Jamie Little’s return to INDYCAR part of a busy year for FOX Sports announcer

Motorsports viewers would possibly affiliate Jamie Little with FOX’s protection of NASCAR‘s Cup Collection. However Little might be seen throughout extra of FOX’s motorsports protection this 12 months.

Little might be one of many pit reporters Sunday when FOX carries its first INDYCAR race from the streets of downtown St. Petersburg, Florida. She additionally would be the play-by-play announcer for your complete season for the community’s protection of the Truck sequence.

The INDYCAR task is a little bit of a homecoming for Little, who was the pit reporter for ESPN and ABC’s protection of the open-wheel sequence from 2004 via ’14. Little — whose final INDYCAR race was the 2014 Indianapolis 500 — might be filling in for Georgia Henneberry, who lately had a child and can miss the primary couple races.

Little, who may also be a part of FOX’s protection of the Indianapolis 500 on Might 25, is also hoping Sunday that some NASCAR followers will tune in as nicely as a result of the IndyCar race comes earlier than the NASCAR Cup Collection street race on the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.

“We’ll attempt to cross-promote as a lot as we are able to. It is our first doubleheader. INDYCAR is the primary race adopted by NASCAR,” Little stated. “I am the one person who does each, in order that they’re asking me to be there to attempt to mix these two worlds.”

One of many methods Little will attempt to bridge the hole between INDYCAR and NASCAR is a function on Kyle Larson with segments airing in each reveals. Larson will as soon as once more this 12 months try and do the Indy 500 and NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 in the identical day.

Larson did not get the possibility to do it final 12 months when rain delayed the beginning of the Indy race after which shortened the end of the NASCAR race in Charlotte.

The transfer to FOX additionally marks the primary time a complete motorsports sequence might be on broadcast tv. FOX aired adverts that includes prime drivers Josef Newgarden, Alex Palou and Pato O’Ward through the NFL playoffs and Tremendous Bowl LIX.

“I believe there may be nothing higher that you are able to do to assist develop this sport and develop the viewership than to have it on a community the place for those who’re sitting in a bar otherwise you’re having brunch on a Sunday and it will be on TV, Folks will see it and be uncovered to it like by no means earlier than,” Little stated. “All people is worked up in regards to the promotion that is already been accomplished.”

The opposite change for Little this season is that she is going to name your complete NASCAR Truck sequence schedule. She referred to as choose truck races the previous three seasons however may have your complete 12 months with Adam Alexander shifting to the CW to do the Xfinity Collection.

Little grew to become the primary girl to do TV play-by-play for a U.S. nationwide racing sequence broadcast in 2021 when she did the ARCA Menards Collection.

Little had briefly thought-about doing a little play-by-play, however the concept gained momentum after Leigh Diffey, who does NASCAR races for NBC, referred to as Little and stated with the rising variety of girls doing play-by-play, Little wanted to be that individual in NASCAR.

“I simply did not assume it was doable as a result of it is simply you all the time hear a person’s voice. I did not know what that was a task I’d take pleasure in it or if I’d be welcomed in that function,” Little stated. “I thought of it and he was proper. I’ve accomplished every thing I can as a pit reporter and I am going to proceed to do this, however I need to check myself. I need to problem myself, step out of that consolation zone.”

Little has turn out to be extra snug as a play-by-play announcer. She stated her unique method was the identical as if she was a pit reporter in discussing tales, however that has modified.

“It is a talent set, and you are a visitors management cop,” she stated. “Sure, there may be time to inform these tales, to replace these drivers and what’s taking place, however that is why you’ve got the help of your analysts there explaining what’s taking place on the monitor. It is bringing everyone collectively and retaining that dialog flowing.”

Sunday’s INDYCAR race is within the midst of a busy stretch for Little. Because the starting of February, she was a reporter for the Westminster Canine present, has referred to as two Vans races and one ARCA, been the pit reporter for the primary two Cup sequence races and interviewed President Donald Trump earlier than the Daytona 500.

Full IndyCar on FOX protection:

Reporting by The Related Press.

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