NASCAR on television in the 1980s

Main article: NASCAR on television and radio

Before the existence of ESPN, ^[1] live coverage of NASCAR Winston Cup races on television was limited. CBS ^[2] covered the Daytona 500, the June race at Michigan and the July race at Talladega. ABC ^[3] usually did the Atlanta race in the spring.

List of races televised

1980

Date	Event	Network	Lap-by-lap	Color commentator(s)	Reporters
2/10	Busch Clash [4] (Daytona)	CBS	Ken Squier	David Hobbs	Ned Jarrett Brock Yates
2/14	Twin 125's	CBS [5]	Ken Squier	David Hobbs	Ned Jarrett Brock Yates
2/17	Daytona 500 [6]	CBS [7] [8]	Ken Squier	David Hobbs	Ned Jarrett Brock Yates
3/16	Atlanta 500 [9]	ABC	Al Michaels [10]	Jackie Stewart	Chris Economaki
5/25	World 600 [11] (Charlotte)	CBS	Ken Squier	David Hobbs	Ned Jarrett Brock Yates
7/4	Firecracker 400 [12] (Daytona)	ABC [13]	Jim McKay	Sam Posey	Chris Economaki
7/27	Coca-Cola 500 [14] (Pocono)	ABC [15]	Chris Economaki	Jackie Stewart
8/3	Talladega 500 [16]	CBS [17]	Ken Squier	David Hobbs	Ned Jarrett Brock Yates
9/1	Southern 500 [18] (Darlington)	ABC [19]	Jim Lampley	Sam Posey	Chris Economaki
10/5	National 500 [20] (Charlotte)	NBC [21]	Paul Page	Gary Gerould
11/15	Los Angeles Times 500 [22] (Ontario)	CBS	Ken Squier	David Hobbs	Ned Jarrett Brock Yates

• The Los Angeles Times 500 was switched from Sunday to Saturday to accommodate live CBS Sports coverage.

• On May 29, 1980, CBS paid a fee of roughly US$50,000 or $100,000 to Charlotte Motor Speedway to broadcast the World 600 NASCAR stock car race. Benny Parsons edged out Darrell Waltrip to win a grand prize of $44,850 in a race that was watched by perhaps 3.7 million viewers on the network. ^[23]

• Prior to the original 1999 contract between NASCAR and NBC, the network aired races such as the National 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway from 1979 ^{[24] [25] [26]} to 1981, ^[27] the 1981 Mountain Dew 500 ^[28] at Pocono International Raceway, the Winston 500 at Alabama International Motor Speedway from 1983 ^{[29] [30]} to 1985, and the Miami 300 ^[31] and Pennzoil 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway in both 1999 ^[32] and 2000. ^[33]

1981

Date	Event	Network	Lap-by-lap	Color commentator(s)	Reporters
1/11	Winston Western 500 (Riverside)	MRN TV	Mike Joy [34]	Ned Jarrett
2/8	Busch Clash [35] (Daytona)	CBS [36]	Ken Squier	Dale Earnhardt	Ned Jarrett Brock Yates
2/12	UNO Twin 125's [37] (Daytona)	CBS	Ken Squier	David Hobbs	Ned Jarrett Brock Yates
2/15	Daytona 500 [38] [39]	CBS [40] [41]	Ken Squier	David Hobbs	Ned Jarrett Brock Yates
3/1	Carolina 500 [42] (Rockingham)	ESPN [43]	Bob Jenkins [44]	Eli Gold	Ned Jarrett
3/15	Coca-Cola 500 (Atlanta)	ABC [45]	Jim McKay	Jackie Stewart	Chris Economaki
4/26	Virginia 500 [46] (Martinsville)	ESPN [47]	Bob Jenkins	Eli Gold	Ned Jarrett
5/3	Winston 500 [48] (Talladega)	ESPN [49]	Dave Despain	Larry Nuber	Ned Jarrett
5/17	Mason-Dixon 500 (Dover)	ESPN	Bob Jenkins	Dick Berggren	Ned Jarrett
5/24	World 600 [50] (Charlotte)	CBS [51]	Ken Squier	David Hobbs	Ned Jarrett Brock Yates
7/4	Firecracker 400 [52] (Daytona)	ABC	Keith Jackson	Jackie Stewart	Chris Economaki
7/26	Mountain Dew 500 [53] (Pocono)	NBC [54]	Paul Page	Gary Gerould
8/2	Talladega 500 [55] (Talladega)	CBS [56]	Ken Squier	Donnie Allison	Ned Jarrett Brock Yates
9/7	Southern 500 [57] (Darlington)	ABC	Bill Flemming	Jackie Stewart	Chris Economaki
10/11	National 500 [58] (Charlotte)	NBC	Paul Page	Gary Gerould
11/8	Atlanta Journal 500 [59]	ESPN [60]	Mike Joy	Larry Nuber	Ned Jarrett

