Eight Cup Series drivers will team to call an Xfinity Series race next month at Pocono Raceway.
Author: Jordan Bianchi
Date: May 19, 2017
Fox Sports’ broadcast team will consist of eight active Monster Energy Cup Series drivers when the network televises an Xfinity Series race June 10 at Pocono Raceway.
Kevin Harvick will handle play-by-play duties, with analysts Clint Bowyer and Joey Logano joining him in the broadcast booth. Ryan Blaney, Erik Jones, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will serve as pit reporters, while Denny Hamlin and Danica Patrick will be studio hosts.
"We know we're going to screw up. [Fox] knows we're going to screw up,” Harvick said Friday at Charlotte Motor Speedway. “From a booth standpoint, the three of us are not going to be a traditional booth, where it's me leading the show. It's going to be all three of us taking charge, saying what we see and doing what we think is right during that particular time."
Fox believes this marks the first time a live nationally televised sporting event will be comprised entirely of athletes who participate in that respective sport.
“I think this is a great idea,” Patrick said. “I think there is nothing better than putting people in position who are the most current and aware of what’s going on, and on top of that, personalities that are prepared to give their honest opinions.”
Harvick was selected for his role because he has the most experience as a television analyst for Fox’s coverage of Xfinity and Camping World Truck Series races. He selected Bowyer and Logano to work alongside him as analysts.
Fox Sports vice president Jacob Ullman said he expects the unconventional broadcast to experience a few hiccups, but says that is also what makes this experiment compelling. Fox will have the regular broadcast team onsite to assist behind-the-scenes -- and on air -- if needed.
"If it feels exactly [the] same as a normal race, then we've done something wrong," Ullman said. "It's supposed to be fun. It's supposed to be more of a conversation."
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