FOX NASCAR at Auto Club Speedway Quotes & Programming Schedule
On Sunday, Mike Joy leads the FOX NASCAR booth from Fontana with analysis from NASCAR Hall of Famer Darrell Waltrip, four-time champ Jeff Gordon and former crew chief Larry McReynolds. Jamie Little, Chris Neville and Matt Yocum cover pit road. Chris Myers hosts the network’s coverage alongside analyst Michael Waltrip.
FS1 has live coverage of Saturday’s NASCAR XFINITY SERIES race, preceded by pre-race coverage on NASCAR RACEDAY-XFINITY (3:30 PM ET). Adam Alexander calls the race alongside Michael Waltrip and driver analyst Brad Keselowski. Keselowski is one of six NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES drivers announced as part of a rotation in the FOX and FS1 booth for FOX Sports’ coverage of the 2016 NASCAR XFINITY SERIES season. Also scheduled as guest analysts are 2014 champion Kevin Harvick, Clint Bowyer, Carl Edwards, Joey Logano and Danica Patrick. Reporting from the XFINITY Series pits at Auto Club Speedway are Neville, Little and Yocum.
Below are quotes from FOX NASCAR’s Darrell Waltrip and Andy Petree on the week’s headlines, as well as the full FOX NASCAR programming schedule:
On the secret to Joe Gibbs Racing’s success this season:
“Their secret is they have no weaknesses. The Toyotas are fast. The drivers are experienced, and the crew chiefs are knowledgeable. JGR has great sponsors. That organization is the gold standard in the sport as far as drivers, equipment, crew chiefs, owner and sponsors are concerned. They’re definitely the new rival to Hendrick Motorsports."
–Darrell Waltrip
“They’ve adapted so well to the new aero package. We even saw it last year – all their drivers ran well with it. All their drivers are really good. Joe Gibbs Racing has four bullets in the gun, and if one of them has a mistake, there’s somebody else to step up. The new, lower downforce rules have played into their hands. With lower downforce, you have to steer and drive the car more. Those four really are good at that. Joe Gibbs Racing is the top dog in the sport, and they have something else the others don’t right now."
–Andy Petree (on NASCAR RACE HUB on FS1)
On which of the young guns is most impressive:
“Certainly Chase Elliott and Ryan Blaney have caught my eye. Both do an outstanding job for rookies. Chase reminds me of the way his father, Bill, drove. He doesn’t push the issue but takes what he has and gets the most out of it. I’m also impressed with what Ryan Blaney is doing. That team will only get better because they haven’t run a full schedule in a long time. Once the team gets used to being at the track every week, they could take off. Either of those drivers could get a win this season."
–Darrell Waltrip
On what the turnaround in the No. 3 team has been this season:
“It’s probably Austin Dillon’s focus coupled with crew chief Slugger Labbe’s smarts and creativity. Austin now has a couple of years under his belt, and he knows it’s time to step up. He’s doing just that and showing incredible focus. He felt some pressure with driving the No. 3 car when he was a rookie, but I think he’s more comfortable in that role now. He just needs a win, and I think that team is on the verge of it."
–Darrell Waltrip
FOX NASCAR AT AUTO CLUB SPEEDWAY PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE
*All times live/Eastern unless otherwise indicated & subject to change
Friday, March 18
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice (1:30-3:00 PM) (FS1)
NASCAR XFINITY Series practice (3:00-4:30 PM) (FS1)
NASCAR RACE HUB (4:30-5:30 PM) (FS1)
NASCAR XFINITY Series final practice (5:30-6:30 PM) (FS1)
NASCAR RACE HUB (6:30-7:30 PM) (FS1)
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series qualifying (7:30-9:00 PM) (FS1)
Saturday, March 19
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice (11:00 AM-12:00 PM) (FS2)
NASCAR XFINITY Series qualifying (12:00 PM-1:30 PM) (FS1)
NASCAR RACE HUB (1:30-2:30 PM) (FS1)
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series final practice (2:30-3:30 PM) (FS1)
NASCAR RACEDAY-XFINITY (3:30-4:00 PM) (FS1)
NASCAR XFINITY SERIES Racing (4:00-6:30 PM) (FS1)
Sunday, March 20
NASCAR RACEDAY (1:30 PM-3:00 PM) (FS2)
FOX NASCAR SUNDAY (3:00-3:30 PM) (FOX)
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Racing (3:30-7:00 PM) (FOX)
NASCAR VICTORY LANE (10:30-11:00 PM) (FS1)