• ESPN broadcast its first race in 1981, from North Carolina Motor Speedway ^[61] (its first live race was later in the year at Atlanta International Raceway), 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.

1982

Date	Event	Network	Lap-by-lap	Color commentator(s)
2/7	Busch Clash [62] (Daytona)	CBS	Ken Squier	Richard Petty and A. J. Foyt
2/14	Daytona 500 [63]	CBS	Ken Squier	David Hobbs
2/21	Richmond 400 [64]	ESPN	Bob Jenkins	Larry Nuber
3/21	Coca-Cola 500 [65] (Atlanta)	ABC	Al Michaels	Sam Posey
4/4	CRC Chemicals Rebel 500 [66] (Darlington)	ABC	Al Michaels	Jackie Stewart
5/2	Winston 500 [67] (Talladega)	ESPN	Bob Jenkins	Larry Nuber
5/30	World 600 [68] (Charlotte)	Mizlou	Dave Despain	Dick Brooks
6/6	Van Scoy 500 [69] (Pocono)	Mizlou	Dave Despain	Dick Brooks
7/25	Mountain Dew 500 [70] (Pocono)	Mizlou	Rick Benjamin	Dick Brooks
8/22	Champion Spark Plug 400 [71] (Michigan)	ESPN	Bob Jenkins	Larry Nuber
9/6	Southern 500 (Darlington)	ABC	Bill Flemming	Jackie Stewart
9/12	Wrangler 400 [72] (Richmond)	ESPN	Bob Jenkins	Larry Nuber
9/19	CRC Chemicals 500 (Dover)	Diamond P	Gil Stratton	Brock Yates
11/7	Atlanta Journal 500	ESPN	Bob Jenkins	Larry Nuber
11/21	Winston Western 500 (Riverside)	Mizlou	Ken Squier	Buddy Baker

• From 1982 to 1984, USA Network broadcast the UNO Twin 125s ^{[73] [74]} (now the Gander RV Duel). USA used CBS' ^{[75] [76]} crew, graphics and announcers. USA also aired the Atlanta ARCA race in 1985 and televised several NASCAR Busch Series races in the late 1980s.

1983

Date	Event	Network	Lap-by-lap	Color commentator(s)
2/14	Busch Clash (Daytona)	CBS	Ken Squier	David Hobbs
2/17	UNO Twin 125's [77] [78] (Daytona)	USA	Ken Squier	David Hobbs
2/20	Daytona 500 [79] [80]	CBS	Ken Squier	David Hobbs
2/27	Richmond 400 [81]	TBS	Ken Squier	Cale Yarborough
3/13	Warner W. Hodgdon 500 (Rockingham)	ESPN	Bob Jenkins	Larry Nuber
5/1	Winston 500 [82] (Talladega)	NBC	Paul Page	Johnny Rutherford
5/7	Marty Robbins 420 [83] (Nashville)	TNN	Brock Yates	Steve Evans
5/15	Mason-Dixon 500 (Dover)	Mizlou	Ken Squier	Phil Parsons
5/29	World 600 [84] (Charlotte)	Mizlou	Ken Squier	Phil Parsons
7/4	Firecracker 400 [85] (Daytona)	ABC	Bill Flemming	Sam Posey
7/24	Like Cola 500 [86] (Pocono)	Mizlou	Ken Squier	Buddy Baker
7/31	Talladega 500	CBS	Ken Squier	David Hobbs and Ned Jarrett
9/18	Budweiser 500 [87] (Dover)	TNN	Brock Yates	Steve Evans
10/9	Miller High Life 500 (Charlotte)	Mizlou	Ken Squier	Donnie Allison
11/6	Atlanta Journal 500	TBS	Ken Squier	Geoff Bodine
11/20	Winston Western 500 (Riverside)	TBS	Ken Squier	Cale Yarborough

