NASCAR on TNN

Last updated
NASCAR on TNN
Genre Auto racing telecasts
Presented by Buddy Baker
Dick Berggren
Neil Bonnett
Eli Gold
Glenn Jarrett
Mike Joy
Phil Parsons
Kenny Wallace
(for other reporters and former staff, see broadcast team section below)
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons10
Production
Production locationsVarious NASCAR racetracks (race telecasts, and pre-race shows)
Camera setup Multi-camera
Running time2.5 to 5 hours (depending on race length)
Production companies TNN Motor Sports
CBS Sports (1995–2000)
Original release
Network The Nashville Network (1991–2000)
The National Network (2000)
ReleaseMarch 3, 1991 (1991-03-03) 
November 5, 2000 (2000-11-05)
Related

NASCAR on TNN was the name of a television program that broadcast NASCAR races on The Nashville Network (now Paramount Network).

Contents

History

TNN started showing races live in 1991, [1] but it had aired taped coverage of a few Winston Cup races in the 1980s on its American Sports Cavalcade program.

TNN had a self-operating and self-promoting sub-division called TNN Motor Sports , and aired races produced by that division from 1991 to 2000. [2] Under the TNN Motor Sports umbrella, NASCAR series races (including those of the then-Winston Cup Series and Busch Grand National Series, as well as the Craftsman Truck Series) were the most prominently featured, but races of smaller circuits such as the International Motor Sports Association IMSA Sports Car Series, ASA, USAC, the NHRA, and ARCA were also showcased, as was motorcycle and speedboat racing.

In 1995, the motorsports operations were moved into the industrial park located at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina, where TNN had purchased controlling interest in World Sports Enterprises, a motorsports production company.

Also by 1995, Westinghouse Electric Corporation, who at the time owned the CBS networks and had an existing relationship with TNN through its Group W division, purchased TNN and its sister network CMT outright to form CBS Cable, along with a short-lived startup network entitled Eye On People (now Investigation Discovery). TNN's ties to CBS allowed it to carry CBS Sports' run overs, which happened during a NASCAR Busch Series race at Texas Motor Speedway in 1999. The network however was a center of controversy for not airing the following year's Busch Series race at the same track after the initial broadcast on CBS rained out, instead showing Tom Sawyer . [3]

Races aired

TNN picked up several of the "second tier" Winston Cup races of the time, whose rights packages were allowed to expire by ESPN. Races at tracks such as Rockingham, [4] Dover, Pocono, Loudon, and Phoenix, were among the events signed.

In general, ESPN abandoned slower, longer, races. 500-mile races at Rockingham, Dover and Pocono were known to last upwards of five hours, requiring a broadcast window as long as six hours to include pre-race and post-race coverage. While the growing ESPN network did not want to dedicate such large windows to what were regarded as second-tier races, TNN's relatively open schedule for Sunday afternoons allowed for the large broadcast windows that these races required. The races at Rockingham and Dover were shortened to 400 miles in 1995 and 1997, respectively, but remained part of the TNN lineup.

TNN began airing NASCAR’s all-star race, then known as The Winston, when it was moved to prime time in 1992. This meant that, at its peak, TNN was home to eight Cup Series broadcasts per season, a quarter of the schedule; this consisted of both races at Rockingham, Dover, and Loudon, Phoenix's lone race, and the June race at Pocono (TBS aired the July race).

In 1998, TNN acquired the one-time rights (from CBS) of the Pepsi 400, the first race at Daytona run at night. Due to Florida wildfires, the race was postponed from July 4 to October. Because of the postponement, CBS, which originally held the rights to the race, declined to cover the October race because of pre-existing coverage agreements, and not wanting to go head-to-head with Game 1 of the World Series on Fox. TNN stepped in and as a result, covered the first race at Daytona held under the lights.

The Winter Heat Series meanwhile, aired during the winter months between November and January (during NASCAR's offseason). The program began during the 1994-1995 winter and ran through the 1998-1999 winter. The races were held at the 3/8 mile Tucson Raceway Park in Tucson, Arizona. TNN originally broadcast the races before ESPN took over.

TNN also provided coverage for many Busch Series races from 1991-2000. The network covered events at smaller facilities such as Lanier, South Boston, Myrtle Beach, and Hickory. Similarly, the network broadcast Craftsman Truck Series events at Topeka, Flemington, Odessa, and Nashville.

Broadcast team

Mike Joy, a pit reporter for CBS at the time, was the lead commentator for TNN’s initial years from 1991 to 1995; when he moved to become the lead commentator at CBS, he was replaced by Eli Gold in 1996. When Gold was unavailable due to scheduling conflicts with his role as radio play-by-play man for the University of Alabama, particularly for Busch Series races in the autumn, RaceDay host Rick Benjamin often filled in.

