NASCAR on NBC
Encyclopedia
NASCAR on NBC, identified by its on-air logo as NBC NASCAR, was a series of NASCAR
races that aired on the network from 2001
-2006
. Prior to the contract that gave NBC broadcast rights the network aired races as early as the 1964 World 600
. The network also aired the Fall Charlotte race from 1979 to 1981, the Winston 500
from 1983 to 1985 and the Pennzoil 400
in both 1999
and 2000
.
NBC's cable partner in NASCAR was TNT
, which retained its television rights as part of the new NASCAR contract for 2007 and beyond.
2.48 billion contract was signed for American television broadcast rights for NASCAR, split between Fox
, its cable partner FX
, NBC
, and Turner Sports
. The contract would run from 2001 through 2006, with Fox and FX covering the first half of the season, and NBC and TBS covering the second half of the season. Shortly after the 2001 season began, and before the second half of the season began, on March 27, 2001, Turner
replaced TBS with TNT
for its NASCAR programming, as part of its "We Know Drama" re-launch marketing campaign. The song "Fuel
" by Metallica
was used as the intro song for its telecasts from 2001-2003 as well as for the 2004 Daytona 500 (which aired on NBC), with the song's instrumental backing used as background music and commercial bumpers.
in even numbered years. NBC aired the race in 2002, 2004, and 2006, with Fox airing the race in 2001, 2003, and 2005. The network that didn't air the 500 aired the Pepsi 400
in July instead. With the new television contract Fox gained exclusive rights to broadcast the Daytona 500 for eight years, with TNT picking up rights to the now-Coke Zero 400.
The start time for the Daytona 500 had progressively moved later into the day. In 2001, the start time was 1:15 p.m. In 2002, the start time was shifted back to 12:45 p.m. (because of the Winter Olympics
on NBC), but in 2003, the start time was 1:01 p.m. (originally 1:28 p.m. but NASCAR tried to start the race before rain, which stopped the race prematurely) In 2004, the start time was 1:52 p.m., and the 2005 and 2006 races started at 2:45 p.m. while the 2007 race began at 3:30 p.m.
In the opening sequence, a driver can be heard shouting over his radio, "Good job guys, good job!!" This is the voice of driver Rusty Wallace
when he won the 2004
Advance Auto Parts 500 at Martinsville Speedway
.
Trivia Question, where Benny Parsons
"cued the duck" and the Aflac Duck walked across the screen before the question is displayed. Elton John
's Bennie and the Jets
was used in Benny Parson's "Golden Benny" segment from 2001-02 where he gave a golden trophy to a team member in the NASCAR community for outstanding performance during the previous week's race.
's "Fuel
" was the theme song used for NASCAR
broadcasts on NBC and TNT
from mid-2001 to the 2003 seasons. (It was also used for the 2004 Daytona 500
, but not as the theme song.) However, during portions of the 2001 season, the opening scream used in the opening was removed because of its close association with terrorists in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks
. The pre-release version of the song entitled "Fuel For Fire" (with different lyrics) appears on the NASCAR Full Throttle CD
.
in terms of both technological capabilities and bland commentators. Wally Dallenbach
and Bill Weber
were viewed as monotone and boring compared to Larry McReynolds
and Darrell Waltrip
. Statistically after its first season Fox Races had more viewers than NBC Races in 2001.
NBC was also criticized by fans for having long commercial periods during the race, much longer than the commercial periods when Fox televises a race. Two glaring problems on NBC were that restarts were often missed due to long commercial breaks, and the frequent breaks during green flag runs. The name itself, NBC, has been used as an acronym for "Nothing But Commercials." This cliché was poked fun at in the film Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
, when NBC is shown to take a commercial break in the middle of a ridiculously long crash sequence (then-NBC team Weber, Dallenbach, and Benny Parsons made cameos in the film during this sequence).
By 2004, however, NBC had made substantial improvements in regards to both technology and commentating. Although NASCAR and NBC ended their partnership after the 2006 season, many fans are hoping that they can reunite in the next television contract in spite of problems with new partner ESPN.
, largely because of its acquisition of the Sunday Night Football
telecast from ESPN
.
From 2007 until 2014, the Daytona 500 will be shown every year on Fox
under the terms of the television contract. ESPN
and ABC
rejoined the NASCAR broadcast team as part of the deal, taking the second half of the season's races, and TNT
retained its broadcast rights by signing a contract to air six mid-season races. The ESPN family of networks became the exclusive home of the NASCAR Busch/Nationwide Series as part of the contract, replacing TNT, NBC, and FX
as broadcasters.
