FOX NASCAR at Atlanta Motor Speedway Quotes & Programming Schedule
MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES Live on FOX Sunday; NASCAR XFINITY & GANDER OUTDOORS TRUCK SERIES Doubleheader Live on FS1 Saturday from Atlanta
Seven-Time Champ Johnson Makes Analyst Debut Saturday in NASCAR XFINITY SERIES Race on FS1
New FS1 Fast Friday Programming Block Kicks off This Weekend at 3:00 PM ET
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — NASCAR heads to Atlanta Motor Speedway this weekend for the second race of the MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES season, on Sunday, Feb. 24 (2:00 PM ET on FOX), and a unique NASCAR XFINITY SERIES/NASCAR GANDER OUTDOORS TRUCK SERIES doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 23 (2:00 PM ET & 4:30 PM ET on FS1).
To offer NASCAR fans a consistent start time for Friday programming in 2019, FOX Sports is featuring a multi-hour block of Fast Friday programming each race weekend, beginning Friday, Feb. 22 from Atlanta. Delivering highlights of the morning and early afternoon on-track activity, news and feature content, along with practice updates, Fast Friday begins each week at 3:00 PM ET and includes live coverage of MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES qualifying. All Friday MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES practice sessions taking place prior to the 3:00 PM ET window are offered via live streaming on NASCAR.com at https://www.nascar.com/live in 2019.
The following practices will be streamed live from Atlanta Motor Speedway on Friday on https://www.nascar.com/live
• MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES practice 1 (11:30 AM-1:00 PM ET)
• NASCAR XFINITY SERIES practice 1 (1:00-2:00 PM ET)
• NASCAR GANDER OUTDOORS TRUCK SERIES practice 1 (2:00-3:00 PM ET)
Anchoring Fast Friday for FOX NASCAR this weekend is new studio host Sara Walsh, making her on-air debut from the new virtual studio alongside analysts Jamie McMurray and Ricky Craven.
Below are programming information, the weekend’s on-air broadcaster roster and quotes from FOX NASCAR analyst Ricky Craven on the weekend ahead, as well as FOX NASCAR play-by-play announcer Adam Alexander on the addition of Kevin Harvick and Jimmie Johnson to the Xfinity Series booth at Atlanta:
MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES
• Date/Time: Sunday, Feb. 24 (2:00 PM ET)
• Network: FOX
• Announcers: Mike Joy, Hall of Famer and three-time champion Darrell Waltrip, Hall of Famer and four-time champ Jeff Gordon, race analyst Larry McReynolds
• Pit reporters: Jamie Little, Vince Welch and Matt Yocum
• Pre-race: NASCAR RACEDAY (1:30-2:00 PM ET on FOX); hosted by Shannon Spake with Larry McReynolds, Jamie McMurray and Regan Smith
• NASCAR RACEDAY (12:30-1:30 PM ET on FS1); hosted by Spake with McReynolds, McMurray and Smith
• Hosts: Spake and McMurray
NASCAR XFINITY SERIES
• Date/Time: Saturday, Feb. 23 (2:00 PM ET)
• Network: FS1
• Announcers: Adam Alexander, Kevin Harvick and guest driver analyst Jimmie Johnson
• Pit reporters: Jamie Little and Regan Smith
• Pre-race: NASCAR RACEDAY-XFINITY (1:30 PM ET on FS1); hosted by Shannon Spake and analysts Larry McReynolds and Jamie McMurray
• Hosts: Spake, McReynolds and McMurray
NASCAR GANDER OUTDOORS TRUCK SERIES
• Date/Time: Saturday, Feb. 23 (4:30 PM ET)
• Network: FS1
• Announcers: Vince Welch, Phil Parsons and Michael Waltrip
• Pit reporters: Hermie Sadler and Alan Cavanna
• Post-race: 6:30-7:00 PM (FS1)
FOX NASCAR QUOTES
FOX NASCAR analyst Ricky Craven says the new rules package has drivers and teams on their toes:
“For many years, Atlanta has been a driver favorite because of the ability to move around the race track to find a preferred groove or lane, as well as the added responsibility of managing your tire wear. But the debut of this new rules package has everyone back on their heels a bit. Sure, it is the same abrasive Atlanta track, but there’s now a high probability that how you approached this race in the past will not apply this weekend.”