One constant presence in the TNN broadcast booth was analyst Buddy Baker. Baker worked for the network for all 10 seasons it covered Winston Cup and Busch Series action. Over the course of its decade covering the sport, TNN also utilized other analysts such as Neil Bonnett and Dick Berggren, as well as pit reporters Glenn Jarrett, who like Baker worked for TNN the entire decade, Steve Evans, Brock Yates, Randy Pemberton, and Ralph Sheheen.

Bonnett was TNN's lead analyst from 1991–93 and hosted the racing highlight show Winners for the network until his tragic death in a practice crash prior to the 1994 Daytona 500.

In addition to its regular analysts, TNN provided the launching pad for future broadcast mainstays Darrell Waltrip, Larry McReynolds, and Phil Parsons. Waltrip, who remained an active Cup Series driver on Sundays until 2000, cut his teeth as a broadcaster by serving as an analyst for Saturday Busch Series telecasts on TNN starting in 1994. Likewise, McReynolds provided commentary for select Busch Series and Craftsman Truck Series races that did not conflict with his crew chief duties for the Winston Cup Series on Sundays. Parsons was the sole analyst for the network's first Winston Cup event in 1991 and would later return for sporadic appearances throughout the remainder of the decade.

TNN also featured a few pit reporters that went on to find success at other networks in the future, such as future ESPN pit reporter and NBC lead commentator Bill Weber, future Fox, NBC, and TNT pit reporter Matt Yocum, ACC sports mainstay Mike Hogewood, and pit reporter Steve Byrnes, who hosted several NASCAR-related programs for Fox and Speed.

For the Busch Series race at Memphis in 2001, there was a mini-TNN reunion as Gold and Jarrett called the race for NBC, with Sheheen in the pits. The race had been postponed a day by rain and thus the normal NBC broadcast team of Allen Bestwick, Benny Parsons, and Wally Dallenbach was unavailable to call the event; they were in Martinsville to call the Old Dominion 500 which was also affected by the rain and postponed.

TNN loses NASCAR (2000)

NASCAR wanted to capitalize on its increased popularity at the start of the 21st century, so the organization decided that future television deals would be centralized; that is, the networks would negotiate with NASCAR directly for a regular schedule of telecasts, as opposed to negotiating with each individual race track. With many tracks now falling under the ownership of either the France-family led International Speedway Corporation or the Bruton Smith led Speedway Motorsports, it was much easier for consolidated television packages to be negotiated. NASCAR wanted to increase the number of races by each partner, and have as many races on broadcast networks as possible, to prevent fans from missing races.

During the final season of the old broadcast arrangement in 2000, NASCAR had races on CBS, TNN, ESPN, ABC, NBC and TBS. ESPN and its sister network ABC broadcast the most races during the 2000 season (18). TNN had the second most (8, plus The Winston All-Star Race), followed by CBS (4, plus the Busch Clash and 125-mile qualifying races for the Daytona 500), TBS (3), and NBC (1).

The first consolidated TV deal was struck on December 15, 1999. [5]

Under the new deal, Fox Sports, FX, NBC and TBS (later moved to TNT) agreed to pay $2.4 billion for a new six-year package, [6] covering the Winston Cup (now NASCAR Cup) Series and Busch (now Xfinity) Series schedules.

With its limited reach in terms of viewers, and with changes being made to the network itself in order to attract younger viewers, TNN couldn't provide the platform or scope that NASCAR wanted for its future television partners. As a result, after nearly 10 years of live coverage, as well as tape delayed coverage on American Sports Cavalcade in the 1980s, TNN's partnership with NASCAR came to a close at the conclusion of the 2000 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season. The network's final broadcast was the Checker Auto Parts/Dura Lube 500 on November 5. TNN's final NASCAR broadcast as The Nashville Network was the 2000 MBNA.com 400 [7] on September 24. It became The National Network the next day, and on the last couple of TNN races, the new logo was in the top right corner, instead of the transparent Nashville Network logo.

Commentators

Notable TNN racing personalities included Mike Joy, Steve Evans, Eli Gold, Buddy Baker, [8] Neil Bonnett, Randy Pemberton, Brock Yates, Glenn Jarrett, Mike Hogewood, Steve Byrnes, Ralph Sheheen, Dick Berggren, Larry McReynolds, Darrell Waltrip, Chad Little, Mark Allen, Mark Garrow, and Rick Benjamin.