• During its coverage of the 1983 Daytona 500, CBS introduced an innovation which director Bob Fishman helped develop – a miniature, remote-controlled in-car camera called RaceCam. ^{[88] [89]} Fishman ^{[88] [90]} directed every Daytona 500 telecast on CBS, with the exception of 1992, 1994 and 1998 because Fishman was away directing CBS' figure-skating coverage for the Winter Olympics.

• 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).

• TNN started showing races live in 1991, ^[91] but it had aired taped coverage of a few Winston Cup races in the 1980s on its American Sports Cavalcade program.

1984

Date	Event	Network	Lap-by-lap	Color commentator(s)
2/12	Busch Clash [92] (Daytona)	CBS	Ken Squier	Ned Jarrett
2/16	UNO Twin 125's [93] (Daytona)	USA	Ken Squier	David Hobbs
2/19	Daytona 500 [94] [95] [96]	CBS	Ken Squier	David Hobbs and Ned Jarrett
2/26	Richmond 400 [97] (Richmond)	TBS	Ken Squier	Buddy Baker
3/4	Carolina 500 (Rockingham)	SETN	Mike Joy	Benny Parsons
3/18	Coca-Cola 500 (Atlanta)	ABC	Jim McKay	Sam Posey
4/15	TransSouth 500 [98] [99] (Darlington)	ESPN	Bob Jenkins	Larry Nuber
5/12	Coors 420 [100] (Nashville)	TBS	Ken Squier	Benny Parsons
5/20	Budweiser 500 [101] (Dover)	Mizlou	Mike Joy	Phil Parsons
6/10	Van Scoy 500 [102] (Pocono)	Mizlou/ESPN	Mike Joy (Mizlou) Bob Jenkins (ESPN)	Donnie Allison (Mizlou) Larry Nuber (ESPN)
7/4	Firecracker 400 [103] (Daytona)	ABC	Jim Lampley	Sam Posey
7/22	Like Cola 500 [104] [105] (Pocono)	ESPN	Bob Jenkins	Larry Nuber
7/29	Talladega 500 [106] (Talladega)	CBS	Ken Squier	Ned Jarrett and Benny Parsons
9/2	Southern 500 [107] (Darlington)	ESPN	Bob Jenkins	Jack Arute
10/21	American 500 [108] (Rockingham)	SETN	Mike Joy	Benny Parsons
11/11	Atlanta Journal 500 [109] (Atlanta)	TBS	Ken Squier	Glenn Jarrett
11/18	Winston Western 500 [110] (Riverside)	TBS	Ken Squier	Phil Parsons

• Special Events Television Network (SETN) is the name of a defunct syndicated television package that broadcast tape delayed NASCAR races from 1984 to 1988. SETN aired races (typically from Martinsville and Pocono as well as from Rockingham, Charlotte, Richmond and Daytona for good measure) that didn't have live television deals at the time. The broadcasts were aired on tape delay because certain promoters still feared that live telecasts would hurt their gate.

