NASCAR on TNT is the branding for NASCAR races broadcast on TNT by TNT Sports. TNT is currently slated to begin airing events beginning with the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season.

NASCAR on TNT
GenreAuto racing telecasts
Presented bySee "commentators" section
Opening theme
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons14 (7 more starting in 2025)
Production
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running timeCountdown to Green: 60 minutes
NASCAR on TNT: 3.5–4.5 hours (depending on race length)
Production companies
Original release
NetworkTNT
ReleaseJuly 22, 2001 (2001-07-22) –
July 13, 2014 (2014-07-13)

TNT had first become a NASCAR broadcast partner with NBC Sports when NBC became a full-time broadcaster of the sport, serving as NBC's cable partner from 2001 until 2006. After NBC chose not to renew its contract, TNT continued to retain its rights to air several NASCAR Cup Series races a year until 2014.

Coverage history

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Prior to 2001

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Prior to 2001, Turner Sports' home for NASCAR was TNT's sister station, TBS. Booth announcers/analysts included Ken Squier, Buddy Baker, and Dick Berggren. After TBS made a host/booth switch, Allen Bestwick became the lap-by-lap announcer with Baker and Berggren in the booth for TBS' 2000 coverage at Lowe's and Pocono while Squier moved to a host position, the same position he had held at CBS since the start of the 1998 NASCAR season.

TBS typically covered the Coca-Cola 600 and UAW-GM Quality 500 at Charlotte, the July race at Pocono, and several NASCAR Busch Series races. TBS aired side by side coverage during commercials during the 2000 UAW-GM Quality 500.

When NASCAR's new broadcasting rights contract was signed in 1999, which included Fox, FX, and NBC, TBS was to keep its rights to NASCAR by serving as NBC's cable partner. The deal was to begin with the 2001 NASCAR season.

However, Turner elected to move the race coverage to sister network TNT as part of its new branding and "We Know Drama" slogan. Also, TBS' coverage of Atlanta Braves baseball games, which were a staple of the channel lineup for years, often was aired on weekends afternoon or evening and would clash with NASCAR races.

2001–2006

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TNT aired its first NASCAR Winston Cup Series race under the new contract at New Hampshire International Speedway in July 2001. Both networks shared the broadcast team of Allen Bestwick, Benny Parsons, and Wally Dallenbach Jr. in the booth and Bill Weber, Marty Snider, Dave Burns, and Matt Yocum on pit road, as well as both being produced with Turner Sports' graphical look. The only differences were the placement of the network's logo on the graphics package and different colored pit reporter fire suits. Also, Liz Allison, widow of former driver Davey Allison, worked as a reporter exclusively for TNT during the 2001 season.[1]

TNT was treated as the secondary broadcaster, as far as broadcast rights are concerned, during its relationship with NBC because it is a cable rather than broadcast network (Turner produced all of NBC's telecasts as well). NBC's portion of broadcast included almost all of the prestigious races during their half of the year (with the exception of the Mountain Dew Southern 500 at Darlington, the fourth leg of NASCAR's Grand Slam, in 2001 and 2002, and the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 at Richmond from 2004 to 2006, when the race was the last race of the regular season under the season format). The idea was that ratings would most certainly be higher for NBC's coverage of a given race next to TNT's due to a broadcaster's penetration. TNT was given most of the Busch Series schedule except for major races, then covered by NBC. Night races were almost always covered by TNT except for the Pepsi 400 at Daytona, which aired on NBC in years that they had the rights to it, and (later) the UAW-GM Quality 500 at Charlotte when that race was moved from Sunday afternoons to Saturday nights. Otherwise, following the fall Richmond race, TNT's Cup Series coverage was limited to one, two or three races (including the Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400 at Rockingham, which they covered from 2001 to 2003).

It was generally understood that anytime a major news story needed to be covered by NBC its NASCAR coverage would be switched over to TNT. This occurred only once: the October 7, 2001 race at Lowe's Motor Speedway was interrupted during the prerace show when President George W. Bush announced the beginning of Operation Enduring Freedom in response to the September 11, 2001 attacks. NBC covered the news until 25 laps to go (simulcast with TNT), and the entire race was shown on TNT.

TNT also would broadcast any NBC-scheduled races that were postponed by rain until the following day, much like FX would do for Fox during this contract (this is no longer applicable as Fox airs rain-delayed races the following day, since Fox has no daytime programming, unlike ABC, CBS and NBC).

The TNT–NBC partnership broke off when NBC chose not to bid for the NASCAR contract when it expired in 2006.

2007–2014

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TNT, however, elected to make a bid for rights in the new television contract and was successful in retaining its coverage, joining Fox and the ESPN family of networks in a contract that ran until 2014. Under the terms of said contract TNT gained broadcast rights to six June and July races, which it calls the NASCAR on TNT Summer Series. TNT's six races in 2014 were the Pocono 400 at Pocono Raceway, the Quicken Loans 400 at Michigan International Speedway, the Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway, the Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway, the annual July 4 weekend Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway, and the Camping World RV Sales 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

Unlike in the previous contract TNT was not able to procure rights to any Nationwide Series races, as ESPN successfully bid to be the exclusive carrier of the series. However, TNT became the exclusive home for the Coke Zero 400, much like Fox had become exclusive home for the Daytona 500 — in the previous contract, Fox and NBC alternated coverage of the two races at Daytona, with Fox airing the Daytona 500 and NBC the Pepsi 400 in odd-numbered years, and vice versa in even-numbered years.

