SPEED kicks off NASCAR Season

SPEED will begin its NASCAR season with coverage of NASCAR Preseason Thunder testing days on Jan. 8 at 7 p.m. ET. The 30-minute highlight shows will feature testing coverage from the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series, NASCAR Busch Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series sessions at Daytona International Speedway, giving NASCAR fans their first looks at new drivers, new teams and new race cars.

“This is going to be a huge year for SPEED and NASCAR fans," said Hunter Nickell, SPEED Executive VP & General Manager. “High-profile events, including the Duel 150’s and the NASCAR Nextel All-Star Challenge come to SPEED for the first time, SPEED continues as the home to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and we’ll continue to deliver the most experienced and entertaining NASCAR event coverage every weekend of the entire season."

NASCAR Preseason Thunder testing shows on SPEED (subject to change; check local listings):
Jan. 8 at 7 p.m. ET – NASCAR Nextel Cup Series testing
Jan. 9 at 7 p.m. ET – NASCAR Nextel Cup Series testing
Jan. 10 at 7 p.m. ET – NASCAR Nextel Cup Series testing
Jan. 11 at 7 p.m. ET – Testing highlight show
Jan. 12 at 7 p.m. ET – NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series testing
Jan. 14 at 6:30 p.m. ET – NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series testing
Jan. 15 at 6:30 p.m. ET – NASCAR Nextel Cup Series testing
Jan. 16 at 6:30 p.m. ET – NASCAR Nextel Cup Series testing
Jan. 17 at 6:30 p.m. ET – NASCAR Nextel Cup Series testing
Jan. 18 at 6:30 p.m. ET – Testing highlight show
Jan. 22 at 7 p.m. ET – NASCAR Busch Series testing

Beginning Jan. 29, SPEED also will cover NASCAR test sessions from Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

NASCAR testing coverage will lead into SPEED’s 12-day Daytona Speedweeks program schedule, highlighted by LIVE coverage of the Gatorade Duels repeated in Prime Time, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season opener, the inaugural SPEED Performance Awards, the Bud Shootout Drawing, the ARCA season opener and the return of popular SPEED shows, including NASCAR RaceDay, Trackside, NASCAR Live!, Wind Tunnel, Tradin’ Paint, NASCAR Performance, Inside Nextel Cup, NASCAR Victory Lane, The SPEED Report and the debut of the SPEED Road Tour Challenge.

“NASCAR RaceDay was a big hit for SPEED last year," Nickell added. “We took a big-event, fan-first approach to our live, at-track programming and people responded in a big way. Ratings for the show were up 16 percent overall and nearly 30 percent with the younger audiences. We can’t wait to introduce the first SPEED Performer of the Year, the four fans participating in the Road Tour Challenge and some new wrinkles to our SPEED Stage shows."