NBC Sports rolls into NASCAR coverage with high hopes, speed-first attitude

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — NBC Sports takes over the second half of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series broadcast schedule this week with high hopes, technical marvels, fresh segments and analysts as eager and excited about the season as the fans they will communicate to.

The on-air play-by-play team of former NASCAR driver Jeff Burton, former crew chief Steve Letarte and announcer Rick Allen met with reporters at Daytona International Speedway Thursday afternoon to talk about the upcoming race schedule.

“My excitement is really high watching all the races this year," said Burton, a 21-time Cup winner. “I think the racing has been exceptionally good to watch. The (stage racing has) had a major role in making the races more fun, more exciting. Strategies come into play and I’m excited to explain to the fans what’s going on. Just excited to get going."

Among the “new things" we can expect this year are technical “toys" to provide unique views. A “Bat-Cam" will be rigged adjacent to the track’s long backstretch, high above the action.

“It’ll be zipping down the backstretch at around 100 mph," NBC’s Sam Flood said, acknowledging the network likes to “do new things each year.

“We have good ideas and good people executing them.’"

Letarte, Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s former crew chief at Hendrick Motorsports, will introduce a new regular segment featuring crew members that travel as part of the NASCAR series.

NBC welcomes former Olympic sprinter Ato Boldon to the broadcast team as one of the new elements of information for fans. Boldon took a ride on the old Daytona beach course on Wednesday and comes into the race weekend eager and enthusiastic.

“I listen to all the enthusiasm of all the guys," Boldon said. “A young kid who has been to Universal Studios is excited because they know what the rides are like. I am that kid who has never been. … the excitement is building and I think even more than the guys who already know what ‘s to come because I just know cars are my thing.

“Speed is my thing and listening to these guys is getting me that much more excited to be there. As someone who is naturally curious … for me, it’s definitely new territory but I feel like at the conclusion of the race this weekend, I will say, yep. I’m in the right place."