NASCAR on TBS

NASCAR on TBS is the name of former television program that broadcast NASCAR races on the TBS cable network. Select NASCAR Winston Cup Series (now Sprint Cup Series), Busch Series (now Nationwide Series), and Craftsman Truck Series (now Camping World Truck Series) races were aired on TBS up to the 2000 season.

Races were switched to TNT in 2001 as part of the then-new NASCAR TV deal, although the initial plans were for TBS Superstation to carry the races. Instead, Turner decided that NASCAR would better fit TNT's "We Know Drama" slogan.

Coverage overview

In the 1980s^[1], TBS typically broadcast the Richmond race the week after Daytona Speedweeks as well as the late season races at Rockingham, Atlanta and Riverside. For several years in the late 1990s, the only Cup races aired on TBS were the two regular Cup series races from Lowe's Motor Speedway (TBS did not have rights to The Winston, which usually aired on TNN), and the July race at Pocono Raceway. TBS was also the home of the postseason exhibition races held at Suzuka Circuit and Twin Ring Motegi in Japan from 1996–1998.

TBS aired side-by-side coverage during commercials during the 2000 UAW-GM Quality 500 in Charlotte.

Late 1980s broadcasts were known for an infield broadcasting "host" set called "STP Race Central."

The now defunct Prime Network meanwhile, was the first to televise NASCAR Winston Cup qualifying races on a regular basis. The telecasts were mainly for races that would be televised by TBS.

Commentators

Booth announcers/analysts included Ken Squier, Buddy Baker, and Dick Berggren. After TBS made a host/booth switch, Allen Bestwick became the lap-by-lap announcer with Baker and Berggren in the booth for TBS' 2000 coverage at Lowe's and Pocono.

Lap-by-lap

• Allen Bestwick
• Eli Gold
• Ken Squier

Color commentary

• Buddy Baker
• Dick Berggren
• Geoff Bodine
• Neil Bonnett
• Chuck Bown
• Chris Economaki
• Dave Marcis
• Benny Parsons
• Phil Parsons
• Richard Petty
• Ken Stabler
• Cale Yarborough

Pit road reporters

• Jack Arute
• Dick Berggren
• Dave Despain
• Chris Economaki
• Jerry Garrett
• Pat Patterson
• Randy Pemberton
• Bob Varsha
• Mike Hogewood

Studio hosts

• Rick Benjamin
• Allen Bestwick
• Dave Despain
• Mike Joy

References

1. ^ Before ESPN, there might be six or seven Winston Cup races on television each season. CBS had the "Daytona 500," the June race at Michigan and the July race at Talladega. ABC usually did Atlanta in the spring. WTBS always did the Richmond race the week after Daytona Speedweeks and usually had the late season races at Rockingham, Atlanta and Riverside. Beyond that, you had to be content with Eli Gold and Barney Hall on MRN if you wanted NASCAR on a weekly basis.

External links

• TBS Superstation - NASCAR
• Google Search - Timeline
• NASCAR Commentators Crews and Networks

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