Fox In Talks With NASCAR To Widen Broadcast Package, Eyeing Nationwide Races

Fox Sports and NASCAR are "involved in discussions to broadcast at least half of the Nationwide Series as well as adding some additional" Sprint Cup Series races beyond its current eight-year extension, according to sources cited by Jim Utter of the CHARLOTTE OBSERVER. ABC/ESPN currently "broadcasts the entire Nationwide schedule." However, Nationwide Insurance last week "asked for an extension of its exclusive negotiating window to extend its current deal so that it would know what the series' TV partners will be." Sources said that Fox is "looking to perhaps add some of the Cup races broadcast by TNT to its lineup and broadcast the Nationwide Series during the same period on the schedule." The Nationwide races "would likely appear" on FS1. ESPN/ABC "has not yet started negotiations with NASCAR on extending its TV deal covering the Nationwide Series but is expected to by next month." Nationwide Series races have been "aired exclusively by ABC/ESPN" since '07 (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 6/29).