1985

Date	Event	Network	Lap-by-lap	Color commentator(s)
2/10	Busch Clash [111] (Daytona)	CBS	Ken Squier	David Hobbs and Ned Jarrett
2/17	Daytona 500 [112] [113] [114]	CBS	Ken Squier	David Hobbs and Ned Jarrett
2/24	Richmond 400 [115]	TBS	Ken Squier	Benny Parsons
3/3	Carolina 500 [116] (Rockingham)	SETN	Mike Joy	Benny Parsons
4/6	Valleydale Meats 500 [117] (Bristol)	ESPN	Bob Jenkins	Benny Parsons
4/14	Transouth 500 [118] (Darlington)	ESPN	Bob Jenkins	Larry Nuber
4/21	Northwestern Bank 400 [119] (North Wilkesboro)	ESPN	Bob Jenkins	Larry Nuber
4/28	Sovran Bank 500 (Martinsville)	SETN	Mike Joy	Benny Parsons
5/5	Winston 500 [120] (Talladega)	NBC	Paul Page	Bobby Unser
5/25	The Winston [121] (Charlotte)	Jefferson-Pilot	Mike Joy	Kyle Petty
5/26	Coca-Cola World 600 [122] (Charlotte)	Jefferson-Pilot	Mike Joy	Johnny Hayes
6/2	Budweiser 400 [123] (Riverside)	TNN	Steve Evans	Brock Yates
6/9	Van Scoy 500 [124] (Pocono)	ESPN	Bob Jenkins	Larry Nuber
6/16	Miller 400 [125] (Michigan)	CBS	Ken Squier	Ned Jarrett
7/4	Pepsi Firecracker 400 [126] (Daytona)	ABC	Al Trautwig	Sam Posey
7/28	Talladega 500 [127]	CBS	Ken Squier	Ned Jarrett
8/24	Busch 500 [128] (Bristol)	ESPN	Larry Nuber	Benny Parsons
9/1	Southern 500 [129] (Darlington)	ESPN	Larry Nuber	Jack Arute
9/8	Wrangler Sanfor-Set 400 [130] (Richmond)	SETN	Mike Joy	Benny Parsons
9/15	Delaware 500 [131] (Dover)	Mizlou	Mike Hogewood	Dick Brooks
9/22	Goody's 500 [132] (Martinsville)	SETN	Mike Joy	Benny Parsons
10/6	Miller Genuine Draft 500 (Charlotte)	Jefferson-Pilot	Mike Hogewood	Johnny Hayes
10/20	Nationwise 500 [133] (Rockingham)	TBS	Ken Squier	Benny Parsons
11/3	Atlanta Journal 500 [134]	TBS	Ken Squier	Dick Brooks
11/17	Winston Western 500 [135] (Riverside)	TBS	Ken Squier	Benny Parsons

• All Cup races were nationally televised by 1985; networks struck individual deals with track owners, and multiple channels carried racing content. 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.

1986

Date	Event	Network	Lap-by-lap	Color commentator(s)
2/9	Busch Clash [136]	CBS	Ken Squier	Ned Jarrett and David Hobbs
2/16	Daytona 500 [137]	CBS	Ken Squier	Ned Jarrett and David Hobbs
2/23	Richmond 400 [138] [139]	TBS	Ken Squier	Benny Parsons
3/16	Motorcraft 500 [140]	ABC	Jim Lampley	Sam Posey
4/6	Valleydale Meats 500 [141] (Bristol)	ESPN	Bob Jenkins	Larry Nuber
4/13	Transouth 500 [142] [143] (Darlington)	ESPN	Bob Jenkins	Jack Arute
4/20	First Union 400 [144] [145] (North Wilkesboro)	ESPN	Bob Jenkins	Benny Parsons and Larry Nuber
4/27	Sovran Bank 500 [146] (Martinsville)	SETN	Mike Joy	Benny Parsons
5/4	Winston 500 [147] [148] (Talladega)	ESPN	Bob Jenkins	Larry Nuber
5/11	The Winston [149] (Atlanta)	ESPN	Bob Jenkins	Larry Nuber and Benny Parsons
5/18	Budweiser 500 [150] (Dover)	Mizlou	Steve Grad	Dick Brooks
6/1	Budweiser 400 [151] (Riverside)	TNN	Steve Evans	Brock Yates
6/8	Miller High Life 500 [152] (Pocono)	SETN	Mike Joy	Jerry Punch
7/20	Summer 500 [153] (Pocono)	SETN	Mike Joy	Jerry Punch
7/27	Talladega 500 [154] [155]	CBS	Ken Squier	Ned Jarrett and Neil Bonnett
8/10	Bud at the Glen [156] (Watkins Glen)	ESPN	Bob Jenkins	Rick Mears
8/17	Champion Spark Plug 400 [157] (Michigan)	ESPN	Jack Arute	Jerry Punch
8/23	Busch 500 [158] (Bristol)	ESPN	Bob Jenkins	Larry Nuber and Benny Parsons
9/14	Delaware 500 [159] (Dover)	Mizlou	Steve Grad	Dick Brooks
9/21	Goody's 500 [160] (Martinsville)	SETN	Eli Gold	Jerry Punch
9/28	Holly Farms 400 [161] (North Wilkesboro)	ESPN	Larry Nuber	Benny Parsons
10/19	Nationwise 500 [162] (Rockingham)	TBS	Ken Squier	Benny Parsons
11/2	Atlanta Journal 500 [163] [164]	ESPN	Bob Jenkins	Larry Nuber
11/16	Winston Western 500 [165] (Riverside)	TBS	Ken Squier	Phil Parsons

