Here’s a breakdown of the facts provided about NBC’s new NASCAR show open:
key Details:
Song: “Space Truckin'” by Deep Purple.
Length: Two minutes.
Content:
Race footage: Gnarly scenes including flips and crashes, both recent and ancient.
Creative Shoot footage: Cup Series drivers in various casual settings:
Drinking beers at a bar.
Shooting pool.
Playing cards.
Playing a jukebox.
Working on street cars.
Specific Race Clips: Pit crews changing tires (with natural sound), drivers downshifting before turns, Richard Petty signing autographs.
Featured Drivers (Creative Shoot): Richard Petty, Joey Logano, Denny Hamlin, Shane van Gisbergen, Ross Chastain, chase Elliott, Ryan Blaney, and others.
Bubba Wallace Clip: scenes of him kissing the bricks from his recent Brickyard 400 win.
Motivation and Theme:
Inspiration: Jeff burton, NBC NASCAR race analyst, suggested the theme during a conversation with Jeff Behnke (NBC Sports VP of NASCAR).
Core Message: To celebrate the toughness and physical conditioning of NASCAR drivers, especially on various track types (short tracks, road courses).
Emphasis: The physical impact of racing on drivers’ bodies (beyond just crashes), the heat they endure, and the strength required to control the cars.
Undercurrent: Showcasing and celebrating the drivers’ toughness and physical demands.
Primary Focus: The upcoming playoffs and the run to the championship.
Broadcast Team:
Analysts: Jeff burton and Steve Letarte.
Play-by-play: Leigh Diffey (who replaced Rick Allen midway through last year’s campaign).
Milestone:
This weekend marks NBC Sports’ 200th NASCAR race broadcast since they resumed airing the sport in 2015.
Future Plans:
The show open will be continually updated throughout the season with fresh scenes.