Cup

YearDateEventTrackNetworkCoverageCommentaryPit Reporters
Lap-by-lap Color
1991 March 3 Goodwrench 500 Rockingham TNNLive Mike Joy Phil Parsons Glenn Jarrett
Steve Evans
June 2 Budweiser 500 Dover TNNLive Mike Joy Buddy Baker
Phil Parsons
Glenn Jarrett
Steve Evans
September 15 Peak Antifreeze 500 Dover TNNLive Mike Joy Neil Bonnett
Buddy Baker
Glenn Jarrett
Steve Evans
Brock Yates
October 20 AC Delco 500 Rockingham TNNLive Mike Joy Neil Bonnett
Buddy Baker
Glenn Jarrett
Steve Evans
November 3 Pyroil 500 Phoenix TNNLive Mike Joy Neil Bonnett
Buddy Baker
Glenn Jarrett
Brock Yates
1992 March 1 Goodwrench 500 Rockingham TNNLive Mike Joy Neil Bonnett
Buddy Baker
Glenn Jarrett
Steve Evans
May 16 Winston Open Charlotte TNNLive Mike Joy Neil Bonnett [a] Glenn Jarrett
Randy Pemberton
The Winston Neil Bonnett
Buddy Baker
May 31 Budweiser 500 Dover TNNLive Mike Joy Neil Bonnett
Buddy Baker
Glenn Jarrett
Steve Evans
September 20 Peak Antifreeze 500 Dover TNNLive Mike Joy Neil Bonnett
Buddy Baker
Glenn Jarrett
Steve Evans
October 25 AC Delco 500 Rockingham TNNLive Mike Joy Neil Bonnett
Buddy Baker
Glenn Jarrett
Steve Evans
November 1 Pyroil 500 Phoenix TNNLive Mike Joy Neil Bonnett
Buddy Baker
Glenn Jarrett
Randy Pemberton
1993 February 28 Goodwrench 500 Rockingham TNNLive Mike Joy Neil Bonnett
Buddy Baker
Glenn Jarrett
Randy Pemberton
March 20 Motorcraft Quality Parts 500 Atlanta TNNLive [b] Mike Joy Neil Bonnett
Buddy Baker
Glenn Jarrett
Randy Pemberton
May 22 Winston Open Charlotte TNNLive Mike Joy Neil Bonnett
Buddy Baker
Glenn Jarrett
Randy Pemberton
The Winston
June 6 Miller Genuine Draft 500 Dover TNNLive Mike Joy Neil Bonnett
Buddy Baker
Glenn Jarrett
Randy Pemberton
July 11 Slick 50 300 New Hampshire TNNLive Mike Joy Neil Bonnett
Buddy Baker
Glenn Jarrett
Randy Pemberton
September 19 Splitfire Spark Plug 500 Dover TNNLive Mike Joy Neil Bonnett
Buddy Baker
Glenn Jarrett
Randy Pemberton
October 24 AC Delco 500 Rockingham TNNLive Mike Joy Neil Bonnett
Buddy Baker
Glenn Jarrett
Ralph Sheheen
October 31 Dura Lube 500 Phoenix TNNLive Mike Joy Neil Bonnett
Buddy Baker
Glenn Jarrett
Ralph Sheheen
1994 February 27 Goodwrench 500 Rockingham TNNLive Mike Joy Buddy Baker
Glenn Jarrett
Randy Pemberton
Ralph Sheheen
May 21 The Winston Open Charlotte TNNLive Mike Joy Buddy Baker Glenn Jarrett
Randy Pemberton
The Winston Select
June 5 Miller Genuine Draft 500 Dover TNNLive Mike Joy Buddy Baker
Kenny Wallace
Glenn Jarrett
Randy Pemberton
June 12 UAW-GM Teamwork 500 Pocono TNNLive Mike Joy Buddy Baker
Kenny Wallace
Glenn Jarrett
Randy Pemberton
July 10 Slick 50 300 New Hampshire TNNLive Mike Joy Buddy Baker
Kenny Wallace
Glenn Jarrett
Randy Pemberton
September 18 Splitfire Spark Plug 500 Dover TNNLive Mike Joy Buddy Baker
Chuck Bown
Glenn Jarrett
Randy Pemberton
October 23 AC Delco 500 Rockingham TNNLive Mike Joy Buddy Baker
David Pearson
Glenn Jarrett
Randy Pemberton
October 30 Dura Lube 500 Phoenix TNNLive Mike Joy Buddy Baker
David Pearson
Glenn Jarrett
Randy Pemberton
1995 February 26 Goodwrench 500 Rockingham TNNLive Mike Joy Buddy Baker
Ernie Irvan
Glenn Jarrett
Randy Pemberton
