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One of the earliest telecasts of a NASCAR race was the 1960 Daytona 500, parts of which was presented as part of CBS Sports Spectacular , with announcer Bud Palmer. [1]
In the ensuing years, but before 1979, there were three main sources of NASCAR telecasts:[ citation needed ]
CBS Sports President Neal Pilson and motor-sports editor Ken Squier believed that America would watch an entire stock car race live on television. On February 18, 1979, CBS presented the first flag-to-flag coverage of the Daytona 500. [2] Richard Petty won NASCAR's crown-jewel race for the sixth time, but the big story was the post-race fight on the track's infield between Cale Yarborough and Donnie Allison, who crashed together on the final lap while leading. [2] The race drew incredible ratings, in part due to the compelling action both on and off the track, and in part because a major snowstorm on the East Coast kept millions of viewers indoors. [3]
Date | Event | Network | Lap-by-lap | Color commentator(s) | Reporters |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2/22 | Daytona 500 [4] | ABC | Keith Jackson | Chris Economaki | |
4/12 | Alabama 500 [5] (Talladega) | ABC [6] [7] [8] | Bill Flemming [9] | Keith Jackson | Bob Montgomery |
4/18 | Gwyn Staley 400 [10] (North Wilkesboro) | ABC | Jim McKay | Chris Economaki | Bob Montgomery [11] |
5/9 | Rebel 400 [12] (Darlington) | ABC [13] | Jim McKay | Ned Jarrett | Bob Montgomery |
5/24 | World 600 (Charlotte) | ABC | Keith Jackson | Chris Economaki | Bob Montgomery |
7/4 | Firecracker 400 [14] (Daytona) | ABC | Jim McKay | Chris Economaki | Bob Montgomery |
7/25 | Nashville 420 [15] | ABC [16] [17] [18] | Jim McKay | Chris Economaki | Bob Montgomery |
9/7 | Southern 500 [19] (Darlington) | ABC | Bill Flemming | Chris Economaki | |
10/4 | Wilkes 400 (North Wilkesboro) | ABC | Jim McKay | Chris Economaki | |
10/11 | National 500 [20] (Charlotte) | ABC | Jim McKay | Chris Economaki | |
From 1962 to 1978, the Daytona 500 was shown on ABC's Wide World of Sports .[ citation needed ] During the 1960s and early 1970s, the race was filmed and an edited highlight package aired the following weekend.
During the period on Wide World of Sports, the booth announcers typically served as roving pit reporters during the running of the race, as well as interviewing in victory lane. The booth commentary was recorded in post-production.
Date | Event | Network | Lap-by-lap | Color commentator(s) | Reporters |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2/11 | Twin 125's (Daytona) | ABC | Keith Jackson | Chris Economaki | |
2/14 | Daytona 500 [21] | ABC [22] | Keith Jackson [23] | Chris Economaki | |
4/4 | Atlanta 500 | ABC [24] [25] | Bill Flemming | Chris Economaki | |
4/10 | Greenville 200 [26] | ABC [27] [28] | Jim McKay [29] | Chris Economaki | Ken Squier |
5/2 | Rebel 400 (Darlington) | ABC | Keith Jackson | Chris Economaki | |
5/16 | Winston 500 (Talladega) | ABC [30] | Bill Flemming | Chris Economaki | |
7/4 | Firecracker 400 (Daytona) | ABC | Keith Jackson | Chris Economaki [31] | |
8/6 | Myers Brothers 250 (Winston-Salem) | ABC | Jim McKay | Chris Economaki | |
9/6 | Southern 500 (Darlington) | ABC | Bill Flemming | Chris Economaki | |
10/10 | National 500 (Charlotte) | ABC | Keith Jackson | Chris Economaki | |
Date | Event | Network | Lap-by-lap | Color commentator(s) | Reporters |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2/17 | Daytona 125 | ABC | Keith Jackson [32] | Chris Economaki | |
2/20 | Daytona 500 [33] | ABC [34] | Keith Jackson | Chris Economaki | |
3/5 | Miller High Life 500 (Ontario) | ABC [35] | Jim McKay | Jackie Stewart [36] | Chris Economaki |
3/12 | Carolina 500 (Rockingham) | ABC [37] | Keith Jackson | Donnie Allison | Gary Campbell |
3/26 | Atlanta 500 | ABC [38] | Keith Jackson | Chris Economaki | Gary Campbell |
4/16 | Rebel 400 (Darlington) | ABC | Bill Flemming | Donnie Allison | |
7/4 | Firecracker 400 (Daytona) | ABC | Keith Jackson | Chris Economaki | |
9/4 | Southern 500 [39] (Darlington) | ABC | Chris Economaki [40] | ||
10/8 | National 500 (Charlotte) | ABC | Keith Jackson | Roger Penske | Chris Economaki |
