FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, October 4th, 2017

MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES PLAYOFFS ROUND OF 12 BEGINS THIS SUNDAY, OCTOBER 8, AT 2 P.M. ET ON NBC

NBCSN Presents XFINITY Series Playoffs Round of 12 Elimination Race – Saturday at 3 p.m. ET

 

Ato Boldon Contributes to NASCAR on NBC’s 20 Hours of Trackside Coverage from Charlotte Motor Speedway

Kyle Busch Joins NASCAR on NBC’s Pre-Race Show Live on Sunday

David Ragan & Landon Cassill Join NASCAR America Live at NASCAR Hall of Fame – Today at 5 p.m. ET

Quotes from Dale Jarrett & Jeff Burton on the Passing of Robert Yates

 

STAMFORD, Conn.October 4, 2017 – NBC Sports Group surrounds this weekend’s NASCAR Cup Series and XFINITY Series Playoffs, with more than 20 hours of trackside coverage from Charlotte Motor Speedway, in Concord, N.C. Race coverage from the “Queen City” begins Saturday at 3 p.m. ET on NBCSN, with the pivotal XFINITY Series Playoffs Round of 12 elimination race, and culminates Sunday at 2 p.m. ET on NBC, with the first race of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs Round of 12.

 

Going into Sunday’s Cup Series Round of 12 race, Martin Truex Jr. and the No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Toyota lead the playoff field with 3059 points. Kyle Busch (3041), Kyle Larson (3034), Brad Keselowski (3020), and Jimmie Johnson (3017) round out the Top 5, followed by Kevin Harvick (3015), Denny Hamlin (3013), Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (3010), Ryan Blaney (3008), Chase Elliott (3006), Matt Kenseth (3005) and Jamie McMurray (3003).

 

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 CHARLOTTE MOTOR SPEEDWAY – SUNDAY AT 2 P.M. ET ON NBC

 

NBC Sports Group kicks off its Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series coverage from Charlotte Motor Speedway this Friday at 1:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN with first practice, followed by qualifying at 7 p.m. ET on NBCSN. Saturday’s coverage begins at 11 a.m. ET on NBCSN with second practice, followed by a special 30-minute edition of NASCAR America at 1 p.m. ET. Final practice wraps up the day at 1:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN.

 

Sunday’s race day coverage begins with NASCAR America at noon ET on NBCSN, and continues with Countdown to Green at 1 p.m. ET on NBC. Driver of the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, Kyle Busch, will join Countdown to Green live on-set to discuss his dominating run last round and what tracks in the Round of 12 offer the No. 18 team the best chances to bring home the checkered flag. Pre-race coverage also includes a special preview of Charlotte Motor Speedway, as Erik Jones takes the wheel of the NBC Sports Toyota Camry on-track car.

 

In addition, Olympian 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. Throughout the weekend, Boldon will spend time embedded with Joe Gibbs Racing’s No. 20 team. The four-time Olympic medalist and NASCAR on NBC reporter will also experience and report on the No. 20 crew’s training and fitness regimen.

 

NASCAR Cup Series racing begins at 2 p.m. ET on NBC, and is followed by a live on-site post-race show at 6 p.m. ET on NBCSN.

 

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.

 

XFINITY SERIES COVERAGE FROM CHARLOTTE – SATURDAY AT 3 P.M. ET ON NBCSN

 

NBCSN’s XFINITY Series coverage from Charlotte begins Friday, with practice at 3 p.m. ET and 6 p.m. ET. Race day coverage on Saturday begins with XFINITY Series qualifying at noon ET on NBCSN. Pre-race Countdown to Green coverage starts at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN, and is followed by live race coverage at 3 p.m. ET.

 

Going into Saturday’s XFINITY Series Playoffs elimination race, Justin Allgaier leads the field with 2,107 points, followed by William Byron (+51 points above the cut line), Elliott Sadler (+41), Cole Custer (+40), Daniel Hemric (+37), Brennan Poole (+29), Matt Tifft (+14) and Ryan Reed (+2). Veteran driver Brendan Gaughan is currently on the cusp, just 2 points below the cut line for the final spot in the Round of 8.

 

DAVID RAGAN & LANDON CASSILL JOIN NASCAR AMERICA FROM NASCAR HALL OF FAME – TODAY AT 5 P.M. ET ON NBCSN

 

Today at 5 p.m. ET, David Ragan and Landon Cassill will join NASCAR America host Marty Snider, as well as analysts Kyle Petty and Jeff Burton, live from the Hall of Honor at the NASCAR Hall of Fame, in Charlotte, N.C.

