FOX to have 80 hours of SpeedWeeks TV coverage
The FOX Sports family of networks offer multi-platform NASCAR coverage from Daytona International Speedway, culminating with FOX broadcast network's live coverage of the DAYTONA 500 on Sunday, Feb. 22 (1:00 PM ET), with pre-race coverage on FOX NASCAR SUNDAY (12:00 PM ET). Mike Joy, Hall of Famer Darrell Waltrip and Larry McReynolds call their 12th DAYTONA 500 together, and ninth straight, all for FOX, and this year marks Joy's 40th DAYTONA 500 broadcast. The trio is joined on pit road by newcomers Jamie Little, Chris Neville, Vince Welch and veteran FOX reporter Matt Yocum, who also was part of the original 2001 FOX team. Chris Myers hosts FOX NASCAR SUNDAY alongside Darrell and Michael Waltrip.
When the green flag waves at Daytona, Little makes history as the first female TV pit reporter to work both the DAYTONA 500 and the Indianapolis 500 on live network television. Fellow reporter Welch also achieves the rare distinction of covering pit road for both prestigious races, and both FOX freshman join Allen Bestwick as the only broadcasters to work both races on live network television coverage.
For the second consecutive year, "The Great American Race" is streamed live in both English and Spanish through FOX Sports GO, the critically acclaimed app that provides live streaming video of FOX Sports content at home or on-the-go. All FOX NASCAR programming in 2015 is live streamed on FOX Sports GO. FOX Sports Deportes, the No. 1 Spanish-language sports network in the U.S., also offers live coverage of the DAYTONA 500, with NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES driver German Quiroga joining as race analyst.
FOX Sports' Daytona Speedweeks coverage kicks off Thursday, Feb. 12 with DAYTONA 500 MEDIA DAY (9:00 AM-1:00 PM ET), a live four-hour special on FOX Sports 1 direct from NASCAR Media Day at Daytona International Speedway, followed by a special two-hour edition of NASCAR RACE HUB, also from NASCAR Media Day (5:00-7:00 PM ET). Adam Alexander, John Roberts and Danielle Trotta co-host the show with Alan Cavanna and Kaitlyn Vincie reporting. NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES cars hit the track for the first time Friday, Feb. 13 for SPRINT UNLIMITED practice, and FOX Sports 1 has all the action beginning at 5:00 PM ET.
The SPRINT UNLIMITED, the first NASCAR event of the 2015 season, airs live on FOX on Saturday, Feb. 14 (8:00 PM ET). Joy, Darrell Waltrip and McReynolds call the 75-lap, non-points race under the lights with Little, Neville and Yocum in the pits. Myers and Michael Waltrip host the network's coverage from the Hollywood Hotel. This year's edition features a minimum of 25 NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES drivers in an expanded field of competitors based on new eligibility requirements. Included in the field are all 16 drivers who made the 2014 NASCAR Chase for the Sprint Cup.
NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES drivers hit the track the next day, Sunday, Feb. 15, for POLE DAY QUALIFYING, live on FOX at 1:00 PM ET. For the first time, POLE DAY QUALIFYING features group qualifying in the time trials that set the prestigious first and second starting positions for the DAYTONA 500, as well as the starting order for the BUDWEISER DUEL AT DAYTONA. The FOX NASCAR announce team anchors coverage.
The full DAYTONA 500 starting order is set following the BUDWEISER DUEL AT DAYTONA, live on FOX Sports 1 on Thursday, Feb. 19 at 7:00 PM ET. Historically one of Daytona Speedweeks' most exciting events, these two qualifying races are staged in prime time under the lights for the second consecutive year. Joy, Darrell Waltrip and McReynolds have the call with pit reporting by Little, Neville and Yocum. Myers and Michael Waltrip host.
FOX Sports kicks off its inaugural coverage of the NASCAR XFINITY SERIES from Daytona on Saturday, Feb. 21 with the season opener at 3:30 PM ET. Adam Alexander calls the action alongside Michael Waltrip and reigning NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES champion Kevin Harvick with pit reporting by Welch, Little and Yocum. NASCAR RACEDAY – XFINITY, FOX Sports 1's pre-race show for the XFINITY Series, premieres on Saturday, Feb. 21 at 3:00 PM ET. Trotta hosts with analysis from McReynolds and Kenny Wallace.
The NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES makes its season debut on Friday, Feb. 20 (7:30 PM ET) on FOX Sports 1, with complete pre-race coverage beginning with NCWTS SETUP at 7:00 PM ET. Joy, filling in for Steve Byrnes until he returns from medical leave of absence, has the call alongside Phil Parsons and Michael Waltrip. Hermie Sadler, Welch and Yocum cover pit road. Trotta hosts NCWTS SETUP live from the Hollywood Hotel with analysis from two-time series champion Todd Bodine and feature reporting by Ray Dunlap.
Before FOX coverage of the DAYTONA 500 begins on Sunday, Feb. 22, NASCAR RACEDAY is live on FOX Sports 1 from Daytona International Speedway's Fan Zone, bringing viewers the latest news amidst the buzz as drivers prepare to start the biggest race of the year. Trotta debuts in her new role as host, and is joined by McReynolds and Wallace. NASCAR RACEDAY also airs immediately preceding the SPRINT UNLIMITED and the BUDWEISER DUEL. Reporting for NASCAR RACEDAY throughout Speedweeks are Cavanna, Vincie and Welch.
NASCAR VICTORY LANE, FOX Sports 1's NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES post-race show with Myers, Michael Waltrip and Wallace, quickly brings viewers up-to-date on the day's race following the SPRINT UNLIMITED, BUDWEISER DUEL and DAYTONA 500.
FOX Sports 1's NASCAR RACE HUB, the network's daily news and update show, expands to the weekends to update viewers on the day's happenings. Roberts hosts alongside analyst Jeff Hammond with live, at-track reporting by Cavanna and Vincie. NASCAR RACE HUB's daily show returned in January for its seventh season with shows airing Monday through Thursday at 6:00 PM ET on FOX Sports 1.
DAYTONA 500 BASH AT THE BEACH returns to FOX for its second year on Saturday, Feb 21 at 9:00 PM ET. On the eve of "The Great American Race," FOX celebrates the pop-culture event the DAYTONA 500 has become with a two-day fan fest on the sands of Daytona Beach. Details are forthcoming.
In addition, FOX Sports 1 premieres two NASCAR original specials during Speedweeks in a special programming block on Friday, Feb. 13. A PERFECT STORM, debuting at 7:30 PM ET, chronicles the events of Feb. 18, 1979, detailing how a major blizzard struck the Eastern seaboard, creating a "captive" audience for the first live flag-to-flag television broadcast of the Daytona 500.
The one-hour special, produced by NASCAR Productions, features excerpts from the race broadcast, recently discovered archival footage and first-person accounts from the network broadcasters, drivers and newsmakers who witnessed the historic event that is credited with helping put NASCAR on the map. Interviews featured in the special include: combatants Cale Yarborough, Bobby Allison and Donnie Allison; Richard Petty (race winner); Darrell Waltrip (runner-up); Jim Hedlund (EMT who broke up the fight); Ken Squier (CBS announcer); David Hobbs, (CBS analyst); Joy (MRN turn announcer); Jack Arute (MRN producer); Jerry Garrett (Associated Press journalist covering the race); Joe Menzer (author of The Great American Gamble); Kyle Petty (Richard Petty's son and crew member); President Jimmy Carter; and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (watched father compete).
A second special, entitled 1979 DAYTONA 500, premieres at 8:30 PM ET, featuring a 30-minute, cut-down version of the iconic race supplemented with interesting "pop-up trivia" facts and hosted by Earnhardt Jr.
FOX SPORTS LIVE, FOX Sports 1's flagship highlight, news and opinion show, counts down to "The Great American Race" with a specially dedicated coverage plan titled "FOX SPORTS LIVE: DRIVE TO THE 500." From Thursday, Feb. 19-Saturday, Feb. 21, show anchors Jay Onrait and Dan O'Toole are live from the FOX Network Center in Los Angeles, welcoming viewers to the day's coverage each morning and serving as the transition bridge between remote programs and race-day events. The guys also check in throughout the afternoon, offering news updates while also recording video content and podcast elements for FOXSports.com during the course of each day's gamut of NASCAR programming.
And for the hardcore race fans, catch even more live on-track action as the ARCA RACING SERIES season opener airs live on FOX Sports 1 on Saturday, Feb. 14 (4:00 PM ET). Alexander and Parsons call the race with pit reporting by Dunlap and Jim Tretow.