Bill Weber stayed on as TNT's NASCAR voice and Wally Dallenbach Jr. was retained to be his color commentator. Benny Parsons was to join the two in the booth and had a contract for 2007, but he died from lung cancer in January afer he missed four races in 2006 for treatment on his lung cancer. Kyle Petty elected to take time off from his driving duties to take the position in the broadcast booth. Marty Snider and Matt Yocum returned as pit reporters. To replace Allen Bestwick and Dave Burns, both of whom went to ESPN following the 2006 season, TNT promoted Ralph Sheheen and Lindsay Czarniak to full-time pit reporter positions; previously both of them served as substitutes or for stand-alone Busch Series races that conflicted with the Cup Series schedule. To round out the coverage, Larry McReynolds was loaned by Fox to provide analysis and explanations.

2007–2009

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From 2007 to 2009, TNT's pre-race coverage began with a one-hour show called NASCAR on TNT Live! This was followed by a 30-minute version of Countdown to Green, followed by the race itself. The pre-race coverage was changed in 2010 to a simple one-hour version of Countdown to Green due to NASCAR's new policy of earlier start times. Since 2007, each pre-race broadcast (whether it be on NASCAR on TNT Live! or Countdown to Green) featured "The Pride of NASCAR" segment which featured an interview with a historical NASCAR figure. Some examples include Richard Petty (interviewed by his son Kyle), A. J. Foyt, and Mario Andretti.

One of the most popular features of TNT's coverage is RaceBuddy, a free online application on NASCAR.com that allows fans to watch the race through their choice of several camera angles. In 2009, Jim Noble was added as the RaceBuddy-only pit reporter.[citation needed]

On July 7, 2007, during the Pepsi 400, TNT used for the first time a new broadcast format called "Wide-Open Coverage". The race broadcast was moved to the top of the screen, with all scoring graphics placed in the bottom of the screen.The race was also broadcast with limited commercial interruption; only three green flag laps took place during commercials during the entire broadcast, because of cable and satellite television providers having several minutes every hour to air local ads, bypassing TNT entirely. All other commercials were aired in the lower third of the screen, similar to what is used by the IndyCar Series but with a significantly larger window for the race coverage. Most of these commercials featured a special ad for that race, followed by their traditional ad. For each Daytona race through 2012, TNT featured the Wide-Open Coverage format. In 2009 and 2010, no green flag laps were missed. In 2013, the format was only used for the last 30 laps, as they were only able to get two sponsors for the format, and in 2014, was dropped entirely due to the race being delayed to Sunday by rain.[2]

During the broadcast of the 2008 LifeLock.com 400, Larry McReynolds performed a magic trick, "cutting" Marc Fein in half while green flag racing was taking place on the racetrack. This came at the dismay and outrage of many fans and viewers.

TNT also missed the winning pass of the 2008 Coke Zero 400 when a last lap crash involving Michael Waltrip took out several cars. When it was all said and done, TNT panned over to Carl Edwards, who prematurely celebrated his victory, thinking he had the lead when the caution came out. Because the crash occurred on the last lap, the field is frozen at the moment the caution came out and NASCAR reviews the finishing order by using video replays and scoring loop data. Those replays all showed Kyle Busch as the leader when the caution came out; Busch was declared the winner of the Coke Zero 400.

2010–2014

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The 2010 race also featured a 3-D broadcast on some cable/satellite providers and on NASCAR.com.

There were some technical issues with TNT's final Sprint Cup race of the season at Chicagoland when the picture and sound went out during the prerace show, causing the invocation and the national anthem to not be televised.

Beginning with the Party at the Poconos 400 race on June 9, 2013, TNT's NASCAR coverage switched to a 16:9 aspect ratio letterbox format, though it did retain its on-air graphics package that has been in use since 2007. The ticker across the top of the screen also changed, with the lap counter and TNT network logo both being moved to the upper right-hand corner of the screen. The screen on TNT's standard-definition 4:3 feed now airs a letterboxed version of the native HD feed to match that of Fox's and ESPN's respective default widescreen SD presentations. NASCAR on TNT was the last of the 3 broadcast partners to switch to a widescreen presentation. NBC became the 4th to switch to letterbox format on SD feeds in 2015.

