| NASCAR on TBS | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Auto racing telecasts |
| Presented by | Ken Squier Allen Bestwick Buddy Baker Dick Berggren See commentators section below |
| Opening theme | "Thunder Fist" [1] |
| Composer | Edd Kalehoff |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Production location | Various NASCAR venues |
| Camera setup | Multi-camera |
| Running time | 4 hours or until race ended (including commercials) |
| Production company | Turner Sports |
| Original release | |
| Network | TBS |
| Release | February 27, 1983 – October 8, 2000 |
| Related | |
| NASCAR on TNT (2001–2014) | |
NASCAR on TBS is the name of a former television program that broadcast NASCAR races on the TBS cable network. Select NASCAR Winston Cup Series (now NASCAR Cup Series), Busch Series (now Xfinity Series), and Craftsman Truck Series races were aired on TBS from its debut in 1983 up to the 2000 season. [2]
Races were switched to TNT in 2001 as part of the then-new NASCAR television deal, although the initial plans [3] were for TBS Superstation to carry the races. Instead, Turner decided that NASCAR would better fit TNT's "We Know Drama" slogan.
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.
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 1990s, the only Cup Series races aired on TBS were the two races from Charlotte 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.
| Rnd | Date | Race Title | Track | City | Lead Commentators | Co-Commentators |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | February 27 | Richmond 400 | Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway | Richmond, Virginia | Ken Squier | Cale Yarborough |
| 29 | November 6 | Atlanta Journal 500 | Atlanta International Raceway | Hampton, Georgia | Ken Squier | Geoff Bodine |
| 30 | November 20 | Winston Western 500 | Riverside International Raceway | Riverside, California | Ken Squier | Cale Yarborough |
| Rnd | Date | Race Title | Track | City | Lead Commentators | Co-Commentators |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | February 26 | Richmond 400 | Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway | Richmond, Virginia | Ken Squier | Buddy Baker |
| 10 | May 12 | Coors 420 | Nashville Speedway | Nashville, Tennessee | Ken Squier | Benny Parsons |
| 29 | November 11 | Atlanta Journal 500 | Atlanta International Raceway | Hampton, Georgia | Ken Squier | Glenn Jarrett |
| 30 | November 18 | Winston Western 500 | Riverside International Raceway | Riverside, California | Ken Squier | Phil Parsons |
| Rnd | Date | Race Title | Track | City | Lead Commentators | Co-Commentators |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | February 24 | Miller High Life 400 | Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway | Richmond, Virginia | Ken Squier | Benny Parsons |
| 26 | October 20 | Nationwise 500 | North Carolina Motor Speedway | Rockingham, North Carolina | Ken Squier | Benny Parsons |
| 27 | November 3 | Atlanta Journal 500 | Atlanta International Raceway | Hampton, Georgia | Ken Squier | Dick Brooks |
| 28 | November 17 | Winston Western 500 | Riverside International Raceway | Riverside, California | Ken Squier | Benny Parsons |
| Rnd | Date | Race Title | Track | City | Lead Commentators | Co-Commentators |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | February 23 | Miller High Life 400 | Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway | Richmond, Virginia | Ken Squier | Benny Parsons |
| 27 | October 19 | Nationwise 500 | North Carolina Motor Speedway | Rockingham, North Carolina | Ken Squier | Benny Parsons |
| 29 | November 16 | Winston Western 500 | Riverside International Raceway | Riverside, California | Ken Squier | Phil Parsons |
| Rnd | Date | Race Title | Track | City | Lead Commentators | Co-Commentators |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | March 8 | Miller High Life 400 | Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway | Richmond, Virginia | Ken Squier | Lake Speed |
