NASCAR on FOX at Bristol Motor Speedway | Blog

NASCAR on FOX at Bristol Motor Speedway 2016 NASCAR Texas

Gordon, Darrell Waltrip, McReynolds, Joy & Alexander Weigh in on Bristol Weekend, Latest Headlines

NASCAR XFINITY SERIES Introduces Heat Racing, First of Four $100,000 ‘Dash 4 Cash’ Events

NASCAR heads to “Thunder Valley” this weekend, where FOX Sports offers 19 hours of short-track racing live from Bristol Motor Speedway. Coverage includes FS1’s live NASCAR XFINITY SERIES race coverage on Saturday, April 16 (12:30 PM ET), featuring the first-ever pair of Heats and a Main race, and culminates with NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES race coverage on FOX on Sunday, April 17 (1:00 PM ET).

On Sunday, Mike Joy leads the FOX NASCAR booth with analysis from NASCAR Hall of Famer Darrell Waltrip, four-time champ Jeff Gordon and former crew chief Larry McReynolds. Jamie Little, Vince Welch and Matt Yocum cover pit road. Chris Myers hosts FOX NASCAR SUNDAY’s pre-race coverage (12:30 PM ET), alongside analysts Michael Waltrip, Gordon and Darrell Waltrip.

In addition, Little pulls “double duty” between NASCAR and MONSTER ENERGY AMA SUPERCROSS this weekend and next. Prior to covering the NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES race at Bristol Motor Speedway on Sunday, April 17, Little hosts FOX’s live coverage of MONSTER ENERGY AMA SUPERCROSS on Saturday, April 16 (2:30 PM ET) from Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis. The following week, the Las Vegas resident has hosting duties for SUPERCROSS’ first-ever visit to Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., on Saturday, April 23 (3:30 PM ET on FOX) before flying to Richmond International Raceway late that night for the network’s NASCAR SPRINT CUP SEIRES race coverage on Sunday, April 24 (1:00 PM ET).

This weekend in Bristol, FS1 offers live coverage of Saturday’s NASCAR XFINITY SERIES race, preceded by pre-race coverage on NASCAR RACEDAY-XFINITY (12:00 PM ET). For the first time ever, the NASCAR XFINITY SERIES features a format with two Heats (50 laps each) in advance of the 200-lap Main this weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway. The two highest-finishing eligible drivers (non-Sprint Cup Series regulars) in each of the two Heats qualify to compete for the $100,000 “Dash 4 Cash” bonus up for grabs in the Main, with the highest-finishing eligible driver in the Main earning the $100,000 bonus. Finishing order in the pair of Heats sets the starting positions for the Main. The four Dash 4 Cash events include Richmond (April 23 at 12:30 PM ET on FS1), Dover (May 14 at 2:00 PM ET on FOX) and Indianapolis (July 23 on NBCSN).

Adam Alexander calls Saturday’s race alongside Michael Waltrip and driver analyst Brad Keselowski. Keselowski is one of six NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES drivers announced as part of a rotation in the FOX and FS1 booth for FOX Sports’ coverage of the 2016 NASCAR XFINITY SERIES season. Also scheduled as guest analysts are 2014 champion Kevin Harvick, Clint Bowyer, Carl Edwards, Joey Logano and Danica Patrick. Reporting from the XFINITY Series pits at Bristol Motor Speedway are Chris Neville, Vince Welch and Yocum. Danielle Trotta hosts NASCAR RACEDAY-XFINITY with analysts McReynolds and Kenny Wallace.

Below are quotes from FOX NASCAR’s Gordon, Joy, McReynolds, Darrell Waltrip and Adam Alexander on the week’s headlines and the race ahead, as well as the full FOX NASCAR programming schedule from Bristol Motor Speedway:

On the significance of Kyle Busch sweeping two weekends in a row for four consecutive NASCAR wins:

“I’m so impressed with what Kyle Busch is doing. We always knew he had tremendous talent – raw talent – but he was young, and when he was young and aggressive, he was hitting the wall, he was making mistakes. He was getting really upset on the radio … He has matured so much. He’s now poised to not just do what he’s doing -- winning big races, knocking off tracks he’s never won at before and winning championships, but he’s going to go on and do more and more and more because he’s now patient, humble, appreciative and a better race car driver than I’ve ever seen him.”

