FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, August 24th, 2017

NBC SPORTS PRESENTS INDYCAR’S RETURN TO ST. LOUIS IN PRIMETIME AND F1 BELGIAN GRAND PRIX THIS WEEKEND ON NBCSN

IndyCar Bommarito Automotive Group 500 – Saturday at 9:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN

 2017 Is NBC Sports Group’s Most-Watched IndyCar Season to Date

F1 Belgian Grand Prix – Sunday at 7:30 a.m. ET on NBCSN

NBCSN Overdrive – Thursday Primetime Motorsports Block – Continues Tonight, Including American Flat Track Racing

Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship Ironman National – Saturday at 5 p.m. ET on NBCSN

NBC Sports Group Presents NASCAR XFINITY Series Coverage from Road America

STAMFORD, Conn. – August 24, 2017 – This weekend’s motorsports action on NBCSN is highlighted by live primetime coverage of the Verizon IndyCar Series’ return to the St. Louis area with the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 on Saturday at 9:30 p.m. ET, and the Formula One Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday at 7:30 a.m. ET.

This week’s coverage also includes NBCSN Overdrive, the network’s Thursday night primetime motorsports block, highlighted by American Flat Track racing from Oklahoma City, Okla., tonight at 10 p.m. ET, as well as the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Ironman National from Crawfordsville, Ind., on Saturday at 5 p.m. ET.

In addition, NBC Sports Group will provide comprehensive coverage of this weekend’s NASCAR XFINITY Series race from Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wis.

Through nine races, the 2017 Verizon IndyCar Series is NBC Sports Group’s most-watched IndyCar season on record (since 2009), averaging 505,000 viewers on NBCSN/CNBC, up 15% from the eight comparable races in 2016. Last week’s ABC Supply 500 at Pocono on Sunday on NBCSN (2:47-5:33 p.m. ET) averaged 618,000 viewers, to rank as NBC Sports Group’s most-watched IndyCar race since the 2016 race at Mid-Ohio, which was simulcast on NBCSN and CNBC.


INDYCAR BOMMARITO AUTOMOTIVE GROUP 500 – SATURDAY AT 9:30 P.M. ET ON NBCSN

The Verizon IndyCar Series returns to Gateway Motorsports Park this weekend for the first time since 2003, with five drivers separated by just 42 points for the championship lead with three races remaining in the season. Josef Newgarden (Penske; 494 points) won at Toronto and Mid-Ohio, and finished second last weekend at Pocono, to move into the lead, ahead of four-time series champion Scott Dixon (Chip Ganassi Racing; 476 points). Helio Castroneves (Penske; 472), who won the most recent race at Gateway Motorsports Park in 2003, is currently third, followed by last year’s series champion Simon Pagenaud (Penske; 468 points), and Will Power (Penske; 452 points), who won last week at Pocono.

NBCSN will televise live qualifying on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET, followed by pre-race coverage on Saturday at 9 p.m. ET and race coverage at 9:30 p.m. ET.

Kevin Lee (play-by-play) will call the action alongside analysts Paul Tracy, who won the first-ever race at Gateway Motorsports Park in 1997, and Townsend Bell. Reporters Jon Beekhuis, Katie Hargitt, Robin Miller and Anders Krohn will report from the pits.

F1 BELGIAN GRAND PRIX – SUNDAY AT 7:30 A.M. ET ON NBCSN

The 2017 F1 season continues this weekend with the Belgian Grand Prix, as Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) and Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) renew their battle atop the driver standings. Vettel (202 points) holds a slight edge over Hamilton (188 points) with nine races remaining in the season, but Hamilton and teammate Valtteri Bottas have combined to put Mercedes (357 points) ahead of Ferrari (318 points) in the constructor standings. Hamilton (2015 & 2010) and Vettel (2013 & 2011) have each won twice at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps.

Coverage begins Friday on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app at 4 a.m. ET with Practice 1, followed by Practice 2 at 8 a.m. ET on NBCSN. NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app will stream Practice 3 on Saturday at 5 a.m. ET, prior to CNBC’s live coverage of qualifying at 8 a.m. ET, which will air on NBCSN at 12:30 p.m. ET. F1 Countdown pre-race coverage on NBCSN starts Sunday at 7 a.m. ET, leading into live race coverage at 7:30 a.m. ET, and post-race analysis on F1 Extra at 10 a.m. ET.

NBC Sports Group’s lead F1 broadcast team of Leigh Diffey (play-by-play), veteran analyst and former racecar driver David Hobbs, and analyst and former race mechanic for the Benetton F1 team Steve Matchett will call the action. F1 insider Will Buxton will report on-site from Belgium. Through 11 races, NBC Sports Group’s Formula One coverage has averaged 561,000 viewers, to rank as its most-watched season since 2013.

NBCSN OVERDRIVE THURSDAY MOTORSPORTS BLOCK CONTINUES THIS WEEK, INCLUDING AMERICAN FLAT TRACK RACING AT 10 P.M. ET

NBCSN Overdrive, the network’s Thursday night primetime motorsports block, continues this week, highlighted this week by American Flat Track racing from Oklahoma City at 10 p.m. ET.

The weekly primetime block will include six unique series and more than 40 hours of premiere programming, featuring new seasons of Grudge Race and Journey to the Hammers. American Flat Track, widely regarded as the most prestigious and competitive form of dirt track motorcycle racing in the world, will be featured most Thursdays on Overdrive at 10 p.m. ET. Click here for more information.


