Daytona 500 to air live on U.S. Spanish-language network

Here's an item that demonstrates NASCAR's reach as well as its commitment to diversity. Next year, NASCAR and FOX Deportes will broadcast the Daytona 500, the first time the race will air on a  Spanish-language network in this country.  FOX Deportes will also carry 15 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.

Here's the release:

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Aug. 20, 2012) – Two of the biggest brands in all of sports, NASCAR and FOX Deportes, announced today they are teaming up to provide the sport’s most expansive Spanish-language broadcast offering ever with coverage of 15 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races as well as original programming, daily news segments and weekly updates starting in 2013.

Of the 15 race broadcasts, FOX Deportes, the No. 1 U.S. Latino Sports network, will carry live six NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races, including, for the first time ever, a Spanish-language broadcast of NASCAR’s biggest race, the Daytona 500 (Sunday, Feb. 24).

In addition to the 15 Spanish-language race broadcasts, FOX Deportes will also produce and air a series of original NASCAR programs focused on engaging the Latino fan base. This series will be complemented by daily NASCAR news segments in the No. 1 rated U.S. Latino sports news franchise, Central FOX.

“It’s a historic milestone in the evolution of FOX Deportes, and we’re excited to be working with NASCAR to add the most popular motorsport in America to our overall programming mix for the first time,” said Vincent Cordero, executive vice president and general manager of FOX Deportes. “There’s no sport more deeply rooted in the fabric of America than NASCAR, and having it on our own network represents our continued commitment to expand and diversify our content portfolio by adding the biggest sporting events in the world that impassion today’s U.S. Latino.”

FOX Deportes coverage of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series racing gets underway Saturday, Feb. 16 with coverage of the Daytona Shootout, a non-points race from Daytona International Speedway that unofficially kicks off the 2013 season. In addition to the Daytona 500 a week later (Sunday, Feb. 24), FOX Deportes will also broadcast live in Spanish four additional races from Auto Club Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway.

“The thirst for NASCAR programming, and in particular race broadcasts, is very strong and we’re constantly looking for ways to expose the sport to new fans in new places,” said Steve Herbst, NASCAR vice president of broadcasting and production. “To be able to put a deal like this together with FOX Deportes, a leader in U.S. Latino sports media, is something we believe will help satisfy the strong demand for NASCAR racing in the Hispanic community while also exposing the sport to new audiences.”

In addition to the six live and nine live-to-tape race broadcasts, the four 30-minute original programs that will air early next year will highlight NASCAR’s storied history and personalities that make NASCAR one of the most popular sports in the world.

All original NASCAR-related programs will air on Fridays at 10:30 p.m. ET, with encore presentations the following Monday at 4 p.m. ET. FOX Deportes also plans weekly NASCAR in-season updates during regularly-scheduled programming to keep fans up-to-date with their favorite teams and drivers. A comprehensive on-air promotional campaign, as well as coverage of NASCAR on Central FOX, will accompany FOX Deportes’ NASCAR race broadcasts throughout the 2013 season.