When the NFL and NASCAR contracts overlapped during the 2006 Chase for the Nextel Cup, some of NBC's post-race shows were moved to CNBC
so that Football Night in America
could start on time.
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
races that aired on the network from 2001
2001 in NASCAR
The 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup season began on February 11 at the Daytona International Speedway and ended on November 23 at the New Hampshire International Speedway. Jeff Gordon of Hendrick Motorsports was crowned series champion for the fourth time in seven years. The season was marked by tragedy,...
-2006
2006 in NASCAR
The 2006 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup season started at Daytona International Speedway on Sunday, February 12 with the Bud Shootout and ended on Sunday, November 19 with the Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The Chase for the NEXTEL Cup began with the Sylvania 300 on Sunday, September 17 at New Hampshire...
. Prior to the contract that gave NBC broadcast rights the network aired races as early as the 1964 World 600
Coca-Cola 600
The Coca-Cola 600, formerly known as the World 600, is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held each year at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina on Memorial Day weekend...
. The network also aired the Fall Charlotte race from 1979 to 1981, the Winston 500
Aaron's 499
The Aaron's 499 is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car auto race held at Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, Alabama. The race has always been held in late April or early May. The Aaron's 499 is also one of four races currently run with restrictor plates, the others being the AMP Energy 500,...
from 1983 to 1985 and the Pennzoil 400
Ford 400
The Ford 400 is a NASCAR Sprint Cup stock car race held at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Florida.The race is relatively new on the NASCAR circuit, first being run in 1999. Since 2002, the Ford 400 has been part of the Ford Championship Weekend, the last week of the NASCAR season. Starting...
in both 1999
1999 in NASCAR
The 1999 NASCAR Winston Cup Season began on Sunday February 7 and ended on Sunday November 21. Robert Yates Racing driver Dale Jarrett was crowned the champion...
and 2000
2000 in NASCAR
The 2000 NASCAR Winston Cup Season began on Sunday February 13 and ended on Sunday November 20. Joe Gibbs Racing driver Bobby Labonte was crowned champion at season's end. The NASCAR Manufacturers' Championship was won by Ford when they captured 14 wins and 234 points to better Pontiac's 11 wins...
.
NBC's cable partner in NASCAR was TNT
NASCAR on TNT
NASCAR on TNT is the tagname for any NASCAR series race that has been broadcast on Turner Network Television by Turner Sports.-Prior to 2001:...
, which retained its television rights as part of the new NASCAR contract for 2007 and beyond.
Background
On November 11, 1999, a new $United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
2.48 billion contract was signed for American television broadcast rights for NASCAR, split between Fox
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
, its cable partner FX
FX Networks
FX is the name of a number of related pay television channels owned by News Corporation's Fox Entertainment Group...
, NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
, and Turner Sports
Turner Sports
Turner Sports is the division of Turner Broadcasting System responsible for sports broadcasts on Turner channels including TBS, TNT, and TruTV, and for operating the interactive properties , , , and...
. The contract would run from 2001 through 2006, with Fox and FX covering the first half of the season, and NBC and TBS covering the second half of the season. Shortly after the 2001 season began, and before the second half of the season began, on March 27, 2001, Turner
Turner Broadcasting System
Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. is the Time Warner subsidiary managing the collection of cable networks and properties started and acquired by Robert Edward "Ted" Turner starting in the mid-1970s. The company has its headquarters in the CNN Center in Atlanta, Georgia. TBS, Inc...
replaced TBS with TNT
Turner Network Television
Turner Network Television is an American cable television channel created by media mogul Ted Turner and currently owned by the Turner Broadcasting System division of Time Warner...
for its NASCAR programming, as part of its "We Know Drama" re-launch marketing campaign. The song "Fuel
Fuel (song)
"Fuel" is a song by Metallica. The theme of the song could be applied to the fact that people like to drive their lives too fast...
" by Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
was used as the intro song for its telecasts from 2001-2003 as well as for the 2004 Daytona 500 (which aired on NBC), with the song's instrumental backing used as background music and commercial bumpers.
Daytona 500 and Pepsi 400 coverage
In addition to their coverage of the bulk of the second half of the season, as part of their contract NBC also had rights to the Daytona 500Daytona 500
The Daytona 500 is a -long NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held annually at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is one of four restrictor plate races on the Cup schedule....
in even numbered years. NBC aired the race in 2002, 2004, and 2006, with Fox airing the race in 2001, 2003, and 2005. The network that didn't air the 500 aired the Pepsi 400
Coke Zero 400
The Coke Zero 400 powered by Coca-Cola at Daytona is a 160 lap, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race held annually, beginning in 1959, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida; the second major stock car event held at Daytona on the Sprint Cup circuit...
in July instead. With the new television contract Fox gained exclusive rights to broadcast the Daytona 500 for eight years, with TNT picking up rights to the now-Coke Zero 400.
