FOX Sports 1 Clocks in for Maiden NASCAR Cup Race Telecast
On the docket this week on FOX Sports 1 is a one-hour NASCAR Productions special titled NASCAR's MASTERS OF THE CLOCK: THE LEGEND OF MARTINSVILLE; Matt Yocum's extensive sit-down interview with seven-time NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES champion Richard Petty, the winningest driver in Martinsville's history, on the Wednesday, March 25 edition of NASCAR RACE HUB; expanded NASCAR coverage on FOX Sports 1 daily shows AMERICA'S PREGAME and FOX SPORTS LIVE; and comprehensive coverage throughout the week on NASCAR RACE HUB, in addition to more than two dozen hours of weekend coverage.
"A couple of my Martinsville wins, in particular the one I won the weekend my daughter Jessica was born, rank near the top of my career accomplishments because of how difficult the track is and how much history it has," NASCAR Hall of Famer and FOX NASCAR analyst Darrell Waltrip said. "But don't let anyone lie to you — it's also because of the trophy, Martinsville's sacred grandfather clock. Who doesn't want to own a grandfather clock? And if you own one, you want to own more than one. I was blessed to win 11 times at Martinsville, and everybody I've driven for, my family and friends all have a Martinsville grandfather clock. I hope when it chimes, it reminds them of me and how much fun I had at that place."
Following the conclusion of FOX SPORTS LIVE on Sunday, the network and NASCAR Productions present NASCAR's MASTERS OF THE CLOCK: THE LEGEND OF MARTINSVILLE. This one-hour feature explores the rich history of NASCAR's oldest track with highlights of memorable Martinsville moments, plus interviews with Richard Petty, Waltrip, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Rusty Wallace, Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell and more. Beyond the 68-year history of the famed "Paperclip," NASCAR's MASTERS OF THE CLOCK explores area's deep-rooted short-track racing culture as well as the making of Martinsville Speedway's iconic grandfather clock, one of the most unique trophies in all of sports.
A 90-minute edition of NASCAR RACEDAY kicks off Sunday's coverage at 11:30 AM ET on FOX Sports 1, offering Wendy Venturini on special assignment for FOX NASCAR with an in-depth, sit-down interview with Martin Truex Jr. and Sherry Pollex regarding their personal struggles the past year with Sherry's cancer battle; and live interviews with Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano and Chase Elliott, who makes his first career Cup Series start at Martinsville.
At 1:00 PM ET on Sunday, the FOX NASCAR broadcast team of Mike Joy, Waltrip and Larry McReynolds calls the race with pit reporting by Jamie Little, Chris Neville and Yocum. Chris Myers hosts coverage from the famed Hollywood Hotel alongside Michael Waltrip.
The NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES takes center stage at Martinsville on Saturday, March 28, live on FOX Sports 1 (2:30 PM ET) in its third stop of the season. Adam Alexander calls the action alongside analysts Phil Parson and Michael Waltrip, with pit reporting by Hermie Sadler, Vince Welch and Kaitlyn Vincie in her Truck Series race debut.
NCWTS SETUP, hosted by John Roberts and two-time NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES champion Todd Bodine, sets the stage for the day's race at 2:00 PM ET. Dale Earnhardt Jr. sits down with Ray Dunlap to discuss JR Motorsports' part-time venture into Truck Series racing in 2015, beginning at Martinsville with 17-year-old driver Cole Custer, son of Stewart-Haas Racing EVP, Joe Custer. Also included in NCWTS SETUP are a feature on two-time defending champ Matt Crafton's win at Atlanta in February and at Martinsville last year; a flashback to the 2014 Martinsville race; a breakdown of Erik Jones' pit woes at Atlanta; and a lighthearted word-association game with the drivers.
Throughout the week and weekend, fans can follow all the action and news on Twitter via the hashtag #NASCARonFS1. All NASCAR programming on FOX and FOX Sports 1 is streamed live through FOX Sports GO, the critically acclaimed app that provides live streaming video of FOX Sports content at home or on the go. Customers of participating video providers may access the live streams through the FOX Sports GO app for iOS devices, as well as on desktops through FOXSportsGO.com.
In February, FOX Sports announced it is telecasting the NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES race from Martinsville on FOX Sports 1 instead of its original location on FOX, in turn moving the Saturday, April 25 (7:00 PM) Toyota Owners 400 from Richmond International Raceway to the FOX broadcast network. In coordination with NASCAR and the tracks, the swap was made to avoid a potential conflict with another live event on FOX Sports 1 leading into the Richmond event.
In 2015, FOX broadcasts 10 NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES races and FOX Sports 1 telecasts six, in addition to the NASCAR SPRINT ALL-STAR RACE. Also airing on FOX Sports 1 this season are NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES races from Kansas Speedway (May 9 at 7:30 PM ET), Dover (May 31 at 1:00 PM ET), Pocono (June 7 at 1:00 PM ET), Michigan (June 14 at 1:00 PM ET) and Sonoma (June 28 at 3:00 PM ET), in addition to the NASCAR SPRINT ALL-STAR RACE from Charlotte Motor Speedway (May 16 at 9:00 PM ET).
Complete Martinsville television schedule (all times ET and subject to change):
Friday, March 27
NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES practice (10:00 AM-12:00 PM) (FOX Sports 1)
NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES practice (12:00-1:30 PM) (FOX Sports 1)
NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES practice (1:30-2:30 PM) (FOX Sports 1)
NASCAR RACE HUB WEEKEND EDITION (2:30-3:00 PM) (FOX Sports 1
NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES final practice (3:00-4:30 PM) (FOX Sports 1)
NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES QUALIFYING (4:30-6:00 PM) (FOX Sports 1)
FOX SPORTS LIVE (11:00 PM ET-12:00 AM ET) (FOX Sports 1)
Saturday, March 28
NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES practice (10:00-11:00 AM) (FOX Sports 1)
NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES qualifying (11:00 AM-12:30 PM) (FOX Sports 1)
NASCAR RACE HUB WEEKEND EDITION (12:30-1:00 PM) (FOX Sports 2)
NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES final practice (1:00-2:00 PM) (FOX Sports 2)
NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES final practice (1:30-2:30 PM; simulcast) (FOX Sports 1)
NCWTS SETUP (2:00-2:30 PM) (FOX Sports 1)
NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES race (2:30-5:00 PM) (FOX Sports 1)
FOX SPORTS LIVE (5:00-5:30 PM) (FOX Sports 1)
FOX SPORTS LIVE (11:00 PM-12:00 AM) (FOX Sports 1)
Sunday, March 29
NASCAR RACEDAY (11:30 AM-1:00 PM) (FOX Sports 1)
NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES race (1:00-5:00 PM) (FOX Sports 1)
FOX SPORTS LIVE (5:00-6:00 PM) (FOX Sports 1)
NASCAR's MASTERS OF THE CLOCK: THE LEGEND OF MARTINSVILLE (6:00-7:00 PM) (FOX Sports 1)
FOX SPORTS LIVE (11:00 PM-12:00 AM) (FOX Sports 1)