The end of NASCAR on TNT and Turner Sports

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The 2014 Camping World RV Sales 301, on July 13, at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, was the final NASCAR race televised on TNT in its fourteen years with TNT and marked the end of NASCAR's total 32-year run on Turner Sports, dating back to 1983; in the wake of former co-partner NBC signing a new agreement to televise races from the major NASCAR series (mainly Cup Series and Xfinity Series as well as Mexico Series races on its Spanish-language networks). Thus, TNT decided to devote a large segment of the pre-race show to showing clips of signature NASCAR moments to air on both it and TBS; and also welcomed NASCAR president Mike Helton to the TNT booth to talk about the relationship of NASCAR with Turner Sports, as Helton had been president of the Atlanta Motor Speedway when Turner Sports showed its first race at AMS, which had aired on TBS in 1983, 32 years prior. Finally, the conclusive pre-race broadcast in fourteen years of NASCAR on TNT was closed out by former TBS lead announcer and New England native Ken Squier.[3]

Hello everyone, I'm Ken Squier. And as the engines have fired at New Hampshire, I remind you that this is the final NASCAR broadcast for Turner Sports. I was the play-by-play announcer for TBS for 18 years beginning in the very first year of NASCAR coverage, 1983. It's been a real honor to be a part of today's broadcast and I wish my colleagues the very best today on TNT, as this amazing 32-year run comes to a close. I hope you enjoy today's race.

During NASCAR's 32-year run on Turner Sports, the races aired on TBS (1983–2000) and TNT (2001–2014).

2025 return

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On November 29, 2023, TNT Sports announced that it had acquired the rights to five yearly summer NASCAR Cup Series races starting in 2025. TruTV will also hold the rights to practice and qualifying for 19 Cup Series races per season. All races, as well as practice and qualifying, will stream on Bleacher Report Sports Add-On on Max.[4]

On May 7, 2024, it was officially announced that Dale Earnhardt Jr. would make the move from NASCAR on NBC to Amazon and TNT's new NASCAR coverage coverage in the next television contract that starts in 2025, presumably continuing as a color commentator.[5]

On May 13, 2024, NASCAR announced that they would hold a mid-season bracket challenge for Cup Series teams that would take place during TNT's five races. The top 32 drivers from the three previous races who would be seeded in the bracket for the start of the tournament based on their finishes in those races. The driver who wins the bracket challenge will win $1,000,000.[6]

On September 5, 2024, despite the contract not going into effect until the following season, TruTV and Max began airing NASCAR Inside the Playoffs. The studio show, which is produced by NASCAR Productions, will air every Thursday and feature Shannon Spake, Steve Letarte, Dylan "Mamba" Smith and Jordan Bianchi.[7]

Commentators

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2001–2014

2025–2031

The rest of TNT's broadcasters for their new coverage starting in 2025 have yet to be determined.

Broadcast team history

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TNT and NBC shared the broadcast team of Allen Bestwick on lap-by-lap and Benny Parsons and Wally Dallenbach Jr. on color commentary. Dave Burns, Matt Yocum, Marty Snider, and Bill Weber were the pit reporters, with Weber hosting the Countdown to Green pre-race show.

When TNT would broadcast Busch Series races that conflicted with the Cup races, other pit reporters, such as Glenn Jarrett, Mark Garrow, Ralph Sheheen, and Lindsay Czarniak would join the coverage.

In 2004, Weber became the lap-by-lap announcer for two races as Bestwick recovered from a leg injury he suffered while playing hockey.

2005–2006

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In 2005, Bestwick and Weber traded positions. However, Bestwick would occasionally do lap-by-lap for Busch races that conflicted with the schedule for the primary series. Bestwick also filled in for lap-by-lap commentary at the Fall Phoenix Busch race when Weber became ill with laryngitis.

2007–2009

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For 2007, TNT went solo, covering six races that started with the Pocono 500 on June 10. Weber and Dallenbach returned to the broadcast booth. After Parsons' death from cancer, he was replaced by Kyle Petty, who took time off from his driving duties at Petty Enterprises to do so. Weber also continued to host the pre-race shows, NASCAR on TNT Live and Allstate Countdown to Green, joined by Marc Fein and Fox Sports' Larry McReynolds (producer Barry Landis also came over from Fox for these six races). Like the other networks, TNT has adopted a "cut-away" car (provided by Ford) that McReynolds uses occasionally on the telecasts. Also during the race, Fein and McReynolds contribute to the coverage from a large infield studio that revolves from a point several feet above ground level.

Marty Snider and Matt Yocum returned as pit reporters. Ralph Sheheen and Lindsay Czarniak joined the team full-time for 2007, replacing Dave Burns and Allen Bestwick, who had jumped to ESPN.

On June 24, Petty contributed to the broadcast from inside the race car at Infineon Raceway during the Toyota/Save Mart 350. During the race, he uttered an obscenity that was picked up by the network's microphones after he was involved in a crash on lap 1 with Matt Kenseth and Marc Goossens. Weber apologized to viewers, and Petty's status at TNT appeared to be secure despite the incident. No fines were issued by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for the incident as cable television is not subjected to the FCC's indecency policies.

The broadcast remained the same in the 2008 and 2009 seasons. However, halfway through TNT's 2009 race coverage, Weber was suspended by TNT for an incident at a hotel and was replaced in the broadcast booth by Sheheen. TNT later announced that Weber would not return for the Daytona or Chicagoland races, leading many to believe that he was fired by the network, and named Sheheen as his replacement. To take Sheheen's place on pit road TNT turned to SPEED's NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series pit reporter Adam Alexander.