The start time for the Daytona 500 had progressively moved later into the day. In 2001, the start time was 1:15 p.m. In 2002, the start time was shifted back to 12:45 p.m. (because of the Winter Olympics
2002 Winter Olympics
The 2002 Winter Olympics, officially the XIX Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event that was celebrated in February 2002 in and around Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. Approximately 2,400 athletes from 77 nations participated in 78 events in fifteen disciplines, held throughout...
on NBC), but in 2003, the start time was 1:01 p.m. (originally 1:28 p.m. but NASCAR tried to start the race before rain, which stopped the race prematurely) In 2004, the start time was 1:52 p.m., and the 2005 and 2006 races started at 2:45 p.m. while the 2007 race began at 3:30 p.m.
Booth
- Allen BestwickAllen BestwickAllen Bestwick is the host of ESPN's NASCAR pre-race show NASCAR Countdown and play-by-play announcer for the Sprint Cup Series races for the same company. He took over that position in 2011 after serving as the countdown to green host from 2008-2010 and a pit reporter for the network in 2007...
(1999–2005; now at ESPN/ABC) - Bill WeberBill WeberBill Weber is a former television sports commentator, perhaps best known for his work on TNT and NBC NASCAR broadcasts. Weber was also the lead announcer for Champ Car World Series events and other auto racing series on NBC. He currently is working as an illusionist.-Early life and career:Weber...
(2005–2006) - Wally Dallenbach, Jr.Wally Dallenbach, Jr.Wally Dallenbach, Jr. is an American former NASCAR Winston Cup driver. He competed in 226 Winston Cup races from 1991 to 2001 and had 23 top 10 finishes. The son of open wheel racer and former CART chief steward, Wally Dallenbach, Sr., Wally Jr. is also a road racer...
- Benny ParsonsBenny ParsonsBenjamin Stewart Parsons was an American NASCAR driver, and later an announcer/analyst on TBS, ESPN, NBC and TNT...
(2000–2006, d. January 2007) - Joe GibbsJoe GibbsJoe Jackson Gibbs is a former American football coach, NASCAR Championship team owner, and two time NHRA Pro Stock team owner. He was the 20th and 26th head coach in the history of the Washington Redskins...
(1999) - Mike WallaceMike Wallace (NASCAR)Mike Wallace is a NASCAR race car driver born in Fenton, Missouri. He currently drives the #01 Chevrolet for JD Motorsports in the Nationwide Series. He is a younger brother to Rusty Wallace, older brother to Kenny Wallace, and uncle to Steve Wallace...
(1999)
Pit reporters
- Bill Weber (lead pit reporter 2001-2004)
- Allen Bestwick (lead pit reporter 2005-2006; now host of ESPN/ABC's NASCAR CountdownNASCAR CountdownNASCAR Countdown is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and Nationwide Series prerace show that debuted on February 17, 2007. It is a live on-site pre-race show for all Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series races televised on ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC...
- Dorsey SchroederDorsey SchroederDorsey Schroeder is a race car driver born February 5, 1953 in Kirkwood, Missouri. Dorsey currently lives in Florida with his wife Kim and daughter Carissa Schroeder from his second marriage...
(1999) - Mike MassaroMike MassaroMike Massaro is a racing analyst at ESPN for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. On October 12, 2006, ESPN announced that Massaro will be a pit reporter when NASCAR coverage returns to ESPN, ESPN2, and ABC in 2007....
(1999–2000; now at ESPN/ABC) - Dave BurnsDave BurnsDave Burns , is a Dutch-British football coach. He is fluent in English and Dutch, and has basic knowledge of French and German....
(2001–2006; now at ESPN/ABC) - Marty SniderMarty SniderMarty Snider is an American Sportscaster. Snider is a pit reporter for NASCAR on TNT. He has been a part of Turner Sports' NASCAR coverage since 1998. Snider also served as a NASCAR pit reporter for NBC Sports from 1999-2006. In 2006, Snider was a part of the Emmy award winning NBC/TNT NASCAR...
(1999–2006; now with TNT in various assignments including NASCAR coverage) - Matt YocumMatt YocumMatt Yocum is a long standing reporter in motorsports. He is best known for his pit reporting in the sport of NASCAR.-Biography:Matt Yocum's exposure to automobile racing began at an early age...