1987

Date	Event	Network	Lap-by-lap	Color commentator(s)
2/8	Busch Clash [166] (Daytona)	CBS	Ken Squier	Ned Jarrett and David Hobbs
2/12	7-Eleven Twin 125's [167] (Daytona)	CBS (tape delayed to 2/14)	Ken Squier	Ned Jarrett and David Hobbs
2/15	Daytona 500 [168] [169]	CBS	Ken Squier	Ned Jarrett and David Hobbs
3/8	Miller High Life 400 [170] [171] (Richmond)	TBS	Ken Squier	Lake Speed
3/15	Motorcraft 500 [172] [173]	ABC	Jim Lampley	Sam Posey
3/29	TranSouth 500 [174] (Darlington)	ESPN	Larry Nuber	Jerry Punch
4/5	First Union 400 [175] (North Wilkesboro)	ESPN	Bob Jenkins	Larry Nuber
4/12	Valleydale Meats 500 [176] (Bristol)	ESPN	Bob Jenkins	Larry Nuber
4/26	Sovran Bank 500 [177] (Martinsville)	SETN	Eli Gold	Jerry Punch
5/3	Winston 500 [178] [179] (Talladega)	ESPN	Bob Jenkins	Larry Nuber
5/17	The Winston [180] [181] (Charlotte)	ABC	Keith Jackson	Donnie Allison
5/31	Budweiser 500 [182] (Dover)	ESPN	Larry Nuber	Jerry Punch
6/14	Miller High Life 500 [183] (Pocono)	SETN	Eli Gold	Jerry Punch
7/4	Pepsi Firecracker 400 [184] (Daytona)	ABC	Keith Jackson	Donnie Allison
8/22	Busch 500 [185] (Bristol)	ESPN	Bob Jenkins	Larry Nuber
9/13	Wrangler Indigo 400 [186] (Richmond)	SETN	Eli Gold	Jerry Punch
9/20	Delaware 500 [187] [188] (Dover)	ESPN	Bob Jenkins	Larry Nuber
9/27	Goody's 500 [189] (Martinsville)	SETN	Eli Gold	Jerry Punch
11/8	Winston Western 500 [190] (Riverside)	TBS	Ken Squier	Johnny Hayes and Buddy Baker
11/22	Atlanta Journal 500 [191]	ESPN	Bob Jenkins	Larry Nuber

