Race winner Carl Edwards in Victory Lane: “This is what it’s about— we’re sliding cars, tires are falling off— this is the style of racing that I love.” 

Kyle Petty: “We can call it a Darlington Southern 500 throwback, but this was an old-fashioned Darlington Southern 500 throw down.”

Darlington, N.C. — September 6, 2015 — NBC presented NASCAR Sprint Cup Series racing in prime time from Darlington Raceway this evening. Race winner Carl Edwards, who will enter the NBCSN broadcast booth on Friday as a guest analyst for the NASCAR XFINITY Series race alongside Dale Jarrett and Leigh Diffey, took his second checkered flag of the year and his first Southern 500 victory.

Sunday’s #NASCARthrowback broadcast day began with NASCAR America Sunday on NBCSN, hosted by Krista Voda alongside analysts Kyle Petty and Hall of Fame driver Dale Jarrett.  At 7PM ET, coverage shifted to NBC, where lead race announcer Rick Allen, 21-time NASCAR Sprint Cup winner Jeff Burton and Daytona 500-winning crew chief Steve Letarte handled the action.  Reporters Nate Ryan, Rutledge Wood, Marty Snider, Kelli Stavast, Mike Massaro and Dave Burns contributed throughout the broadcast, as did special guests Ken Squier and Ned Jarrett.

Position	Driver	Car #
1	Carl Edwards	19
2	Brad Keselowski	2
3	Denny Hamlin	11
4	Joey Logano	22
5	Kevin Harvick	4

The following are highlights from tonight’s Sprint Cup race and post-race coverage.

With 62 laps to go, Burton offered the following after the 16th restart of the night: “Track position gained at this point could win you the race.  We’ve seen a lot of cautions tonight, but we’ve also seen a lot of races here at Darlington end under long green flags.  All of these drivers have got to assume that it’s time to go hard.”

With 49 laps to go, Allen on Harvick: “Kevin Harvick is tired of being the bride’s maid. There have been eight runner-up finishes since his last win, and 10 total this season to go along with his two wins.”

Letarte adds: “Not only does a win punch your ticket to the Chase, every win also gives you three bonus points for round one.  A few extra bonus points makes those first three races of the playoffs much easier.”

Burton with 44 laps to go: “These drivers have been in these cars for about four hours now.  Four hours is a long time, especially on a track like Darlington that is so demanding. Who can maintain focus on this tough race track?  Who is the one that is physically and mentally ready?”

With 14 laps to go, Burton sizes up the action prior to a record 18th caution flag for the Southern 500: “With this aerodynamic package, it’s very easy to over drive your car.  Right now it’s about momentum, it’s about pace, and it’s about rhythm. If you try too hard, you’re actually going to hurt yourself.”

Letarte on pit strategy after the late caution flag with 10 laps to go: “We know we have a short run coming up and less than 10 laps coming up on this set of tires.  All you need is a balanced set-up in the car for these last 10 laps— we’re not worried about a 50-lap run anymore.”

Race winner Carl Edwards to Krista Voda in Victory Lane: “Our guys never quit— JGR is just unbelievable, everyone has been working so hard… This is as good as it gets…This is what it’s about— we’re sliding cars, tires are falling off, this is the style of racing that I love.  If there is any chance that we can run this [aero package] in the Chase, I hope we can do it.  Just an awesome day.”

Kyle Petty: “We can call it a Darlington Southern 500 throwback, but this was an old-fashioned Darlington Southern 500 throw down.”

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–NBC SPORTS GROUP–

 

Burton: “This race track is so narrow and slick, you have to be on top of your game all night long.”

Legendary Broadcaster Ken Squier Delivers Essay on Darlington’s Lasting impact and Joins Ned and Dale Jarrett in the Broadcast Booth for more than 70 Laps of Race Coverage 

Dale Jarrett on Broadcasting with his Father and Ken Squier: “This has been one of the highlights of my life.”

Darlington, N.C. — September 6, 2015 — NBC presented NASCAR Sprint Cup Series racing in primetime from Darlington Raceway this evening. Marking the return of a proud tradition, this Labor Day Weekend slate of NASCAR action from the track “Too Tough to Tame” pays tribute to NASCAR’s rich history with a “throwback” celebration featuring the look, sound and style of the 1970s.  