(2001–2006 in conjunction with his pit work at Fox; worked every Winston/NEXTEL Cup race during the former contract; now with Fox and TNT) - Lindsay CzarniakLindsay CzarniakLindsay Ann Czarniak , is an American sports anchor and reporter. After spending 6 years with WRC-TV , the local NBC television affiliate in Washington, D.C., Czarniak joined ESPN as a SportsCenter anchor in August 2011.She has also been a pit reporter for TNT's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series coverage...
(Busch SeriesBusch SeriesThe NASCAR Nationwide Series is a stock car racing series owned and operated by the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing. It is promoted as NASCAR's "minor league" circuit, and is a proving ground for drivers who wish to step up to the organization's "big leagues"; the Sprint Cup circuit...
stand-alone events, now countdown to green pre race show host on TNT) - Ralph SheheenRalph SheheenRalph Sheheen is currently a pit reporter for NASCAR on TNT, an announcer for AMA supercross and superbike racing on the Speed Channel, and is the lead commentator of CBS Sports' coverage of the AMA....
(Busch Series stand-alone events, now with TNT)
In the opening sequence, a driver can be heard shouting over his radio, "Good job guys, good job!!" This is the voice of driver Rusty Wallace
Rusty Wallace
Russell William Wallace, Jr. is a past NASCAR Winston Cup Champion, currently a broadcaster on ESPN, car owner in the Nationwide Series, and a co-host of NASCAR Angels.-Early racing career:...
when he won the 2004
2004 in NASCAR
The 2004 NASCAR Nextel Cup season began on Saturday, February 7 and ended on Sunday, November 21. Kurt Busch with Roush Racing driving a Ford was the Nextel Cup champion....
Advance Auto Parts 500 at Martinsville Speedway
Martinsville Speedway
Martinsville Speedway is an International Speedway Corporation-owned NASCAR stock car racing track located in Henry County, near Ridgeway, Virginia, just to the south of Martinsville. At in length, it is the shortest track in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The track was also one of the first paved...
.
Regular segments
A segment during the telecasts was the AflacAflac
Aflac Incorporated is the largest provider of supplemental insurance in the United States, founded in 1955 and based in Columbus, Georgia. In the United States, Aflac underwrites a wide range of insurance policies, but is perhaps more known for its payroll deduction insurance coverage, which pays...
Trivia Question, where Benny Parsons
Benny Parsons
Benjamin Stewart Parsons was an American NASCAR driver, and later an announcer/analyst on TBS, ESPN, NBC and TNT...
"cued the duck" and the Aflac Duck walked across the screen before the question is displayed. Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
's Bennie and the Jets
Bennie and the Jets
"Bennie and the Jets" is a song composed by Elton John and Bernie Taupin. The song is written in the key of G major and first appeared on the Goodbye Yellow Brick Road album in 1973. "Bennie and the Jets" has been one of John's most popular songs....
was used in Benny Parson's "Golden Benny" segment from 2001-02 where he gave a golden trophy to a team member in the NASCAR community for outstanding performance during the previous week's race.
Music
As previously mentioned, MetallicaMetallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
's "Fuel
Fuel (song)
"Fuel" is a song by Metallica. The theme of the song could be applied to the fact that people like to drive their lives too fast...
" was the theme song used for NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
broadcasts on NBC and TNT
NASCAR on TNT
NASCAR on TNT is the tagname for any NASCAR series race that has been broadcast on Turner Network Television by Turner Sports.-Prior to 2001:...
from mid-2001 to the 2003 seasons. (It was also used for the 2004 Daytona 500
2004 Daytona 500
The 2004 Daytona 500 was a NASCAR Nextel Cup Series race held on February 15 at Daytona International Speedway. The race was the 46th running of the Daytona 500, and the first race in what is now referred as the Sprint Nextel era. The race was televised by NBC, with Allen Bestwick, 1975 winner...
, but not as the theme song.) However, during portions of the 2001 season, the opening scream used in the opening was removed because of its close association with terrorists in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks
September 11, 2001 attacks
The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
. The pre-release version of the song entitled "Fuel For Fire" (with different lyrics) appears on the NASCAR Full Throttle CD
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
.
Fan bias
A large number of fans were biased against NBC's coverage, claiming that it was largely inferior to FoxNASCAR on Fox
NASCAR on Fox is the Emmy-winning branding used for Fox Sports's broadcasts of NASCAR races airing on the Fox network since 2001. The production has been in high-definition since 2005.-Background:...
in terms of both technological capabilities and bland commentators. Wally Dallenbach
Wally Dallenbach, Jr.
