TNT’s all-access pass will include behind-the-scenes content featuring a select driver and their team (one per week) throughout the NASCAR Summer Series along with special “off the track” segments and more.

TNT will follow a driver and their team over the course of the entire week as they travel and prepare for the upcoming race, with coverage beginning when the driver leaves the previous track and continuing throughout the network’s next NASCAR Summer Series telecast. Featured drivers will include Denny Hamlin (Pocono), Brad Keselowski (Michigan), Juan Pablo Montoya (Sonoma) and Kurt Busch (Kentucky), among others.  The all-access pieces will air weekly during the pre-race Countdown to Green Presented by Kelley Blue Book show.

Additionally, TNT will televise a special feature each week highlighting a select driver away from the track. During the Pocono telecast, TNT will focus the spotlight on Dale Earnhardt Jr. TNT’s Ralph Sheheen and Earnhardt will talk racing and life outside of NASCAR while visiting with Earnhardt at his “Whiskey River” property including his “Car Graveyard.”

Inside Trax will also return for another season and will showcase audio and video from select crew chiefs and teams during each race telecast.

“We’re bringing fans an all-access pass to TNT’s NASCAR Summer Series coverage this year,” said Craig Barry, senior vice president and executive creative director, Turner Sports.  “These deeper layers of access will provide fans with a look under the hood to some of the great personalities and teams in the sport and the level of teamwork and commitment it takes to be successful.”

TNT, in its 31st consecutive year of exclusive NASCAR Summer Series coverage, will feature six consecutive races – Pocono (June 9), Michigan (June 16), Sonoma (June 23), Kentucky (June 30), Daytona (July 7) and New Hampshire (July 14). Each of the six races feature a diverse blend of tracks – ovals with three turns (Pocono); the first road race of the year (Sonoma); a long track (Michigan) and a short track (New Hampshire) – which have led to unpredictable outcomes. Over the last 14 races airing on TNT, dating back to 2010, there have been 14 different winners crossing the finish line.

The network will return its marquee commentator crew with analysts Kyle Petty, Wally Dallenbach and Larry McReynolds joining play-by-play announcer Adam Alexander in the booth for each race. Alexander will also host the network’s 60-minute Countdown to Green presented by Kelley Blue Book pre-race show with Petty, Dallenbach and McReynolds. In addition, veteran reporters Ralph Sheheen, Marty Snider, Matt Yocum and Chris Neville will patrol pit road to bring viewers comprehensive coverage and access prior to and during each race.

Fans engaging via social platforms during TNT’s NASCAR coverage are encouraged to use the hashtag #NASCARonTNT.

TNT’s 2013 NASCAR Summer Series Schedule:
(All Times Eastern)

Sunday, June 9    
Noon – 1 p.m. ET
Countdown to Green presented by Kelley Blue Book

1 – 4:30 p.m.
Party in the Poconos 400 presented by Walmart (Pocono Raceway)

Sunday, June 16
Noon – 1 p.m.        
Countdown to Green presented by Kelley Blue Book

1 – 4:30 p.m.
Quicken Loans 400 (Michigan International Speedway)

Sunday, June 23
2 – 3 p.m.
Countdown to Green presented by Kelley Blue Book

3 – 6:30 p.m.
Toyota/SaveMart 350 (Sonoma Raceway)

Saturday, June 29
6:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Countdown to Green presented by Kelley Blue Book

7:30 – 11 p.m.
Quaker State 400 (Kentucky Speedway)

Saturday, July 6
6:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Countdown to Green presented by Kelley Blue Book

7:30 – 11 p.m.
Coke Zero 400 at Daytona powered by Coca-Cola (Daytona International Speedway)

Sunday, July 14
Noon – 1 p.m.
Countdown to Green presented by Kelley Blue Book

1 – 4:30 p.m.
NASCAR Sprint Cup Racing from New Hampshire (New Hampshire Motor Speedway)

READ MORE:

READ: Harvick’s late charge leads to 600 win	READ: Post-Coca-Cola 600 Driver Reports	READ: Kenseth, Johnson hopes wrecked in 600	READ: Pit crew key as Hamlin claws back

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Patrick was still good-naturedly answering questions about the incident Friday at Dover, Del. and wasn’t a bit surprised about all the interest the story has generated.

“Of course, there’s a little bit of a human interest story there with having Ricky and I being involved in that accident and being in the same general vicinity,’’ Patrick told reporters prior to opening Cup practice at Dover International Speedway. “I understand that, but at the same time, he was part of the three-wide that made the accident so it’s legitimately something that should be asked.

“We’re just very honest and keep things simple. We didn’t even talk about what we were going to say. The only thing to know is we are honest about the things that happened, and it was just a racing incident.

“We’re going to give our perspective on what happened.  I understand it’s interesting. I’m sure I’d want to know how that all went down after the race too. We’re an entertainment sport.”

“I was definitely upset and angry about the situation. I was a little bit upset with him and we talked about it. It’s absolutely fine now, and we were fine by the end of the ride home. That’s what happens out there. Tensions are high and so are emotions.’’

Those emotions extended to Patrick’s team owner Tony Stewart, who criticized Stenhouse on SIRIUS XM Radio after Sunday’s race saying that although Stenhouse is “like family” he would “choke (him) right now if I could get to him” for some of his recent racing moves.

Despite the fact Keselowski immediately shouldered the bulk of the blame for the Charlotte accident — he said he didn’t realize they were three-wide –- Stewart and Patrick questioned Stenhouse’s hard racing at the time. He was two laps down, and Patrick was contending to become beneficiary of the free pass that would have put her back on the lead lap as the race wound down.

A week later, Patrick chalks it up to hard racing and different agendas.

And, she reminded, Stewart and Stenhouse are actually good friends.

“Don’t you want to choke your kids every now and then?’’ Patrick joked about Stewart’s word choice. “That’s between them, and I know they had a conversation about it Sunday night. He (Stewart) loves him (Stenhouse) like a son. You’d never hurt your son; you’d only help your son.’’

Stewart didn’t just single out Stenhouse. He also suggested on the radio that maybe all the rookies and several young racers could use a reminder on racing etiquette.

“If Tony’s hard on rookies, I just thank the good Lord above I’m on his team,’’ Patrick said laughing.

“What I’d say about Tony is he wants to help teach the rookies. … the rookies he respects and feel like they should get that time of day. If he didn’t think they were good, he wouldn’t try to help them because they won’t be around for long in his opinion.

“He wants them to learn to play the game the way he’s learned to play the game, and he’s been around a long time and has been very successful. It’s actually a good thing that he wants to help and will speak up because, at the end of the day, we don’t see each other every two weeks; we see each other every five days and you need to take care of those relationships or they can bite you.’’

As far as Patrick is concerned, Charlotte was a good lesson in many regards. Since she and Stenhouse went public with their romance in the preseason, she had been expecting increased scrutiny during this first-of-its-kind Sunoco Rookie of the Year battle.

“These are racing things, you know,’’ Patrick said. “We find ourselves frustrated with other drivers all the time along the way. There are lots of them. It’s just one of those things that we had to deal with, but we knew that and we’re better for it.’’

READ MORE:

READ: Harvick’s late charge leads to 600 win	READ: Post-Coca-Cola 600 Driver Reports	READ: Kenseth, Johnson hopes wrecked in 600	READ: Pit crew key as Hamlin claws back

___________________________________________________________________________________________

Comments are currently unavailable. We’re working on the development of a NASCAR fan forum – please stay tuned.