NBC SPORTS HEADS TO TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY FOR THE PENULTIMATE RACE IN THE NASCAR CUP SERIES ROUND OF 12 THIS SUNDAY, OCTOBER 14 AT 2 P.M. ET

NASCAR on NBC’s Rutledge Wood Collaborates on Sneaker Design in Advance of Talladega

“NASCAR on NBC ‘Pup’ Series” Presents Adoption Event in Atlanta, Ga.

STAMFORD, Conn. – October 9, 2018 – NBC Sports Group’s coverage of the 2018 NASCAR Playoffs continues this weekend with the second race of the Monster Energy Cup Series Round of 12 from Talladega Superspeedway, in Lincoln, Ala. Live Playoff race coverage from NASCAR’s biggest and baddest track begins this Sunday, October 14, at 2 p.m. ET on NBC.

Following a thrilling overtime win last Sunday at Dover International Speedway, Chase Elliott and No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy advanced to the Round of 8 and lead the Cup Series Playoff field. Kevin Harvick (3,101 points), Kyle Busch (3,096 points), Martin Truex Jr. (3,069 points) and Joey Logano (3,064 points) round out the Top 5. Currently, Aric Almirola, Clint Bowyer, Kyle Larson and Alex Bowman all stand below the cut line and face possible elimination from the Playoffs.

NASCAR on NBC’s race coverage this Sunday from Talladega Superspeedway marks the final race for NBC Sports veteran Mike Wells, who has been directing NASCAR race broadcasts for 37 seasons.

MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES RACING FROM TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY – SUNDAY AT 2 P.M. ET ON NBC

NBC Sports kicks off its Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series coverage from Talladega Superspeedway this Saturday at 11 a.m. ET on NBCSN with first practice, followed by qualifying at 4:30 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. Coverage wraps up at 6:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN with Victory Lap, NBC Sports Group’s NASCAR post-race show.

NBC Sports Group’s lead race announcer Rick Allen (@Rickallenracing) will call Sunday’s race alongside “The Mayor” of NASCAR Jeff Burton (@JeffBurton), and racing icon Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) from NBC Sports’ traditional broadcast booth above the start/finish line. Daytona 500 winning crew chief Steve Letarte (@steveletarte) will call the race “On The Box”, atop NBC Sports Group’s “Peacock Pit Box” located on pit road.

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).

NASCAR ON NBC’S RUTLEDGE WOOD COLLABORATES ON SNEAKER DESIGN IN ADVANCE OF TALLADEGA

As part of NBC Sports Group’s celebration of the NASCAR Playoffs, NBC Sports features reporter and sneaker aficionado Rutledge Wood partnered with artist Julian Gaines to design a custom sneaker for NASCAR fans to celebrate the NASCAR playoffs on NBC.

The collaboration reflects Wood’s unique and colorful personality, and Gaines’ artistic eye, with the spirit of historic NASCAR racing in Talladega. The official “NASCAR on NBC” sneaker will be revealed as part of NBC Sports’ pre-race coverage this Sunday at noon ET on NBCSN.

NBC SPORTS PRESENTS FINAL “NASCAR ON NBC ‘PUP’ SERIES” ADOPTION EVENT OF 2018 IN ATLANTA

The “NASCAR on NBC ‘Pup’ Series” 2018 animal adoption campaign wraps up this week in Atlanta, Ga. in advance of NBC Sports’ race coverage from Talladega Superspeedway.

In partnership with the North Shore Animal League America, the “NASCAR on NBC ‘Pup’ Series” aims to raise awareness of the plight of animal homelessness while bringing puppy power to six cities hosting NASCAR Cup Series races this season. In addition to a custom-built NASCAR track, the adoptable puppies sport bandanas with the names of NASCAR drivers including Paw-stin Dillon and Chase “Your Tail” Elliott.

To date, all the homeless animals featured in the series have been adopted to forever homes.

For more information about the adoption events in Atlanta, click here.

QUOTES FROM JEFF BURTON & DALE EARNHARDT JR. ON TALLADEGA

Jeff Burton: “You can almost bet you are going to be in a crash there. So you have to leave (Dover) with a great finish.”

Dale Earnhardt Jr.: “You have to feel bad for Aric Almirola and Clint Bowyer, guys who were running up front all day long (in Dover), with a great opportunity to put themselves in a really good situation going into Talladega. Now they go into Talladega behind and in real trouble.”

UPCOMING NBC SPORTS GROUP NASCAR PROGRAMMING

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