Catchfence

Lindsay Czarniak to Host Pre-Race Show

TNT announced today that veteran NASCAR broadcaster Adam Alexander will join the network as its NASCAR Sprint Cup Series play-by-play announcer, calling all six races of TNT’s Summer Series. Alexander will be joined in the booth by returning analysts Kyle Petty and Wally Dallenbach. Alexander will debut during TNT’s exclusive coverage of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series racing from Pocono, Pa. on June 6 and will also call races live from Michigan (June 13), Loudon (June 20) and Sonoma (June 27) and TNT’s primetime Saturday night races in Daytona (July 3) and Chicago (July 10).  In addition, Alexander will contribute to NASCAR.COM.

In a new role, TNT announcer Lindsay Czarniak will become the new host for Countdown to Green, 60 minutes of pre-race coverage that leads into TNT’s green flag racing coverage. In addition, she will host TNT and NASCAR.COM’s post-race coverage, as well as give mid-race updates and reports. Czarniak will be joined by analysts Larry McReynolds and Petty.

“Adam’s knowledge of the sport and his smooth delivery make him an excellent addition, and we’re confident that he will bring out the best in Wally and Kyle in the broadcast booth,” said Jeff Behnke, senior vice president and executive producer for Turner Sports.  “Adam has a terrific reputation within NASCAR, and we have appreciated his work for a long time.”

Behnke said TNT is also pleased to welcome Czarniak to pre-race coverage.  “Lindsay’s experience as veteran studio host, along with the enthusiasm, energy and knowledge she has cultivated as a pit reporter for the past three years on TNT, make her ideal to serve as TNT’s studio host,” Behnke said.

Beyond Alexander’s TNT duties during six weeks of Summer Series coverage, Alexander also works for SPEED as a reporter for the network’s racing coverage.  He has also worked as a play-by-play announcer on the Motor Racing Network (MRN) and as a pit reporter for its NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide series coverage.  Alexander began his career as an announcer for the Tri-State Speedway in Evansville, Ind.

In addition to Czarniak’s tenure as a TNT announcer, she also serves as the full-time sports anchor at NBC’s WRC-TV in Washington, D.C.  Prior to that, Czarniak was co-host with George Michael on the syndicated Sports Machine with George Michael.  In 2008, Czarniak was a studio host for NBC’s Olympic Summer Games in Beijing, China, and in 2006, she was a sports desk reporter for the network’s Olympic Winter Games in Turin, Italy.  She appeared on various NBC-owned networks.  

TNT’s NASCAR telecasts will return with popular production features and enhancements, including TNT RaceBuddy, the award-winning multi-platform experience that provides companion coverage on NASCAR.COM with integrated content, unique camera angles and social media capabilities. In addition, the acclaimed Pride of NASCAR series will continue as TNT profiles six new NASCAR legends, highlighting the sport’s history and history makers.  Finally, TNT’s innovative Wide Open Coverage will air for the fourth year during NASCAR Sprint Cup Series racing from Daytona.

Also returning to TNT this summer will be pit reporters Ralph Sheheen, Marty Snider and Matt Yocum. This marks TNT’s 27^th consecutive year of televising Cup coverage, making it NASCAR’s longest running broadcast partner.

2010 NASCAR on TNT Summer Series:

ALL TIMES EASTERN (ET)

SUNDAY, JUNE 6

12:00– 1:00 p.m.           Countdown to Green

1:00 – 5:30 p.m.             NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Racing from Pocono (Pocono Raceway)

SUNDAY, JUNE 13

12:00 – 1:00 p.m.           Countdown to Green

1:00 – 4:30 p.m.             NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Racing from Michigan (Michigan International Speedway)

SUNDAY, JUNE 20

2:00 – 3:00 p.m.             Countdown to Green

3:00 – 6:30 p.m.             NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Racing from Sonoma (Infineon Raceway)

SUNDAY, JUNE 27

12:00 – 1:00 p.m.           Countdown to Green

1:00 – 4:30 p.m.             NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Racing from Loudon (New Hampshire International Speedway)

SATURDAY, JULY 3

6:30 – 7:30 p.m.             Countdown to Green

7:30 – 11:00 p.m.           NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Racing from Daytona (Daytona International Speedway)

SATURDAY, JULY 10

6:30 – 7:30 p.m.             Countdown to Green

7:30 – 11:00 p.m.           NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Racing from Chicago (Chicago Speedway)

Turner Sports, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., presents some of the best and most popular sporting events worldwide and is a leader in televised and online sports programming.  With events airing on TBS and TNT, Turner Sports’ line-up includes NASCAR and NASCAR.COM, the NBA, Major League Baseball, professional golf, PGATOUR.COM and PGA.com.  Turner Sports and the NBA also jointly manage NBA Digital, which includes NBA TV, NBA.com, NBA League Pass, NBADLeague.com and WNBA.com.

TNT, one of cable’s top-rated networks, is television’s destination for drama and home to such original series as the acclaimed and highly popular detective drama The Closer, starring Kyra Sedgwick; Men of a Certain Age, with Ray Romano; Saving Grace, starring Holly Hunter; HawthoRNe, with Jada Pinkett Smith; Leverage, starring Timothy Hutton; and Dark Blue, starring Dylan McDermott; as well as the newly acquired Southland, from ER creator John Wells.  TNT also presents such powerful dramas as Bones, CSI: NY and Numb3rs; broadcast premiere movies; compelling primetime specials, such as the Screen Actors Guild Awards^®; and championship sports coverage, including NASCAR and the NBA.  TNT is available in high-definition.

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news, entertainment, animation and young adult media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.

Turner Sports, Press Release