Turner Sports expands NASCAR coverage

July 6, 2001
2:20 PM EDT (1820 GMT)

Turner Sports, Inc. has expanded its NASCAR coverage to include additional Winston Cup qualifying and happy hour sessions that will air on CNN/Sports Illustrated, it was announced today by Turner Sports President Mark Lazarus.

CNN/Sports Illustrated will televise 16 qualifying sessions and eight happy hours, in addition to the 12 happy hours and four qualifying sessions already scheduled to air on TNT.

TNT will also provide NASCAR updates following the qualifying sessions. The additional coverage begins this Friday, July 6, at the Pepsi 400 from Daytona and marks the debut of live NASCAR events on CNN/Sports Illustrated.

NASCAR on TV  CNNSI.com  NWC Television Schedule

"This expanded coverage reflects our commitment to NASCAR and our belief that NASCAR, already an extremely valuable television property, has quickly become one of America's favorite sports," said Lazarus. "By adding these 24 events to the full slate of races on TNT and NBC, NASCAR fans will have more access to more racing than ever before."

"NASCAR is a valuable addition to our growing lineup of sports event programming," said Steve Robinson, executive vice president and general manager of CNN/Sports Illustrated. "We are thrilled to offer our viewers one of the most popular and fastest growing sports."

In November 1999, Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. and NBC Sports reached a landmark agreement with NASCAR on a six-year contract giving each network the exclusive television rights to 20 races per year. In this first-of-its-kind deal, TNT and NBC will work in equal partnership on production, promotion and sales efforts.

CNN/Sports Illustrated, currently seen in more than 17 million homes, is a joint venture of CNN and Sports Illustrated. The network provides 24-hour coverage of the world of sports, with in-depth reporting and live coverage of breaking news and press conferences, as well as the sports event programming of Wimbledon and the WUSA. CNNSI.com is the sports Web site for CNN/Sports Illustrated, Time Warner's sports Web site, the home of Sports Illustrated on the Web and the sports site for CNN.com.

Turner Sports, Inc., an AOL Time Warner company, presents some of the best and most popular sporting events worldwide and is a leader in televised sports programming. With events airing on four networks - TBS Superstation, TNT, Turner South and CNN/Sports Illustrated - Turner Sports' line-up includes the NBA, NASCAR and NASCAR.com, Wimbledon, Atlanta Braves baseball, Atlanta Thrashers hockey, Atlanta Hawks basketball, professional golf, figure skating, WUSA Soccer and the Goodwill Games.