Lazarus Says "Fluid Process" Led To Keeping NASCAR Race On NBC

NBC Sports Group Chair Mark Lazarus shed some additional light on the decision to keep Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season finale on NBC past the scheduled start time of "Football Night In America." He described it as a "fluid process" that involved himself, NBC Sports Exec Producer Sam Flood and NBC Sports Group President of Programming Jon Miller "discussing the pros and cons and the constituencies involved." Lazarus: "We did what we should do for the NASCAR fans who have invested in the back half of the season with us. ... We think we made the best decision under the circumstances."

Lazarus added that NBC "did not have the contractual right" to move "FNIA" to "another network such as NBCSN unless that had been previously discussed with the NFL." He said, "Our rights are for the NBC broadcast" (SI.com, 11/24).