This from NBC Sports. Two hires made this week for its NASCAR coverage which begins in 2015. First, NBC announced that Jeff Burton will leave full-time racing to become its on-air analyst. Burton is the 6th driver in NASCAR history to make 1,000 starts spanning a 25 year career and has 21 Sprint Cup wins. In 2014, he’ll drive and also contribute to NBCSN’s NASCAR coverage and then transition full-time to the broadcast booth in 2015.
Here’s NBC’s announcement on Burton.
JEFF BURTON JOINS NBC SPORTS GROUP AS NASCAR ANALYST
“The Mayor” Comes to NBC and NBCSN as the First Member of New On-Air NASCAR Team
STAMFORD, Conn. — December 3, 2013 — NBC Sports Group has reached a multi-year agreement with NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Jeff Burton, who will transition out of full-time driving and into the role of NASCAR analyst when the green flag waves over NBC Sports and NBCSN’s upcoming slate of NASCAR coverage. The addition of Burton, who has already won 48 times on NASCAR’s national circuits over an exciting 25-year career, places one of the most respected and passionate voices in motorsports into the center of NBC’s soon-to-be-introduced NASCAR broadcast team. The announcement was made this week by Sam Flood, Executive Producer, NBC Sports and NBCSN.
“Jeff Burton was always the first person we would seek out when there was breaking news or an issue that needed to be covered throughout our previous contract with NASCAR, so he was the first person we called for this role,” said Flood.“His insights, keen observations and many trophies have earned the respect of everyone involved with the sport. He will be an outstanding analyst, and has everyone here looking even more forward to getting started.”
Burton will assume double duties throughout the 2014 season, racing a schedule of select Sprint Cup Series races while also contributing to NASCAR programming on NBCSN. When NBC Sports Group’s exclusive coverage of NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series racing begins in 2015, Burton will serve as a full-time analyst on NBC and NBCSN.
“This is an exciting new challenge and I am thrilled to be joining the NBC Sports family,” said Burton. “I will prepare for each race as if I were driving in it, and I look forward to sharing my experience, views and insights with all the dedicated and passionate NASCAR fans.”
In November, Burton became just the sixth driver to earn his 1,000th NASCAR career start. Named NASCAR Cup Series Rookie of the Year in 1994, he has since captured 21 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victories. Burton broke into NASCAR’s Nationwide Series in 1988, where he raced full-time until 1993 and on a limited basis until 2009, winning 27 times along the way. Regarded as a trusted advocate for the sport, Burton has worked closely with NASCAR on numerous safety issues and programs, including the creation of safer seats, track walls, cockpits, helmets, uniforms and HANS devices. Commonly sought out for his perspectives on various issues affecting NASCAR, Burton has been dubbed “The Mayor” by fans, competitors and media.
Burton’s wife, Kim, and daughter, Paige, are successful participants in equestrian competitions in the Southeast. His son, Harrison, is currently following in his father’s footsteps, competing and winning on the national level in the Pro-Late Model Car Division Series.
Joining Burton in the booth will be Rick Allen who has been the lap-by-lap announcer for Fox’s Camping World Truck Series and the ARCA Racing Series. Allen has been a fixture on Speed before Fox Sports 1 took over the channel in August.
Here’s the NBC press release on Allen.
Brings More Than a Decade of Motorsports Broadcasting Experience to NBC Sports’ Multi-Platform Package, Starting in 2015
STAMFORD, Conn— December 4, 2013—NBC Sports Group announced today that Rick Allen has signed a multi-year agreement to serve as the lead race announcer for NBC’s upcoming NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series coverage, beginning in 2015. Alongside Allen in the NBC Sports Broadcast booth will be current driver Jeff Burton, who announced yesterday that he also will be joining NBC’s multi-platform NASCAR coverage. For more information on Jeff Burton, click here.
“I met Rick early on in his career and it has been fun to watch him develop into one of the most talented voices in motorsports,” said Sam Flood, Executive Producer, NBC Sports and NBCSN. “His energetic delivery, great voice, and ability to bring the best out of his analysts have led him to this well-earned position of covering NASCAR’s most-watched events.”
Allen’s sports background is wide-ranging, and includes his own impressive run as a decathlete, which sent him to the 1992 USA Olympic Trials. As a broadcaster, he currently serves as Fox Sports’ race announcer for NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and the ARCA Racing Series. In addition to his on-camera television work, Allen is widely recognized as a top voice-over talent. Allen’s voice has been utilized for narrations and national campaigns for companies including Goodyear, Sears, Alltel and Toyota. Allen has hosted multiple motorsports studio shows on SPEED, has presided over several post season awards banquets, and has served on the Voting Panel for the NASCAR Hall of Fame since its inception in 2010. A native of Grand Island, Neb, Allen began his career in 1994 as the public address announcer at Memorial Stadium during University of Nebraska football games.
“I’ve had the good fortune to work with some of the most talented people in this industry over the last decade,” said Allen. “Now I’m excited to be a part of the incredible team that NBC Sports is assembling for their NASCAR coverage.”
And that is all.
