For season 2 of Inside NASCAR, Showtime has added Kyle Petty to the cast of host Chris Myers and analysts Michael Waltrip, Brad Daugherty and Randy Pemberton. While you get an additional analyst, you also have a reduced show as Inside NASCAR goes from an hour to a half hour. Why that is, I’m not sure, but we have the press release from Showtime announcing these new developments.

KYLE PETTY JOINS CAST OF ‘INSIDE NASCAR’

SHOWTIME Sports® Prepares for Season Two with a Tighter Program and New Time

Season Premiere Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2011 At 9 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME®

NEW YORK (Feb. 8, 2011)—SHOWTIME Sports announced today that motorsports legend Kyle Petty will join the cast of Inside NASCAR for the second season of the successful NASCAR Sprint Cup Series highlights, news and analysis program. Petty, third generation of one of racing’s most accomplished families, joins host Chris Myers and returning stars Michael Waltrip, Brad Daugherty and Randy Pemberton for 2011.

Petty is the most notable of the season-two modifications to Inside NASCAR, premium television’s first weekly highlights and analysis show dedicated to auto racing. The weekly shows will premiere at a new time—Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT—with each episode condensed to 30 minutes of uncensored, in-your-face footage, analysis and commentary. The updated and tighter version aims to provide fans with a succinct, fast-paced and provocative program. Uncensored scanner audio, which is a SHOWTIME television exclusive, vibrant race highlights from the EMMY^® Award winning NASCAR Media Group, interviews with drivers in the headlines and edgy analysis from a renowned collection of NASCAR insiders and experts have combined to create a unique look at America’s No. 1 spectator sport.

“Growing up in racing, I have an opinion on just about everything to do with the sport. I hope to give fans an unfiltered look and a no-strings-attached perspective on the sport we all love.” said Petty. “I can’t wait to work with Chris, Michael, Brad and Randy.”

Son of NASCAR legend Richard “The King” Petty, Kyle Petty has spent more than 30 years in the sport as a driver, owner and media commentator. Currently, Petty serves as a NASCAR analyst for TNT, SPEED and Performance Racing Network.

“The Petty name is synonymous with racing royalty,” said Ken Hershman, Executive Vice President and General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports. “We are thrilled to have Kyle join Inside NASCAR for our second season. His unique perspective and compelling personality make him a tremendous addition and makes this cast, hands down, the best in the business.

“The show aims to bring NASCAR fans deeper inside the sport than ever before,” Hershman continued. “We delivered precisely that in season one. Now, with the new half-hour format, Inside NASCAR will become the fastest show on television.”

Late in 2009, SHOWTIME Sports signed a multi-year deal with NASCAR to produce and televise Inside NASCAR throughout the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series’ 38-week season.

Produced in conjunction with NASCAR Media Group, Inside NASCAR is filmed at NASCAR Plaza, the state-of-the-art television production facility at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, N.C.

That is it.