May 20 Winston Open Charlotte TNNLive Mike Joy Buddy Baker
Ernie Irvan
Glenn Jarrett
Randy Pemberton
The Winston Select
June 4 Miller Genuine Draft 500 Dover TNNLive Mike Joy Buddy Baker
Ernie Irvan
Glenn Jarrett
Randy Pemberton
June 11 UAW-GM Teamwork 500 Pocono TNNLive Mike Joy Buddy Baker
Ernie Irvan
Glenn Jarrett
Randy Pemberton
July 9 Slick 50 300 New Hampshire TNNLive Mike Joy Buddy Baker
Ernie Irvan
Glenn Jarrett
Randy Pemberton
September 17 MBNA 400 Dover TNNLive Mike Joy Buddy Baker
Kenny Wallace
Glenn Jarrett
Randy Pemberton
October 22 AC Delco 400 Rockingham TNNLive Mike Joy Buddy Baker
Dick Berggren
Glenn Jarrett
Randy Pemberton
October 29 Dura Lube 500 Phoenix TNNLive Mike Joy Buddy Baker
Dick Berggren
Glenn Jarrett
Randy Pemberton
1996 February 25 Goodwrench Service 400 Rockingham TNNLive Eli Gold Buddy Baker
Dick Berggren
Glenn Jarrett
Randy Pemberton
May 18 Winston Open Charlotte TNNLive Eli Gold Buddy Baker
Dick Berggren
Glenn Jarrett
Randy Pemberton
The Winston Select
June 2 Miller 500 Dover TNNLive Eli Gold Buddy Baker
Chad Little
Glenn Jarrett
Randy Pemberton
June 16 UAW-GM Teamwork 500 Pocono TNNLive Eli Gold Buddy Baker
Phil Parsons
Glenn Jarrett
Randy Pemberton
July 14 Jiffy Lube 300 New Hampshire TNNLive Eli Gold Buddy Baker
Chad Little
Glenn Jarrett
Randy Pemberton
September 15 MBNA 400 Dover TNNLive Eli Gold Buddy Baker
Dick Berggren
Glenn Jarrett
Randy Pemberton
October 20 AC Delco 400 Rockingham TNNLive Eli Gold Buddy Baker
Dick Berggren
Glenn Jarrett
Randy Pemberton
October 27 Dura Lube 500 Phoenix TNNLive Eli Gold Buddy Baker
Dick Berggren
Glenn Jarrett
Randy Pemberton
1997 February 23 Goodwrench Service 400 Rockingham TNNLive Eli Gold Buddy Baker
Dick Berggren
Glenn Jarrett
Matt Yocum
Steve Byrnes
May 17 Winston Open Charlotte TNNLive Eli Gold Buddy Baker
Dick Berggren
Glenn Jarrett
Matt Yocum
Steve Byrnes
The Winston
June 1 Miller 500 Dover TNNLive Eli Gold Buddy Baker
Dick Berggren
Glenn Jarrett
Matt Yocum
Steve Byrnes
June 8 Pocono 500 Pocono TNNLive Eli Gold Buddy Baker
Dick Berggren
Glenn Jarrett
Matt Yocum
Steve Byrnes
July 13 Jiffy Lube 300 New Hampshire TNNLive Eli Gold Buddy Baker
Dick Berggren
Glenn Jarrett
Matt Yocum
Steve Byrnes
September 14 Farm Aid on CMT 300 New Hampshire TNNLive Eli Gold Buddy Baker
Dick Berggren
Glenn Jarrett
Matt Yocum
Steve Byrnes
September 21 MBNA 400 Dover TNNLive Eli Gold Buddy Baker
Dick Berggren
Glenn Jarrett
Matt Yocum
Steve Byrnes
October 26
October 27
AC Delco 400 Rockingham TNNLive [c] Eli Gold Buddy Baker
Dick Berggren
Glenn Jarrett
Matt Yocum
Steve Byrnes
November 2 Dura Lube 500 presented by Kmart Phoenix TNNLive Eli Gold Buddy Baker
Dick Berggren
Glenn Jarrett
Matt Yocum
Steve Byrnes
1998 February 22 GM Goodwrench Service Plus 400 Rockingham TNNLive Eli Gold Buddy Baker
Dick Berggren
Glenn Jarrett
Matt Yocum
Steve Byrnes
May 16 The Winston Open Charlotte TNNLive Eli Gold Buddy Baker
Dick Berggren
Glenn Jarrett
Matt Yocum
Steve Byrnes
The Winston
May 31 MBNA Platinum 400 Dover TNNLive Eli Gold Buddy Baker
Dick Berggren
Glenn Jarrett
Matt Yocum
Steve Byrnes
June 21 Pocono 500 Pocono TNNLive Eli Gold Buddy Baker
Dick Berggren
Glenn Jarrett