Sunday’s #NASCARthrowback festivities began with NASCAR America Sunday on NBCSN, hosted by Krista Voda alongside analysts Kyle Petty and Hall of Fame driver Dale Jarrett.  At 7PM ET, coverage shifted to NBC, where lead race announcer Rick Allen, 21-time NASCAR Sprint Cup winner Jeff Burton and Daytona 500-winning crew chief Steve Letarte handled the action.  Reporters Nate Ryan, Rutledge Wood, Marty Snider, Kelli Stavast, Mike Massaro and Dave Burns contributed throughout the broadcast.   

The following are highlights from the first half of today’s Sprint Cup pre-race and race coverage.

Prior to the race, special guest Ken Squier delivered an essay on the lasting impact of Darlington that the legendary NASCAR broadcaster penned and narrated for today’s broadcast.  The essay can be viewed here:

http://www.nbcsports.com/video/darlington-raceways-lasting-impact

Prior to the race, Burton offered the following preview: “This race track is so narrow and slick, you have to be on top of your game all night long.  You drive into the corners and are right against the wall, and because there is very little grip, this is the toughest race track on the circuit.”

Letarte added: “It’s not just tough for the drivers, it’s tough for the crew chiefs as well. This track is very asymmetrical and turns one, two, three and four are all completely different. It’s a very tough race track on new tires and old tires.  Now let’s add in the fact that we’re going to have less downforce than we have ever had here with this new aerodynamic package.” 

Burton on the rising pressure that drivers who are still fighting for a playoff spot are feeling tonight: “The intensity is ratcheted up in a big way here tonight, and we’re at the hardest track that these drivers will face all year.” 

Steve Letarte on the teams who are still “on the bubble”: “Make no mistake, there are eleven guys who have done a great job up to this point and they have already earned a spot in the playoffs. But there are many more who also started the season in February, and they have now reached a point where they must win in order to move forward.” 

Just after the lap-50 mark, NBC Sports presented its own “throwback” touch and turned over the broadcast to broadcasting legends Ken Squier, Ned Jarrett, and Ned’s Hall of Fame son, Dale.  Squier opened the segment with: “Squier here, and I am pleased, honored and humbled to be beside two of the all-time greats in NASCAR championship racing.  [Ned] won the biggest victory in the history of this race track back in 1965, and Dale, the second-generation, was a three-time winner here in Darlington. They are both national champions here in the booth with us tonight on this real special occasion.”  

Dale Jarrett: “A lot has changed.  The cars have changed, the tires have changed, but one thing that hasn’t changed is the race track.  I don’t care how good you are as a driver on all of these corners, you have to pick and choose where you can make your car the fastest and then just drive it through the rest as best as you can… Most places we go, when you run into the wall, it brings out a caution flag, but that’s just a normal thing here.”  

Ned Jarrett: “And sometimes getting into the wall here doesn’t hurt you, as long as you don’t get into it too hard.”  

Squier on the late Benny Parsons: “You come here, Ned, and this track makes you think of so many names that have meant so much to so many over the years.  In 1978, Benny Parsons won this race.  Every race that that Benny won seemed to be special, because of the character of that man.”

Ned Jarrett added: “He was such a smooth race car driver, and this track fit his style perfectly. I had the good fortune to work with Benny on ESPN for 19 years.  He was such a great broadcaster and personality… he had such a legion of fans.”

Ken, Ned and Dale carried the broadcast for more than 70 laps.  At the conclusion of their run, Dale Jarrett said: “This has been one of the highlights of my life. I’ve listened to both of you many, many times over the years and you’re both just outstanding. For me to be able to be here has been just incredible. Thank you.” 

An additional set of race notes covering the broadcast’s second half will be distributed later tonight. 

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–NBC SPORTS GROUP–

Kyle Petty prior to the green flag: “I’ve seen Kyle Busch pass more cars in three laps, in any given time, than anybody I have ever seen.”

Race winner Denny Hamlin to Mike Massaro in Victory Lane: “You can’t have a performance like that without a dominant race car, and obviously (crew chief) Mike Wheeler and these guys have done that for me.”

