TV personality added to expanded NASCAR coverage in 2015
NBC Sports announced Tuesday that it has hired Rutledge Wood to bolster its team of NASCAR reporters ahead of the 2015 season.
According to the network, Wood will provide reports on the tracks, towns and fans that make NASCAR special. He has worked the past 10 years for FOX Sports as an engaging, offbeat reporter and pre-race host for its SPEED and later FOX Sports 1 cable television platforms.
"It's hard to put into words how unbelievably excited I am to be a part of NBC and their return to NASCAR," Wood said in an NBC Sports news release. "Working in motorsports is a dream come true for me, as I have so much fun telling the stories of drivers, teams and their fans. Just like NASCAR, NBC Sports is a family, and it's one that I am proud to be a part of."
Wood, who has also served as a co-host of the American version of "Top Gear" on the History Channel, joins a handpicked group of motorsports veterans for its on-air talent next season. Wood will work alongside Dave Burns, Mike Massaro, Marty Snider and Kelli Stavast in the network's cadre of reporters. NBC Sports will also feature Rick Allen as its primary race announcer, with former driver Jeff Burton and Steve Letarte -- most recently the crew chief for Dale Earnhardt Jr. -- joining Allen in the booth as analysts. Krista Voda will serve as the pre- and post-race host while former driver Kyle Petty will work as analyst alongside Voda on those shows.
NBC Sports expanded its coverage of motorsports in July 2013, announcing a partnership with NASCAR to broadcast the final 20 races of its premier Sprint Cup Series starting in 2015. The agreement also includes broadcasts of the last 19 races of the NASCAR XFINITY Series season and select regional and touring series events.
Earlier this month at NASCAR Champion's Week in Las Vegas, the marketing teams for both NBC Sports and FOX Sports announced that they would collaborate to produce on-air promotions for the sport in 2015.
RELATED: NBC, FOX team up
MORE:
READ: Latest
|
PLAY: Monitor your Chase Grid Game picks
|
WATCH: Latest
|
FOLLOW LIVE: Get
|
|---|