Brendan Gaughan of Richard Childress Racing, Kyle must rise to the challenge and demonstrate he still has the necessary skills to land a seat with RCR.(NASCAR)(4-18-2013)
'NASCAR Live' Rolling into 30th season with new format: Since 1984, NASCAR fans have had a weekly visit with the biggest names and the brightest stars of stock car racing thanks to Motor Racing Network's "NASCAR Live." As the program rolls into its 30th season, host Eli Gold is steering it into a new format that includes discussion and opinions from NASCAR insiders on the issues of the day, and in-depth interviews with the sport's top drivers. Gold says the new format provides listeners with the best of both worlds, blending a contemporary approach to the NASCAR narrative with the fans' ability to call in and speak to their favorite drivers. "For 44 years, we've been 'The Voice of NASCAR' and for much of that time, 'NASCAR Live' has been a cornerstone of our programming lineup," said MRN President and Executive Producer David Hyatt. "The show's format has been consistent because it's been accommodating, for fans and drivers. Without engaging in a major makeover, we are incorporating some new elements that'll provide a more dynamic experience for listeners tuning in and those visiting our website."(MRN)(4-3-2013)
SPEED to be rebranded as Fox Sports 1 UPDATE: FOX Sports Media Group officially unveiled plans to launch a new, national, multi-sport network called FOX Sports 1. The announcement was made by FSMG Co-Presidents and COOs Randy Freer and Eric Shanks. Set to debut on Saturday, Aug. 17, just as FOX Sports kicks-off its 20th anniversary year, FS1 is available in over 90 million homes, making this the biggest sports cable network launch in history, and one of the largest network launches ever. At the outset, FS1 boasts nearly 5,000 hours of live event, news and original programming annually. A robust schedule of live events forms the backbone of FOX Sports 1's programming from Day 1, with college basketball, college football, NASCAR, soccer and UFC all on tap between launch and year's end. In fact, the schedule on Aug. 17 features live events morning, noon and night including a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race from Michigan and "UFC on FS1 1" in prime time. In 2014, FSMG's new rights agreement with MLB takes effect, bringing regular and postseason games to FS1.
NASCAR programming will include: Select NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races as soon as 2015; NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races; NASCAR Sprint All-Star race; all SpeedWeeks events leading up to the Daytona 500 including: Daytona 500 Qualifying, Sprint Unlimited at Daytona (2014, 2017-22) and the Budweiser Duel, now in prime time; NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and NCWTS Practice and Qualifying sessions; NASCAR RaceDay, providing pre- and post-race coverage; NASCAR Victory Lane, a weekly wrap-up show; and Race Hub, a daily mid-day studio show with the latest from drivers, owners and garages.
FSMG's experimentation with the "double box" commercial format, intended to keep viewers engaged throughout breaks, is expected to be an FS1 staple.Fox PR)(3-5-2013)
UPDATE: Select Sprint Cup Series races will be shown on the new Fox Sports 1 channel starting in 2015, the network announced. Fox Sports Media Group has the rights to [the season's first] 13 races, and the news release Tuesday did not indicate which of those races will move from network television to cable. NASCAR officials confirmed when the Fox 2015-2022 deal was announced last October that the Daytona 500 will remain on network television. Speed shows such as NASCAR RaceDay, NASCAR Victory Lane and Race Hub will be added to the Fox Sports 1 lineup. Race Hub, typically a 6:00pm/et show on Speed, will move to midday.(Sporting News)(3-6-2013)
No roof cams at Phoenix and other tracks: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series cars competing on the series' intermediate tracks this season will be doing so without the familiar roof camera, beginning with Sunday's Subway Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix International Raceway. According to series director John Darby, the removal of the camera (for approximately two-thirds of this year's points races) is just one of several moves made during the offseason as officials worked through changes on the new Generation-6 car. Of primary concern was how to lessen the impact of turbulent air that previously hampered side-by-side competition at the series' intermediate tracks. Roof cameras will continue to be used at Daytona and Talladega, the road courses at Sonoma and Watkins Glen, as well as the series' smaller venues. According to Rich Feinberg, vice president of motorsports production for ESPN, the same company provides the in-car camera systems for ESPN, FOX and TNT. "And we are in the process now of developing new options to replace (the roof camera)," Feinberg said. "Perhaps behind the rear-view mirror, various places inside the car."(NASCAR.com)(3-3-2013)
SPEED rebranding likely soon: Fox Sports is expected to announce this month its plans for Charlotte-based SPEED channel. While motorsports will continue to be a big chunk of programming, the company is likely to retire the SPEED name late this summer and replace it with a channel called Fox Sports 1. This would provide Fox a platform to broaden the channel's focus into other sports, including content drawn from the network's NFL and Major League Baseball contracts. It is not clear what the impact will be on SPEED's modern production hub at Harris Boulevard and Interstate 85, but it will probably grow. A broader variety of programming should result in more production from the center.(Charlotte Observer)(3-3-2013)
New Fox camera's to debut at Daytona: As Speedweeks coverage begins this weekend, FOX Sports and SPEED announced plans to showcase exciting, never-before-seen looks of racing at Daytona International Speedway and the Great American Race, courtesy of newly deployed technologies. Coverage this year includes a collection of new cameras and graphics that are expected to add a dynamic new dimension to the viewing experience, including in-car Gyro-Cams, the FOX Super Zoom 4K camera, virtual 3D graphics and the return of a suspended cable camera over the length of pit road.