--Jeff Gordon

“The tear he went on after he returned from injury last season to win the championship, coupled with the numbers and wins he has posted thus far in 2016 is nothing short of astounding. He has been phenomenal. Kyle is all but invincible right now, and part of that is the maturity aspect. There’s a maturity to him in recent months that has helped him elevate his game to an entirely different level from the days he just out-ran the competition by sheer ability. Plus, he has learned patience through maturity and can wait on crew chief Adam Stevens to make the right adjustments to get the car more to his liking.”

--Darrell Waltrip

On the dominance of Joe Gibbs Racing thus far in 2016:

“Joe Gibbs Racing has everyone else’s number right now. I can’t tell you they will win all the races and cap that off with the 2016 championship, but I can say unequivocally that their four teams and drivers are capable of winning at any track on any weekend. They picked up right where they left off at the end of last season.”

--Larry McReynolds

On teams who have won a race in 2016, likely locking into the NASCAR Chase for the Sprint Cup, “experimenting” during the regular season in preparation for the Chase:

“It’s how you balance it because there are so many benefits that come along when you experiment and try things, knowing you don’t have to have that win, so when you get to those final 10 races, you’re ready to step up to another whole game because that’s what it takes to win a championship.”

--Jeff Gordon

“You’ve got to keep pushing forward and evolve but you can’t get too far off from what got you to Chase contention. Experimenting and getting off your game plan will hurt you when the Chase starts.”

--Darrell Waltrip

On seeing a terrace bearing his name when he returns to Bristol this weekend:

“That was one of the greatest honors I received in 2015, and it’s more than just having a terrace with your name attached to it. I love Bristol. It’s one of my favorite race tracks, if not the favorite. There’s something special about that place, whether you’re a driver or a fan. I was able to be in the booth for an XFINITY race with FOX there last year. It was special from up there, too. I’m extremely excited to be there and know my name is attached to the sport in a way that’s historical and meaningful.”

--Jeff Gordon

On the significance of Bristol to his NASCAR driving career:

“As you go through your career, you have places you love. Normally they’re tracks at which you performed well the first time you saw the place. That’s the way Bristol was for me. It’s probably my favorite race track of all time. It’s not just that my name is on a grandstand and connected to the speedway. It’s an honor to have had the success there, let alone have a grandstand named after you.”

--Darrell Waltrip

On calling his first race at Bristol for FOX NASCAR on Sunday:

“I remember my first Cup race watching as a fan. I was still in the XFINITY Series. I remember standing up at the spotter’s stand, watching DW wear them out, getting a big run off the corner. It was awesome. It’s amazing how full circle life and racing can come, and now I get to stand next to him and hopefully bring some entertaining thoughts to the fans who are watching.”

--Jeff Gordon

On the challenges he foresees for Jeff Gordon calling his first race from Bristol, where things happen so quickly:

“The challenge for Jeff would be the same challenge for a photographer who has been going to this track every year shooting trackside but suddenly is on the roof, where their view from 10,000 feet is completely different than the view out the windshield or the view from behind the guardrail. That’s going to be different, but it’s going to be fun to hear his comments on that.”

--Mike Joy

On this weekend’s NASCAR XFINITY SERIES race format, featuring a pair of heats and a main event for the first time in series’ history:

“The Bristol format could be a game changer for the XFINITY Series and a little glimpse into the future of the series and its stars. Couple this unique and exciting format with a grand prize of $100,000 up for grabs among the series regulars, and Saturday afternoon at Bristol will be special.”

--Adam Alexander

FOX NASCAR AT BRISTOL MOTOR SPEEDWAY PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE

*All times live/Eastern unless otherwise indicated & subject to change

Friday, April 15

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice (11:00 AM-12:30 PM) (FS1)

NASCAR XFINITY Series practice (12:30-2:00 PM) (FS1)

NASCAR RACE HUB (2:00-3:00 PM) (FS1)

NASCAR XFINITY Series final practice (3:00-4:00 PM) (FS1)

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series qualifying (4:00-5:30 PM) (FS1)

Saturday, April 16

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice (8:30-9:30 AM) (FS1)

NASCAR XFINITY Series qualifying (9:30-11:00 AM) (FS1)