FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, October 11th, 2017

MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES PLAYOFFS ROUND OF 12 CONTINUE FROM TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY THIS SUNDAY, OCTOBER 15, AT 2 P.M. ET ON NBC

Dale Earnhardt Jr. to Wear NASCAR on NBC’s Helmet Visor Camera During Live Coverage of Sunday’s Race

 

Pre-Race Coverage Includes Special Feature with Three-Time NASCAR Cup Series Champion Tony Stewart

 

Danica Patrick Joins NASCAR America Live at NASCAR Hall of Fame – Tonight at 5 p.m. ET

 

STAMFORD, Conn.October 11, 2017 – NBC Sports Group surrounds the second race of the Round of 12 in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, with more than 11 hours of trackside coverage this weekend from Talladega Superspeedway, in Lincoln, Ala. Live race coverage from NASCAR’s biggest and baddest track begins this Sunday, October. 15, at 2 p.m. ET on NBC.

 

During Sunday’s race, Dale Earnhardt Jr. will don NASCAR on NBC’s helmet visor camera, and provide viewers live in-car coverage as he attempts to take home his seventh victory at Talladega Superspeedway.

 

Following a thrilling overtime win last Sunday at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Martin Truex Jr. and the No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Toyota have advanced to the Round of 8 and lead the Cup Series playoff field with 3,106 points. Kyle Larson (3,072 points), Kevin Harvick (3,069), Chase Elliott (3,059) and Denny Hamlin (3,056) round out the Top 5, followed by Kyle Busch (3,055), Jimmie Johnson (3,051) and Jamie McMurray (3,044). Matt Kenseth (3,043), Brad Keselowski (3,042), Ryan Blaney (3,039) and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (3,034) currently stand below the cutline. Stenhouse Jr. earned his first career NASCAR Cup Series win at Talladega this past May.

 

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 TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY – SUNDAY AT 2 P.M. ET ON NBC

 

NBC Sports Group kicks off its Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series coverage from Talladega Superspeedway this Friday at 1 p.m. ET on NBCSN with first practice, followed by final practice at 3 p.m. ET on NBCSN. NASCAR America wraps up on-site coverage at 5 p.m. ET on NBCSN. Saturday’s coverage includes qualifying at 4 p.m. ET on NBCSN.

 

Sunday’s race day coverage begins with NASCAR America at 1 p.m. ET on NBCSN, and continues with Countdown to Green at 1:30 p.m. ET on NBC. Pre-race coverage includes a special feature with three-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion and Stewart-Haas Racing co-owner Tony Stewart.

 

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 this weekend’s Monster Energy 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) and Dave Burns (@tvdaveburns) will report from pit road, alongside features reporter Rutledge Wood (@rutledgewood).

 

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

 

Tonight at 5 p.m. ET, Danica Patrick will join NASCAR America host Krista Voda, as well as analysts Jeff Burton and Steve Letarte, live from the NASCAR Hall of Fame, in Charlotte, N.C.

 

Patrick will discuss her final season with Stewart-Haas Racing, her plans for 2018, and her numerous career aspirations and ventures outside of NASCAR. 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.

 

QUOTE FROM STEVE LETARTE ON CONFUSION SURROUNDING JIMMIE JOHNSON’S QUESTIONABLE PIT STOP

 

During Monday evening’s edition of NASCAR America, NASCAR on NBCSN analyst Steve Letarte shared the following comments about Jimmie Johnson not being penalized for being outside the pit box during his pit stop on Lap 280 of this past Sunday’s race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

 

Letarte: “Words on paper are very different than a call in a race. By the rule, the No. 48 should not have been penalized. I questioned it during yesterday’s broadcast simply because it failed the eye test. My bigger issue is Chad Knaus was crystal clear, he understood what the rule was. His competitor Cole Pearn, who I consider to be a very smart crew chief, thought it was going to be a penalty.”

 

The full conversation is available here.

 

JEFF BURTON JOINS NATE RYAN’S NASCAR ON NBC PODCAST

 

NASCAR on NBC analyst Jeff Burton joins Nate Ryan (@nateryan) on this week’s NASCAR on NBC podcast. Burton candidly discusses last weekend’s Cup Series playoff race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, and shares his thoughts on how NASCAR has been enforcing rules and penalties this season.

 

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, October 11 NASCAR America 5:00 PM NBCSN
Thursday, October 12 NASCAR America 5:00 PM NBCSN
NASCAR Whelen Series 6:00 PM NBCSN
Friday, October 13 NASCAR Cup Series First Practice – Talladega 1:00 PM NBCSN
NASCAR Cup Series Final Practice – Talladega 3:00 PM NBCSN
NASCAR America 5:00 PM NBCSN
Saturday, October 14 NASCAR Cup Series Qualifying – Talladega 4:00 PM NBCSN
Sunday, October 15 NASCAR America 1:00 PM NBCSN
NASCAR Cup Series Countdown to Green 1:30 PM NBC
NASCAR Cup Series Racing – Talladega 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 —