NASCAR WCUP: Fox, NBC ready to kick off new era in NASCAR
Posted By Terry CallahanMotorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
MARTINSVILLE, VA – NASCAR’s new television package has been the hot topic of race fans for almost a year. In two weeks, though, all the talk will stop and the action will take over when the green flag falls on the Daytona 500.
Martinsville Speedway president Clay Campbell thinks race fans will be pleasantly surprised with what Fox, NBC and TBS will offer.
“With the new innovations our broadcast partners are going to use this year, the fans are going to be amazed at what they are going to see,” said Campbell. “This is going to take NASCAR to another level, one in which everyone benefits.”
Fox will carry the first half of the Winston Cup schedule, beginning with the Daytona 500 on Feb. 18. NBC and TBS will pick up the Winston Cup circuit in Daytona with the Pepsi 400 on July 7 and broadcast the remainder of the 2001 Winston Cup races.
The Virginia 500, set for April 8 at Martinsville Speedway, will air on Fox while the Old Dominion 500, scheduled for Oct. 14, will be broadcast by NBC. Originally, the Old Dominion 500 was slated for TBS, but has been moved to NBC.
“We are very excited about our TV package for this year,” said Campbell. “With Fox doing the Virginia 500 in April and NBC doing the Old Dominion 500 in October, more fans from coast to coast will be able to see the exciting short-track action that Martinsville Speedway is famous for. “It is a major plus for us, as well as our community to have Martinsville in practically every home in America.”
Mike Joy, who has been calling NASCAR races for 30 years, will anchor Fox’s broadcast team. He will be joined in the booth by legendary Winston Cup driver Darrell Waltrip, who retired from driving after the 2000 season, and former Winston Cup crew chief Larry McReynolds. Fox has hired a veteran group of pit-road reporters, including Matt Yocum, Steve Byrnes and Dick Berggren.
NBC will be led in the broadcast booth by host Allen Bestwick. Analyst Benny Parsons and lead pit reporter Bill Weber will join him. Marty Snider, Dave Burns and Matt Yocum round out NBC’s crew of pit reporters. The next racing action at Martinsville Speedway is the Virginia 500 NASCAR Winston Cup Series race on Sunday, April 8. Tickets are $40-$70 and are available by calling toll free at (877) 722-3849 or online at www.martinsvillespeedway.com.
Text provided by Mike Smith
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