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 Xfinity Series), and Craftsman Truck Series (now Camping World Truck Series) races were aired on TBS from its debut in 1983 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, before the existence of ESPN, there might have been 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 the Atlanta race in the spring.

TBS broadcast the Richmond spring race, held the week after Daytona Speedweeks, from 1983 to 1995, as well as the fall races at Rockingham (1985-1987), Atlanta (1983-1985) and Riverside (1982-1987).

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 (Coca-Cola 600 from 1988-2000, UAW-GM Quality 500 from 1989-2000); TBS did not have rights to The Winston, which usually aired on TNN. Also, the channel aired the July race at Pocono Raceway from 1993 to 2000. TBS was also the home of the postseason exhibition races held at Suzuka Circuit and Twin Ring Motegi in Japan from 1996–1998.

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.

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

TBS race Schedule

Winston Cup Series

1998

Rnd Date Race Title Track Lead Commentators Co-Commentators
11 May 24 Coca-Cola 600 Lowe's Motor Speedway, Concord Ken Squier Buddy Baker, Dick Berggren
18 July 26 Pennsylvania 500 Pocono Raceway, Long Pond Ken Squier Buddy Baker, Dick Berggren
28 October 4 UAW-GM Quality 500 Lowe's Motor Speedway, Concord Ken Squier Buddy Baker, Dick Berggren

1999

Rnd Date Race Title Track Host Lead Commentators Co-Commentators
12 May 30 Coca-Cola 600 Lowe's Motor Speedway, Concord Allen Bestwick Ken Squier Buddy Baker, Dick Berggren
19 July 25 Pennsylvania 500 Pocono Raceway, Long Pond Allen Bestwick Ken Squier Buddy Baker, Dick Berggren
29 October 8 UAW-GM Quality 500 Lowe's Motor Speedway, Concord Ken Squier Allen Bestwick Buddy Baker, Dick Berggren

2000

Rnd Date Race Title Track Host Lead Commentators Co-Commentators
12 May 28 Coca-Cola 600 Lowe's Motor Speedway, Concord Ken Squier Allen Bestwick Buddy Baker, Dick Berggren
19 July 23 Pennsylvania 500 Pocono Raceway, Long Pond Ken Squier Allen Bestwick Buddy Baker, Dick Berggren
29 October 8 UAW-GM Quality 500 Lowe's Motor Speedway, Concord Ken Squier Allen Bestwick Buddy Baker, Dick Berggren

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

Color commentary

Pit road reporters

Studio hosts

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

References

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