NASCAR's Texas playoff race to receive WWE-style open

Following the heated battle between playoff drivers Joey Logano and Martin Truex Jr. last weekend at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway, NBC officials decided to spice up the opening for this weekend’s high-stakes race at Texas.

So, NBC Sports associate producer Dave Gulotta came up with the idea of having former WWE star and Texas native “Stone Cold” Steve Austin narrate the open for Sunday’s Cup series telecast.

“Steve’s persona and voice were the perfect fit to capture the feel and attitude of a big time Texas event such as this playoff race,” Gulotta told Motorsport.com.

“As soon as Steve lent his voice to the words on the page, we could feel his passion and excitement. Steve absolutely knocked it out of the park and was great to work with.”

Austin, whose real name is Steven James Anderson, is no stranger to NASCAR events.

As recently as March 2010, Austin, 53, served as the official starter at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway and in 2011, he and former Cup driver Carl Edwards were guests at TMS’ exclusive season ticket holders party.

And in Austin’s trademark words, “That’s the bottom line because Stone Cold said so.”