LAS VEGAS — NASCAR drivers and Speedway Motorsports are teaming up to bring fans closer to their favorite drivers than ever before. The new “PRN Up To SPEED” program will bring NASCAR’s top names out for fan forums at the SPEED Stage during each of the 13 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race weekends at Speedway Motorsports’ seven speedways across the country.

The Performance Racing Network’s (PRN) on-air personalities will emcee question-and-answer sessions with some of the sport’s biggest personalities at the SPEED Stage leading up to SPEED’s regularly scheduled weekend programming.

“This might be the biggest ‘no-brainer’ that we’ve ever put into motion,” said Marcus Smith, president and chief operating officer of Speedway Motorsports, Inc. “We’ve always operated with a ‘fans first’ philosophy and fans love to see and hear from their favorite drivers. So, we’re inviting the drivers, owners and other racing personalities to come out during our race weekends and interact with the fans. Giving our fans even more for their dollar is something we strive for every year.”

“PRN Up To SPEED” will kick off Sunday at 9:30 a.m. PST, at the SPEED Stage located in the Las Vegas Motor Speedway midway. The stellar lineup will include Las Vegas-native Kyle Busch, legendary NASCAR team owner Richard Childress, and four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon.

“I think this is a year that, I know for me personally, I’m going to do more for the fans," said Gordon, driver of the No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet. “I just want to work with NASCAR and the race tracks to figure out the best, most efficient way to do that and what’s going to make the biggest impact to reach as many of them as we can.”

Each Speedway Motorsports track that hosts a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race will hold “PRN Up To SPEED” sessions during their respective race weekend. The location of the SPEED Stage may vary from track to track, but at all Speedway Motorsports facilities, the stage is always located in an area where access is free of charge for fans.