NBC SPORTS PRESENTS MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES RACING FROM BRISTOL MOTOR SPEEDWAY SATURDAY, AUGUST 19, AT 7 P.M. ET ON NBC

Ato Boldon Contributes to NASCAR on NBC’s 19 Hours of Trackside Coverage from Bristol Motor Speedway

Ryan Newman Joins NASCAR America from NASCAR Hall of Fame – Tonight at 6 p.m. ET on NBCSN

Danica Patrick Joins Nate Ryan’s NASCAR on NBC Podcast

Kyle and Richard Petty to Appear on Jay Leno’s Garage Tonight at 10 p.m. ET on CNBC

STAMFORD, Conn. – August 16, 2017 – NBC Sports Group moves into its eighth week of live 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and XFINITY Series racing, with 19 hours of trackside coverage from Bristol Motor Speedway, in Bristol, Tennessee. NBC Sports Group’s race coverage from “The Last Great Colosseum” begins Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN, with XFINITY Series racing, and culminates Saturday night at 7 p.m. ET on NBC, with Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series racing.

Following a thrilling overtime finish at Michigan International Speedway last weekend, Kyle Larson made his third trip to victory lane in 2017, and secured his third consecutive Cup Series win at the track. With the win, Larson moved into the second-place position in the 2017 Cup Series Playoff standings (3 wins, 18 playoff-points), behind Martin Truex Jr. (4 wins, 35 playoff-points), and ahead of Jimmie Johnson (3 wins, 16 playoff-points), Kyle Busch (1 win, 14 playoff-points) and Brad Keselowski (2 wins, 14 playoff-points). With only three races left before the Playoffs begin, Chase Elliott, Jamie McMurray and Matt Kenseth, currently hold the three remaining Playoff spots on points, but have yet to secure a race win to guarantee their positions.

In addition to live television coverage on NBCSN, NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app – NBC Sports Group’s live streaming product for desktops, mobile devices, tablets, and connected TVs – will provide comprehensive streaming coverage of this weekend’s NASCAR action.

MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES RACING FROM BRISTOL – SATURDAY AT 7 P.M. ET ON NBC

NBC Sports Group kicks off its Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series coverage from Bristol Motor Speedway, this Friday at 10 a.m. ET, available on NBCsports.com and the NBC Sports app. Final practice begins at 12:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN, followed by NASCAR America at 5 p.m. ET and qualifying at 5:30 p.m. ET.

Saturday’s race day coverage begins at 5:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN, with NASCAR America, and leads into NBC Sports Group’s pre-race show, Countdown to Green, at 7 p.m. ET on NBC.

Pre-race coverage includes Krista Voda’s feature interview with expecting parents Joey and Brittany Logano. The three discuss the Logano’s growing household, expectations for the exciting year ahead, and how they plan to juggle life on the racing circuit with a newborn. Pre-race coverage also includes the famous Bristol driver intros, where the drivers get to select the song played before their introduction. Additionally, coverage surrounds Dale Jr.’s final race at Bristol Motor Speedway, and the commemorative activities “The Last Great Colosseum” has planned to honor his legacy.

NASCAR Cup Series racing begins at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC, and is followed by a live on-site NASCAR Cup Series post-race show. NBCSN wraps up coverage at 11 p.m. ET on NBCSN, with a special edition of Victory Lap, NBC Sports Group’s NASCAR post-race show, originating from Bristol Motor Speedway.

NBC Sports Group’s lead race announcer Rick Allen (@Rickallenracing) will call this weekend’s Monster Energy and XFINITY Series action, alongside Daytona 500 winning crew chief Steve Letarte (@steveletarte), and “The Mayor” of NASCAR Jeff Burton (@Jeffburton).

Krista Voda (@KristaVoda) will host pre- and post-race coverage alongside auto racing icon Kyle Petty (@Kylepetty), and Hall of Fame driver Dale Jarrett (@DaleJarrett). Marty Snider (@HeyMartysnider), Kelli Stavast (@Kellistavast), Dave Burns (@tvdaveburns) and Parker Kligerman (@Pkligerman) will report from pit road. Pulling double-duty as a driver and reporter in Bristol, Kligerman will also be driving the No. 75 Henderson Motorsports Toyota in tonight’s Camping World Truck Series race.