Matt Yocum
Steve Byrnes
July 12 Jiffy Lube 300 New Hampshire TNNLive Eli Gold Buddy Baker
Dick Berggren
Glenn Jarrett
Matt Yocum
Steve Byrnes
August 30 Farm Aid on CMT 300 New Hampshire TNNLive Eli Gold Buddy Baker
Dick Berggren
Glenn Jarrett
Matt Yocum
Steve Byrnes
September 20 MBNA Gold 400 Dover TNNLive Eli Gold Buddy Baker
Dick Berggren
Glenn Jarrett
Matt Yocum
Steve Byrnes
October 17 Pepsi 400 Daytona TNNLive [d] Eli Gold Buddy Baker
Dick Berggren
Glenn Jarrett
Steve Byrnes
Mike Hogewood
October 25 Dura Lube/Kmart 500 Phoenix TNNLive Eli Gold Buddy Baker
Dick Berggren
Glenn Jarrett
Matt Yocum
Steve Byrnes
November 1 AC Delco 400 Rockingham TNNLive Eli Gold Buddy Baker
Dick Berggren
Glenn Jarrett
Matt Yocum
Steve Byrnes
1999 February 21 Dura Lube/Kmart 400 Rockingham TNNLive Mike Joy Buddy Baker
Dick Berggren
Glenn Jarrett
Ralph Sheheen
Steve Byrnes
May 22 The Winston Open Charlotte TNNLive Eli Gold Buddy Baker
Dick Berggren
Glenn Jarrett
Ralph Sheheen
Steve Byrnes
The Winston
June 6 MBNA Platinum 400 Dover TNNLive Eli Gold Buddy Baker
Dick Berggren
Glenn Jarrett
Ralph Sheheen
Steve Byrnes
June 20 Pocono 500 Pocono TNNLive Eli Gold Buddy Baker
Dick Berggren
Glenn Jarrett
Ralph Sheheen
Steve Byrnes
July 11 Jiffy Lube 300 New Hampshire TNNLive Eli Gold Buddy Baker
Dick Berggren
Glenn Jarrett
Ralph Sheheen
Steve Byrnes
September 19 Dura Lube/Kmart 300 New Hampshire TNNLive Eli Gold Buddy Baker
Dick Berggren
Glenn Jarrett
Ralph Sheheen
Steve Byrnes
September 26 MBNA Gold 400 Dover TNNLive Eli Gold Buddy Baker
Dick Berggren
Glenn Jarrett
Ralph Sheheen
Steve Byrnes
October 24 Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400 Rockingham TNNLive Eli Gold Buddy Baker
Dick Berggren
Glenn Jarrett
Ralph Sheheen
Steve Byrnes
November 7 Checker Auto Parts/DuraLube 500 Phoenix TNNLive Eli Gold Buddy Baker
Dick Berggren
Glenn Jarrett
Ralph Sheheen
Steve Byrnes
2000 February 27 Dura Lube/Kmart 400 Rockingham TNNLive Eli Gold Buddy Baker
Dick Berggren
Glenn Jarrett
Ralph Sheheen
Steve Byrnes
May 19 No Bull 25 Shootout Charlotte TNNLive Eli Gold Buddy Baker
Dick Berggren
Glenn Jarrett
Ralph Sheheen
Randy Pemberton
May 20 The Winston Open
No Bull Sprint
The Winston
June 4 MBNA Platinum 400 Dover TNNLive Eli Gold Buddy Baker
Dick Berggren
Glenn Jarrett
Ralph Sheheen
Steve Byrnes
June 11 Kmart 400 Michigan CBS
TNN
Live [e] Mike Joy Ned Jarrett
Buddy Baker
Dick Berggren
Ralph Sheheen
Bill Stephens
June 18
June 19
Pocono 500 Pocono TNNLive [f] Eli Gold Buddy Baker Glenn Jarrett
Dick Berggren
July 9 thatlook.com 300 New Hampshire TNNLive Eli Gold Buddy Baker
Dick Berggren
Glenn Jarrett
Ralph Sheheen
Steve Byrnes
September 17 Dura Lube 300 by Kmart New Hampshire TNNLive Eli Gold Buddy Baker
Dick Berggren
Glenn Jarrett
Ralph Sheheen
Mike Hogewood
September 24 MBNA.com 400 Dover TNNLive Eli Gold Buddy Baker
Dick Berggren
Glenn Jarrett
Ralph Sheheen
Mike Hogewood
October 22 Pop Secret 400 Rockingham TNNLive Eli Gold Buddy Baker
Dick Berggren
Glenn Jarrett
Ralph Sheheen
Steve Byrnes
November 5 Checker Auto Parts/DuraLube 500 Phoenix TNNLive Eli Gold Buddy Baker
Dick Berggren
Glenn Jarrett
Ralph Sheheen
Steve Byrnes

