FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, October 6th, 2017

NBC SPORTS GROUP’S PRESS PASS – WHAT TO WATCH – OCTOBER 6th – 8th, 2017

(All times ET)

The “Press Pass” on NBC Sports Group Press Box is a quick overview of upcoming program information and highlights from the NBC Sports Group Communications team. For live streaming information on NBCSports.com, and Golf Channel Live Extra, click here.

Friday October 6th
3 p.m. on NBCSN – NASCAR Xfinity Series First Practice – Charlotte  
4 p.m. on NBCSN – Mecum Auto Auctions
5 p.m. on Golf Channel – Golf Central
5:30 p.m. on Golf Channel – PGA Tour Safeway Open
6 p.m. on NBCSN – NASCAR Xfinity Series Final Practice – Charlotte
7 p.m. on NBCSN – NASCAR Cup Series Qualifying – Charlotte
7 p.m. on Olympic Channel – 2017 World Gymnastics Championships: Women’s All Around Final- Montreal
8:30 p.m. on NBCSN – Mecum Auto Auctions
8:30 p.m. on Golf Channel – Golf Central
10:30 p.m. on NBCSN – NASCAR K&N Series – Dover International Speedway
2 a.m. on NBCSN – F1 Japanese Grand Prix – Qualifying

Saturday October 7th
8 a.m. on Golf Channel – European Tour Alfred Dunhill Links Championship
10 a.m. on NBCSN – NASCAR Whelen Series – Stafford Motor Speedway
11 a.m. on NBCSN – NASCAR Cup Series Second Practice – Charlotte
12 p.m. on NBCSN – NASCAR Xfinity Series Qualifying – Charlotte
1 p.m. on NBCSN – NASCAR America
1:30 p.m. on NBCSN – NASCAR Cup Series Final Practice – Charlotte
2 p.m. on NBC – 2017 World Gymnastics Championships: Men’s and Women’s All Around Finals
2:30 p.m. on NBC – Countdown to Green
3 p.m. on NBCSN – NASCAR Xfinity Series Race – Charlotte
3 p.m. on Olympic Channel – ISU Short Track World Cup – Day 1
5 p.m. on NBC – Breeders Cup Challenge Series: Fall Stars Weekend  
5 p.m. on Olympic Channel – 2017 World Gymnastics Championships: Apparatus Finals Day 1
5 p.m. on Golf Channel – Golf Central
5:30 p.m. on NBCSN – NASCAR Xfinity Series Post Race – Charlotte
5:30 p.m. on Golf Channel – PGA Tour Safeway Open
6 p.m. on NBCSN – Mecum Auto Auctions
8:30 p.m. on Golf Channel – Golf Central
11 p.m. on NBCSN – F2 Series – Spain
12 a.m. on NBCSN – F1 Countdown
12:30 a.m. on NBCSN – F1 Japanese Grand Prix
3:00 a.m. on NBCSN – F1 Extra

Sunday October 8th
7:30 a.m. on Golf Channel – European Tour Alfred Dunhill Links Championship
8 a.m. on NBCSN – Chicago Marathon
12 p.m. on NBC – PGA Tour Year in Review
12 p.m. on NBCSN – NASCAR America
1 p.m. on NBC – Countdown to Green
1 p.m. on NBCSN – 2017 World Gymnastics Championships: Apparatus Finals Day 2
2 p.m. on NBC – NASCAR Cup Series Race – Charlotte
5 p.m. on Olympic Channel – ISU Short Track World Cup – Day 2
5 p.m. on NBCSN – Breeders Cup Challenge Series: Fall Stars Weekend
5 p.m. on Golf Channel – Golf Central
5:30 p.m. on Golf Channel – PGA Tour Safeway Open
6 p.m. on NBCSN – NASCAR Cup Series Post Race – Charlotte
6:30 p.m. on NBCSN Victory Lap
7 p.m. on NBC – Football Night in America
7:30 p.m. on NBCSN – Mecum Auto Auctions
8:20 p.m. on NBC – Sunday Night Football: Kansas City Chiefs vs. Houston Texans
8:30 p.m. on Golf Channel – Golf Central
11 p.m. on NBCSN – NASCAR K&N Series – Meridian Speedway
1 a.m. on NBCSN – Paris Tours

 

NFL
Two Offensive Rookie of the Year candidates will be showcased this weekend on NBC’s Sunday Night Football, as Kareem Hunt and the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs (4-0) visit Deshaun Watson and the Houston Texans (2-2) at NRG Stadium. Coverage begins with Football Night in America this Sunday, October 8, at 7 p.m. ET on NBC.

