NBCSN to Air THE LAST RACE TO MAKE THE CHASE
By: Tyler Peterson Sep. 09, 2015
NBCSN presents a pair of pivotal primetime races this weekend from Richmond International Raceway. For Sprint Cup drivers, the heat is on as Richmond marks the final regular-season race to secure a spot in the NASCAR playoffs, which begin on September 20th from CHICAGOLAND Speedway. Friday's primetime showdown begins at 7:30 p.m. ET with XFINITY Series Racing from Richmond Presented by CarFax. The weekend's main event unfolds on Saturday with Sprint Cup Racing from Richmond Presented by Smithfield Foods at 7:30 p.m. ET.
NBCSN welcomes a set of fresh faces to the broadcasting booth this weekend when race announcer Leigh Diffey announces the XFINITY action from Richmond. Diffey will be joined in the booth by Hall of Fame driver Dale Jarrett and Sunday's Southern 500 winner at Darlington, Carl Edwards, during Friday night's XFINITY race. Three-time NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES champion crew chief Ray Evernham serves as an analyst for the first Sprint Cup practice before adding to the pre-race coverage Friday and Saturday evening. NASCAR driver and analyst Parker Kligerman contributes trackside, adding to the atmosphere at the D-shaped asphalt track.
NBCSN's booth team of 21-time Sprint Cup winner Jeff Burton, Daytona 500-winning crew chief Steve Letarte and announcer Rick Allen will call the Sprint Cup action. Pre and post-race festivities from Richmond are handled by hostKrista Voda alongside analysts Kyle Petty and Jarrett. Marty Snider, Mike Massaro, Kelli Stavast and Dave Burns contribute reports from pit road. NBCSports.com lead motorsports writer Nate Ryan and features reporterRutledge Wood contribute to NBC and NBCSN's coverage.
NBCSN's NASCAR coverage from "America's Premier Short Track" begins Thursday with XFINITY Series practice at 2:30 p.m. ET, followed by NASCAR AMERICA at 4 p.m. ET. Thursday's coverage from Richmond wraps up with XFINITY series final practice at 5 p.m. ET.
Saturday's coverage kicks off with Sprint Cup Series first practice presented by DraftKings at 10 am. ET and final practice at 1 p.m. ET. XFINITY qualifying from Richmond International Raceway runs at 3:30 p.m ET followed by a special 30-minute edition NASCAR AMERICA at 5 p.m. ET. Sprint Cup qualifying takes place at 5:30 p.m. ET. XFINITY Race coverage takes over at 7 p.m. with XFINITY Series Countdown to Green followed by green flag racing from Richmond at 7:30 p.m. on NBCSN.
Saturday evening's race coverage begins on NBCSN at 5 p.m. ET with a special 2-hour NASCAR America. Coverage from the "Last Race to Make The Chase" begins at 7 p.m. with the Sprint Cup Countdown to Green presented by Sonic. The final regular-season Sprint Cup race begins at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN. Immediately following the race, NBCSN hosts a special post-show from Richmond International Speedway's second annual post-race party.
This weekend's pre-race features include a closer at the Chase standings and "The Last Chance for Romance" at Richmond International Speedway. With eleven drivers already locked into the postseason by virtue of a win, NBCSN will look at the current standings and what bubble drivers need to do to secure a coveted spot in the top 16. Guest analyst Carl Edwards will voice a special feature about Richmond International Raceway, looking back at his 2013 win at the track. NBCSN NASCAR analyst Burton brings viewers around Richmond's asphalt track from behind the wheel of NBC Sports' Toyota Camry On Track Car.
NBC SPORTS BREAKS DOWN THE NASCAR PLAYOFF SYSTEM IN NEW CAMPAIGN FEATURING RUTLEDGE WOOD
NBC Sports Group tapped motorsports reporter Rutledge Wood to drive a humorous explanation of NASCAR's Chase for the Sprint Cup playoff system in a new NBC Sports promo making its debut this week. Developed by NBC Sports Agency, the multi-platform marketing promotion coincides with the final races of the NASCAR season and helps educate fans on NASCAR's playoff system. A detailed release regarding the campaign is available here.
F1 ITALIAN GRAND PRIX ON NBCSN IS MOST-WATCHED ITALIAN GP IN 20 YEARS
Last Sunday's presentation of the Formula One Italian Grand Prix on NBCSN (7:30-9:43 a.m. ET) produced a 0.31 HH rating and averaged 461,000 viewers to become the most-watched Italian GP since 1995 (ESPN; 876,000). Viewership of Sunday's race was up 12% vs. the 2014 Italian GP (410,000). In addition, NBCSN's live presentation of qualifying on Saturday (8-9:30 a.m. ET) averaged 337,000 viewers, up 113% vs. viewership of 2014 Italian GP qualifying (158,000).
Through eight races, the 2015 F1 season on NBCSN has averaged 441,000 viewers, up 14% vs. the first eight races in 2014 (388,000).
