WATCH LIVE: NASCAR AMERICA at 5 p.m. ET talks Larson, Stewart and more

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With the NASCAR Media Tour over, NASCAR AMERICA still rolls on with preseason coverage in the run-up to the Daytona Speedweeks at 5 p.m. ET on NBCSN.

If you can’t watch on TV, then STREAM IT online and on your mobile device through NBC Sports Live Extra.

Here is what’s on tap for today’s show, with Leigh Diffey and Kyle Petty in studio and Dale Jarrett in Charlotte:

  • Tonight begins the first of two sitdowns per show from the Media Tour, running daily through the Daytona 500 Media Day. First up are Tony Stewart and Kyle Larson – respective teaser videos (Stewart, Larson) can be found at the embedded links.
  • A discussion will occur on whether Penske/Wood Brothers would run Ryan Blaney in a full season if he wins Daytona. Last week, it was announced Blaney will run at least 18 Sprint Cup races in 2015.
  • We’ll analyze the Matt McCall situation and how it isn’t uncommon for employees to shift teams and ruffle feathers as information moves around. McCall shifts to Chip Ganassi Racing as new crew chief for Jamie McMurray.
  • With only 20 days left until the 2015 Daytona 500, we’ll look back at Trevor Bayne. Why, you ask? Bayne was 20 when he became the youngest Daytona 500 winner in 2011.

If you plan to stream, be sure to have your username and password from your cable/satellite/telco provider handy so your subscription can be verified. Once you plug those pieces of information in, you’ll have access to the stream.

Again, CLICK HERE at 5 p.m. ET to watch NASCAR AMERICA.

SuperMotocross set to introduce Leader Lights beginning with the World Championship finals

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In a continuing effort to help fans keep track of the on track action, SuperMotocross is in the process of developing and implementing leader lights for the unified series.

Currently Supercross (SMX) utilizes stanchions in the infield that are triggered manually by a race official. At least two stanchions are used in each race as a way to draw the eye to the leader, which is especially useful in the tight confines of the stadium series when lapping often begins before the halfway mark in the 22-bike field. This system has been in place for the past two decades.

Later this year, a fully automated system will move to the bike itself to replace the old system. At that point, fans will be able to identify the leader regardless of where he is on track.

The leader lights were tested in the second Anaheim round this year. An example can be seen at the 1:45 mark in the video above on the No. 69 bike.

“What we don’t want to do is move too fast, where it’s confusing to people,” said Mike Muye, senior director of operations for Supercross and SMX in a press release. “We’ve really just focused on the leader at this point with the thought that maybe down the road we’ll introduce others.”

Scheduled to debut with the first SuperMotocross World Championship race at zMax Dragway, located just outside the Charlotte Motor Speedway, a 3D carbon fiber-printed LED light will be affixed to each motorcycle. Ten timing loops positioned around the track will trigger the lights of the leader, which will turn green.

SMX’s partner LiveTime Scoring helped develop and implement the system that has been tested in some form or fashion since 2019.

When the leader lights are successfully deployed, SuperMotocross will explore expanding the system to identify the second- and third-place riders. Depending on need and fan acceptance, more positions could be added.

SuperMotocross is exploring future enhancements, including allowing for live fan interaction with the lights and ways to use the lighting system during the race’s opening ceremony.