 

The Front Row Motorsports teammates will discuss their combined 20-years in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, changes and transitions they have witnessed, and expectations as the sports’ retiring veterans pass the baton on to upcoming young guns.

 

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.

 

ALEX BOWMAN & SCOTT MCLAUGHLIN JOIN NATE RYAN’S NASCAR ON NBC PODCAST

 

Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s successor, and driver of Hendrick Motorsports’ No. 88 Chevrolet in 2018, Alex Bowman joins Nate Ryan (@nateryan) on this week’s NASCAR on NBC podcast. Bowman shares his excitement as he looks to take the next step in his career and fill the shoes of his childhood idol. Ryan also hosts a bonus episode with Scott McLaughlin, driver of Team Penske’s No. 17 Ford Falcon in the Australian Supercars Championship Series. 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.

 

QUOTES FROM DALE JARRETT & JEFF BURTON ON THE PASSING OF NASCAR TEAM OWNER ROBERT YATES

 

During Tuesday evening’s edition of NASCAR America, NASCAR on NBCSN analysts Dale Jarrett and Jeff Burton shared the following comments on the passing of NASCAR Cup Champion car owner and innovative engine builder Robert Yates.

 

Jarrett: “There are so many things that I want to say and I want everyone to know. The thing that stands out the most is what a wonderful person Robert was. He was basically a second dad to me for a little over 11 years there at Robert Yates Racing. There are so many things I’ve thought about over the last 16-17 hours, since I learned of his passing. I think the thing that strikes me the most about Robert Yates, is that he did every job at the race shop. He wasn’t an engineer, he didn’t have that degree, but he was smarter than any engineer I have ever known. He was the owner at Robert Yates Racing, but the first time I walked in the door, when I was starting to drive for them in 1995, he was sweeping the floor. He wasn’t above anyone. He drove the hauler many times, and enjoyed every aspect of the sport. He is obviously known as the premier engine builder in the sport…We are all better people for being a part of Robert Yates’ life.”

 

Burton: “I never had the pleasure of driving for Robert Yates. I was always unfortunately competing against him, and in many cases Dale Jarrett. It is difficult when you compete against people, because you want to win. You want to take that trophy from someone else. Robert Yates was the kind of guy, that when you won, you genuinely felt like he was happy for you. That is a hard thing to say, because if you won and got the trophy, you took it from him. But Robert never made you feel like that. He would congratulate you and tell you how much respect he had for you. Those kinds of things are rare and hard to do.”

 

The full clip is available here.

 

UPCOMING NBC SPORTS GROUP NASCAR PROGRAMMING

 

DATE COVERAGE TIME (ET) NETWORK
Wednesday, October 4 NASCAR America 5:00 PM NBCSN
Thursday, October 5 NASCAR America 5:00 PM NBCSN
Friday, October 6 NASCAR Cup Series First Practice – Charlotte 1:30 PM NBCSN
NASCAR XFINITY Series First Practice – Charlotte 3:00 PM NBCSN
NASCAR XFINITY Series Final Practice – Charlotte 6:00 PM NBCSN
NASCAR Cup Series Qualifying – Charlotte 7:00 PM NBCSN
NASCAR K&N Series – Dover 10:30 PM NBCSN
Saturday, October 7 NASCAR Whelen Series – Stafford 10:00 AM NBCSN
NASCAR Cup Series Second Practice – Charlotte 11:00 AM NBCSN
NASCAR XFINITY Series Qualifying – Charlotte 12:00 PM NBCSN
NASCAR America 1:00 PM NBCSN
NASCAR Cup Series Final Practice – Charlotte 1:30 PM NBCSN
NASCAR XFINITY Series Countdown to Green 2:30 PM NBCSN
NASCAR XFINITY Series Racing – Charlotte 3:00 PM NBCSN
Sunday, October 8 NASCAR America 12:00 PM NBCSN
NASCAR Cup Series Countdown to Green 1:00 PM NBC
NASCAR Cup Series Racing – Charlotte 2:00 PM NBC
NASCAR Cup Series Post-Race Show 6:00 PM NBCSN
Victory Lap 6:30 PM NBCSN

 

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.

 

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 —