Like Daytona, Talladega means exciting racing with fans watching in anticipation of “the big one” as drivers move back and forth through the field.
This year the Xfinity Series race will bring even more excitement as the FOX broadcast team is replaced…with Monster Energy Cup Series drivers.
After the success of the drivers only weekend at Pocono last year, FOX has brought the event back, and this time it’s in Talladega on April 28.
FOX Sports President & Executive Producer of Production John Entz spoke on the upcoming broadcast saying, “as long as no one sets fire to the FOX Sports booth or pulls the plug that knocks us off the air, the drivers have free rein.”
Over the past couple of season FOX has had a Monster Energy Cup Series driver join FOX broadcasters Adam Alexander and Michael Waltrip in the broadcast booth for the Xfinity Series races.
Kevin Harvick, Clint Bowyer, Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney, Erik Jones, Ricky Stenhouse Jr, Brad Keselowski, and Darrell “Bubba” Wallace Jr are all scheduled for the driver’s only broadcast. All but Keselowski and Wallace were a part of the broadcast last season.
Kevin Harvick is the play by play man
Clint Bowyer will serve as race analyst
Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney, Erik Jones, and Bubba Wallace are the pit reporters
Brad Keselowski and Ricky Stenhouse Jr will work the Hollywood Hotel.
Joey Logano noted that when he was asked to participate at Pocono last year the broadcast would be either really awesome or really bad; but there was no way he was going to miss out on the experience.
Ryan Blaney said that he had a ton of fun last year; adding that he thinks this year it will be even more exciting in Talladega.