2010–2014

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On February 25, 2010, USA Today and Jayski's Silly Season Site confirmed that Weber's TNT contract was not renewed, but that he was still under a general motorsports contract with NBC (which reportedly may also include NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour coverage on Versus, whose parent Comcast was buying NBC Universal). NASCAR.com reported on March 3, 2010, that Weber would be replaced by Adam Alexander and Sheheen would return to pit reporting. To replace Weber as pre-race show host, Lindsay Czarniak was moved from the pits to take his place. TNT hired SPEED's Phil Parsons to take Czarniak's place. Parsons didn't return for 2011. Kyle Petty joined Czarniak and Larry McReynolds for the pre-race programs for the 2010 season, as Marc Fein was moved to TBS' Sunday major league baseball broadcasts. Fein left Turner Sports altogether in 2012 (he joined Dallas NBC affiliate KXAS as an anchor that year). Czarniak did not return for the 2012 season (she joined ESPN as an anchor for SportsCenter in 2011). In 2012, lap-by-lap race announcer Adam Alexander added pre-race show host to his responsibilities.

2025–2031

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On May 7, 2024, it was officially announced that Dale Earnhardt Jr. would make the move from NASCAR on NBC to Amazon and TNT's new NASCAR coverage coverage in the next TV contract that starts in 2025, presumably continuing as a color commentator.[5] (The Athletic had previously reported on February 29 that Jr. would leave NBC for Amazon and TNT.[8])

