NBC Sports Networks’ ARCA Racing Series broadcast from Madison (WI) International Speedway includes a surprise guest tonight.
The NBCSN broadcast team of Rick Benjamin and NASCAR and ARCA veteran Ken Schrader were joined by 2003 NASCAR Cup Series champion Matt Kenseth for much of the race, while Kenseth watched his son, 20-year-old Ross Kenseth, make his ARCA Racing Series debut.
“I was thankful the race was on a day where I could see Ross make his first ARCA start,” said Matt Kenseth, driver of the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota. “Being in the TV booth was new to me. It was fun to do and I like the vantage point, but I think I’ll leave that to the professionals.”
The Herr’s Live Life With Flavor 200 race will air at midnight tonight ET, Thursday, Aug. 29.
NBCSN and ARCA Racing Series teamed up to broadcast four races this season. Benjamin was on hand for each broadcast. Schrader, who has 16 ARCA Racing Series wins to his credit and is a car owner in the series, was doing his first broadcast.
The race from Madison was a historic one as 15-year-old Kyle Benjamin became the youngest winner in series history, leading the final 131 laps.
Matt Kenseth knows the track well. He won a track championship at Madison in 1994 and accumulated 26 feature wins at the track before moving into the NASCAR ranks. On Saturday, Kenseth won the Sprint Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway, then quickly made the trip to his home state of Wisconsin to watch his son, Ross.
Schrader, who will race in this week’s ARCA race at DuQuoin (Ill.) State Fairgrounds, doubled as a TV commentator and owner of the No. 52 Blain’s Farm and Fleet Chevrolet driven by Ross Kenseth.
Jim Tretow is the pit road reporter for the broadcast.
NBC Sports Network will re-air the Madison event in prime time, at 7 p.m. ET Monday, Sept. 23.
ARCA Racing PR