1988

Date	Event	Network	Lap-by-lap	Color commentator(s)
2/7	Busch Clash [192] [193] (Daytona)	CBS	Ken Squier	Ned Jarrett and Chris Economaki
2/11	Twin 125's [194] (Daytona)	CBS (tape delayed to 2/13)	Ken Squier	Ned Jarrett and Chris Economaki
2/14	Daytona 500 [195] [196] [197] [198]	CBS	Ken Squier	Ned Jarrett and Chris Economaki
2/21	Pontiac Excitement 400 [199] (Richmond)	TBS	Ken Squier	Johnny Hayes
3/20	Motorcraft Quality Parts 500 [200]	ABC	Keith Jackson	Jerry Punch
3/27	TranSouth 500 [201] [202] (Darlington)	ESPN	Bob Jenkins	Ned Jarrett
4/10	Valleydale Meats 500 [203] (Bristol)	ESPN	Bob Jenkins	Ned Jarrett and Gary Nelson
4/17	First Union 400 [204] (North Wilkesboro)	ESPN	Bob Jenkins	Ned Jarrett and Gary Nelson
5/1	Winston 500 [205] [206] (Talladega)	ESPN	Bob Jenkins	Gary Nelson and Ned Jarrett
5/22	The Winston [207] (Charlotte)	ABC	Keith Jackson	Jerry Punch
5/29	Coca-Cola 600 [208] [209] (Charlotte)	TBS	Ken Squier	Johnny Hayes
6/12	Budweiser 400 [210] [211] (Riverside)	ESPN	Bob Jenkins	Ned Jarrett
6/19	Miller High Life 500 [212] (Pocono)	FNN/Score	Pat Patterson	Bob Latford
6/26	Miller High Life 400 [213] (Michigan)	CBS	Ken Squier	Ned Jarrett and Chris Economaki
7/2	Pepsi Firecracker 400 [214] [215] (Daytona)	ABC	Paul Page	Johnny Rutherford
7/31	DieHard 500 [216] (Talladega)	CBS	Ken Squier	Ned Jarrett and Chris Economaki
8/21	Champion Spark Plug 400 [217] (Michigan)	ESPN	Bob Jenkins	Ned Jarrett and Gary Nelson
8/27	Busch 500 [218] (Bristol)	ESPN	Bob Jenkins	Ned Jarrett and Gary Nelson
9/4	Southern 500 [219] [220] (Darlington)	ESPN	Bob Jenkins	Ned Jarrett and Gary Nelson
9/11	Miller High Life 400 [221] (Richmond)	TBS	Ken Squier	Johnny Hayes
9/18	Delaware 500 [222] (Dover)	ESPN	Bob Jenkins	Ned Jarrett and Gary Nelson
9/25	Goody's 500 [223] [224] (Martinsville)	ESPN	Bob Jenkins	Gary Nelson and Ned Jarrett
10/16	Holly Farms 400 [225] [226] (North Wilkesboro)	ESPN	Jerry Punch	Ned Jarrett
10/23	AC Delco 500 [227] (Rockingham)	ESPN	Bob Jenkins	Ned Jarrett and Gary Nelson
11/6	Checker 500 [228] [229] [230] (Phoenix)	ESPN	Bob Jenkins	Ned Jarrett
11/20	Atlanta Journal 500 [231]	ESPN	Bob Jenkins	Ned Jarrett and Gary Nelson

• After SETN folded, one Pocono race a year was produced by Jim Wiglesworth on pay-per-view for Viewer's Choice (now In Demand) from 1988 to 1990. They were not a huge success, as fans were reluctant to pay for what they could see last week for free. The Viewer's Choice shows were noteworthy in that they premiered viewer phone-in questions during the races.

1989

Date	Event	Network	Lap-by-lap	Color commentator(s)
2/12	Busch Clash (Daytona)	CBS	Ken Squier	Ned Jarrett and Chris Economaki
2/16	Twin 125's [232] (Daytona)	CBS (tape delayed to 2/18)	Ken Squier	Ned Jarrett and Chris Economaki
2/19	Daytona 500 [233] [234]	CBS	Ken Squier	Ned Jarrett and Chris Economaki
3/19	Motorcraft Quality Parts 500 [235] (Atlanta)	ABC	Paul Page	Bobby Unser and Sam Posey
4/16	First Union 400 [236] (North Wilkesboro)	ESPN	Bob Jenkins	Ned Jarrett and Gary Nelson
5/7	Winston 500 [237] (Talladega)	ESPN	Bob Jenkins	Ned Jarrett and Benny Parsons
5/21	The Winston [238] (Charlotte)	ABC	Paul Page	Benny Parsons and Bobby Unser
5/28	Coca-Cola 600 [239] [240] (Charlotte)	TBS	Ken Squier	Johnny Hayes
6/4	Budweiser 500 [241] (Dover)	ESPN	Bob Jenkins	Ned Jarrett and Benny Parsons
6/11	Banquet Frozen Foods 300 [242] (Sears Point)	ESPN	Bob Jenkins	Ned Jarrett and Benny Parsons
6/18	Miller High Life 500 [243] (Pocono)	PPV	Dave Despain	Lyn St. James and Gary Nelson
7/1	Pepsi 400 [244] (Daytona)	ESPN	Bob Jenkins	Ned Jarrett and Benny Parsons
7/23	AC Spark Plug 500 [245] (Pocono)	ESPN	Bob Jenkins	Ned Jarrett and Benny Parsons
7/30	DieHard 500 [246] (Talladega)	CBS	Ken Squier	Ned Jarrett and Chris Economaki
8/13	Bud at the Glen [247] (Watkins Glen)	ESPN	Bob Jenkins	Ned Jarrett and Benny Parsons
9/10	Miller High Life 400 [248] (Richmond)	TBS	Ken Squier	Johnny Hayes and Phil Parsons
9/17	Peak Performance 500 [249] (Dover)	ESPN	Bob Jenkins	Ned Jarrett and Benny Parsons
9/24	Goody's 500 [250] (Martinsville)	ESPN	Bob Jenkins	Ned Jarrett and Benny Parsons
10/8	All Pro Auto Parts 500 [251] [252] (Charlotte)	TBS	Ken Squier	Johnny Hayes and Joe Ruttman
10/15	Tyson Holly Farms 400 [253] (North Wilkesboro)	ESPN	Bob Jenkins	Ned Jarrett and Benny Parsons
11/5	Autoworks 500 [254] (Phoenix)	ESPN	Bob Jenkins	Ned Jarrett and Benny Parsons
11/19	Atlanta Journal 500 [255] (Atlanta)	ESPN	Bob Jenkins	Ned Jarrett and Benny Parsons

