NASCAR’s upcoming media rights deal will see a significant expansion from two to five partners starting next year. This new arrangement, worth a staggering $7.7 billion over seven years, brings Prime Video, Warner Bros. Discovery, and The CW into the fold, alongside existing partners FOX Sports and NBC Sports, and hopes to introduce new viewers to NASCAR through different streaming platforms.

With the new broadcasters, there will be extensive coverage of the sport from different perspectives. Dale Earnhardt Jr is also set to make it to the commentary booth, joining Amazon Prime Video and TNT Sports alongside some of his old pals, after leaving NBC. Having a strong fan base of his own, NASCAR is trying to incentivize his reach to bring people back into the sport by having him in the lineup.

However, this is not all that NASCAR has planned, as there is much more to it.

Fans can expect an array of presenters, from familiar faces to fresh ones. FOX Sports will continue to cover the early months of the NASCAR Premier Series season, so there won’t be much change in the booth during that period.

• But, moving forward, among the surprising names in contention for on-air roles is ESPN’s Marty Smith. Known for his versatile reporting across various sports since ESPN lost NASCAR rights in 2014, Smith is now in discussions with Prime Video and Warner Bros. Discovery. His potential role could include hosting and play-by-play duties, adding a fresh voice to the NASCAR broadcasting team.
• Joining in on the action will also be Adam Alexander, who is known for his commentary for Fox Sports’ Xfinity Series races. So far, there are talks that he will be joining at The CW’s booth. Although he has not been confirmed, he is seen as the favorite to take over the lead play-by-play commentator role for media house, which will take over full-season Xfinity Series rights next year.

But, most importantly, there is also a special member from Dale Jr’s former team who might be joining him at Prime Video and Warner Bros. Discovery.

An old face at a new place?

Steve Letarte, Dale Earnhardt Jr’s former crew chief at Hendrick Motorsports and broadcasting partner at NBC, is also in talks with Prime Video and Warner Bros, as per Adam Stern. If the deal goes through, we will get to see Letarte work with Dale Jr again. Notably, the former crew chief was a part of NBC since 2014, long before Dale Jr joined in 2018. While Earnhardt Jr worked as a turn announcer alongside Mike Bagley and Jeff Burton, Letarte was an analyst.

And for those who remember the old days, NBC had managed to capture the magic of “radio-style” broadcasts. The charm was perhaps the friendship the group shared. “I feel like we could all finish each other’s sentences and that’s good,” Jr had said back in 2019, as per the Atlantic. Perhaps NASCAR’s new media partners will be able to replicate that magic, or drum up something even better!

As for Steve Letarte, he has immense knowledge about NASCAR, having spent decades working with stock car racing. He first joined HMS as a fresh-faced 15-year-old boy on a part time basis and spent his whole racing career in that same place. So naturally, the 45-year-old is an extremely well-read figure in the industry, and media houses are not letting that go to waste.

Currently, NBC’s team of broadcasters includes Jeff Burton and Steve Letarte (analyst), and Rick Allen (lead race announcer). On the pre and post race coverage side of things, Marty Snider, Dale Jarrett, Kyle Petty and Brad Daugherty have been handling the sails. Hence, as an instrumental figure within the broadcasting studio, Letarte’s exit will definitely shake some things up! Allen also announced his departure earlier this year, to explore opportunities elsewhere, with veteran auto racing commentator Leigh Diffey set to become NBC’s lead play-by-play announcer after the Paris Games.

FOX will reduce its NASCAR race coverage from 18 to 14 events and eliminate the long-standing Race Hub studio show. With NASCAR switching up its broadcasting partners and branching out to more platforms, do you think this will help spread awareness about the sport? Do let us know your thoughts on this in the comments below.