USA Sports will bring a new broadcast innovation to its NASCAR Cup Series coverage in 2026 with a new “pace car analyst” role, bringing viewers closer to the action as USA Sports kicks off its coverage with the Iowa Corn 350 Powered by Ethanol this Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET on USA Network.
Trevor Bayne, 2011 DAYTONA 500 champion, joins USA Network’s NASCAR broadcast team as a pit reporter this season and will serve as USA Sports’ pace car analyst, reporting live from inside the pace car ahead of the green flag and during pivotal restarts throughout USA Sports’ coverage.
“Having Trevor report live from inside the pace car at select races this season is going to bring a new insight to our coverage and give the fans at home unique viewing experience,” said USA Sports executive producer Jeff Behnke. “From our extended post-race shows to our radio-style broadcasts, we’ve always looked for ways to innovate within our NASCAR coverage and enhance our coverage for race fans. USA Sports’ new pace car analyst position is just another example of our fan-first approach.”
USA Sports’ new pace car analyst role marks the latest in a long line of broadcast innovations from its NASCAR production team. USA Sports production team has pushed NASCAR coverage forward with innovations such as:
- Post-race burnout interviews on-track with winning drivers;
- Extended post-race studio coverage;
- The USA Sports Pit Box, giving USA Sports the only broadcast position on pit road;
- Radio-style broadcasts at road course races;
- The “My Track My Roots” grassroots racing initiative, showcasing local tracks and racing from across the country.
The Iowa Corn 350 is the first race of USA Sports’ NASCAR coverage in 2026, which includes 14 races of the 2026 Cup Series Season and includes full coverage of “The Chase,” which begins at Darlington Raceway on Sunday, Sept. 6 on USA Network and culminates with the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Sunday, Nov. 8, on NBC.
This week’s coverage of the Iowa Corn 350 at Iowa Speedway begins at 3 p.m. ET with pre-race coverage on Countdown to Green.
— USA Sports —