LUCAS OIL PRO MOTOCROSS IRONMAN NATIONAL – SATURDAY AT 5 P.M. ET ON NBCSN

The Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship continues with the Ironman National from Crawfordsville, Ind., this Saturday at 5 p.m. ET on NBCSN. Justin Bogle got his first career win in the 450 Class at last weekend’s event at Budds Creek, while Zach Osborne won the second moto in the 250 Class to clinch the 250 Class championship.

Veteran play-by-play voice Jason Weigandt, analyst and two-time AMA Pro Motocross Champion Grant Langston, and pit reporter Georgia Lindsay will call this weekend’s action.

NBC SPORTS GROUP PRESENTS NASCAR XFINITY SERIES COVERAGE FROM ROAD AMERICA

NBC Sports Group moves into its ninth week of live 2017 XFINITY Series racing, with seven hours of trackside coverage from Road America, in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. XFINITY Series race coverage, from the legendary four-mile road course, begins Sunday at 3 p.m. ET on NBC. Click here for more information.

Following is this week’s motorsports coverage schedule:

Date Program Time (ET) Network
Thur., August 24 NASCAR America 5 p.m. NBCSN
Grudge Race Marathon 7 p.m. NBCSN
American Flat Track – OKC Mile 10 p.m. NBCSN
Journey to the Hammers (Premiere) 11 p.m. NBCSN
Fri., August 25 F1 Belgian Grand Prix – Practice 1 4 a.m. Streaming*
F1 Belgian Grand Prix – Practice 2 8 a.m. NBCSN
Mecum Auctions – Monterey (Encore) 3:30 p.m. NBCSN
Sat., August 26 F1 Belgian Grand Prix – Practice 3 5 a.m. Streaming*
F1 Belgian Grand Prix – Qualifying 9 a.m. CNBC
Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Ironman – Qualifiers 10:05 a.m. NBC Sports Gold
F1 Belgian Grand Prix – Qualifying (Encore) 12:30 p.m. NBCSN
Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Ironman – 250 Moto 1s 1 p.m. NBC Sports Gold
NASCAR XFINITY Road America – Practice 2 p.m. NBCSN
Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Ironman – 450 Moto 1s 2 p.m. NBC Sports Gold
NASCAR Whelen Series – Bristol 3 p.m. NBCSN
Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Ironman – 250 Moto 2s 3 p.m. NBC Sports Gold
NASCAR XFINITY Series Road America – Final Practice 4 p.m. NBCSN
Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Ironman – 450 Moto 2s 4 p.m. NBC Sports Gold
Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Ironman – Moto 2s** 5 p.m. NBCSN
IndyCar Bommarito Automotive Group 500 – Qualifying** 7 p.m. NBCSN
IndyCar Countdown 9 p.m. NBCSN
IndyCar Bommarito Automotive Group 500 9:30 p.m. NBCSN
IndyCar Post-Race 11:30 p.m. NBCSN
Sun., August 27 F2 Series – Belgium** 6 a.m. NBCSN
F1 Countdown 7 a.m. NBCSN
F1 Belgian Grand Prix 7:30 a.m. NBCSN
F1 Extra 10 a.m. NBCSN
Countdown to Green 2:30 p.m. NBC
NASCAR XFINITY Series Race – Road America 3 p.m. NBC

*NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app

**delayed coverage
NBC Sports Gold — NBC Sports Digital’s direct-to-consumer live streaming product — is launching a “Pro Motocross Pass,” giving fans access to the entire 2017 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship season. The direct-to-consumer pass, powered by Playmaker Media, will offer fans commercial-free coverage, live and on-demand, online, on mobile, tablets and connected TV devices.

NBC Sports Gold’s “Pro Motocross Pass” features every race in the 2017 season, including Qualifiers, Moto 1s and Moto 2s. In addition to the 2017 season, fans can access full event replays of the 2016 and 2015 seasons. Click here for more information.


NBC SPORTS GROUP STREAMING, DIGITAL AND SOCIAL CONTENT

NBC Sports Group will provide comprehensive streaming and digital coverage surrounding its motorsports properties via NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app – NBC Sports Group’s live streaming product for desktops, mobile devices, and tablets – and NASCAR Talk and MotorSportsTalk, NBC Sports Group’s digital home for the latest motorsports news.

NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app will provide season-long live streaming coverage of all Formula One practices, qualifying sessions and Grands Prix, including exclusive coverage of practices that will not air on NBC or NBCSN.  NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app will stream NASCAR and IndyCar content that will air on NBC and NBCSN (race coverage and some practice and qualifying), as well as the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, Red Bull Global RallyCross series, and Red Bull Air Race.


MOTORSPORTSTALK
: MotorSportsTalk (@MotorSportsTalk) on NBCSports.com brings racing fans up-to-the-minute news, video and information on Formula One, the Verizon IndyCar Series, and other open-wheel and off-road racing from around the world. The site also serves as the destination for all news, analysis and video from NBC and NBCSN productions of IndyCar and F1, including contributions from on-air commentators.


SOCIAL
: NBC Sports Group will continue to provide comprehensive motorsports social coverage across Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. On Twitter, fans can follow @MotorsportsTalk for all-encompassing content across NBC Sports Group’s motorsports properties. @NASCARonNBC and@NASCARTalkNBC share the latest NASCAR content, @F1onNBCSports provides the latest news in Formula One, and @IndyCaronNBCSN delivers up-to-the-minute information on the Verizon IndyCar Series.

In addition, the NASCAR on NBC Facebook page will provide users with videos, interactive content and much more. Fans should also “like” NBC Sports on Facebook for the most up-to-date news, videos and commentary about NBC Sports Group’s motorsports properties.

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 –