With ratings plummeting NBCSN tries to mix up NASCAR booth

Despite Dale Jr. in the booth, NASCAR ratings continue double digit decline unabated

NBC Sports is using another booth format with no traditional play-by-play announcer for Sunday's Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, and Exec Producer Sam Flood said he has little to no qualms over the move. NBC in recent days revealed plans to have usual play-by-play man Rick Allen serve as a pit reporter for Sunday's race, with regular analysts Jeff Burton, Steve Letarte and Dale Earnhardt Jr. handling all of the typical booth duties, including play by play, going into and out of commercials and ad reading.

The move is the third of five pre-planned formats that Flood and his team thought up heading into the season as it tries to find the best way to utilize its news four-man booth after the addition of Earnhardt.

Flood said Letarte will read ads coming out of commercial, Burton will push tune-in spots for next weekend’s action at Pocono Raceway and Earnhardt will promote the NBC Sports app. Flood said, “It just adds a fun way for the guys to engage on the TV side of it, but then when the race is going on, it gives them a chance to really engage as racers." Adam Stern/SBD