A special preview of Sirius Satellite Radio's new NASCAR talkshow "Tony Stewart Live" will be broadcast tomorrow November 30th from 6-8 pm ET, on Sirius NASCAR Radio (ch 128). Stewart and his co-host Matt Yocum will be broadcasting live from SIRIUS’ New York Studios during NASCAR Champions Week.

Tony will welcome special guests, take some calls and cover the spectrum of motorsports - from NASCAR to open-wheel racing and beyond. The regular weekly, live two-hour radio show debuts in January.

Listen to a preview of "Tony Stewart Live" (WAV).

Sirius has unveiled their programming initiative when the NASCAR torch is handed over from XM to Sirius in 2007.

Sirius will combine live race broadcasts with up to 10 additional "Team Talk" channels featuring the driver-to-crew communications of different race teams during NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series races. So you'll be able to follow the overall race call and the in-car audio of a driver on a single channel throughout the race.

The channels will feature top drivers based on the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series standings. The lineup of drivers and their channel assignments will be available at www.sirius.com/nascar before each race.

Sirius will broadcast every NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series, NASCAR Busch Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race, carrying the live broadcasts of Motor Racing Network (MRN), Performance Racing Network (PRN) and the IMS Radio Network's broadcast from Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

On top of all this live race coverage, Sirius will launch SIRIUS NASCAR Radio (ch 128) which will include live races, plus daily and weekly talk programs, including "Tony Stewart Live."

More details, schedules and hosts on SIRIUS NASCAR Radio will be announced soon.

SIRIUS is kicking off a new NASCAR-related promotion offering $30 off a Sirius subscription when you send in a "competitor's" satellite radio.

 

View the PDF detailing the promo.

It's an interesting marketing approach that targets the price conscious shopper. NASCAR's own demographics claim that 59% of its fanbase live in homes with an annual income below $50,000 and another 32% are below $30,000 [via USA Today]. Those current XM subscribers who are aware of the "shift" to Sirius occuring in 2007 will be left with an essentially useless receiver, should they choose to follow NASCAR in January. This looks to be an attempt by Sirius to ensure that they do.

[via American Wireless]
Thanks tim!

UPDATE: Note that this only applies to Brix units, not Directed Electronics products. Also, as pointed out in the comments, a look at the fine print shows that only current XM subscribers are eligible. Interesting.

UPDATE 2: This promotion has apparently been discontinued by NASCAR's request.

SIRIUS has tapped Daniel Norwood and Paul Pabst as the Executive Producers of SIRIUS NASCAR Radio, which is launching on SIRIUS in 2007. They both report to Steve Cohen, SIRIUS' Vice President of Sports Programming.

Norwood, formerly the executive producer of Primetime with the Packman on WFNZ Radio in Charlotte, and Pabst, formerly of ESPN for six years, will be responsible for creating and overseeing the day to day operation of SIRIUS' new NASCAR channel. The 24/7 channel will air live races, including all NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series, NASCAR Busch Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races; and daily and weekly talk programs, including Tony Stewart Live.