As NBC Sports Group’s presentation of the 2016 Rio Olympic Games winds down, the engines of NASCAR rev back into action with back-to-back races under the lights of Bristol Motor Speedway. The NASCAR Sprint Cup series returns on Saturday at 7:30pm/et on NBCSN. NASCAR XFINITY Series racing is scheduled for Friday at 7:30pm/et on USA Network.
Saturday’s pre-race coverage includes a closer look at the famous speedway that owes its heritage to Olympia. In a feature voiced by Ken Squier, NBC Sports draws comparisons between the Olympics, the greatest test of a man’s physical strength, and NASCAR racing, the greatest test of man and machine. Before the cars roll this weekend, NBC reporter Parker Kligerman ventures up to Colossus to get a closer look at the world’s largest outdoor center-hung four-sided video screen. NBC Sports continues to surround Jeff Gordon as he suits up for his fourth consecutive race in the #88 car as Dale Earnhardt Jr. remains sidelined with a concussion.
NBC Sports kicks off its Sprint Cup coverage from Bristol on Friday with practice at 10:00am/et, [NO TV] available via live stream on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app, as well as several NBC Sports Regional Networks (CSN New England, CSN Mid Atlantic, CSN Plus-Chicago, CSN Bay Area, CSN Northwest).
Happy Hour (final) practice follows at 12:30pm/et streaming on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app with live coverage of practice starting at 1:00pm/et on USA Network. Friday’s Sprint Cup coverage wraps up with qualifying at 5:30pm/et on USA Network.
Saturday’s race day coverage begins with Countdown to Green at 7:30pm/et, immediately following the conclusion of the Olympic men’s soccer gold medal match on NBCSN (so coverage could be delayed). Race coverage from The Last Great Colosseum begins Saturday at 8:00pm/et. An hour-long on-site post-race show wraps up NBCSN’s coverage at 11:00pm/et (after the race).
Race announcer Rick Allen calls this weekend’s action alongside analysts Steve Letarte and Jeff Burton. Pre- and post-race coverage is handled by host Krista Voda, and analysts Kyle Petty and Dale Jarrett. Marty Snider, Mike Massaro, Dave Burns and Kligerman report from pit road.(NBC)
