FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, August 25th, 2016
NBCSN PRESENTS NASCAR SPRINT CUP RACING FROM MICHIGAN INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY SUNDAY AT 2 P.M. ET
Michigan Marks the First of Three Final Races before The Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup
NASCAR on NBC’s Multi-Part Concussion Series Debuts on Tonight’s NASCAR America
Roger Penske Joins Sunday’s Pre-Race Show Live
Jimmie Johnson Joins Nate Ryan on this Week’s NASCAR on NBC Podcast
NBC Sports Group Presents 50-Plus Hours of Motorsports Coverage Across Six Racing Series
STAMFORD, Conn. – August 25, 2016 – NBC Sports Group heads to the Midwest this weekend for a double feature of racing coverage, highlighted by XFINITY Series racing at Road America in Wisconsin Saturday at 3 p.m. ET on NBCSN, followed by Sprint Cup racing from Michigan International Speedway Sunday at 2 p.m. ET on NBCSN. The Sprint Cup Series stands just three weeks away from the beginning of The Chase and Michigan marks the first of three opportunities for bubble drivers to punch their ticket for a spot in the playoff Round of 16.
In advance of this weekend, tonight’s edition of NASCAR America includes the first segment of a multi-part series on concussions. With Dale Earnhardt Jr. sidelined, NASCAR on NBC reporter Nate Ryan takes an in-depth look at concussions, their symptoms and what kind of an impact they can have on athletes. A preview of Ryan’s extensive interviews and a candid discussion between Dale Jarrett, Ray Evernham and Steve Letarte is available here.
Sunday’s pre-race coverage includes a special look at Team Penske’s 50th Anniversary and a live pre-race interview with founder and chairman of Penske Corporation, Roger Penske. Fresh off of her trip to the Olympic Games in Rio, Kelli Stavast returns to her racing beat and joins Michigan native and driver of the No. 2, Brad Keselowski, for a few laps around the track in a refurbished 1901 Ford “Sweepstakes” race car. Pre-race coverage also includes additional portions of Ryan’s multi-part series on concussions.
NBCSN PRESENTS SPRINT CUP RACING FROM MICHIGAN SUNDAY AT 2 P.M. ET
NBC Sports begins its Sprint Cup coverage from the Irish Hills of southeastern Michigan Friday with practice at 12 p.m. ET on NBCSN, followed by qualifying at 5 p.m. ET on NBCSN. Saturday’s coverage from Michigan International Speedway includes practice at 8:30 a.m. ET on CNBC followed by final practice at 11:30 a.m. ET on CNBC.
Sunday’s race day coverage begins at 1 p.m. ET with a special edition of NASCAR America Sunday on NBCSN. Countdown to Green kicks into high gear at 1:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN followed by race coverage at 2 p.m. ET. An on-site post-race show follows the race at 5 p.m. ET, and an additional on-site NASCAR Victory Lap at 6 p.m. ET wraps up the day.
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 Kelli Stavast report from pit road.
XFINITY SERIES RETURNS TO ROAD AMERICA SATURDAY AT 3 P.M. ET ON NBCSN
NASCAR XFINITY Series racing heads to the “Badger State” this weekend for road course racing from Road America. NBC Sports Group kicks off its coverage Friday with XFINITY Series qualifying at 6:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN. Race day coverage on NBCSN begins with Countdown to Green at 2:30 p.m. ET, followed by XFINITY series racing at 3 p.m. ET.
Pulling double duty, Burns calls this weekend’s XFINITY action alongside analyst Jarrett before both travel to Michigan for Sunday’s Sprint Cup race. Ralph Sheheen, Parker Kligerman and Jim Noble report from pit road.
JIMMIE JOHNSON JOINS NATE RYAN ON THIS WEEK’S NASCAR ON NBC PODCAST
Six-time Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson joins Ryan on this week’s NASCAR on NBC podcast to discuss his 15 seasons with Hendrick Motorsports, his charitable endeavors and the successful changes he has seen since the creation of the NASCAR Drivers Council.
NBC SPORTS GROUP PRESENTS 50-PLUS HOURS OF MOTORSPORTS COVERAGE ACROSS SIX RACING SERIES
NBC Sports Group is gearing up to present 50-plus hours of racing coverage across six series this weekend. NBCSN continues its coverage of the 2016 Formula One Championship this Sunday with the Belgian Grand Prix at 7:30 a.m. ET, and the rescheduled IndyCar Firestone 600 on Saturday at 9:30 p.m. ET. This weekend’s racing coverage also includes the final event of the 2016 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship Saturday at 6 p.m. ET on NBCSN, and Red Bull Global RallyCross from Atlantic City Sunday at 3 p.m. ET on NBC. A release detailing NBC Sports Group’s additional motorsports coverage is available here.
UPCOMING NASCAR PROGRAMMING
| Date | Coverage | Time (ET) | Network |
| Thurs., Aug. 25 | NASCAR America | 6:00 PM | NBCSN |
| NASCAR K&N Pro Series East – Watkins Glen | 7:00 PM | NBCSN | |
| NASCAR K&N Pro Series West – Evergreen | 8:00 PM | NBCSN | |
| Fri., Aug. 26 | NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Practice – Michigan | 12:00 PM | NBCSN |
| NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Qualifying – Michigan | 5:00 PM | NBCSN | |
| NASCAR XFINITY Series Qualifying – Road America | 6:30 PM | NBCSN | |
| NASCAR Whelen Modified Series – Thompson | 7:30 PM | NBCSN | |
| NASCAR Whelen Modified Series – Bristol | 8:30 PM | NBCSN | |
| Sat., Aug. 27 | NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Practice – Michigan | 8:30 AM | CNBC |
| NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Practice – Michigan | 11:30 AM | CNBC | |
| NASCAR XFINITY Series Countdown to Green | 2:30 PM | NBCSN | |
| NASCAR XFINITY Series Racing – Road America | 3:00 PM | NBCSN | |
| Sun., Aug. 28 | NASCAR America Sunday | 1:00 PM | NBCSN |
| NASCAR Sprint Cup Countdown to Green | 1:30 PM | NBCSN | |
| NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Racing – Michigan | 2:00 PM | NBCSN | |
| NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Post-Race Show | 5:30 PM | NBCSN | |
| NASCAR Victory Lap | 6:00 PM | NBCSN | |
| NASCAR Whelen Modified Series – Bowman Gray | 10:00 PM | NBCSN |
All of NBC Sports Group’s NASCAR coverage is available to stream on NBCSports.com and via the NBC Sports app. The NBC Sports app is powered by Playmaker Media, and is available on the iTunes App Store, Google Play, Windows Store, Roku Channel Store, Apple TV and Amazon Fire.
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