• At the 1989 Motorcraft Quality Parts 500 NASCAR event, ESPN/ABC broadcaster Dr. Jerry Punch was reporting from the pit stall of Richard Petty when a fire broke out, injuring two crew members who Punch proceeded to treat on the spot. Following the incident, in which several items of Punch's clothing were singed or melted, ESPN mandated that its pit reporters wear fire-retardant suits. Other networks have since adopted the practice. ^[256]

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42. 1981 NASCAR Winston Cup Carolina 500 @ Rockingham [aka ESPN's First NASCAR Telecast] (Full Race) on YouTube
43. Hembree, Crandall, Pearce, Hembree, Creed, Mike, Kelly, Al, Michael, Jimmy (11 April 2023). NASCAR 75 Years. Motorbooks. p. 115. ISBN   978-0-7603-8005-5.
44. "NASCAR on ESPN History". ESPN Press Room. 6 February 2011. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
45. "Sports Briefs. Dale Earnhardt Seeks Season's First Victory. - Page 17". The Tuscaloosa News. 15 March 1981. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
46. 1981 Virginia 500 @ Martinsville on YouTube
47. "Ellensburg Daily Record - Page 18". Ellensburg Daily Record. 1 July 1981. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
48. 1981 Winston 500 on YouTube
49. "Track Owner Goes Cable Route. - Page 5". The Albany Herald. 6 July 1981. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
50. 1981 World 600 on YouTube
51. Gaillard, Luther (22 May 1981). "Bonnett Takes Pole For World 600 Race. - Page 9". Herald-Journal. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
52. 1981 Firecracker 400 on YouTube
53. 1981 Mountain Dew 500 @ Pocono on YouTube
54. "Indy-Car Drivers Get Final Tuneup Today. - Page 21". Reading Eagle. 24 July 1981. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
55. 1981 Talladega 500 on YouTube
56. "[Television Schedule]". Daily News. Bowling Green, Ky. 2 August 1981. p. 12. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
57. 1981 Southern 500 on YouTube
58. 1981 Southern 500 on YouTube
59. 1981 Atlanta Journal 500 on YouTube
60. Daggett, Laurel (8 November 2012). "Today in ESPN history: Celebrating NASCAR and NFL anniversaries". ESPN Front Row. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
61. "Behind the Microphone with Mike Joy, NASCAR on Fox". Speedcouch.com. 16 February 2007. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
62. NASCAR 1982 Busch Clash on YouTube
63. 1982 Daytona 500 on YouTube
64. 1982 Richmond 400 on YouTube
65. 1982 Coca-Cola 500 on YouTube
66. 1982 CRC Chemicals Rebel 500 on YouTube
67. 1982 NASCAR Winston Cup Winston 500 @ Talladega (Full Race) on YouTube
68. 1982 World 600 on YouTube
69. 1982 Van Scoy Diamond Mine 500 on YouTube
70. 1982 Mountain Dew 500 on YouTube
71. 1982 NASCAR Winston Cup Champion Spark Plug 400 @ Michigan (Full Race) on YouTube
72. 1982 Wrangler Sanfor-Set 400 (Missing Last 100 Laps) on YouTube
73. Feb 14, 1982 - The 1979— Daytona 500 was a classic race, and it happened to be the first one televised live, start to finish, by The network could hardly ... and made a deal with the USA cable network to furnish the qualifiers for cablecasting Fri day night. doing this, in effect, satisfies the inter ...
74. Feb 16, 1984 - The trucks which pulled Into Daytona International Speedway last week were all not necessarily those containing the cars of the NASCAR drivers ... The USA Network will show the two 125 mile qualifying races Friday night at 8 but that Is under an agreement where the cable network ...