Runner-up Kyle Busch to Kelli Stavast: “Coming home one-two-three for Joe Gibbs Racing is pretty stout.  Everybody at the shop should be proud of that effort.”

Darlington, N.C. — September 5, 2015 — NBC presented NASCAR XFINITY Series racing from Darlington Raceway, the track dubbed “Too Tough to Tame,” this afternoon.  Marking the return of a proud NASCAR tradition, this Labor Day Weekend slate of XFINITY and Sprint Cup racing from Darlington pays tribute to NASCAR’s rich history with a “throwback” celebration featuring the look, sound and style of the 1970s.

Saturday afternoon’s #NASCARthrowback festivities began with the Countdown to Green pre-race show, hosted by Krista Voda alongside analysts Kyle Petty and Hall of Fame driver Dale Jarrett.  Green-flag racing from the “The Lady in Black” was handled by lead race announcer Rick Allen, 21-time NASCAR Sprint Cup winner Jeff Burton and Daytona 500-winning crew chief Steve Letarte.  Reporters Nate Ryan, Rutledge Wood, Marty Snider, Kelli Stavast, Mike Massaro and Dave Burns contributed throughout the broadcast.

Position	Driver	Car #
1	Denny Hamlin	20
2	Kyle Busch	54
3	Daniel Suarez	18
4	Kevin Harvick	88
5	Chris Buescher	60

The following are highlights from this afternoon’s XFINITY pre-race and race coverage on NBC.

Voda: “There are certain tracks where a win puts you on an elite list, and Darlington is one of those places. For 54 years, Labor Day meant racing in Darlington. Now, after a decade, the tradition returns.”

Jarrett: “The fans have really embraced this entire scene, along with the teams and the drivers.  We’ve got throwback paint schemes from the 1970s, classic cars and a lot of really good things. We are in the right spot for Labor Day Weekend.”

Petty on Kyle Busch starting in the 36th position today: “I’ve been worried to death about Kyle Busch.  Will he ever be able to find his way from the back of the field to the front?  Are you kidding me!?  I’ve seen him pass more cars in three laps on a race track, in any given time, than anybody I have ever seen! He goes high, he goes low, he goes left, he goes right, he goes over the top—it doesn’t make any difference.  He’ll get to the front.”

Burton prior to the green flag: “The thing about today’s race is that it’s only 147 laps long, so you have to attack this race track right off the bat. You’ve got to establish your track position right from the start, and if you make a mistake, you may not have enough time to recover. So the pressure is on.”

Letarte: “Chase Elliott, the defending winner of this race, has been looking forward to getting through the recent road courses and getting back to these oval tracks, and now it’s time for him to mount a run against the XFINITY points leader Chris Buescher.”

With 50 laps to go, Krista Voda offered the following report: “Bubba Wallace racing here in Darlington in an XFINITY Series car for the first time is communicating that he has no front downforce in traffic. On the radio, he said, ‘I’m not trying to impress anyone, I’m just trying to keep it out of the wall.”

After Allen noted that Jeff Burton holds the record for laps led in an XFINITY Series race at Darlington, after leading all 147 laps from the pole on his way to victory in 2002, Burton offered: “It was a good day, I thought.”

With 5 laps to go, Allen sums up the differential between leader Daniel Suarez and his surging Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Denny Hamlin: “Last time around, Denny Hamlin’s lap was almost two seconds faster (than Suarez’). Do the math, and Hamlin is definitely going to catch him.”

Winning crew chief Mike Wheeler to Dave Burns after the race: “Denny Hamlin is really great here, and the guys in the shop built a brand new car for us that was really good.”

Race winner Denny Hamlin to Mike Massaro in Victory Lane: “You can’t have a performance like that without a dominant race car, and obviously Mike Wheeler and these guys have done that for me… I scraped the wall and misjudged my line one time, got a little right-side damage and the car just stopped turning. So I don’t know if my right fender would have made it or not.  I am awful proud of this team and even the pit crew did an amazing job today keeping all of our track positions.”

Runner-up Kyle Busch to Kelli Stavast: “Coming home one-two-three for Joe Gibbs Racing is pretty stout.  Everybody at the shop should be proud of that effort.”

***

–NBC SPORTS GROUP–