STAMFORD, Conn. – Dale Earnhardt Jr. will attend his first Indianapolis 500 on May 26 as a member of NBC Sports’ broadcast team, when the 103rd running of the Greatest Spectacle in Racing airs on NBC for the first time.
The addition of Earnhardt to the Indy 500 broadcast marks the latest in a series of announcements for NBC Sports’ inaugural presentation of the historic event.
Earlier this year, NBC Sports announced that Mike Tirico will host its coverage, with former IndyCar and NASCAR driver Danica Patrick serving as an analyst alongside Tirico.
In addition to Earnhardt, NBC Sports motorsports host Krista Voda and reporter Rutledge Wood will also contribute to the network’s Indy 500 presentation.
Earnhardt made 17 career appearances and registered five top-10 finishes in NASCAR’s Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He will serve as a roving reporter on race day, exploring the expansive scene that includes hundreds of thousands of spectators at IMS.
The 15-time NMPA Most Popular Driver will also contribute to NBC Sports’ pre-race, in-race, and post-race coverage alongside Wood and will be featured on NBCSN’s Indy 500 coverage originating from IMS during race week.
Earnhardt amassed 26 NASCAR victories during his storied career, including two Daytona 500 wins. He joined NBC Sports’ NASCAR broadcast team following his retirement from full-time racing in 2017.
“Dale Jr. is one of the most popular personalities in racing history, so adding him to our inaugural broadcast the Greatest Spectacle in Racing on NBC was a no-brainer.” said Sam Flood, Executive Producer and President, Production, NBC Sports & NBCSN. “Dale has never been able to attend the 500, and now he will have the opportunity to experience every aspect of this massive event – from the party in the Snake Pit and the hundreds of thousands of fans in the grandstands to the key strategic decisions and bold moves on track that will ultimately crown the 103rd Indy 500 champion.”
“I can’t wait. This is an event I have wanted to attend for as long as I can remember,” added Earnhardt. “To get this first Indy 500 experience in this capacity – as part of the broadcast team with NBC Sports – is a dream. That said, I fully understand the responsibility we have of bringing this race to television viewers across the country. There’s no better broadcast team to do it. I’m blessed to be a part of it.”
In addition to his work on NBC Sports’ NASCAR coverage, Earnhardt has also contributed to the network’s presentations of the 2018 Winter Olympics, Super Bowl LII, and the Stanley Cup Final.