Race broadcasts

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Cup Series

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2000s

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2001
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Rd Date Race name Track City Lap-by-lap commentator Color commentator(s)
19 July 22 New England 300 New Hampshire International Speedway Loudon, New Hampshire Allen Bestwick Benny Parsons and Wally Dallenbach Jr.
20 July 29 Pennsylvania 500 Pocono Raceway Long Pond, Pennsylvania
23 August 19 Pepsi 400 Michigan International Speedway Brooklyn, Michigan
24 August 25 Sharpie 500 Bristol Motor Speedway Bristol, Tennessee
26 September 8 Chevrolet Monte Carlo 400 Richmond International Raceway Richmond, Virginia
29 October 7 UAW-GM Quality 500[a] Lowe's Motor Speedway Concord, North Carolina
33 November 4 Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400 North Carolina Speedway Rockingham, North Carolina
2002
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Rd Date Race name Track City Lap-by-lap commentator Color commentator(s)
E February 10 Budweiser Shootout Daytona International Speedway Daytona Beach, Florida Allen Bestwick Benny Parsons and Wally Dallenbach Jr.
E February 14 Gatorade 125s
19 July 21 New England 300 New Hampshire International Speedway Loudon, New Hampshire
20 July 28 Pennsylvania 500 Pocono Raceway Long Pond, Pennsylvania
23 August 18 Pepsi 400 Michigan International Speedway Brooklyn, Michigan
24 August 24 Sharpie 500 Bristol Motor Speedway Bristol, Tennessee
25 September 1 Mountain Dew Southern 500 Darlington Raceway Darlington, South Carolina
26 September 7 Chevrolet Monte Carlo 400 Richmond International Raceway Richmond, Virginia
28 September 22 MBNA All-American Heroes 400 Dover International Speedway Dover, Delaware
34 November 3 Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400 North Carolina Speedway Rockingham, North Carolina
2003
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Rd Date Race name Track City Lap-by-lap commentator Color commentator(s)
19 July 20 New England 300 New Hampshire International Speedway Loudon, New Hampshire Allen Bestwick Benny Parsons and Wally Dallenbach Jr.
20 July 27 Pennsylvania 500 Pocono Raceway Long Pond, Pennsylvania
23 August 17 GFS Marketplace 400 Michigan International Speedway Brooklyn, Michigan
24 August 23 Sharpie 500 Bristol Motor Speedway Bristol, Tennessee
26 September 6 Chevy Rock & Roll 400 Richmond International Raceway Richmond, Virginia
27 September 14 Sylvania 300 New Hampshire International Speedway Loudon, New Hampshire
33 October 27[b] Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 Atlanta Motor Speedway Hampton, Georgia
35 November 9 Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400 North Carolina Speedway Rockingham, North Carolina
2004
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Rd Date Race name Track City Lap-by-lap commentator Color commentator(s)
E February 7 Budweiser Shootout Daytona International Speedway Daytona Beach, Florida Allen Bestwick Benny Parsons and Wally Dallenbach Jr.
E February 12 Gatorade 125s
19 July 25 Siemens 300 New Hampshire International Speedway Loudon, New Hampshire
20 August 1 Pennsylvania 500 Pocono Raceway Long Pond, Pennsylvania
22 August 15 Sirius at The Glen Watkins Glen International Watkins Glen, New York
23 August 22 GFS Marketplace 400 Michigan International Speedway Brooklyn, Michigan
24 August 28 Sharpie 500 Bristol Motor Speedway Bristol, Tennessee
26 September 11 Chevy Rock & Roll 400 Richmond International Raceway Richmond, Virginia
27 September 19 Sylvania 300 New Hampshire International Speedway Loudon, New Hampshire
28 September 26 MBNA America 400 Dover International Speedway Dover, Delaware
2005
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Rd Date Race name Track City Lap-by-lap commentator Color commentator(s)
19 July 17 New England 300 New Hampshire International Speedway Loudon, New Hampshire Bill Weber Benny Parsons and Wally Dallenbach Jr.
20 July 24 Pennsylvania 500 Pocono Raceway Long Pond, Pennsylvania
23 August 21 GFS Marketplace 400 Michigan International Speedway Brooklyn, Michigan
24 August 28 Sharpie 500 Bristol Motor Speedway Bristol, Tennessee
26 September 10 Chevy Rock & Roll 400 Richmond International Raceway Richmond, Virginia
27 September 18 Sylvania 300 New Hampshire International Speedway Loudon, New Hampshire
28 September 25 MBNA NASCAR RacePoints 400 Dover International Speedway Dover, Delaware
2006
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Rd Date Race name Track City Lap-by-lap commentator Color commentator(s)
E February 11 Budweiser Shootout Daytona International Speedway Daytona Beach, Florida Bill Weber Benny Parsons and Wally Dallenbach Jr.
E February 16 Gatorade Duels
18 July 9 USG Sheetrock 400 Chicagoland Speedway Joliet, Illinois
19 July 16 Lenox Industrial Tools 300 New Hampshire International Speedway Loudon, New Hampshire
20 July 23 Pennsylvania 500 Pocono Raceway Long Pond, Pennsylvania
23 August 20 GFS Marketplace 400 Michigan International Speedway Brooklyn, Michigan Wally Dallenbach Jr.
24 August 26 Sharpie 500 Bristol Motor Speedway Bristol, Tennessee Benny Parsons and Wally Dallenbach Jr.
26 September 9 Chevy Rock and Roll 400 Richmond International Raceway Richmond, Virginia
27 September 17 Sylvania 300 New Hampshire International Speedway Loudon, New Hampshire
28 September 24 Dover 400 Dover International Speedway Dover, Delaware Benny Parsons and Wally Dallenbach Jr.
2007
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Rd Date Race name Track City Lap-by-lap commentator Color commentator(s)
14 June 10 Pocono 500 Pocono Raceway Long Pond, Pennsylvania Bill Weber Wally Dallenbach Jr. and Kyle Petty
15 June 17 Citizens Bank 400 Michigan International Speedway Brooklyn, Michigan
16 June 24 Toyota/Save Mart 350 Infineon Raceway Sonoma, California Wally Dallenbach Jr.
17 July 1 Lenox Industrial Tools 300 New Hampshire International Speedway Loudon, New Hampshire Wally Dallenbach Jr. and Kyle Petty
18 July 7 Pepsi 400 Daytona International Speedway Daytona Beach, Florida
19 July 15 USG Sheetrock 400 Chicagoland Speedway Joliet, Illinois
2008
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Rd Date Race name Track City Lap-by-lap commentator Color commentator(s)
14 June 8 Pocono 500 Pocono Raceway Long Pond, Pennsylvania Bill Weber Wally Dallenbach Jr. and Kyle Petty
15 June 15 LifeLock 400 Michigan International Speedway Brooklyn, Michigan
16 June 22 Toyota Save/Mart 350 Infineon Raceway Sonoma, California
17 June 29 Lenox Industrial Tools 301 New Hampshire Motor Speedway Loudon, New Hampshire
18 July 5 Coke Zero 400 Daytona International Speedway Daytona Beach, Florida
19 July 12 LifeLock.com 400 Chicagoland Speedway Joliet, Illinois
2009
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Rd Date Race name Track City Lap-by-lap commentator Color commentator(s)
14 June 7 Pocono 500 Pocono Raceway Long Pond, Pennsylvania Bill Weber Wally Dallenbach Jr. and Kyle Petty
15 June 14 LifeLock 400 Michigan International Speedway Brooklyn, Michigan
16 June 21 Toyota/Save Mart 350 Infineon Raceway Sonoma, California
17 June 28 Lenox Industrial Tools 301 New Hampshire Motor Speedway Loudon, New Hampshire Ralph Sheheen
18 July 4 Coke Zero 400 Daytona International Speedway Daytona Beach, Florida
19 July 11 LifeLock.com 400 Chicagoland Speedway Joliet, Illinois

