​Shannon Spake had not worked pit road since May 2013, but returning to pit road at Sonoma for Round One of the 2026 In-Season Challenge was a powerful moment for her. She described the experience as incredible, posting on X about hugging colleagues she hadn’t seen in more than a decade and sharing laughs with her team. The moment was punctuated by Shane van Gisbergen’s victory in the Toyota/Save Mart 350 on June 28, securing his third consecutive road-course win, and giving Spake a chance to witness SVG’s standout burnout up close.
Spake has logged more than 20 years in NASCAR, starting in 2005 with the SPEED Channel on NASCAR Nation, then co-hosting Back Seat Drivers with Marty Smith. ESPN then brought her on in 2007, placing her on pit road full-time and live, a demanding role that earned her trust across a decade with ESPN and a substantial stint at FOX. In July 2024, FOX cut NASCAR Race Hub, along with other shifts: fewer Cup races and no Xfinity rights, and their NFL sideline coverage saw changes when Tom Brady moved to FOX’s top booth. With no immediate NASCAR landing, Spake didn’t disappear from the sport; she transitioned to NASCAR Digital Media and TNT Sports, hosting NASCAR Inside the Playoffs in 2024 with Jamie McMurray and Parker Kligerman.
For 2026, the format has shifted again. Marty Smith now hosts NASCAR Nation, while Spake has transitioned to pit road, teaming with Marty Snider and Danielle Trotta in a role she hadn’t held since 2013. Jimmie Johnson joins the broadcasts as a studio analyst for three races (Sonoma, North Wilkesboro, and the Indianapolis finale), with Jeff Burton filling in for the other two (Chicagoland and Atlanta). The in-booth team remains unchanged, featuring Dale Earnhardt Jr., Steve Letarte, and Adam Alexander calling all five races. Spake’s new pit road duties reflect a refreshed approach to the NASCAR broadcast lineup in 2026.