| 27 | October 25 | AC Delco 500 | North Carolina Motor Speedway | Rockingham, North Carolina | Ken Squier | Johnny Hayes, Lake Speed |
| 28 | November 8 | Winston Western 500 | Riverside International Raceway | Riverside, California | Ken Squier | Buddy Baker, Johnny Hayes |
| Rnd | Date | Race Title | Track | City | Lead Commentators | Co-Commentators |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | February 21 | Pontiac Excitement 400 | Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway | Richmond, Virginia | Ken Squier | Johnny Hayes |
| 10 | May 29 | Coca-Cola 600 | Charlotte Motor Speedway | Concord, North Carolina | Ken Squier | Johnny Hayes |
| 22 | September 11 | Miller High Life 400 | Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway | Richmond, Virginia | Ken Squier | Johnny Hayes |
| Rnd | Date | Race Title | Track | City | Lead Commentators | Co-Commentators |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | March 26 | Pontiac Excitement 400 | Richmond International Raceway | Richmond, Virginia | Ken Squier | Johnny Hayes |
| 10 | May 28 | Coca-Cola 600 | Charlotte Motor Speedway | Concord, North Carolina | Ken Squier | Johnny Hayes |
| 22 | September 10 | Miller High Life 400 | Richmond International Raceway | Richmond, Virginia | Ken Squier | Johnny Hayes |
| 25 | October 8 | All Pro Auto Parts 500 | Charlotte Motor Speedway | Concord, North Carolina | Ken Squier | Johnny Hayes, Joe Ruttman |
| Rnd | Date | Race Title | Track | City | Lead Commentators | Co-Commentators |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | May 27 | Red Dog 300 | Charlotte Motor Speedway | Concord, North Carolina | Ken Squier | Dick Berggren |
| 24 | October 7 | All Pro Bumper to Bumper 300 | Charlotte Motor Speedway | Concord, North Carolina | Ken Squier | Dick Berggren, Darrell Waltrip |
| Rnd | Date | Race Title | Track | City | Lead Commentators | Co-Commentators |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | May 25 | Red Dog 300 | Charlotte Motor Speedway | Concord, North Carolina | Ken Squier | Dick Berggren, Darrell Waltrip |
| 24 | October 5 | All Pro Bumper to Bumper 300 | Charlotte Motor Speedway | Concord, North Carolina | Ken Squier | Larry McReynolds, Darrell Waltrip |
| Rnd | Date | Race Title | Track | City | Lead Commentators | Co-Commentators |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exhibition | November 4 | NASCAR Supertruck 25 | Homestead Motorsports Complex | Homestead, Florida | Ken Squier | Dick Berggren |
| Rnd | Date | Race Title | Track | City | Lead Commentators | Co-Commentators |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | May 4 | Craftsman 200 | Portland Speedway | Portland, Oregon | Ken Squier | Dick Berggren |
| 4 | May 11 | Jerr-Dan/Nelson Truck 200 | Evergreen Speedway | Monroe, Washington | Ken Squier | Dick Berggren, Larry McReynolds |
| 23 | October 26 | GM Goodwrench/AC Delco 300 | Phoenix International Raceway | Avondale, Arizona | Ken Squier | Larry McReynolds, Darrell Waltrip |
| Rnd | Date | Race Title | Track | City | Lead Commentators | Co-Commentators |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | May 3 | Craftsman 200 | Portland Speedway | Portland, Oregon | Ken Squier | Dick Berggren |
| 6 | May 10 | NAPACARD 200 | Evergreen Speedway | Monroe, Washington | Ken Squier | Dick Berggren |
| Rnd | Date | Race Title | Track | City | Lead Commentators | Co-Commentators |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | April 25 | Craftsman 200 By NAPA Auto Parts | Portland Speedway | Portland, Oregon | Ken Squier | Buddy Baker |
| 5 | May 8 | NAPACARD 200 | Evergreen Speedway | Monroe, Washington | Ken Squier | Larry McReynolds |
| 26 | October 24 | GM Goodwrench Service Plus/AC Delco 300 | Phoenix International Raceway | Avondale, Arizona | Allen Bestwick | Buddy Baker, Dick Berggren |
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.
Late 1980s broadcasts were known for an infield broadcasting "host" set called "STP Race Central."