FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, November 8th, 2017

NBC SPORTS PRESENTS 2017 MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES PLAYOFFS ROUND OF 8 ELIMINATION RACE THIS SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 12, AT 2:30 P.M. ET

XFINITY Series Playoffs Round of 8 Elimination Race – Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET on NBC

 

NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs Viewership Up 4% Across NBC Sports Group’s Coverage of First Eight Races

Clint Bowyer Joins NASCAR America Live at NASCAR Hall of Fame – Tonight at 5 p.m. ET on NBCSN

 

STAMFORD, Conn.November 8, 2017 – NBC Sports Group surrounds the penultimate races of the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup and XFINITY Series Playoffs, with more than 15 hours of trackside coverage from Phoenix International Raceway, in Avondale, Arizona. Race coverage from “The Grand Canyon State” begins Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET on NBC, with XFINITY Series racing, and is highlighted by Sunday’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC.

 

In a gripping, down to the wire finish last Sunday at Texas Motor Speedway, Kevin Harvick and the No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford won the race and secured a position in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship. Martin Truex Jr. and the No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Toyota finished in second place, and clinched a spot in the Cup Series Championship, based on points. With their respective first and second place finishes this past Sunday, Harvick and Truex Jr. joined Kyle Busch as the first three drivers to make the 2017 Cup Series Championship Four.

 

With 4111 points, Brad Keselowski currently holds the fourth and final position above the cut line in the Championship Four, but will have to battle Denny Hamlin (4092), Ryan Blaney (4089), Chase Elliott (4062) and Jimmie Johnson (4060) on Sunday to determine who ultimately secures the final spot in the 2017 NASCAR Cup Series Championship.

 

In addition to live television coverage, 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 PHOENIX – SUNDAY AT 2:30 P.M. ET ON NBC

 

NBC Sports Group kicks off its Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series coverage from Phoenix International Raceway this Friday at 12:45 p.m. ET on NBCSN, with first practice. Coverage on NBCSN continues at 6:30 p.m. ET with qualifying. Saturday’s coverage begins at 11:30 a.m. ET on NBCSN with second practice, followed by NASCAR America at 1:30 p.m. ET. Final practice wraps up the day at 2 p.m. ET on NBCSN.

 

Sunday’s race day coverage begins with NASCAR America at 1:30 p.m. ET on NBC, followed by Countdown to Green at 2 p.m. ET. NASCAR Cup Series racing begins at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC.

 

Live on-site post-race coverage will follow the conclusion of Sunday’s race. NBCSN wraps up coverage at 6:30 p.m. ET, with Victory Lap, NBC Sports Group’s NASCAR post-race show originating from Stamford, Conn.

 

Lead NASCAR on NBC race announcer Rick Allen (@RickAllenracing) will call the 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 alongside features reporter Rutledge Wood (@RutledgeWood).

 

XFINITY SERIES COVERAGE FROM PHOENIX INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY – SATURDAY AT 3:30 P.M. ET ON NBC

 

XFINITY Series coverage from Phoenix begins Friday at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN, with first practice. Coverage on NBCSN continues with final practice at 4:30 p.m. ET.

 

Saturday’s race day coverage kicks off with XFINITY Series qualifying at 12:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN, followed by pre-race Countdown to Green coverage at 3 p.m. ET on NBC. Live race coverage begins at 3:30 p.m. ET on NBC.

 

CLINT BOWYER JOINS NASCAR AMERICA FROM NASCAR HALL OF FAME – TONIGHT AT 5 P.M. ET ON NBCSN

 

As part of NBC Sports Group’s continuing coverage of the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, eight-time NASCAR Cup Series race-winner Clint Bowyer will appear on NASCAR America this evening at 5 p.m. ET on NBCSN.

 

Bowyer will join NASCAR America host Marty Snider, Jeff Burton, and Kyle Petty, live from Hall of Honor at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, N.C. During tonight’s 60-minute episode, the driver of the No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford will discuss his successful 2017 season, highlighted by six Top-5 finishes and 13 Top-10 finishes. In addition, Bowyer will weigh in on the team’s goals for the final two races on the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series schedule.

 

This weekend in Phoenix, the 38-year-old Emporia, Kansas native’s No. 14 car will be wrapped with USA Network’s new show Damnation. Set in depression-era America, the new drama is an epic saga about the secret history of America’s heartland, focusing on the mythic conflict and bloody struggle between big money and the downtrodden. Damnation airs Tuesday nights at 10 p.m. ET on USA.

 

NASCAR’S MONSTER ENERGY CUP SERIES PLAYOFFS VIEWERSHIP UP 4% ACROSS NBC SPORTS GROUP’S COVERAGE OF FIRST EIGHT RACES

 

Highlighted by a 49% viewership increase for NBCSN’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs Round of 8 race telecast this past Sunday from Texas Motor Speedway, NBC Sports Group’s coverage of the 2017 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs is averaging a Total Audience Delivery (TAD) of 2.9 million viewers, up 4% vs. 2016 (2.8 million).

 

A Total Audience Delivery average of 2.72 million viewers watched Sunday’s Cup Series Playoffs race via NBCSN and NBC Sports Digital platforms — up 49% vs. 2016.

 

The NBCSN-only telecast averaged 2.70 million viewers, up 13% vs. NBCSN’s 2017 Cup Series Playoffs average. Viewership of Sunday’s race peaked in the 5:45-6 p.m. ET quarter hour, as more than 3.5 million viewers tuned in.The full release is available here.

 

ERIK JONES JOINS NATE RYAN’S NASCAR ON NBC PODCAST

 

Furniture Row Racing’s rookie driver, Erik Jones, will join Nate Ryan (@nateryan) on this week’s NASCAR on NBC podcast. Jones will discuss his successful rookie season in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, with four Top-5 finishes. Jones will also discuss his transition within the Toyota family, and his move to the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota starting in 2018.

 

Current driver of No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, Matt Kenseth, joined Ryan for a special edition of the NASCAR on NBC podcast, released last Sunday. In the episode, Kenseth announced his plans to step away from the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in 2018. The 45-year-old also shared how he plans to spend his time away from the track.

 

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.

 

UPCOMING NBC SPORTS GROUP NASCAR PROGRAMMING

 

DATE COVERAGE TIME (ET) NETWORK
Wednesday, November 8 NASCAR America 5:00 PM NBCSN
Thursday, November 9 NASCAR America 5:00 PM NBCSN
NASCAR Scan All Special 6:00 PM NBCSN
NASCAR Scan All Special 6:30 PM NBCSN
Friday, November 10 NASCAR Cup Series First Practice – Phoenix 12:45 PM NBCSN
NASCAR XFINITY Series First Practice – Phoenix 2:30 PM NBCSN
NASCAR K&N Series – Kern County 3:30 PM NBCSN
NASCAR XFINITY Series Final Practice – Phoenix 4:30 PM NBCSN
NASCAR Cup Series Qualifying – Phoenix 6:30 PM NBCSN
Saturday, November 11 NASCAR Cup Series Second Practice – Phoenix 11:30 AM NBCSN
NASCAR XFINITY Series Qualifying – Phoenix 12:30 PM NBCSN
NASCAR America 1:30 PM NBCSN
NASCAR Cup Series Final Practice – Phoenix 2:00 PM NBCSN
NASCAR XFINITY Series Countdown to Green 3:00 PM NBC
NASCAR XFINITY Series Racing – Phoenix 3:30 PM NBC
Sunday, November 12 NASCAR America 1:30 PM NBC
NASCAR Cup Series Countdown to Green 2:00 PM NBC
NASCAR Cup Series Racing – Phoenix 2:30 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 —