Inside NASCAR Premieres Tonight on Showtime

In an attempt to branch out and also get some viewership for a pay channel, NASCAR premieres a new one hour show, a la Inside the NFL, Inside NASCAR. It’s produced by the NASCAR Media Group and will last the entire Sprint Cup season. Here’s the rundown for tonight’s episode.

INSIDE NASCAR SERIES PREMIERE TONIGHT ON SHOWTIME®

Exclusive Interview With Danica Patrick; Recap of Bud Shootout and Tribute to Late D.J. Richardson On Tap For Debut Episode

New Episodes Every Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME®

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Feb. 10, 2010)–-The series premiere of Inside NASCAR airs tonight, Wednesday, Feb. 10, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME with host Chris Myers and analysts Brad Daugherty, Randy Pemberton and Michael Waltrip. The debut episode will feature an exclusive interview with NASCAR newcomer Danica Patrick as she prepares for her first race in the NASCAR Nationwide Series this Saturday. 

Also in the kick-off episode, get a look back at off-season news and notes, a look ahead to this weekend’s Daytona 500, a recap of the Budweiser Shootout and a tribute to the late D.J. Richardson. Further details below.

Inside NASCAR will emanate each week from the new NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, N.C., in the new, state-of-the-art Studio 43, named for racing legend Richard Petty (No. 43).

Inside NASCAR is produced in conjunction with the NASCAR Media Group. New episodes will air on SHOWTIME every Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET/PT for 38 weeks corresponding with the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. The co-executive producers are Ken Hershman, Executive Vice President and General Manager of SHOWTIME Sports and Jay Abraham, Chief Operating Officer, NASCAR Media Group. The executive in charge of production is Jim Jorden with Mike Wells acting as consulting director.

Episode 1:

?Danica Patrick Exclusive:

We are on board and in the pits with Danica Patrick for her very first stock-car race. Then the female speedster joins Inside NASCAR on set to give us her thoughts on racing with fenders.

? Off Season News & Notes:

The NASCAR off season is one of the shortest in professional sports, but a long list of personnel and rule changes have made a serious impact for 2010. We’ll update you on the new faces and places for the Sprint Cup season.

?Recap of the Budweiser Shootout:

We’ll give an in-depth recap of the first NASCAR race of the season, the Bud Shootout, including exclusive highlights of race action, team radio communication, on-board cameras and slow-motion cinematography.

?Tribute to the Late DJ Richardson:

Journeyman crew member D.J. Richardson was one of the best tire changers in the sport. His untimely death this off season brought the NASCAR community together to remember a man who chased a dream.

?Hendrick Interview with Jimmie Johnson and C
had Knaus

Nine-time Champion car owner Rick Hendrick sits down to interview driver, Jimmie Johnson and crew chief Chad Knaus as they aim for their 5^th straight Sprint Cup title.

For bonus content including additional studio segments and a historic build-up to the Daytona 500 visit the SHOWTIME Sports website at http://www.sho.com/sports.

It’s a big question whether NASCAR fans will migrate to Showtime and pay for the channel. We’ll see if it happens.