2010s

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2010
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Rd Date Race name Track City Lap-by-lap commentator Color commentator(s)
14 June 6 Gillette Fusion ProGlide 500 Pocono Raceway Long Pond, Pennsylvania Adam Alexander Wally Dallenbach Jr. and Kyle Petty
15 June 13 Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips 400 Michigan International Speedway Brooklyn, Michigan
16 June 20 Toyota/Save Mart 350 Infineon Raceway Sonoma, California
17 June 27 Lenox Industrial Tools 301 New Hampshire Motor Speedway Loudon, New Hampshire
18 July 3 Coke Zero 400 Daytona International Speedway Daytona Beach, Florida
19 July 10 LifeLock.com 400 Chicagoland Speedway Joliet, Illinois
2011
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Rd Date Race name Track City Lap-by-lap commentator Color commentator(s)
14 June 12 5-hour Energy 500 Pocono Raceway Long Pond, Pennsylvania Adam Alexander Wally Dallenbach Jr. and Kyle Petty
15 June 19 Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips 400 Michigan International Speedway Brooklyn, Michigan
16 June 26 Toyota/Save Mart 350 Infineon Raceway Sonoma, California
17 July 2 Coke Zero 400 Daytona International Speedway Daytona Beach, Florida
18 July 9 Quaker State 400 Kentucky Speedway Sparta, Kentucky
19 July 17 Lenox Industrial Tools 301 New Hampshire Motor Speedway Loudon, New Hampshire
2012
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Rd Date Race name Track City Lap-by-lap commentator Color commentator(s)
14 June 10 Pocono 400 Pocono Raceway Long Pond, Pennsylvania Adam Alexander Wally Dallenbach Jr. and Kyle Petty
15 June 17 Quicken Loans 400 Michigan International Speedway Brooklyn, Michigan
16 June 24 Toyota/Save Mart 350 Infineon Raceway Sonoma, California
17 June 30 Quaker State 400 Kentucky Speedway Sparta, Kentucky
18 July 7 Coke Zero 400 Daytona International Speedway Daytona Beach, Florida
19 July 15 Lenox Industrial Tools 301 New Hampshire Motor Speedway Loudon, New Hampshire
2013
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Rd Date Race name Track City Lap-by-lap commentator Color commentator(s)
14 June 9 Party in the Poconos 400 Pocono Raceway Long Pond, Pennsylvania Adam Alexander Wally Dallenbach Jr. and Kyle Petty
15 June 16 Quicken Loans 400 Michigan International Speedway Brooklyn, Michigan
16 June 23 Toyota/Save Mart 350 Sonoma Raceway Sonoma, California
17 June 30 Quaker State 400 Kentucky Speedway Sparta, Kentucky
18 July 6 Coke Zero 400 Daytona International Speedway Daytona Beach, Florida
19 July 14 Camping World RV Sales 301 New Hampshire Motor Speedway Loudon, New Hampshire
2014
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Rd Date Race name Track City Lap-by-lap commentator Color commentator(s)
14 June 8 Pocono 400 Pocono Raceway Long Pond, Pennsylvania Adam Alexander Wally Dallenbach Jr. and Kyle Petty
15 June 15 Quicken Loans 400 Michigan International Speedway Brooklyn, Michigan
16 June 22 Toyota/Save Mart 350 Sonoma Raceway Sonoma, California
17 June 28 Quaker State 400 Kentucky Speedway Sparta, Kentucky
18 July 6 Coke Zero 400 Daytona International Speedway Daytona Beach, Florida
19 July 13 Camping World RV Sales 301 New Hampshire Motor Speedway Loudon, New Hampshire

Busch Series

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2001

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Rd Date Race name Track City Lap-by-lap commentator Color commentator(s)
18 July 8 GNC Live Well 200 Watkins Glen International Watkins Glen, New York Mike Hogewood Jeremy Dale
20 July 21 Carquest Auto Parts 250 Gateway International Raceway Madison, Illinois Dorsey Schroeder
22 August 4 Kroger 200 Indianapolis Raceway Park Brownsburg, Indiana Allen Bestwick Tony Stewart
23 August 18 NAPAonline.com 250 Michigan International Speedway Brooklyn, Michigan Benny Parsons and Wally Dallenbach Jr.
24 August 24 Food City 250 Bristol Motor Speedway Bristol, Tennessee
25 September 1 South Carolina 200 Darlington Raceway Darlington, South Carolina
26 September 7 Autolite / Fram 250 Richmond International Raceway Richmond, Virginia
27 September 22 MBNA.com 200 Dover International Speedway Dover, Delaware
29 October 6 Little Trees 300 Lowe’s Motor Speedway Concord, North Carolina
31 October 27 Outback Steakhouse 200 Phoenix International Raceway Avondale, Arizona
32 November 3 Sam’s Club 200 North Carolina Speedway Rockingham, North Carolina