Craven says the jury will be out on the new aero package for the first four races:
“The next four races, all at completely different disciplines of race tracks, will give us an indication of which direction we are headed with the new aero package. We can’t judge it, for better or worse, after just one or two races, though.”
FOX NASCAR play-by-play announcer Adam Alexander discusses the growth of FOX Sports’ initiative to put Cup drivers in the Xfinity booth and Jimmie Johnson’s analyst debut with Kevin Harvick on Saturday:
“I could have never imagined, when we introduced Cup Series drivers to the Xfinity Series booth a few years ago, that it would grow like this. We’ve had countless Cup regulars join us, and Kevin established early that this is something he wants to continue to be a part of. His great success on the track has translated nicely to the booth, and I know Jimmie’s will, as well. It will be fantastic to get those two together on Saturday, and I can’t wait to have a front-row seat for it.”
FOX NASCAR AT ATLANTA MOTOR SPEEDWAY PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE
(All times live/Eastern unless otherwise indicated & subject to change)
Friday, Feb. 22
MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES practice 1 (11:30 AM-1:00 PM ET) (NASCAR.com/live)
NASCAR XFINITY SERIES practice 1 (1:00-2:00 PM ET) (NASCAR.com/live)
NASCAR GANDER OUTDOORS TRUCK SERIES practice 1 (2:00-3:00 PM ET) (NASCAR.com/live)
NASCAR XFINITY SERIES final practice (3:00-4:00 PM) (FS1)
NASCAR GANDER OUTDOORS TRUCK SERIES final practice (4:00-5:00 PM) (FS1)
MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES qualifying (5:00-6:30 PM) (FS1)
Saturday, Feb. 23
NASCAR XFINITY SERIES qualifying (9:30-10:30 AM) (FS1)
NASCAR GANDER OUTDOORS TRUCK SERIES qualifying (10:30 AM-12:00 PM) (FS1)
MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES final practice (12:00-1:30 PM) (FS1)
NASCAR RACEDAY-XFINITY (1:30-2:00 PM) (FS1)
NASCAR XFINITY SERIES Racing (2:00-4:30 PM) (FS1)
NASCAR GANDER OUTDOORS TRUCK SERIES Racing (4:30-6:30 PM) (FS1)
NASCAR GANDER OUTDOORS TRUCK SERIES post-race (6:30-7:00 PM) (FS1)
Sunday, Feb. 24
NASCAR RACEDAY (12:30-1:30 PM) (FS1)
NASCAR RACEDAY (1:30-2:00 PM) (FOX)
MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES Racing (2:00-6:00 PM) (FOX)
About FOX Sports
FOX Sports is the umbrella entity representing 21st Century FOX’s wide array of multi-platform US-based sports assets. Built with brands capable of reaching more than 100 million viewers in a single weekend, FOX Sports includes ownership and interests in linear television networks, digital and mobile programming, broadband platforms, multiple web sites, joint-venture businesses and several licensing partnerships. FOX Sports includes the sports television arm of the FOX Broadcasting Company; FS1, FS2; FOX Sports Regional Networks, their affiliated regional web sites and national programming; FOX Soccer Plus; FOX Deportes and FOX College Sports. In addition, FOX Sports also encompasses FOX Sports Digital, including FOXSports.com and the FOX Sports app. Also included in the Group are FOX’s interests in joint-venture businesses Big Ten Network and BTN 2Go, as well as a licensing agreement that established the FOX Sports Radio Network.
–FOX SPORTS–