Calling Chiefs-Texans are Al Michaels (play-by-play), Cris Collinsworth; and sideline reporter Michele Tafoya.

Football Night in America  is hosted by Mike Tirico, who will report on-site from NRG Stadium, and Dan Patrick, who will host from Studio 1 at NBC Sports Group’s International Broadcast Center in Stamford, Conn. Patrick is joined by Tony Dungy, Harrison, and Mike FlorioPaul Burmeister will report from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on the Packers-Cowboys game.

 

NASCAR
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.

NBC Sports Group continues its Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series coverage from Charlotte Motor Speedway tonight at 7 p.m. ET on NBCSN with qualifying. 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. 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.

NBCSN’s XFINITY Series coverage from Charlotte begins today, 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.

In addition, Olympian Ato Boldon 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.

NBC Sports Group’s lead race announcer Rick Allen will call this weekend’s Monster Energy and XFINITY Series action, alongside Steve Letarte and Jeff Burton.

Krista Voda will host pre- and post-race coverage alongside Kyle Petty and Dale JarrettMarty SniderKelli StavastDave Burns and Parker Kligerman will report from pit road.

 

BREEDERS’ CUP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Final automatic qualifying positions for the Breeders’ Cup World Championships will be at stake at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky., during two live “Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series Win and You’re In – presented by Lane’s End Farm and America’s Best Racing” events this weekend. Coverage begins this Saturday, October 7, at 5 p.m. ET on NBC with the $1 million Shadwell Turf Mile and the $500,000 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity. The $500,000 Juddmonte Spinster Stakes highlights live programming this Sunday, October 8, at 5 p.m. ET on NBCSN.

This weekend’s one-hour programs are the 10th and 11th telecasts, respectively, concluding the 2017 “Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In – presented by Lane’s End Farm and America’s Best Racing,” on NBC and NBCSN, featuring 17 “Win And You’re In” races plus other major stakes on the road to the Breeders’ Cup. Both shows also will be streamed live on NBCSports.com and on the NBC Sports app. Winners of these Challenge races, which combined offer more than $10 million in purses, automatically qualify for a spot in the Breeders’ Cup, which will be held at the Del Mar racetrack on November 3-4, and will be televised live on NBC and NBCSN.

Saturday’s show will also include live coverage of the 1 ¼ mile, $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup from Belmont Park in New York. The Jockey Club Gold Cup is the final “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Laffit Pincay III hosts NBC’s coverage on Saturday and Sunday, and will be joined by analysts Jerry Baileyand Randy Moss, and reporters Donna Brothers and Kenny RiceDaily Racing Form’s Matt Bernier will be the Handicapper on Saturday.

 

CHICAGO MARATHON
NBC Sports Group continues its month of marathons with live coverage of the Chicago Marathon this Sunday, October 8, at 8 a.m. ET on NBCSN. Live, commercial-free coverage of the event is available with a subscription to NBC Sports Gold’s “Track and Field Pass,” and NBCSN’s coverage will also be streamed via authentication on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app. Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA presents encore coverage of the Chicago Marathon on Monday, October 9, at 5 p.m. ET.

Jim Watson calls the race alongside Paul Swangard on NBCSN.

 

F1
NBC Sports Group continues its coverage of the 2017 Formula One season with comprehensive live coverage of the Japanese Grand Prix, highlighted by live race coverage on Sunday at 1 a.m. ET/Saturday at 10 p.m. PT on NBCSN.

NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app will live stream Practice 3 on Friday at 11 p.m. ET. Live qualifying will air on NBCSN on Saturday at 2 a.m. ET. Pre-race coverage kicks off on Sunday with F1 Countdown beginning at 12 a.m. ET/Saturday at 9 p.m. PT on NBCSN, followed by live race coverage beginning at 12:30 a.m. ET/9:30 p.m. PT. F1 Extra wraps up the day’s events on NBCSN at 3 a.m. ET. NBCSN will air an encore presentation of the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday night at 9 p.m. ET.

Leigh Diffey will call this weekend’s action and will be joined by analysts David Hobbs and Steve MatchettWill Buxton will serve as the on-site reporter at Suzuka.

 

MECUM AUTO AUCTIONS
NBCSN follows the 2017 Mecum Auctions season as it rolls into Chicago this week with coverage from the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center continuing Friday at 4 p.m. E.T on NBCSN. An estimated 1,000 American muscle cars, classics, Corvettes, Hot Rods, Resto Mods, among others, are set to cross the auction block.

Scott Hoke will host NBCSN’s Mecum Auctions coverage on-site in Chicago alongside analysts John KramanStephen Cox, and Bill Stephens. Mecum Auctions is led by Dana Mecum, Founder and President of Mecum Auctions for the past 29 years.

 

2017 WORLD GYMNASTICS CHAMPIONSHIPS
NBC Sports Group presents live coverage of the 2017 World Gymnastics Championships this week from Olympic Stadium in Montreal, Canada, continuing  tonight with the live women’s all-around final at 7 p.m. ET on Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA. NBC will present encore coverage of both events on Saturday, October 7, at 2 p.m. ET.

Coverage continues with the first day of apparatus finals Saturday at 5 p.m. ET on Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA, and wraps up on Sunday with live coverage of the second day of Apparatus Finals at 1 p.m. ET on NBCSN.  Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA will air an encore presentation of the second day of apparatus finals Sunday at 7 p.m. ET.

John Roethlisberger calls the action joined by Tim Daggett and Nastia Liukin.

 

ISU SHORT TRACK WORLD CUP
Coverage of the ISU Short Track World Cup season continues on the Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA this Saturday, October 7, at 3 p.m. ET with the second stop of the season in Dordrecht, Netherlands. Coverage of day two from the Netherlands continues on Sunday, October 8, at 5 p.m. ET on the Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA.

Jason Knapp calls the event alongside analyst Dan Weinstein.

 

CYCLING
NBC Sports Group’s cycling coverage continues with the 2017 Paris-Tours this Sunday, October 8, at 9:25 a.m. ET live and commercial-free on NBC Sports Gold with a subscription to its “Cycling Pass.” NBCSN will present encore coverage of the event this Monday, October 9, at 1 a.m. ET.

Steve Schlanger calls the action for NBCSN coverage, joined by analyst Bob Roll.

 

GOLF
NBC Sports Group’s tournament coverage continues this weekend with the PGA TOUR’s Safeway Open and the European Tour’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

Two weeks removed from the TOUR Championship, the PGA TOUR 2017-18 wraparound season kicks off this week in Napa, California for the Safeway Open, where Phil Mickelson headlines the field.

The Golf Channel presents live coverage of the Safeway Open today, Saturday and Sunday at 5:30 p.m. E.T. The Golf Channel’s Golf Central will provide Pre and Post round coverage each day of the weekend at 5 p.m. E.T. and 8:30 p.m. E.T. respectively.

Play-by-play commentator Terry Gannon is joined by Curt Byrum (analyst), with Matt Gogel and Steve Sands from the tower. Roger Maltbie and Billy Ray Brown contribute from the course.

Rory McIlroy, Martin Kaymer and Branden Grace lead the field at the European Tour’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at a historic rotation of three Scottish courses – St. Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns – over the first three rounds. St. Andrews will host the final round of play Sunday.

The Golf Channel presents live coverage of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship from Scotland at 8 a.m. E.T. on Saturday and 7:30 a.m. E.T. on Sunday.

Dougie Donnelly serves at play-by-play, joined by analysts Ken Brown and Mark James, Sam Torrance (tower), and Dale Hayes (on-course).

NBC presents a special broadcast of PGA Tour Year in Review at 12 p.m. E.T. on NBC.