FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, October 31st, 2018
MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR PLAYOFF DRIVERS FACE OFF IN PENULTIMATE ROUND OF 8 RACE FROM TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY THIS SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 4, AT 3 P.M. ET ON NBCSN
NBC Sports Presents 18 Hours of NASCAR Cup and Xfinity Series Coverage From “The Great American Speedway”
Texas Native and WWE Legend “Stone Cold” Steve Austin Narrates Sunday’s Cup Series Show Open
NBC Sports Group to Debut New Playoff Promos During this Weekend’s Coverage
STAMFORD, Conn. – October 31, 2018 – NBC Sports Group’s coverage of the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup and Xfinity Series Playoffs continues this weekend with 18 hours of trackside coverage from Texas Motor Speedway, in Fort Worth, Texas. Playoff race coverage from “The Great American Speedway” begins Saturday at 4:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN, with Xfinity Series racing, and is highlighted by Sunday’s pivotal Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs Round of 8 race at 3 p.m. ET on NBCSN.
Following a thrilling down to the wire win at Martinsville Speedway this past Sunday, Joey Logano and the No. 22 Team Penske Ford secured a position in the NASCAR Cup Series Championship. Going into this weekend’s Round of 8 race in Texas, Kyle Busch leads the remaining seven Playoff drivers with 4,104 points, followed by Martin Truex Jr. (4,083 points) and Kevin Harvick (4,083 points). Kurt Busch (4,058 points), Chase Elliott (4,052 points), Clint Bowyer (4,041 points) and Aric Almirola (4,033 points) currently fall below the Championship cut line.
MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES RACING FROM TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY – SUNDAY AT 3 P.M. ET ON NBCSN
NBCSN kicks off its Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series coverage form Texas Motor Speedway this Friday at 2 p.m. ET with first practice, followed by qualifying at 7 p.m. ET. Saturday’s coverage features second practice at 12:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN. Final practice wraps up the day at 3 p.m. ET on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app. NBCSN picks up coverage of final practice at 3:30 p.m. ET.
Sunday’s race day coverage beings with NASCAR America at 1 p.m. ET, followed by Countdown to Green at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN. Pre-race coverage includes interviews with all eight Championship contenders, as well as a feature on Xfinity Playoff competitor and driver of Joe Gibbs Racing’s No. 20 Toyota, Christopher Bell.
Before the green flag falls, NBCSN’s coverage will also feature a special show open narrated by Texas native and WWE Legend “Stone Cold” Steve Austin. NASCAR Cup Series racing begins at 3 p.m. ET on NBCSN. A special 90-minute on-site post-race show begins at 7 p.m. ET and wraps up coverage from “The Lone Star State.”
Lead race announcer Rick Allen (@Rickallenracing) will pair with “The Mayor” of NASCAR Jeff Burton (@Jeffburton) from NBC Sports’ traditional broadcast booth above the start-finish line. Daytona 500 winning crew chief Steve Letarte (@steveletarte) and NASCAR icon Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) will contribute analysis from NBC Sports’ second broadcast booth.
Krista Voda (@KristaVoda) will host pre- and post-race coverage alongside auto racing icon Kyle Petty (@Kylepetty), and Hall of Famer Dale Jarrett (@DaleJarrett). Marty Snider (@HeyMartysnider), Kelli Stavast (@Kellistavast) and Dave Burns (@tvdaveburns) will report from pit road alongside features reporter Rutledge Wood (@rutledgewood).
XFINITY SERIES COVERAGE FROM “THE GREAT AMERICAN SPEEDWAY”– SATURDAY AT 4:30 P.M. ET ON NBCSN
NBC Sports Group’s Xfinity Series coverage from Texas begins Friday at 3 p.m. ET with first practice, followed by final practice beginning at 5 p.m. ET. Both available on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app.
Saturday’s race day coverage kicks off with Xfinity Series qualifying at 1:30 p.m. ET on CNBC. NBCSN’s pre-race Countdown to Green coverage begins at 4 p.m. ET, followed by live race coverage at 4:30 p.m. ET.
Allen will call Saturday’s race alongside Burton and Letarte. In addition, NASCAR on NBC’s K&N pit reporter Dillon Welch will contribute to NBC Sports’ Xfinity Series qualifying and race coverage, alongside Snider, Burns and Stavast.
NBC SPORTS DEBUTS NEW PLAYOFF PROMOS DURING THIS WEEKEND’S COVERAGE
NBC Sports surrounds the countdown to the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship race with new marketing content highlighting the 2018 Round of 8 drivers. The campaign will officially debut this weekend in Texas, during the penultimate race in the Round of 8. The new campaign features drivers explaining their championship mindset as well as a classic group portrait with the Monster Energy Cup Series trophy.
UPCOMING NBC SPORTS GROUP NASCAR PROGRAMMING
DATE | COVERAGE | TIME (ET) | NETWORK |
Wednesday, Oct. 31 | NASCAR America | 5 p.m. | NBCSN |
Thursday, Nov. 1 | NASCAR America | 5 p.m. | NBCSN |
Dale Jr. Download | 5:30 p.m. | NBCSN | |
K&N Pro West – Kern County | 6 p.m. | NBCSN | |
Friday, Nov. 2 | NASCAR Cup Series First Practice – Texas | 2 p.m. | NBCSN |
NASCAR Xfinity Series First Practice – Texas | 3 p.m. | NBC Sports app, NBCSports.com | |
NASCAR Xfinity Series Final Practice – Texas | 5:30 p.m. | NBC Sports app, NBCSports.com | |
NASCAR Cup Series Qualifying – Texas | 7 p.m. | NBCSN | |
Saturday, Nov. 3 | NASCAR Cup Series Second Practice – Texas | 12:30 p.m. | CNBC |
NASCAR Xfinity Series Qualifying – Texas | 1:30 p.m. | CNBC | |
NASCAR Cup Series Final Practice – Texas | 3 p.m. | NBC Sports app, NBCSports.com | |
NASCAR Cup Series Final Practice – Texas | 3:30 p.m. | NBCSN | |
NASCAR Xfinity Series Countdown to Green | 4 p.m. | NBCSN | |
NASCAR Xfinity Series Race – Taxas | 4:30 p.m. | NBCSN | |
NASCAR Xfinity Series Post-Race Show | 7 p.m. | NBCSN | |
Sunday, Nov. 4 | NASCAR America | 1 p.m. | NBCSN |
NASCAR Cup Series Countdown to Green | 2:30 p.m. | NBCSN | |
NASCAR Cup Series Race – Texas | 3 p.m. | NBCSN | |
NASCAR Cup Series Post-Race Show | 7 p.m. | NBCSN | |
Victory Lap | 7:30 p.m. | NBCSN | |
Proving Grounds | 8:30 p.m. | NBCSN | |
/DRIVE | 9 p.m. | NBCSN | |
/DRIVE | 9:30 p.m. | NBCSN |
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 —