Date | Event | Network | Lap-by-lap | Color commentator(s) | Reporters |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2/15 | Twin 125's (Daytona) | ABC [41] | Jim McKay | Jackie Stewart | Chris Economaki |
2/18 | Daytona 500 | ABC [42] | Jim McKay | Jackie Stewart [43] | Chris Economaki |
4/1 | Atlanta 500 | ABC [44] [45] | Keith Jackson | Jackie Stewart | Chris Economaki |
4/15 | Rebel 500 (Darlington) | ABC [46] | Bill Flemming | Jackie Stewart | |
7/4 | Firecracker 400 (Daytona) | ABC | Keith Jackson | Jackie Stewart | Chris Economaki |
8/12 | Talladega 500 (Talladega) | ABC | Bill Flemming | Jackie Stewart | |
9/3 | Southern 500 (Darlington) | ABC | Bill Flemming | Chris Economaki | |
10/7 | National 500 (Charlotte) | ABC | Keith Jackson | Roger Penske | |
Date | Event | Network | Lap-by-lap | Color commentator(s) | Reporters |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2/14 | Twin 125's | ABC [47] | Keith Jackson | Jackie Stewart | Chris Economaki |
2/17 | Daytona 500 [48] | ABC [49] [50] [51] [52] | Keith Jackson | Jackie Stewart | Chris Economaki |
3/24 | Atlanta 500 (Atlanta) | ABC [53] | Keith Jackson [54] | Jackie Stewart | Chris Economaki [55] |
5/19 | Mason Dixon 500 (Dover) | ABC [56] | Bill Flemming | Chris Economaki | |
7/4 | Firecracker 400 (Daytona) | ABC [57] | Keith Jackson | Jackie Stewart | Chris Economaki |
8/11 | Talladega 500 (Talladega) | ABC [58] | Bill Flemming | Jackie Stewart | |
9/2 | Southern 500 (Darlington) | ABC [59] [60] | Chris Economaki | Jackie Stewart | |
10/6 | National 500 (Charlotte) | ABC [61] | Jim McKay | Chris Economaki | |
In 1974, ABC began the first semi-live coverage (joined-in-progress) of the Daytona 500. Coverage was normally timed to begin when the race was halfway over. Brief taped highlights of the start and early segments were shown, then ABC joined the race live already in progress, picking up approximately the last 90 minutes of the race. This format continued through 1978.
Date | Event | Network | Lap-by-lap | Color commentator(s) | Reporters |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2/13 | Twin 125's (Daytona) | ABC | Bill Flemming | Jackie Stewart | Chris Economaki |
2/16 | Daytona 500 | ABC | Bill Flemming | Jackie Stewart | Chris Economaki |
3/23 | Atlanta 500 (Atlanta) | ABC | Jim McKay | Jackie Stewart | Chris Economaki |
4/19 | Rebel 500 (Darlington) | ABC | Keith Jackson | ||
5/4 | Winston 500 (Talladega) | CBS | Ken Squier | ||
5/25 | World 600 (Charlotte) | CBS | Ken Squier | ||
7/4 | Firecracker 400 (Daytona) | ABC | Keith Jackson | Jackie Stewart | Chris Economaki |
8/24 | Champion Spark Plug 400 (Michigan) | CBS | Ken Squier | Johnny Rutherford | |
9/1 | Southern 500 (Darlington) | ABC | Keith Jackson | Darel Dieringer | |
10/5 | National 500 (Charlotte) | ABC | Jim McKay | Jackie Stewart | Chris Economaki |
11/9 | Dixie 500 (Atlanta) | CBS | Ken Squier | Johnny Rutherford | |
Date | Event | Network | Lap-by-lap | Color commentator(s) | Reporters |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2/15 | Daytona 500 [62] | ABC | Bill Flemming | Jackie Stewart | Chris Economaki |
3/21 | Atlanta 500 | ABC | Bill Flemming | Jackie Stewart | Chris Economaki |
4/11 | Rebel 500 (Darlington) | ABC | |||
5/2 | Winston 500 (Talladega) | CBS | Ken Squier | ||
5/30 | World 600 (Charlotte) | CBS | Ken Squier | ||
6/13 | Riverside 400 | CBS | Ken Squier | Richard Petty | |
7/4 | Firecracker 400 (Daytona) | ABC | Bill Flemming | Sam Posey | Chris Economaki |
8/8 | Talladega 500 | CBS | Ken Squier | Lee Petty | |
8/22 | Champion Spark Plug 400 (Michigan) | CBS | Ken Squier | Bobby Unser and Ned Jarrett | |
9/6 | Southern 500 (Darlington) | ABC | Bill Flemming | Jackie Stewart | |
10/10 | National 500 (Charlotte) | ABC | Keith Jackson | Chris Economaki | |
11/7 | Dixie 500 (Atlanta) | CBS | Ken Squier | ||
11/21 | Los Angeles Times 500 (Ontario) | ABC | Jim McKay | Chris Economaki | |
The 1976 Daytona 500 was held on the same day of the final day of competition in the Winter Olympics (also broadcast on ABC). ABC carried 30 minutes of live coverage of the start of the race, then switched to the Olympics for 90 minutes to carry taped coverage of the final two competitive events (a cross-country ski race and the final runs in the bobsled), held earlier that day. Then it was back to Daytona for about an hour-and-a-half for the finish.
