FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, June 24th, 2015

NBC SPORTS FINALIZES NASCAR BROADCAST TEAM FOR 4TH of JULY WEEKEND DEBUT IN DAYTONA

Announcer Rick Allen Joins Analysts Jeff Burton & Steve Letarte to Call NASCAR XFINITY Series Action and Coke Zero 400 Sprint Cup Series Race

Krista Voda Hosts Pre- and Post-Race Coverage alongside Analysts Kyle Petty & Dale Jarrett from Open-Air Infield Studio atop Pit Road and at Victory Lane

Marty Snider, Kelli Stavast, Mike Massaro & Dave Burns Patrol Pit Road

Reporters Nate Ryan and Rutledge Wood Complete 12-person On-Air Team

STAMFORD, Conn. – June 24, 2015 – NBC Sports Group has finalized the on-air broadcast team that will present the organization’s first live slate of NASCAR racing action since 2006, when a hand-picked team of proven experts and motorsports journalists make their 4th of July Weekend debut from “The World Center of Racing” — Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla.  The announcement was made today by Sam Flood, Executive Producer, NBC Sports and NBCSN.

“NBC Sports has always taken great pride in the belief that we surround each of our broadcasts with the very best on-air talent in the business and this NASCAR team is exemplary,” said Flood. “We’re bringing fresh viewpoints from behind the wheel and on top of the pit box, multi-generational perspectives and Hall of Fame credentials, journalistic muscle, and an entertaining style that fans will enjoy and ultimately feel closer to the action.”

Accomplished race announcer Rick Allen joins 21-time NASCAR Sprint Cup winning driver Jeff Burton and Daytona 500 champion crew chief Steve Letarte in the NBC Sports broadcast booth to call two primetime races over the holiday weekend.  NBC Sports Group hits the ignition switch on its 10-year chapter as the home of NASCAR’s championship run on Saturday July 4th at 7:00 p.m. ET with the Subway Firecracker 250 NASCAR XFINITY Series Race on NBCSN.  Allen, Burton and Letarte return the next evening to call one of the most anticipated events of the season, the 57th running of the Coke Zero 400 Powered by Coca-Cola NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at 7 p.m. ET on NBC.

NBC Sports’ Krista Voda will sit alongside engaging NASCAR personality Kyle Petty, as well as three-time Daytona 500 champion and Hall of Fame driver Dale Jarrett, from a state-of-the-art open-air studio located atop pit road to set the stage for both races.  Rutledge Wood, NBC Sports’ NASCAR features reporter and “man about the track,” will present pieces that delve into the experience of attending a race at the famed Daytona International Speedway and NBCSports.com lead motorsports writer Nate Ryan will be on hand to cover news and timely information affecting the sport.  Once each checkered flag is captured, the set location will shift to Victory Lane in order to take in the post-race festivities and break down the pivotal moves and strategic decisions that dictated the outcome.

Experienced motorsports reporters Marty Snider, Kelli Stavast, Mike Massaro, and Dave Burns will cover pit road during both 4th of July Weekend telecasts,

On July 23, 2013, NASCAR and NBC Sports Group reached a comprehensive agreement that grants NBCUniversal exclusive rights to the final 20 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races, final 19 NASCAR XFINITY Series events, select NASCAR Regional & Touring Series events and other live content, beginning this coming 4th of July weekend from Daytona International Speedway.

With this partnership, NBC’s 20 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race schedule includes a designation as the exclusive home to the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, when the elite national series races through its final 10 events of the season. The Chase culminates with the season-ending championship event, which returns to network television in 2015 for the first time since 2009. Of NBC Sports Group’s 20 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events, seven will be carried on NBC annually, with 13 airing on NBCSN. Four of NBC Sports Group’s 19 NASCAR XFINITY Series races will air on NBC, with 15 airing on NBCSN.

NASCAR AMERICA is NBCSN’s weekday 30-minute news and highlights program dedicated to America’s fascination with speed and stock car racing, and features regular appearances by NBC Sports’ NASCAR experts, as well as a rotation of guest analysts.

— NBC SPORTS GROUP —