FOX NASCAR will add a new wrinkle to its NASCAR XFINITY Series coverage, the network announced on Friday at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
For the first time in motorsports history, the June 10 NASCAR XFINITY Series race at Pocono Raceway will be broadcast entirely by active Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers. The broadcast lineup will include:
Play-by-play: Kevin Harvick
Color Analysts: Joey Logano and Clint Bowyer
Pit Reporters: Ryan Blaney, Erik Jones and Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
Hollywood Hotel: Danica Patrick and Denny Hamlin
"For the last three seasons, FOX Sports has rotated Cup Series drivers in the XFINITY booth," NASCAR on FOX analyst Michael Waltrip said. Adam (Alexander) and I have had the best time bringing the guys in and listening to their insight on what's going on at the track. … It's just a really neat fit for them to come in and share their insight."
Harvick has made the most appearances, but will debut as a play-by-play announcer.
"I don't know that I'm actually ready to take the next step," Harvick said Friday. "The biggest thing for me is just preparing a little more than I have in the past. Michael and Adam, it's a pretty selfless act that they let us in the booth and take part in the broadcast. It's great for the fans for us to have been off the track an hour before and relate what's going on with the cars and the tires and everything."
Patrick said the all-driver broadcast crew could revolutionize televised sports coverage.
"I think this is going to be really cool," she said. "I don't quite know what I'm in for but I'm sure it's going to be more of a challenge than whatever else I'll be doing that day, but I'm up to the challenge."