Date | Event | Network | Lap-by-lap | Color commentator(s) | Reporters |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2/20 | Daytona 500 | ABC [63] | Jim McKay | Jackie Stewart | Chris Economaki |
3/20 | Atlanta 500 (Atlanta) | ABC [64] | Keith Jackson | Jackie Stewart | Chris Economaki |
4/3 | Rebel 500 [65] (Darlington) | ABC [66] [67] | Keith Jackson | Jackie Stewart | Chris Economaki |
5/29 | World 600 [68] (Charlotte) | CBS [69] | Ken Squier | David Hobbs | Brock Yates |
7/4 | Firecracker 400 (Daytona) | ABC | Bill Flemming | Chris Economaki | |
9/5 | Southern 500 (Darlington) | ABC [70] | Bill Flemming | Jackie Stewart | |
10/9 | National 500 [71] (Charlotte) | ABC | Al Michaels | Chris Economaki | |
11/20 | Los Angeles Times 500 [72] (Ontario) | CBS [73] | Ken Squier | David Hobbs | Brock Yates |
Date | Event | Network | Lap-by-lap | Color commentator(s) | Reporters |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2/16 | Twin 125's [74] (Daytona) | ABC | Jim McKay | Jackie Stewart | Chris Economaki |
2/19 | Daytona 500 [75] | ABC [76] | Jim McKay [77] | Jackie Stewart [78] | Chris Economaki |
3/19 | Atlanta 500 [79] | ABC | Jackie Stewart | Chris Economaki | |
4/9 | Rebel 500 [80] (Darlington) | ABC | Jim McKay | Jackie Stewart | Chris Economaki |
5/28 | World 600 (Charlotte) | CBS [81] | Ken Squier | David Hobbs | Brock Yates |
6/18 | Cam 2 Motor Oil 400 (Michigan) | ABC | Al Michaels | Jackie Stewart | Chris Economaki |
7/4 | Firecracker 400 [82] (Daytona) | ABC [83] | Jim McKay | Chris Economaki | |
9/4 | Southern 500 (Darlington) | ABC | Keith Jackson | Chris Economaki | |
10/8 | National 500 (Charlotte) | ABC | Jim McKay | Jackie Stewart | Chris Economaki |
11/19 | Los Angeles Times 500 [84] (Ontario) | CBS [85] | Ken Squier | David Hobbs | Brock Yates |
In 1979, CBS instituted the live "flag-to-flag" coverage policy. [114] [115] The ground-breaking 1979 broadcast ushered in the 22-year run of NASCAR on CBS .
During its entire run from 1979 to 2000, CBS also carried the Busch Clash (live), and in most years, carried the Twin 125s (tape-delayed).
The Daytona 500 is a 500-mile-long (805 km) NASCAR Cup Series motor race held annually at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is the first of two Cup races held every year at Daytona, the second being the Coke Zero Sugar 400, and one of three held in Florida, with the annual fall showdown Dixie Vodka 400 being held at Homestead south of Miami. From 1988 to 2019, it was one of the four restrictor plate races on the Cup schedule. The inaugural Daytona 500 was held in 1959 coinciding with the opening of the speedway and since 1982, it has been the season-opening race of the Cup series.
Daytona International Speedway is a race track in Daytona Beach, Florida, United States, about 50 mi (80 km) north of Orlando. Since opening in 1959, it has been the home of the Daytona 500, the most prestigious race in NASCAR as well as its season opening event. The venue also hosts the 24 Hours of Daytona, the most prestigious IMSA race and one of the three events that make up the Triple Crown of endurance racing. In addition to NASCAR and IMSA, the track also hosts races of ARCA, AMA Superbike, SCCA, and AMA Supercross. The track features multiple layouts including the primary 2.500 mi (4.023 km) high-speed tri-oval, a 3.560 mi (5.729 km) sports car course, a 2.950 mi (4.748 km) motorcycle course, and a 1,320 ft (400 m) karting and motorcycle flat-track. The track's 180-acre (73 ha) infield includes the 29-acre (12 ha) Lake Lloyd, which has hosted powerboat racing.
