For release: June 3, 2008
TNT Starts the Engines of its 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coverage with Exclusive Pre-Race Features
TNT and NASCAR.COM Fully Integrate to Provide Live and On-demand Coverage
Turner Network Television (TNT) is gearing up for its 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series six week race package by unveiling new, exclusive on-air features and announcing drivers who will join the set during the network’s extensive 90 minute pre-race coverage. Current NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers who will join TNT’s pre-race show each week include No. 11 Denny Hamlin (Pocono), No. 99 Carl Edwards (Michigan), No. 42 Juan Montoya (Sonoma) and No. 31 Jeff Burton (New Hampshire). TNT will also showcase both new and veteran NASCAR faces in weekly series called NASCAR Future Stars, featuring the future faces of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and the Pride of NASCAR, which will highlight six racing legends such as Bobby Allison, Raymond Parks, Ernie Irvan and Marvin Panch among others. TNT’s Wally Dallenbach hops back in the car for Wally’s World, this time joined in a second car by Kyle Petty as they get behind the wheel of stock cars and demonstrate to viewers the nuances of each racetrack and break down the strategy required to be successful each week. Finally, pit reporter Lindsay Czarniak will uncover little known facts and stories from each of the race locations in a weekly segment called Lindsay on Location.
“This year marks our 25th consecutive year of televising NASCAR Sprint Cup Series racing and we’re thrilled to be back in the driver’s seat for the next six weeks with our exceptional on-air talent and unrivaled production features,” said Jeff Behnke, Turner Sports executive producer. “TNT’s integration with NASCAR.COM will provide an exciting new multiplatform experience for NASCAR enthusiasts and continues to demonstrate Turner Sports’ commitment to using the latest in technology to bring fans closer to the action than ever before.”
TNT’s NASCAR announcing booth will include eight-year veteran TNT announcers Bill Weber (play-by-play) and Wally Dallenbach (analyst), who will be joined by current NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver, Kyle Petty. Larry McReynolds will also serve as part of the TNT NASCAR announce team, along with veteran pit reporters Marty Snider, Matt Yocum, Ralph Sheheen and Lindsay Czarniak.
TNT will also join forces with NASCAR.COM, the official site of NASCAR, to provide a multiplatform experience for race fans throughout TNT’s Summer Series of NASCAR racing with live feeds from the racetrack including pit road and in-car cameras, as well as live chats, polls and the opportunity to submit questions that will be answered live on television by TNT’s booth announcers. In addition, a page will be devoted to the network’s coverage that offers on-demand features from TNT announcers, bios, TNT’s schedule and on-demand videos of all of the features that air during pre-race coverage.
TNT’s summer 2008 NASCAR programming marks the network’s ‘Silver Anniversary’ of 25 years of televising NASCAR Sprint Cup Series coverage, making it NASCAR’s longest running broadcast partner. TNT, along with former NASCAR broadcast partner NBC, won an Emmy® for its 2006 NASCAR coverage.
Beginning on June 8th in Pocono, TNT revs up for six consecutive races of exclusive NASCAR Sprint Cup Series coverage including races in Michigan (June 15), Sonoma (June 22), Loudon (June 29), and primetime Saturday night races in Daytona (July 5) and Chicago (July 12). TNT’s widely touted Wide Open Coverage will return for the network’s marquee primetime race, the Coke Zero 400 powered by Coca-Cola at Daytona International Speedway.
Each week, TNT’s coverage will rev up with “NASCAR on TNT Live! Presented by Castrol GTX.” Hosted by Marc Fein, the show will feature commentary and analysis from Petty and McReynolds, interviews with drivers, and several regular features, including TNT’s six-part series such as “NASCAR Future Stars,” “Pride of NASCAR,” and “Lindsay on Location.” TNT’s 90-minute pre-race coverage will also include the “Allstate Countdown to Green” show, hosted by Bill Weber, which will include the show’s signature “Wally’s World” segment featuring Wally Dallenbach, joined by Kyle Petty, as they get behind the wheel to the viewers insight into the strategy of racing on each track.
2008 NASCAR on TNT Summer Series:
ALL TIMES EASTERN (ET)
SUNDAY, JUNE 8
12:30 – 2:00 p.m. NASCAR on TNT Live! Presented by Castrol GTX and Allstate Countdown to Green
2:00 – 6:30 p.m. NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Racing from Pocono presented by EA Sports’ NASCAR 2009
SUNDAY, JUNE 15
12:30 – 2:00 p.m. NASCAR on TNT Live! Presented by Castrol GTX and Allstate Countdown to Green
2:00 – 5:30 p.m. LifeLock 400 (from Michigan International Speedway)
SUNDAY, JUNE 22
3:30 – 5:00 p.m. NASCAR on TNT Live! Presented by Castrol GTX and Allstate Countdown to Green
5:00 – 8:30 p.m. Toyota/Save Mart 350 (from Infineon Raceway)
SUNDAY, JUNE 29
12:30 – 1:30 p.m. NASCAR on TNT Live! Presented by Castrol GTX and Allstate Countdown to Green
1:30 – 5:30 p.m. NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Racing from Loudon
SATURDAY, JULY 5
6:30 – 8:00 p.m. NASCAR on TNT Live! Presented by Castrol GTX and Allstate Countdown to Green
8:00 – 11:15 p.m. Coke Zero 400 powered by Coca-Cola (from Daytona Intl.
Speedway)
SATURDAY, JULY 12
6:30 – 8:00 p.m. NASCAR on TNT Live! Presented by Castrol GTX and Allstate Countdown to Green
8:00 – 11:30 p.m. LifeLock.com 400 (from Chicago Speedway)
Turner Sports, Inc., a Time Warner company, presents some of the best and most popular sporting events worldwide and is a leader in televised sports programming. With events airing on TBS and TNT, Turner Sports’ line-up includes NASCAR and NASCAR.COM, the NBA, Major League Baseball, professional golf, PGATour.com and PGA.com.
Turner Network Television (TNT), television’s destination for drama and one of cable’s top-rated networks, offers original movies and series, including the acclaimed and highly popular detective drama The Closer, starring Golden Globeâ winner and Emmy® and Screen Actors Guild Awardsâ nominee Kyra Sedgwick, and Saving Grace, a provocative new drama starring Oscar® winner and Screen Actors Guild Award nominee Holly Hunter. TNT is also home to powerful one-hour dramas, such as Bones, Law & Order, Without a Trace, Cold Case, ER and Charmed; broadcast premiere movies; compelling prime-time specials, such as the Screen Actors Guild Awards; and championship sports coverage, including NASCAR and the NBA. TNT is available in high-definition.
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CONTACTS:
Tara August Turner Sports (404) 827-2067 tara.august@turner.com
Megan Weems Turner Sports (404) 827-0297 megan.weems@turner.com