Xfinity

YearDateEventTrackNetworkCoverageCommentaryPit Reporters
Lap-by-lap Color
1995 February 25 Goodwrench Service 200 Rockingham TNNLive Mike Joy Buddy Baker
Darrell Waltrip
Glenn Jarrett
Randy Pemberton
Larry McReynolds
March 4 Hardee's 250 Richmond TNNLive Mike Joy Buddy Baker
Darrell Waltrip
Glenn Jarrett
Randy Pemberton
Larry McReynolds
March 17 Opryland USA 320 Nashville TNNLive Mike Joy Buddy Baker Glenn Jarrett
Larry McReynolds
Ralph Sheheen
April 15 Sundrop 300 Hickory TNNLive Mike Joy Buddy Baker Randy Pemberton
May 13 Stanley 200 New Hampshire TNNLive Mike Joy Buddy Baker Randy Pemberton
May 21 CoreStates / Meridian Advantage 200 Nazareth TNNLive Ken Squier P.J. Jones Ralph Shaheen
June 3 GM Goodwrench / Delco 200 Dover TNNLive Mike Joy Buddy Baker
Darrell Waltrip
Glenn Jarrett
Randy Pemberton
Larry McReynolds
June 10 Carolina Pride / Red Dog 250 Myrtle Beach TNNLive Ken Squier David Pearson Steve Byrnes
July 2 Sears Auto Center 250 Milwaukee TNNLive Mike Joy Buddy Baker Glenn Jarrett
July 22 Humminbird Fishfinder 500K Talladega TNNLive Mike Joy Buddy Baker
Darrell Waltrip
Glenn Jarrett
Larry McReynolds
July 29 Winston Motorsports 300 South Boston TNNLive Mike Joy Buddy Baker
Jeff Burton
Randy Pemberton
September 8 Autolite Platinum 250 Richmond TNNLive Mike Joy Buddy Baker
Larry McReynolds
Glenn Jarrett
Randy Pemberton
September 16 MBNA 200 Dover TNNLive Mike Joy Buddy Baker
Darrell Waltrip
Glenn Jarrett
Randy Pemberton
Larry McReynolds
October 21 AC-Delco 200 Rockingham TNNLive Mike Joy Buddy Baker
Darrell Waltrip
Glenn Jarrett
Randy Pemberton
Larry McReynolds
1996 February 24 Goodwrench Service 200 Rockingham TNNLive Eli Gold Buddy Baker
Darrell Waltrip
Glenn Jarrett
Randy Pemberton
March 17 BellSouth Mobility / Opryland USA 320 Nashville TNNLive Mike Joy Buddy Baker Randy Pemberton
April 6 Sundrop 300 Hickory TNNLive Eli Gold Buddy Baker Glenn Jarrett
Larry McReynolds
May 19 CoreStates / Meridian Advantage 200 Nazareth TNNLive Mike Joy Barry Dodson Steve Byrnes
June 1 GM Goodwrench / Delco 200 Dover TNNLive Eli Gold Buddy Baker
Darrell Waltrip
Glenn Jarrett
Randy Pemberton
June 8 Winston Motorsports 300 South Boston TNNLive Mike Joy Buddy Baker Randy Pemberton
June 22 Advance Auto Parts 250 Myrtle Beach TNNLive Rick Benjamin Chuck Bown Randy Pemberton
July 7 Sears Auto Center 250 Milwaukee TNNLive Eli Gold Buddy Baker
Bill Venturini
Glenn Jarrett
May 12
July 12
Stanley 200 New Hampshire TNNLive [g] Eli Gold Buddy Baker
Darrell Waltrip
Glenn Jarrett
Randy Pemberton
September 14 MBNA 200 Dover TNNLive Rick Benjamin Buddy Baker
Darrell Waltrip
Glenn Jarrett
Steve Byrnes
Larry McReynolds
October 19 AC-Delco 200 Rockingham TNNLive Rick Benjamin Buddy Baker
Darrell Waltrip
Glenn Jarrett
Randy Pemberton
1997 February 22 Goodwrench Service 200 Rockingham TNNLive Mike Joy Buddy Baker
Darrell Waltrip
Glenn Jarrett
Steve Byrnes
Chad Little
March 16 Las Vegas 300 Las Vegas TNNLive Eli Gold Dick Berggren
Larry McReynolds
Glenn Jarrett
Matt Yocum
March 29 Galaxy Foods 300 Hickory TNNLive Eli Gold Buddy Baker
Larry McReynolds
Matt Yocum
April 19 BellSouth Mobility / Opryland 320 Nashville TNNLive Mike Joy Buddy Baker Mike Hogewood
Matt Yocum
May 10 United States Cellular 200 New Hampshire TNNLive Eli Gold Buddy Baker Glenn Jarrett
Matt Yocum
May 31 GM Goodwrench / Delco Battery 200 Dover TNNLive Eli Gold Darrell Waltrip
Dick Berggren
Glenn Jarrett
Matt Yocum
Chad Little
June 13 Winston Motorsports 300 South Boston TNNLive Eli Gold Patty Moise
Barry Dodson
Glenn Jarrett
June 29 Lysol 200 Watkins Glen TNNLive Eli Gold Larry McReynolds Glenn Jarrett
Matt Yocum
July 12 Advance Auto Parts 250 Myrtle Beach TNNLive Rick Benjamin Patty Moise
Bill Venturini
Mike Hogewood
September 20 MBNA Gold 200 Dover TNNLive Rick Benjamin Buddy Baker
