STAMFORD, Conn. — USA Sports is introducing a new broadcast innovation for its NASCAR Cup Series coverage this weekend at Iowa Speedway, giving fans a perspective never before featured in a national NASCAR telecast.
Beginning with Sunday’s Iowa Corn 350 Powered by Ethanol, former Daytona 500 winner Trevor Bayne will serve as USA Sports’ new pace car analyst, reporting live from inside the pace car before the green flag and during key race restarts throughout the remainder of the 2026 season.
Bayne, who joins USA Sports as a pit reporter this year, will provide viewers with a unique behind-the-scenes look at race-day procedures and the atmosphere leading up to some of the most critical moments of each event.
“Having Trevor report live from inside the pace car at select races this season is going to bring a new insight to our coverage and give the fans at home a unique viewing experience,” USA Sports executive producer Jeff Behnke said.
The pace car analyst position is the latest addition to USA Sports’ growing list of NASCAR broadcast innovations. Over the years, the network has introduced features such as post-race burnout interviews, extended post-race coverage, road-course radio-style broadcasts, the USA Sports Pit Box on pit road and its “My Track My Roots” grassroots racing initiative.
Sunday’s Iowa Corn 350 also marks the beginning of USA Sports’ NASCAR coverage package for the remainder of the 2026 season. The network will broadcast the final 14 races of the year, including full coverage of the NASCAR Cup Series Chase.
Coverage begins Sunday at 3 p.m. ET with Countdown to Green on USA Network, followed by race coverage from Iowa Speedway at 3:30 p.m. ET.