Gyro-Cam: Gyro-Cam is a gyro stabilized, in-car camera mounted in the center of the cockpit that rotates as cars enter DIS's extreme 31-degree banked turns, keeping its view level with the horizon at all times. The resulting look demonstrates to viewers just how dramatic Daytona's turn angles are at race speed. Click here to see a simulation of Gyro-Cam in action.
FOX Super Zoom 4K: Introduced last year during FOX Sports' coverage of MLB and the NFL, the 4K "Super Zoom" camera produces pictures with five times the resolution of normal HD cameras and captures the action at 300 frames per second. The resulting detail is remarkable and can zoom into an area of interest during the race with incredible detail.
VIZ-RT Encoded Camera: The VIZ-RT encoded camera graphically places three-dimensional virtual objects on screen. These graphics include delineating the "restart box," where cars can accelerate toward the start/finish line during a restart and highlighting the entire track in yellow to emphasize that a race is under caution.
CAMCAT: Supported by two gigantic cranes outside the track, CAMCAT is an advanced, two-point flying camera system developed in Austria that skies over the tri-oval along pit road. Previously used to cover F1 and certain Olympic events, the camera is suspended at a maximum 140 feet in the air and dips to 45 feet above the track at its midpoint. The cameras can speed up to 85 miles per hour along a 2,900 foot long cable to offer never-before-seen shots of Daytona. FOX first employed a four point cabled camera system over pit road from 2005 to 2007. All the cables were suspended within the track, and the camera traveled at 15 to 20 miles per hour 30 feet above ground.
FOX Sports Media Group's new arsenal of enhancements is available and ready for coverage of Daytona Speedweeks this weekend.(Fox)(2-16-2013)
Race is on for NASCAR TV rights: The race is on to see which network fills the broadcast gaps of the next NASCAR Sprint Cup Series television deal.
Fox Sports got the jump on its broadcast rivals by inking an eight-year extension, including the rights to the prestigious Daytona 500, worth $2.4 billion. The package includes rights to the first 13 Cup Series races of the season. It breaks down to approximately $300 million per season, up from the current $220 million a year deal. The current TV deal with all broadcast partners is worth $2.8 billion. The current NASCAR TV contract includes TNT, which lost its exclusive rights to NASCAR digital content on Jan. 1, and ESPN. TNT broadcasts six Cup Series races during the summer.(Daytona Beach News Journal), Fox's deal is thru 2022. ESPN's and TNT's is good thru the 2014 season.(2-16-2013)
No DirecTV Hot Pass in 2013: DirecTV is doing away with its NASCAR Hot Pass programming this year. The decision brings an end to the five-year-old service that gave subscribers four channels of in-car-driver video and audio. The distributor opted to discontinue the service because of its cost. DirecTV also decided to end its sponsorship of NASCAR. It had been an official partner of the sport since '07. It is looking for other ways to stay involved in the sport and plans to set up displays at some racetracks this season. DirecTV Senior VP/PR Darris Gringeri said, "We tried to charge for the (Hot Pass) product a few years ago, but the demand for it was low. We decided to switch to a free service. It's been great and we've been happy with it. It's been a differentiator. But in the end, the production cost became too much to bear." The offering was expensive because DirecTV had to sublicense the video rights to in-car-camera footage from NASCAR rightsholders Fox, Turner and ESPN.(Sports Business Journal)(1-8-2013)
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