NBC To Institute Five-Second Delay For NASCAR Coverage

Following Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s use of an expletive during a post-race interview last Sunday, NBC announced today that it will use a five-second delay for its NASCAR coverage, beginning with this Sunday’s Banquet 400 from Kansas Speedway. NBC has previously used a delay when airing radio communication between teams and drivers. NBC Universal Sports & Olympics Chair Dick Ebersol said in a statement, "The delay provides a level of protection against anything inappropriate going out over the air. ... Our initial hope would have been to broadcast on delay only during pre- and post-race coverage, but by using the delay during competition, our pit reporters won't be limited in interviewing drivers, crew chiefs and team. ... While broadcasting on delay is extremely unfortunate, we've come to the conclusion that taking this step provides the additional safeguard needed in today's climate" (NBC).

HITS HAPPEN: NASCAR.com has had over one million page views for the story on Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s victory lane interview after Sunday’s EA Sports 500, which includes a video clip of the interview, making it the most followed story on the site since Earnhardt Jr.’s injury at California Speedway on July 19 (THE DAILY).