Just 2 NASCAR races remain on TNT
The ten national sponsors, which matches the last two years’ sponsorship commitment, featured in this year’s innovative telecast include Coke Zero, US Army, Sprint, Toyota, Coors Light, Viagra, Goodyear, Burger King, Subway and the Weinstein Company (movie Inglourious Basterds).
TNT will air the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona powered by Coca-Cola beginning at 8 p.m. ET with play-by-play announcer Ralph Sheheen calling the race alongside analysts Kyle Petty and Wally Dallenbach in the booth. In addition, analyst Larry McReynolds will make frequent contributions from the in-field as he breaks down crew strategy and analyzes car adjustments.
The network will rev up its pre-race coverage beginning at 6:30 p.m. ET with NASCAR on TNT Live! with Marc Fein (host), Petty and McReynolds. No. 14 Tony Stewart will join TNT’s infield rig for an interview prior to the race. Stewart won his first race as an owner/driver during TNT’s coverage of the Pocono 500. Also, legendary driver and owner Richard Petty will stop by the set as well.
TNT’s acclaimed Pride of NASCAR series will feature the legendary owner Junie Donlavey who was a NASCAR owner for more than 50 years. Donlavey is best known for giving young drivers their first chance in NASCAR, with more than 70 drivers race in his car throughout his career. Donlavey still lives and works in his Richmond, Va. shop that he started in 1950.
Lindsay on Location continues this week as TNT pit reporter Lindsay Czarniak takes a tour of No. 42 Juan Montoya’s impressive warehouse in Miami that includes past race cars, trophies, a rock climbing wall and jet skis.
Grammy-nominated rockers Buckcherry will perform prior to the race at Daytona, with TNT airing live footage. Buckcherry’s version of Deep Purple’s hit single “Highway Star" is the network’s theme song for its 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series coverage.
NASCAR on TNT Live! will be followed by Countdown to Green at 7:30 p.m. ET with Fein (host), Dallenbach (analyst) and Petty (analyst) with reports from pit reporters Marty Snider, Matt Yocum, Adam Alexander and Czarniak.
During Countdown to Green, Dallenbach will once again break down race strategy during Wally’s World, as he is superimposed into live race footage from last season’s race at Daytona International Speedway. He will virtually walk along the road course to discuss its nuances, with the ability to stop the race footage.
Dallenbach will also spend time with No. 5 Mark Martin to talk about how, at the age of 50, Martin stays so young. Dallenbach will take viewers behind the scenes to check out Martin’s workouts that keep him in shape and competitive on the race track.
Snider will go from the asphalt of the racetrack to the hardwood of the basketball court with a feature on No. 11 Denny Hamlin’s love for the game of basketball.
Countdown to Green leads into coverage of Coke Zero 400 at Daytona powered by Coca-Cola at 8 p.m. ET with Sheheen, Dallenbach and Petty calling the action with frequent interaction with McReynolds (analyst) who will man the TNT Offtrack Robotic Car.
Throughout this year’s NASCAR on TNT Summer Series, the network will join forces with NASCAR.COM, the official site of NASCAR, to provide TNT RaceBuddy a multiplatform experience for race fans which features live feeds from the racetrack including pit road and in-car cameras, as well as live chats and polls.
REMAINING 2009 NASCAR ON TNT SCHEDULE:
(All times ET)
SATURDAY, JULY 4
6:30 – 7:30 p.m. NASCAR on TNT Live!
7:30 – 8:00 p.m. Countdown to Green
8:00 – 11:15 p.m. Coke Zero 400 at Daytona powered by Coca-Cola (from Daytona Intl. Speedway)
SATURDAY, JULY 11
6:30 – 7:30 p.m. NASCAR on TNT Live!
7:30 – 8:00 p.m. Countdown to Green
8:00 – 11:30 p.m. NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Racing from Chicago presented by Papa John’s (from Chicago Speedway)