2002

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Rd Date Race name Track City Lap-by-lap commentator Color commentator(s)
1 February 16 EAS/GNC Live Well 300 Daytona International Speedway Daytona Beach, Florida Allen Bestwick Benny Parsons and Wally Dallenbach Jr.
20 July 20 Charter Pipeline 250 Gateway International Raceway Madison, Illinois Wally Dallenbach Jr.
22 August 3 Kroger 200 Indianapolis Raceway Park Brownsburg, Indiana Benny Parsons and Tony Stewart
23 August 17 Michigan International Speedway Brooklyn, Michigan Michigan International Speedway
24 August 23 Food City 250 Bristol Motor Speedway Bristol, Tennessee Benny Parsons and Wally Dallenbach Jr.
25 August 31 Gatorade 200 Darlington Raceway Darlington, South Carolina
26 September 6 Funai 250 Richmond International Raceway Richmond, Virginia Benny Parsons and Rusty Wallace
27 September 21 MBNA All-American Heroes 200 Dover International Speedway Dover, Delaware Benny Parsons and Wally Dallenbach Jr.
28 September 28 Mr. Goodcents 300 Kansas Speedway Kansas City, Kansas
29 October 12 Little Trees 300 Lowe’s Motor Speedway Concord, North Carolina Benny Parsons and Tony Stewart
30 October 20[c] Sam's Town 250 Benefitting St. Jude Memphis Motorsports Park Millington, Tennessee Ralph Sheheen Glenn Jarrett
31 October 26 Aaron's 312 Atlanta Motor Speedway Hampton, Georgia Allen Bestwick Benny Parsons and Wally Dallenbach Jr.
32 November 2 Sam's Club 200 North Carolina Speedway Rockingham, North Carolina

2003

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Rd Date Race name Track City Lap-by-lap commentator Color commentator(s)
17 July 4 Winn-Dixie 250 Daytona International Speedway Daytona Beach, Florida Allen Bestwick Benny Parsons and Wally Dallenbach Jr.
19 July 19 New England 200 New Hampshire International Speedway Loudon, New Hampshire
21 August 2 Kroger 200 Indianapolis Raceway Park Brownsburg, Indiana Benny Parsons and Elliott Sadler
22 August 16 Cabela's 250 Michigan International Speedway Brooklyn, Michigan Wally Dallenbach Jr. and Benny Parsons
23 August 22 Food City 250 Bristol Motor Speedway Bristol, Tennessee
25 September 5 Funai 250 Richmond International Raceway Richmond, Virginia Wally Dallenbach Jr. and Tony Stewart
26 September 20 Stacker 200 Dover International Speedway Dover, Delaware Benny Parsons and Wally Dallenbach Jr.
28 October 10 Little Trees 300 Lowe’s Motor Speedway Concord, North Carolina
29 October 18 Sam's Town 250 Memphis Motorsports Park Millington, Tennessee Wally Dallenbach Jr.
30 October 25 Aaron's 312 Atlanta Motor Speedway Hampton, Georgia Benny Parsons
31 November 1 Bashas' Supermarkets 200 Phoenix International Raceway Avondale, Arizona Benny Parsons and Ricky Craven
32 November 8 Target House 200 North Carolina Speedway Rockingham, North Carolina Benny Parsons and Wally Dallenbach Jr.

2004

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Rd Date Race name Track City Lap-by-lap commentator Color commentator(s)
20 July 24 Siemens 200 New Hampshire International Speedway Loudon, New Hampshire Allen Bestwick Benny Parsons and Wally Dallenbach Jr.
21 July 31 ITT Industries & Goulds Pumps Salute to the Troops 250 Pikes Peak International Raceway Fountain, Colorado Barry Dodson
22 August 7 Kroger 200 Indianapolis Raceway Park Brownsburg, Indiana Benny Parsons and Jeff Burton
23 August 21 Cabela's 250 Michigan International Speedway Brooklyn, Michigan Benny Parsons and Wally Dallenbach Jr.
24 August 27 Food City 250 Bristol Motor Speedway Bristol, Tennessee
26 September 10 Emerson Radio 250 Richmond International Raceway
27 September 25 Stacker 200 Dover International Speedway Dover, Delaware
28 October 9 Mr. Goodcents 300 Kansas Speedway Kansas City, Kansas Bill Weber Benny Parsons
Jimmie Johnson
Chad Knaus
29 October 15 Lowe's Presents the SpongeBob SquarePants Movie 300 Lowe’s Motor Speedway Concord, North Carolina Allen Bestwick Benny Parsons
Kurt Busch
30 October 23 Sam's Town 250 Benefitting St. Jude Memphis Motorsports Park Millington, Tennessee Ralph Sheheen Wally Dallenbach Jr.
31 October 30 Aaron's 312 Atlanta Motor Speedway Hampton, Georgia Allen Bestwick Benny Parsons and Wally Dallenbach Jr.
33 November 13 BI-LO 200 Darlington Raceway Darlington, South Carolina

2005

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Rd Date Race name Track City Lap-by-lap commentator Color commentator(s)
18 July 1 Winn-Dixie 250 Daytona International Speedway Daytona Beach, Florida Bill Weber Benny Parsons and Wally Dallenbach Jr.
20 July 16 New England 200 New Hampshire International Speedway Loudon, New Hampshire
21 July 23 ITT Industries & Goulds Pumps Salute to the Troops 250 Pikes Peak International Raceway Fountain, Colorado Allen Bestwick Wally Dallenbach Jr.
22 July 30 Wallace Family Tribute 250 Gateway International Raceway Madison, Illinois
23 August 6 Kroger 200 Indianapolis Raceway Park Brownsburg, Indiana Benny Parsons
25 August 20 Domino's Pizza 250 Michigan International Speedway Brooklyn, Michigan Bill Weber Wally Dallenbach Jr. and Jeff Burton
26 August 26 Food City 250 Bristol Motor Speedway Bristol, Tennessee Benny Parsons and Wally Dallenbach Jr.
28 September 9 Emerson Radio 250 Richmond International Raceway Richmond, Virginia
29 September 24 Dover 200 Dover International Speedway Dover, Delaware
31 October 14 Dollar General 300 Lowe's Motor Speedway Concord, North Carolina
32 October 22 Sam's Town 250 Memphis Motorsports Park Millington, Tennessee Allen Bestwick Benny Parsons
33 November 5 O'Reilly Challenge Texas Motor Speedway Fort Worth, Texas Bill Weber Benny Parsons and Wally Dallenbach Jr.
34 November 12 Arizona 200 Phoenix International Raceway Avondale, Arizona Allen Bestwick
35 November 19 Ford 300 Homestead-Miami Speedway Homestead, Florida Bill Weber