Wally Dallenbach, Jr. is an American former NASCAR Winston Cup driver. He competed in 226 Winston Cup races from 1991 to 2001 and had 23 top 10 finishes. The son of open wheel racer and former CART chief steward, Wally Dallenbach, Sr., Wally Jr. is also a road racer...
and Bill Weber
Bill Weber
Bill Weber is a former television sports commentator, perhaps best known for his work on TNT and NBC NASCAR broadcasts. Weber was also the lead announcer for Champ Car World Series events and other auto racing series on NBC. He currently is working as an illusionist.-Early life and career:Weber...
were viewed as monotone and boring compared to Larry McReynolds
Larry McReynolds
Lawrence Joseph McReynolds III is a former NASCAR crew chief and currently serves as a racing analyst on Fox Sports, TNT and a columnist on Foxsports.com. He currently lives in Mooresville, North Carolina...
and Darrell Waltrip
Darrell Waltrip
Darrell Lee Waltrip is a 3-time NASCAR Cup Series champion , 3-time runner-up , winner of the 1989 Daytona 500 and 5-time winner of the prestigeous Coca-Cola 600 ,...
. Statistically after its first season Fox Races had more viewers than NBC Races in 2001.
NBC was also criticized by fans for having long commercial periods during the race, much longer than the commercial periods when Fox televises a race. Two glaring problems on NBC were that restarts were often missed due to long commercial breaks, and the frequent breaks during green flag runs. The name itself, NBC, has been used as an acronym for "Nothing But Commercials." This cliché was poked fun at in the film Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby is a 2006 American comedy film, directed by Adam McKay and starring Will Ferrell. The film also features John C. Reilly, Michael Clarke Duncan, Leslie Bibb, Amy Adams, Gary Cole, Jane Lynch, and Sacha Baron Cohen. Various Saturday Night Live alumni also...
, when NBC is shown to take a commercial break in the middle of a ridiculously long crash sequence (then-NBC team Weber, Dallenbach, and Benny Parsons made cameos in the film during this sequence).
By 2004, however, NBC had made substantial improvements in regards to both technology and commentating. Although NASCAR and NBC ended their partnership after the 2006 season, many fans are hoping that they can reunite in the next television contract in spite of problems with new partner ESPN.
NASCAR leaves NBC
In mid October 2005, NBC announced that it would not renew its package starting in 20072007 in NASCAR
The 2007 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup season began on February 10, 2007 at Daytona International Speedway with the Budweiser Shootout and ended on November 18 of that same year at Homestead-Miami Speedway with the Ford 400. The Chase for the NEXTEL Cup began with the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire...
, largely because of its acquisition of the Sunday Night Football
NBC Sunday Night Football
NBC Sunday Night Football is a weekly television broadcast of Sunday evening National Football League games on NBC that began airing on Sunday, August 6, 2006 with the pre-season opening Hall of Fame Game. Al Michaels serves as the play-by-play announcer, with Cris Collinsworth as the color...
telecast from ESPN
ESPN Sunday Night Football
ESPN Sunday Night Football is the ESPN cable network's weekly television broadcasts of Sunday evening National Football League games. The first ESPN Sunday night broadcast occurred on November 8, 1987, while the last one aired on January 1, 2006....
.
From 2007 until 2014, the Daytona 500 will be shown every year on Fox
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
under the terms of the television contract. ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
and ABC
ESPN on ABC
ESPN on ABC is the brand used for sports programming on the ABC television network. Officially the broadcast network retains its own sports division; however, for all practical purposes, ABC's sports division has been merged with ESPN, a sports cable network majority-owned by ABC's parent, The...
rejoined the NASCAR broadcast team as part of the deal, taking the second half of the season's races, and TNT
NASCAR on TNT
NASCAR on TNT is the tagname for any NASCAR series race that has been broadcast on Turner Network Television by Turner Sports.-Prior to 2001:...
retained its broadcast rights by signing a contract to air six mid-season races. The ESPN family of networks became the exclusive home of the NASCAR Busch/Nationwide Series as part of the contract, replacing TNT, NBC, and FX
FX Networks
FX is the name of a number of related pay television channels owned by News Corporation's Fox Entertainment Group...
as broadcasters.
When the NFL and NASCAR contracts overlapped during the 2006 Chase for the Nextel Cup, some of NBC's post-race shows were moved to CNBC
CNBC
CNBC is a satellite and cable television business news channel in the U.S., owned and operated by NBCUniversal. The network and its international spinoffs cover business headlines and provide live coverage of financial markets. The combined reach of CNBC and its siblings is 390 million viewers...
so that Football Night in America
Football Night in America
Football Night in America is the studio pregame show usually preceding NBC's broadcasts of Sunday night and Wild Card Saturday National Football League games starting in the 2006 National Football League season...
could start on time.