Darrell Waltrip
Glenn Jarrett
Steve Byrnes
Chad Little
October 25 AC-Delco 200 Rockingham TNNLive Rick Benjamin Buddy Baker
Chad Little
Glenn Jarrett
Matt Yocum
1998 February 21 GM Goodwrench Service Plus 200 Rockingham TNNLive Rick Benjamin Buddy Baker
Darrell Waltrip
Glenn Jarrett
Steve Byrnes
March 15 BellSouth Mobility / Opryland 320 Nashville TNNLive Eli Gold Buddy Baker
Larry McReynolds
Steve Byrnes
Randy Pemberton
April 11 Galaxy Food Centers 300 Hickory TNNLive Eli Gold Buddy Baker
Larry McReynolds
Glenn Jarrett
Steve Byrnes
May 9 Gumout Long Life Formula 200 New Hampshire TNNLive Eli Gold Buddy Baker
Dick Berggren
Glenn Jarrett
Matt Yocum
May 30 MBNA Platinum 200 Dover TNNLive Eli Gold Buddy Baker
Darrell Waltrip
Glenn Jarrett
Matt Yocum
July 5 DieHard 250 Milwaukee TNNLive Eli Gold Buddy Baker
Larry McReynolds
Steve Byrnes
Randy Pemberton
July 11 Myrtle Beach 250 Myrtle Beach TNNLive Rick Benjamin Larry Pearson Randy Pemberton
Mike Hogewood
July 25 Textilease/Medique 300 South Boston TNNLive Mike Hogewood Larry Pearson Glenn Jarrett
Matt Yocum
September 19 MBNA Gold 200 Dover TNNLive Eli Gold Buddy Baker
Darrell Waltrip
Glenn Jarrett
Matt Yocum
October 31 AC-Delco 200 Rockingham TNNLive Rick Benjamin Buddy Baker
Darrell Waltrip
Glenn Jarrett
Matt Yocum
Larry McReynolds
1999 February 20 Alltel 200 Rockingham TNNLive Eli Gold Buddy Baker
Darrell Waltrip
Glenn Jarrett
Ralph Sheheen
Larry McReynolds
March 27 Coca-Cola 300 Texas CBS
TNN
Live [h] Mike Joy Ned Jarrett
Buddy Baker
Dick Berggren
Ralph Sheheen
Bill Stephens
May 8 Busch 200 New Hampshire TNNLive Eli Gold Buddy Baker
Dick Berggren
Glenn Jarrett
Larry McReynolds
June 5 MBNA Platinum 200 Dover TNNLive Eli Gold Buddy Baker
Darrell Waltrip
Glenn Jarrett
Ralph Sheheen
June 12 Textilease/Medique 300 South Boston TNNLive Eli Gold Glenn Jarrett Steve Byrnes
Mike Hogewood
July 4 DieHard 250 Milwaukee TNNLive Eli Gold Buddy Baker
Larry McReynolds
Glenn Jarrett
Steve Byrnes
July 17 Myrtle Beach 250 Myrtle Beach TNNLive Eli Gold Larry McReynolds Glenn Jarrett
Mike Hogewood
July 31 Carquest Auto Parts 250 Gateway TNNLive Eli Gold Buddy Baker Glenn Jarrett
Larry McReynolds
September 23 MBNA Gold 200 Dover TNNLive Mike Joy Buddy Baker
Darrell Waltrip
Glenn Jarrett
Ralph Sheheen
Larry McReynolds
October 23 Kmart 200 Rockingham TNNLive Mike Joy Buddy Baker
Darrell Waltrip
Glenn Jarrett
Ralph Sheheen
Larry McReynolds
October 30 Sam's Town 250 Memphis TNNLive Eli Gold Buddy Baker Glenn Jarrett
Larry McReynolds
November 6 Outback Steakhouse 200 Phoenix TNNLive Mike Joy Buddy Baker
Darrell Waltrip
Glenn Jarrett
Steve Byrnes
Larry McReynolds
2000 February 27 Alltel 200 Rockingham TNNLive Mike Joy Buddy Baker
Larry McReynolds
Glenn Jarrett
Ralph Sheheen
April 8 BellSouth Mobility 320 Nashville TNNLive Eli Gold Buddy Baker Glenn Jarrett
Randy Pemberton
May 13 Busch 200 New Hampshire TNNLive Eli Gold Buddy Baker
Dick Berggren
Glenn Jarrett
Larry McReynolds
June 3 MBNA Platinum 200 Dover TNNLive Eli Gold Buddy Baker
Larry McReynolds
Glenn Jarrett
Ralph Sheheen
June 10 Textilease/Medique 300 South Boston TNNLive Eli Gold Glenn Jarrett Mark Garrow
Mike Hogewood
June 17 Myrtle Beach 250 Myrtle Beach TNNLive Mike Hogewood Greg Sacks Mark Garrow
Bob Dillner
July 29 Carquest Auto Parts 250 Gateway TNNLive Eli Gold Buddy Baker Glenn Jarrett
Mike Massaro
September 23 MBNA.com 200 Dover TNNLive Ralph Sheheen Buddy Baker
Larry McReynolds
Glenn Jarrett
Mike Hogewood
October 21 Sam's Club 200 Rockingham TNNLive Ralph Sheheen Buddy Baker
Larry McReynolds
Glenn Jarrett
Steve Byrnes
October 29 Sam's Town 250 Memphis TNNLive Eli Gold Buddy Baker Glenn Jarrett
Larry McReynolds
November 4 Outback Steakhouse 200 Phoenix TNNLive Ralph Sheheen Buddy Baker
Larry McReynolds
Glenn Jarrett
Steve Byrnes