2006

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Rd Date Race name Track City Lap-by-lap commentator Color commentator(s)
1 February 18 Hershey's Kissables 300 Daytona International Speedway Daytona Beach, Florida Bill Weber Benny Parsons and Wally Dallenbach Jr.
19 July 8 USG Durock 300 Chicagoland Speedway Joliet, Illinois
20 July 15 New England 200 New Hampshire International Speedway Loudon, New Hampshire
22 July 29 Busch Silver Celebration 250 Gateway International Raceway Madison, Illinois Allen Bestwick Michael Waltrip
23 August 5 Kroger 200 Indianapolis Raceway Park Brownsburg, Indiana Wally Dallenbach Jr.
25 August 19 Carfax 250 Michigan International Speedway Brooklyn, Michigan Bill Weber Wally Dallenbach Jr.
26 August 25 Food City 250 Bristol Motor Speedway Bristol, Tennessee
27 September 2 Ameriquest 300 California Speedway Fontana, California Wally Dallenbach Jr. and Kyle Petty
28 September 8 Emerson Radio 250 Richmond International Raceway Richmond, Virginia Wally Dallenbach Jr.
29 September 23 Dover 200 Dover International Speedway Dover, Delaware Wally Dallenbach Jr. and Kyle Petty
30 September 30 Yellow Transportation 300 Kansas Speedway Kansas City, Kansas
31 October 13 Dollar General 300 Lowe's Motor Speedway Concord, North Carolina
33 November 4 O'Reilly Challenge Texas Motor Speedway Fort Worth, Texas
35 November 18 Ford 300 Homestead-Miami Speedway Homestead, Florida Benny Parsons and Wally Dallenbach Jr.

Wide Open coverage

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The Coke Zero 400 was broadcast in TNT's Wide Open Coverage format. The format was similar to the Side-by-Side format used in IndyCar broadcasts, limiting commercial breaks to only those required by their cable and satellite partners, mostly during yellow and red flag portions. The result meant almost no green flag racing was missed. A 3-D telecast was available in the United States on Comcast, Bright House Networks and Time Warner cable systems as well as NASCAR.com and DirecTV, marking a historic first in NASCAR racing.[9][10]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Initially scheduled for NBC, moved due to announcement of United States invasion of Afghanistan.
  2. ^ Race started on the 26th on NBC. Delayed by rain to the 27th and finished on TNT.
  3. ^ Scheduled for October 19 on NBC with Allen Bestwick and Wally Dallenbach Jr. commentating. Delayed due to rain and aired tape delayed on TNT with new crew.

References

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  1. ^ "Widow of Davey Allison to be racing reporter for TNT". Napa Valley Register. Retrieved 2022-02-23.
  2. ^ Jim Utter. "Jim Utter's post on NASCAR | Latest updates on Sulia". Sulia.com. Archived from the original on July 2, 2013. Retrieved July 7, 2013.
  3. ^ 2014 Camping World RV Sales 301 - Turner Sports Says Goodbye To NASCAR on YouTube
  4. ^ "NASCAR announces historic media rights agreements with FOX, NBC, Amazon and Warner Bros. Discovery" (Press release). NASCAR.com. November 29, 2023. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
  5. ^ a b c "TNT Sports, Amazon Prime add Dale Earnhardt Jr. to broadcast team starting in 2025". NASCAR.com. May 7, 2024. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
  6. ^ "NASCAR to run in-season tournament on TNT Sports in 2025". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. May 13, 2024.
  7. ^ Steinberg, Brian (September 4, 2024). "NASCAR Readies New Shows for TruTV, Max, YouTube". Variety. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  8. ^ Marchand, Andrew (February 29, 2024). "Dale Earnhardt Jr. leaving NBC for Amazon Prime, Warner Bros. Discovery: Sources". The Athletic. The New York Times Company. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
  9. ^ NASCAR to Go to 3-D With Coke Zero 400, Maury Brown, forbes.com, 21 June 2010
  10. ^ Comcast, Time Warner, Bright House Pick Up Coke Zero 400 3-D Broadcast Archived 2012-02-28 at the Wayback Machine, Richard Lawler, endgadget.com, 24 June 2010
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Preceded by NASCAR pay television carrier in the United States
20012014
Succeeded by