Overview
- Jimmie Johnson will make his TNT studio debut on June 28 at Sonoma Raceway and will appear in-studio again for the North Wilkesboro race on July 19 and the Indianapolis championship on July 26.
- ESPN’s Marty Smith will serve as the pre- and post-race host for all five In-Season Challenge events while Jeff Burton will act as studio analyst for the two races Johnson does not cover.
- The live race broadcast booth remains unchanged with Dale Earnhardt Jr., Steve Letarte and Adam Alexander calling all five TNT races.
- TNT expanded the studio crew after viewership rose roughly 52 percent as the In-Season Challenge reached Indianapolis last year and confirmed all three Johnson-produced shows will air on TNT and stream on HBO Max.
- The hires reflect cross-network cooperation and TNT’s strategy to use well-known drivers and reporters to deliver deeper analysis, give fans more expert perspective, and try to sustain the tournament’s momentum.