NBC Sports’ inaugural presentation of the 2019 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship begins this weekend on NBCSN with unparalleled live coverage of the 57th Rolex 24 At Daytona endurance race at Daytona International Speedway.
Overall, NBC Sports will present nearly 30 hours of Rolex 24 coverage this week across NBCSN, NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app, with live race coverage from Daytona beginning on Saturday, Jan. 26, at 2 p.m. ET on NBCSN.
The Rolex 24 At Daytona features icons of the racing world competing on teams across four separate classes of competition – Daytona Prototype International, Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2), GT Le Mans (GTLM), and GT Daytona (GTD) – where 13 of the world’s premier car manufacturers are represented. This year’s race is no exception with some of the world’s most well-known drivers competing, including Fernando Alonso, Alex Zanardi, Scott Dixon, Helio Castroneves, Juan Pablo Montoya, and Alexander Rossi.
NBC Sports’ comprehensive presentation will utilize 17 of its IMSA, NASCAR and INDYCAR commentators, analysts and reporters on-site for its inaugural presentation of the Rolex 24, headlined by NBC Sports’ lead IMSA commentating team of play-by-play voice Leigh Diffey, Rolex 24 winner & former Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver A.J. Allmendinger (analyst), and former IMSA GT driver and analyst Calvin Fish (analyst).
NASCAR legend-turned analyst Dale Earnhardt Jr. joins analyst Steve Letarte and host Krista Voda inside the “Peacock Pit Box,” a state-of-the-art remote studio set designed to bring viewers closer to the action. Built within a traditional pit box frame, the “Peacock Pit Box” will be set up along pit road.
An additional broadcast booth comprised of NASCAR on NBC lead announcer Rick Allen, INDYCAR on NBC analysts Paul Tracy and IMSA champion Townsend Bell, and Brian Till will be featured throughout the weekend.
NASCAR on NBC reporters Marty Snider, Dave Burns, Kelli Stavast and Parker Kligerman will join INDYCAR on NBC reporters Kevin Lee and Jon Beekhuis to share in pit road duties. In addition, Rutledge Wood will showcase stories around the Daytona International Speedway.
COUNTDOWN TO 2019 – IMSA’S 50TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON AND LIVE QUALIFYING – COVERAGE BEGINS THURSDAY AT 2 P.M. ET ON NBCSN
NBC Sports provides fans with look ahead of the world’s most famous endurance race and IMSA’s 2019 season with its Countdown to 2019 – IMSA’s 50th Anniversary Season on Thursday at 2 p.m. ET on NBCSN, leading into live qualifying from Daytona International Speedway at 3 p.m. ET.
Leigh Diffey and Calvin Fish will anchor the program which will provide viewers with an in-depth look at the major storylines, drivers and teams ahead of this weekend’s race. The show will be highlighted by features on a pair of racing legends – Alex Zanardi and Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Zanardi, who is scheduled to race in the Rolex 24, lost both of his legs in an accident at EuroSpeedway Lausitz in Klettwitz, Germany, in 2001. He has since gone on to win multiple Paralympic gold medals in Para-cycling, most recently at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio. Diffey speaks with Zanardi about his journey to Daytona, marking the first time he will race in North America since his accident in Germany in 2001. Click here to watch Diffey’s conversation with Zanardi.
Additionally, Earnhardt Jr. recounts racing the 2001 Rolex 24 with his late father, when the two split time driving the No. 3 Corvette C5-R, as part of an interview with NBCSports.com lead motorsports writer Nate Ryan. Ryan will lead extensive digital coverage throughout the week on MotorSportsTalk, NBCSports.com’s vertical dedicated to open-wheel and sports car racing. Listen to the latest episode of the NASCAR on NBC podcast, as Ryan recounts the Earnhardts race at the Rolex 24 in 2001.Thursday’s coverage continues with live qualifying from 3-5 p.m. ET on NBCSN.
DOUBLE DUTY – A.J. ALLMENDINGER TOWNSEND BELL TO PARTICIPATE IN RACE AND SERVE AS RACE ANALYSTS
In addition to their roles with the NBC Sports’ telecast team, drivers A.J. Allmendinger and Townsend Bell will be pulling double duty and competing in this weekend’s Rolex 24. Bell will compete in all rounds of the upcoming IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, while Allmendinger will compete in IMSA’s endurance races in 2019. Bell won the IMSA GT Daytona Championship in 2015, and Allmendinger won the Rolex 24 in 2012.
Following is NBC Sports’ coverage schedule for the IMSA Rolex 24 At Daytona, including commentary pairings throughout the race.
| Time (ET) | Platform | Commentators | Pit Crew | “Peacock Pit Box” |
| 2-5 p.m. | NBCSN | Diffey/Fish/Allmendinger | Snider/Burns/Stavast | Voda/Letarte/Earnhardt/Bell |
| 5-9 p.m. | NBC Sports App | Allen/Tracy/Till | Beekhuis/Lee/Kligerman | Voda |
| 9 p.m.-12 a.m. | NBCSN | Diffey/Fish/Allmendinger/Till | Snider/Burns/Stavast | Voda/Letarte/Earnhardt |
| 12-3 a.m. | NBCSN | Allen/Tracy/Till | Beekhuis/Lee/Kligerman | N/A |
| 3-6 a.m. | NBC Sports App | IMSA Radio | N/A | N/A |
| 6 – 9 a.m. | NBCSN | Diffey/Fish | Snider/Burns | N/A |
| 9 a.m.-12 p.m. | NBCSN | Allen/Tracy/Allmendinger/Bell | Beekhuis/Lee/Kligerman | Voda/Letarte/Earnhardt |
| 12-3 p.m. | NBCSN | Diffey/Fish/Allmendinger/Bell | Snider/Burns/Stavast | Voda/Letarte/Earnhardt |
*commentary teams are subject to change
IMSA ON NBCSPORTS.COM AND THE NBC SPORTS APP
NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app — NBC Sports Group’s live streaming product for desktops, mobile devices, tablets, and connected TVs — will provide live streaming coverage of the 2019 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship via “TV Everywhere,” giving consumers additional value to their subscription service, and making high quality content available to MVPD customers both in and out of the home and on multiple platforms.
NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app are powered by Playmaker Media and available on the iTunes App Store, Google Play, Windows Store, Roku Channel Store, Apple TV and Amazon Fire.
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