David Gene Pearson was an American stock car driver, who raced from 1960 to 1986 in the former NASCAR Grand National and Winston Cup Series, most notably driving the No. 21 Mercury for Wood Brothers Racing. Pearson won the 1960 NASCAR Rookie of the Year award and three Cup Series championships. He never missed a race in the years he was active. NASCAR described his 1974 season as an indication of his "consistent greatness", finishing third in the season points having competed in only 19 of 30 races. Pearson's career paralleled Richard Petty's, the driver who has won the most races in NASCAR history. They accounted for 63 first/second-place finishes, with the edge going to Pearson. Petty had 200 wins in 1,184 starts, while Pearson had 105 wins in 574 starts. Pearson was nicknamed the "Fox" for his calculated approach to racing.
Donnie Allison is an American former driver on the NASCAR Grand National/Winston Cup circuit, who won ten times during his racing career, which spanned from 1966 to 1988. He is part of the "Alabama Gang", and is the brother of 1983 champion Bobby Allison and uncle of Davey Allison and Clifford Allison. He was inducted in the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2009. He was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame on January 19, 2024.
NASCAR on Fox, also known as Fox NASCAR, is the branding used for broadcasts of NASCAR races produced by Fox Sports and have aired on the Fox television network in the United States since 2001. Speed, a motorsports-focused cable channel owned by Fox, began broadcasting NASCAR-related events in February 2002, with its successor Fox Sports 1 taking over Fox Sports' cable event coverage rights when that network replaced Speed in August 2013. Throughout its run, Fox's coverage of NASCAR has won thirteen Emmy Awards.
Motor Racing Network (MRN) is a U.S. radio network that syndicates broadcasts of auto racing events, particularly NASCAR. MRN was founded in 1970 by NASCAR founder Bill France, Sr. and broadcaster Ken Squier, and is a wholly owned subsidiary of NASCAR. Its first broadcast was the 1970 Daytona 500.
Christopher Constantine Economaki was a pioneering American motorsports journalist, publisher, reporter, and commentator known as "The Dean of American Motorsports Journalism." Working for, and later owning, National Speed Sport News, Economaki helped encourage the growth of American motorsports from a niche endeavor to a mainstream pursuit.
Clyde J. "Butch" Lindley Jr. was a Short track racer. He was the champion of the NASCAR Sportsman Division in 1977 and 1978.
Kenley Dean Squier was an American sportscaster and motorsports editor from Waterbury, Vermont. From 1979 to 1997, he served as the lap-by-lap commentator for NASCAR on CBS, and was also a lap-by-lap commentator for TBS from 1983–1999. Squier was the first announcer to give lap-by-lap commentary for the Daytona 500 in 1979. He coined the term "The Great American Race" for the Daytona 500 and helped introduce the Australian-developed in-car camera for the 1982 running of the event. He lived in Stowe, Vermont until his death.
NASCAR on CBS was the branding formerly used for broadcasts of NASCAR series races produced by CBS Sports, the sports division of the CBS television network in the United States from 1960 to 2000.
Harold "Bruce" Jacobi was an American race car driver. In 1987, Jacobi, 51, died of head injuries sustained in a NASCAR race crash at the Daytona International Speedway in 1983. He had 37 USAC Champ Car starts between 1960 and 1970, with a best finish of fourth at Springfield in 1970. Jacobi also completed rookie refresher testing in preparation for the 1967 Indianapolis 500, but did not attempt to qualify.
The 1971 Daytona 500, the 13th running of the event, was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series race held on February 14, 1971 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. Spanning 500 miles (800 km) on the paved oval track, it was the first Daytona 500 in the Winston Cup era of NASCAR. During this time, Richard Petty was becoming one of the winningest veterans on the NASCAR circuit.
One of the earliest telecasts of a NASCAR race was the 1960 Daytona 500, parts of which was presented as part of CBS Sports Spectacular, with announcer Bud Palmer.
Before the existence of ESPN, live coverage of NASCAR Winston Cup races on television was limited. CBS covered the Daytona 500, the June race at Michigan and the July race at Talladega. ABC usually did the Atlanta race in the spring.
As time passed, more Winston Cup races ended up on TV. ESPN broadcast its first race in 1981, from North Carolina Motor Speedway, and TNN followed in 1991. All Cup races were nationally televised by 1985; networks struck individual deals with track owners, and multiple channels carried racing action. Many races were shown taped and edited on Wide World of Sports and syndication services like Mizlou and SETN, but almost all races were live by 1989. By 2000, the last year of this arrangement, six networks televised at least one Cup series race: CBS, ABC, ESPN, TNN, TBS, and NBC.
Until 2001, race tracks struck individual agreements with networks to broadcast races, but NASCAR wanted to capitalize on the growing popularity of the sport and announced in 1999 that television contracts would now be centralized; that is, instead of making agreements with individual tracks, networks would now negotiate directly with NASCAR for the rights to air a package of races.
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