10 SEASONS, 10 MOMENTS: NASCAR ON NBC CELEBRATES A DECADE ANNIVERSARY

10 Best Moments from the Last 10 Years of NBC Sports NASCAR Coverage

Joey Logano, Tyler Reddick, Ryan Blaney and William Byron will race for the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series championship this Sunday at 3:00 pm ET on NBC and Peacock.

Pre-race insurance starts with Countdown to green at 2:00 pm Eastern Time

STAMFORD, CT. – November 5, 2024 – NBC Sports will crown NASCAR Cup Series champion out of 10^th back-to-back season this Sunday at Phoenix Raceway in Avondale, Arizona at 3:00 pm ET on NBC and Peacock. Sunday’s championship race marks the 10th anniversary of NBC Sports’ most recent media rights agreement with NASCAR, which began in the summer of 2015.

In honor of those 10 seasons, below are 10 of the most noteworthy moments that have helped define NBC Sports’ critically acclaimed NASCAR coverage over the last decade.

1. July 5, 2015 – First Race: Coke Zero 400 at Daytona and Austin Dillon’s Catch Fence crash site.

The 2015 Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway—NBC Sports’ first race under NASCAR’s new media rights deal after originally presenting the 1999-2006 race—didn’t start until 11:42 p.m. ET due to a rain delay and ended at 2:40 p.m. I’m E.T. The race that was won Dale Earnhardt Jr.memorable for Austin Dillon crashing into the fence at the checkered flag; Dillon was helped out of the car and left of his own accord to loud applause from the crowd.

2. November 22, 2015 – Kyle Busch wins his first Cup Series championship after missing the first 11 races.

In NBC Sports’ first NASCAR Cup Series championship race in its new package, Kyle Busch won his first career Cup Series championship race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Busch missed the first 11 races of the season while recovering from a broken leg and had to win three straight regular-season races to even make the playoffs.

3. November 20, 2016 – Jimmie Johnson wins a record seventh Cup championship.

In the final race of the 2016 season at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Jimmie Johnson won his record seventh NASCAR Cup Series championship in a dramatic overtime tie. Dale Earnhardt And Richard Petty for the most championships in history. It was also the final Hall of Fame race. Tony Stewart And Carl Edwards.

4. July 1, 2018 – “Sliding!”

In his first race with Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the NBC Sports booth, the 26-time Cup Series race winner created one of the most viral NASCAR moments of the decade. During the final lap of the Overton’s 400 at Chicagoland Speedway Kyle Larson tried to go around and then slide down the path in front of Kyle Busch inside, prompting Earnhardt Jr. to memorably exclaim, “Slide job! Slide work! Busch ultimately managed to win the race in one of the most memorable finishes in recent memory.

5. September 18, 2021 – Chase Elliott and Kevin Harvick fight after race at Bristol.

After a heated race that saw Elliott and Harvick collide multiple times on the race track, the two drivers exchanged words in a heated argument on Bristol pit road that eventually escalated into a physical altercation. They then entered the truck to continue their heated conversation. Note: Kyle Larson was the winner of this race.

6. November 7, 2021 – Kyle Larson continues to compete for the inaugural Cup Series title.

The 2021 NASCAR Cup Series championship race at Phoenix Raceway came to a thrilling finish as Kyle Larson, who took the lead after a late-race pit stop, held off the rising tide. Martin Truex Jr. on the final lap to win his tenth race of the season and first Cup Series championship.

7. October 30, 2022 – Ross Chastain hits the wall in Championship 4

At the 2022 Xfinity 500 at Martinsville—the final race of the Round of 8 before the championship—Chastain famously went from tenth to fifth on the track’s outside wall to finish last in the Championship 4. Chastain’s “Wall Run” not only sent him to Phoenix, but also set the record for the fastest lap during the Cup Series race at Martinsville.

8. July 2, 2023 – Shane van Gisbergen wins the first annual street race in Chicago.

The first annual Chicago Street Race featured drivers racing along a 2.2 mile street course that spanned the city and featured unforgettable sights Shane van Gisbergenin his NASCAR debut, he won. To accommodate the unique nature of the race, NBC Sports presented the race “Radio Style”, which featured announcers positioned from vantage points throughout the track and providing commentary throughout.

9. August 26, 2023 – Ryan Preece flips at Daytona

On lap 155 of the 2023 Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona, Ryan Preece’s No. 41 car was hit from behind and began spinning in the infield grass, where the car flipped 10 times, rolling across the grass in one of its worst occurrences. visually stunning crashes in recent NASCAR history. Luckily, Preece got out of the car safely and was able to race the following weekend.

10. August 24, 2024 – Harrison Burton wins Daytona with dad Jeff Burton in the booth.

NBC Sports motorsports voiceover Lee DiffieThe first race on the NASCAR booth was special for the NBC family as Harrison Burton is the son of longtime NBC Sports NASCAR analyst and a 21-time Cup Series race winner. Jeff Burton — scored his first career Cup Series victory at the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona with an impressive victory on the final lap. “Jeff, your little boy did it!” Diffie shouted along with the exuberant Burton.

Honorable Mention:

October 25, 2020 – Parker Kligerman Confirms that the water is wet

During a rain delay at Texas Motor Speedway, NBC Sports’ Parker Kligerman confirmed the water was wet on a groundbreaking day for weather reports, describing the scene at the racetrack. To his credit, he was not mistaken, since he had to finish the race in three days.

–NBC SPORTS–