Regular live television coverage of the
NASCAR Nationwide Series will once again be available in the UK this season, after the Motors TV channel confirmed that the championship will be given comprehensive air time in the UK with all 33 rounds screened live or delayed-as-live in 2012.
"This latest announcement is fantastic news for both Motors TV and our loyal viewers, many of whom have expressed a renewed interest in stock car racing some five years after we last broadcast the
NASCAR Nationwide Series," said Motors TV Head of Programming and Acquisitions Frédéric Viger.
Coverage will start this Saturday with live coverage of the Drive4COPD 300 from
Daytona International Speedway. The Motors TV race coverage in the UK is from 6pm GMT, following a half hour preview show.
The Nationwide Series is expected to have an increased profile in 2012 with the arrival of former
IndyCar star Danica Patrick for her first full season in stock car racing. She'll be competing with reigning Camping World Truck Series champion Austin Dillon, who will be aiming for the Nationwide Rookie of the Year title this season.
Other attractions include Kyle and Kurt Busch teaming up in the #54 Kyle Busch Motorsports car, appearances from other Cup drivers including Kevin Harvick and reigning champion Tony Stewart, as well as entries for former F1 drivers Scott Speed and Nelson Piquet Jr. Former Indy champion and
Indianapolis 500 winner Sam Hornish Jr will also be competing after landing a
full-season deal with Penske Racing. Also expecting to make his Nationwide Series debut in 2012 is X Games daredevil racer Travis Pastrana, after his original plans to start competing in the series in 2011 were
derailed by an ankle injury sustained in the Moto X Best Trick competition.
"With so many established names committing to the 2012 championship it seemed like the perfect time to renew our coverage," said Viger. "That, coupled with live primetime weekend programming, gives me every reason to believe that the
NASCAR Nationwide Series will quickly establish itself as a firm favourite amongst our viewers."
Motors TV already broadcasts GRAND-AM, the American Le Mans Series, Lucas Oil Off Road Racing, Formula Drift and AMA Supercross from across the Atlantic as part of its coverage of over 80 championships.
The channel said that depending on scheduling of the various events, all Nationwide Series races will either be shown live or as-live shortly afterwards, and will also be supported by comprehensive highlight programmes broadcast throughout the following week.
Motors TV is available in the UK on the Sky digital satellite platform via the free-to-view channel 413. On the Virgin Media cable network, Motors TV is broadcast on channel 545 but is available to XL subscribers only.
Coverage of the senior
NASCAR Sprint Cup championship - including this week's Gatorade Duels and Sunday's
Daytona 500 - continues to be broadcast live and exclusive on satellite subscription channel Premier Sports TV, available only on the Sky platform on channel 433 for £7.99 per month. The channel does not currently have broadcast deals with other distributors such as Virgin Media or BT Vision.