In addition, Ato Boldon (@atoboldon) returns to NBC Sports Group’s live race coverage this weekend, after making his NASCAR on NBC debut as a features reporter, earlier this season, in Daytona. Throughout the weekend, Boldon will spend time embedded in Furniture Row Racing’s No. 78 team. The four-time Olympic medalist and NASCAR on NBC reporter will experience and report on many of the day-to-day tasks of a No. 78 team member.

XFINITY SERIES COVERAGE FROM BRISTOL – FRIDAY AT 7:30 P.M. ET ON NBCSN

NBC Sports Group’s XFINITY Series coverage from Bristol begins Thursday, with first practice at 1 p.m. ET, followed by final practice at 3 p.m. ET. Coverage of both practice sessions will be available on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app. Coverage continues Friday, with XFINITY Series qualifying at 3:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN. Pre-race Countdown to Green coverage starts at 7 p.m. ET on NBCSN. Race coverage begins at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN.

RYAN NEWMAN JOINS NASCAR AMERICA FROM NASCAR HALL OF FAME – TONIGHT AT 6 P.M. ET ON NBCSN

Tonight at 6 p.m. ET on NASCAR America, Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver Ryan Newman will join host Marty Snider, as well as analysts Steve Letarte and Kyle Petty, from the Hall of Honor at the NASCAR Hall of Fame, in Charlotte, N.C.

The driver of Richard Childress Racing’s No. 31 Chevrolet will discuss his team’s preparation for the Playoffs after winning in March at Phoenix International Raceway, his past victories in the Daytona 500 & Brickyard 400, and he and wife Krissie’s mission to protect animals through their Rescue Ranch organization.

As part of NBCSN’s comprehensive coverage of the 2017 NASCAR season, NASCAR America will present a live show each week from the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Each live episode will include an in-depth interview with an active driver, and highlight their journey to professional racing.

DANICA PATRICK JOINS NATE RYAN’S NASCAR ON NBC PODCAST

Driver of Stewart-Haas Racing’s No 10 Ford, Danica Patrick, joins NBCSports.com’s lead motorsports writer, Nate Ryan (@nateryan), on this week’s NASCAR on NBC podcast. Patrick discusses her secrets to staying happy and fulfilled, her uncertain future in NASCAR, and what she has cooking outside the race car. The NASCAR on NBC podcast is available on NASCAR Talk, Apple Podcasts, AudioBoom, Google Play, Spotify, Stitcher and podcasting apps. For more info click here.

NBC Sports’ weekly race recap podcast, Monday Morning Donuts, hosted by Carolyn Manno (@carolynmanno) and Parker Kligerman, is also available on Apple Podcasts and Stitcher, with new episodes available each Monday.

KYLE PETTY APPEARS IN TONIGHT’S EPISODE OF JAY LENO’S GARAGE

NASCAR on NBC analyst Kyle Petty and “The King” Richard Petty appear in tonight’s episode of Jay Leno’s Garage, at 10 p.m. ET on CNBC. In the episode that pays tribute to fathers and the cars they drive, Richard drives his Petty blue 1970’s firebird, alongside Kyle, in his famous Mello Yello race car. A preview of Kyle and Richard’s appearance is available here.

UPCOMING NBC SPORTS GROUP NASCAR PROGRAMMING

NASCAR ON NBC

In 2017, NBC Sports Group will present the final 20 NASCAR Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races, final 19 NASCAR XFINITY Series events and select NASCAR Regional & Touring Series events.

NBC Sports Group’s NASCAR programming also includes NBCSN’s daily motorsports show NASCAR America, coverage of NASCAR’s Awards Ceremonies, the annual NASCAR Hall of Fame induction ceremony, as well as original programming specials. NBC Sports Group concluded the 2016 NASCAR season presenting more hours of trackside coverage and programming than ever before.

In 2016, NBC Sports Group continued to innovate and entertain race fans with 630 hours of NASCAR programming, including interactive watch parties, documentary specials and new shoulder programming, in addition to its 366 live trackside hours from 22 different states. In 2016, overall consumption of NASCAR content on NBC Sports’ Digital properties was up 50% vs. 2015, and NASCAR on NBC’s social platforms generated a triple-digit increase in video views, as well as double-digit increase in fan base and impressions compared to the 2015 season.

For more information about NBC Sports Group shows and properties, including press releases, photos, talent and executive bios and headshots, please visit NBCSportsGroupPressBox.com.

— NBC SPORTS GROUP —