NBC continues its coverage of the 2015 RED BULL GLOBAL RALLYCROSS season with this weekend's doubleheader in Los Angeles this Sunday at 4 p.m. ET. Ken Block (Hoonigan Racing Division) continues to hold a lead over Sebastian Eriksson (Olsberg MSE) in the driver championship standings with five more rounds heading into this weekend.
Toby Moody (play-by-play) will call the action in Los Angeles, alongside veteran analyst and motorsports driver Townsend Bell, and reporters Kristen Kenneyand Will Christien.
NEW EPISODES OF MOBSTEEL AND MECUM DEALMAKERS BEGIN TONIGHT AT 10 P.M. ET
NBCSN presents a new episode of MOBSTEEL tonight at 10 p.m. ET, as founderAdam Genei and his team of custom-car specialists restore a 1958 Cadillac for Detroit musician Ty Stone. MOBSTEEL follows Adam and his team, including his wife Pam Genei, as they restore vehicles ranging from the finest relics of the American automotive boom. MOBSTEEL is an existing custom-car shop that was founded more than 10 years ago, using vintage parts and Detroit steel to bring these ancient American cars back to life. Click here for more information onMobsteel.
This week's motorsports coverage on NBCSN also features a new episode of MECUM DEALMAKERS tomorrow at 10 p.m. ET, featuring the top moments of their Monterey auction earlier this year. Top moments from this week's episode include the sale of the 1976 Porsche 930 Turbo Carrera that was the last factory-ordered Porsche from actor Steve McQueen, garnering nearly $2 million.
| Date | Program | Time (ET) | Network |
| Wed., September 9 | Mobsteel (New Episode) | 10 p.m. | NBCSN |
| Thur., September 10 | XFINITY Series First Practice - Richmond | 2:30 p.m. | NBCSN |
| NASCAR America | 4 p.m. | NBCSN | |
| XFINITY Series Final Practice - Richmond | 5 p.m. | NBCSN | |
| NASCAR K&N Pro Series West - Meridian* | 7:30 p.m. | NBCSN | |
| Mecum Dealmakers: Monterey | 10 p.m. | NBCSN | |
| Fri., September 11 | Sprint Cup Series First Practice - Richmond | 10 a.m. | NBCSN |
| Sprint Cup Series Final Practice - Richmond | 1 p.m. | NBCSN | |
| NASCAR Whelen Souther Modified Series - Langley* | 2:30 p.m. | NBCSN | |
| XFINITY Series Qualifying - Richmond | 3:30 p.m. | NBCSN | |
| NASCAR America | 5 p.m. | NBCSN | |
| Sprint Cup Series Qualifying - Richmond | 5:30 p.m. | NBCSN | |
| XFINITY Countdown to GreenPre-Race Show | 7 p.m. | NBCSN | |
| XFINITY Series Race - Richmond | 7:30 p.m. | NBCSN | |
| Sat., September 12 | Mecum Auctions: Harrisburg (Encore) | 1 p.m. | NBCSN |
| Mecum Dealmakers: Harrisburg (Encore) | 2:30 p.m. | NBCSN | |
| NASCAR America | 5 p.m. | NBCSN | |
| Sprint Cup Countdown to Green Pre-Race Show | 7 p.m. | NBCSN | |
| Sprint Cup Series Race - Richmond | 7:30 p.m. | NBCSN | |
| Sprint Cup Series Post Race Show | 11 p.m. | NBCSN | |
| Sun., September 13 | Red Bull Global RallyCross - Los Angeles* | 4 p.m. | NBC |
| NASCAR Victory Lap | 11:30 p.m. | NBCSN |
NBC SPORTS GROUP CELEBRATES THE CHASE FOR THE NASCAR SPRINT CUP WITH THE QUICKEN LOANS $16M PERFECT GRID CHALLENGE
NBC Sports Group has teamed up with Quicken Loans, the nation's third largest mortgage lender, to provide fans with the Quicken Loans $16M Perfect Grid Challenge.
Fans can register at NBCSports.com/GridChallenge to fill out a NASCAR Grid from the round of 16 drivers who qualified for Chase and predicting how they will advance through each round of The Chase through the final race. The lucky fan with a perfect bracket at the end of the season will win a 16 million dollar prize, one million to represent each of the 16 drivers in the Chase. Fans will be able to make their picks following the Federated Auto Parts 400 Sprint Cup Series race on September 12 on NBCSN from Richmond International Raceway, and will have until the 15 minutes prior to the start of the NASCAR Sprint Cup September CHICAGOLAND Race the following Sunday, September 20, to submit their grids and get ready to cheer on their picks.
In addition to the $16 Million Perfect Grid Challenge, fans will also have the opportunity to compete in the Weekly Playoff Grid Challenge. Each week participating fans are entered to win great prizes including a Roku streaming player and NBC Sports prize packs. At the end of the 10 weeks the fan with the most points will receive a free mortgage for a year from Quicken Loans.
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