DirecTV discontinuing NASCAR 'Hot Pass'

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Dec. 10 (UPI) -- DirecTV says it will not offer the "Hot Pass" pay-per-view package to NASCAR fans across the United States next season.

A NASCAR spokesman confirmed the TV move, saying league fans should expect continued NASCAR coverage despite the demise of the "Hot Pass" option, the Charlotte (N.C.) Observer said Wednesday.

"The produced package as it exists today will change," NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said. "There will be no more large production pieces but we are confident DirecTV will have NASCAR content next season."

"Hot Pass" debuted last season during the 2007 Daytona 500, giving NASCAR fans up to 10 DirecTV channels of auto racing to chose from, the Observer reported.

Poston told the newspaper the new coverage options from DirecTV could potentially be more accessible to NASCAR fans when compared with "Hot Pass."

"I think the subscription package is going to change for the better for more fans, ultimately," he said.