Notes

  1. The 1992 Winston Open saw Buddy Baker drive in the race, Baker finished but did not advance to The Winston.
  2. The 1993 Motorcraft Quality Parts 500 was scheduled to be on ABC on March 14th but the 1993 Storm of the Century occurred in Atlanta postponing the race. The race was rescheduled for March 20th and ABC pulled out and TNN took over.
  3. The 1997 AC Delco 400 was scheduled to be on October 26th but rescheduled on October 27th due to a rain delay.
  4. The 1998 Pepsi 400 was scheduled to be held on July 4th but the 1998 Florida wildfires occurred. At 10am on July 2, NASCAR announced that the race was being postponed and the decision was made to reschedule the race for October 17, to allow additional time for the wildfires to be controlled. The rescheduling meant that the race would not be televised on CBS, as the network did not want to compete against Fox's broadcast of Game 1 of the Major League Baseball World Series which was held the same day. TNN took over broadcasting the race with their own crew.
  5. The 2000 Kmart 400 saw coverage start on CBS but move to TNN after two rain delays and CBS needed to air the SBC Senior Open. TNN used CBS's graphics and commentary for the rest of the race.
  6. The 2000 Pocono 500 was scheduled to be on June 18th but rescheduled on June 19th due to a rain delay.
  7. The 1996 Stanley 200 was scheduled to be on May 12th but rescheduled on July 12th due to a rain delay.
  8. The 1999 Coca-Cola 300 saw coverage move from CBS to TNN due to a rain delay. TNN used CBS's graphics and commentary for the rest of the race.

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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.

On December 7, 2005, NASCAR signed a new eight-year broadcast deal effective with the 2007 season, and valued at $4.48 billion, with Fox and Speed Channel, which would also share event rights with Disney-owned ABC, ESPN and ESPN2, as well as TNT. The rights would be divided as follows:

References

  1. "TNN decided to get into the game in 1991 and that pretty much guaranteed that each weekend's NASCAR race would be shown somewhere on television, whether it was CBS, ABC, WTBS, ESPN or TNN". Archived from the original on 2009-05-24. Retrieved 2009-04-21.
  2. "TNN Tribute". Archived from the original on 2001-02-18. Retrieved 2009-04-12.
  3. McLeroy, Rea (April 4, 2000). "TV Conflict Left Busch Race Out in Rain". Richmond Times-Dispatch (City ed.). p. E-4.
  4. NASCAR Television Graphics (Episode 1): TNN Motor Sports (1991-2000) on YouTube
  5. "2001 TV Deal". Archived from the original on September 18, 2000. Retrieved 2017-09-14.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) Quote: In 2000, the last year of the old TV contracts, the total annual TV revenue for Winston Cup races was $100 million. One example of the money under the old system is Las Vegas, where the track had a 5-year deal with ABC for $7 million a year.
  6. "2001 TV Deal". Archived from the original on September 18, 2000. Retrieved 2017-09-14.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) Quote: While many fans were upset that ESPN and CBS lost the rights, insiders say that their bids were close to $100 million annually under the winning bids from Fox and NBC.
  7. 2000 MBNA com 400 on YouTube
  8. Nascar on TNN Goodbye on YouTube
Preceded by
None
NASCAR pay television carrier in the United States
19912000
Succeeded by
FX