75. Mar 29, 1982 - ... ... th Nabisco Dinah Shore Invitational Sports has signed a pact with video evangelist Pat Robertson's Christian Broadcast Network for the Dinah ... the right to tape them for replay later which has been in the business of cable since it split coverage of the Daytona 500 with USA Cable ...
76. Apr 10, 1982 - an undisclosed fee for two days of broadcast rights USA had so little to do with the telecasts that it had just one of its own people on air ... as he stated it has worked Ratings for the Daytona 500 improved Bait the viewer with cable hook him with the network broadcast not saying I ...
77. 1983 UNO Twin 125s on YouTube
78. 1983 UNO Twin 125 Qualifiers on YouTube
79. 1983 Daytona 500 on YouTube
80. 1983 Daytona 500 on YouTube
81. 1983 Richmond 400 on YouTube
82. 1983 Winston 500 on YouTube
83. 1983 Marty Robbins 420 on YouTube
84. 1983 World 600 on YouTube
85. 1983 Firecracker 400 on YouTube
86. 1983 Like Cola 500 @ Pocono on YouTube
87. 1983 Budweiser 500 on YouTube
88. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 30 June 2018. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
89. Archive index at the Wayback Machine Quote: "Then in 1983, we introduced the in-car camera. We put the average race fan in the driver's seat. They got a sense for speed, a sense of how close the traffic was. Until 1983, cars didn't look that fast on a 19-inch television screen. All of a sudden you're behind the wheel and you learned these cars drive like a sailboat going 200 mph. You got a sense of what it's like to be a driver. It was reality and fantasy television all in one."
90. Fay, John (12 February 1999). "Sports on TV-Radio: CBS to let wheels do the talking". The Cincinnati Enquirer . E. W. Scripps Company. Bob Fishman plans to give viewers a few laps of pure, roaring speed. "We have some great low-angle shots," Fishman said. "It brings those cars right in your face. You see the cars roaring by. I plan to show some laps with nothing but speed shots."
91. "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 24 May 2009. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
92. 1984 Busch Clash on YouTube
93. 1984 UNO Twin 125 Qualifiers on YouTube
94. 1984 Daytona 500 on YouTube
95. 1984 Daytona 500 (Speed Channels NASCAR Classics) on YouTube
96. 1984 Daytona 500 on YouTube
97. 1984 Miller High Life 400 @ Richmond Fairgrounds on YouTube
98. 1984 Transouth 500 on YouTube
99. 1984 NASCAR Winston Cup Coors 420 @ Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway (Full Race) on YouTube
100. 1984 Coors 420 on YouTube
101. 1984 Budweiser 500 at Dover Part 1 of 7 on YouTube
102. 1984 Van Scoy Diamond Mine 500 @ Pocono on YouTube
103. The Day 1984 Firecracker 400 on YouTube
104. 1984 Like Cola 500 (Raw Satellite Feed) on YouTube
105. 1984 Like Cola 500 on YouTube
106. 1984 Talladega 500 on YouTube
107. 1984 Southern 500 on YouTube
108. 1984 Warner W. Hodgdon American 500 on YouTube
109. 1984 Atlanta Journal 500 on YouTube
110. 1984 Winston Cup Winston Western 500 part 1 of 4 on YouTube
111. 1985 Busch Clash won by Terry Labonte on YouTube
112. 1985 Daytona 500 (Full Race) on YouTube
113. 1985 Daytona 500 (Raw Satellite Feed) on YouTube
114. February 17, 1985 - Daytona 500 at Daytona on YouTube
115. 1985 Richmond 400 on YouTube
116. 1985 Carolina 500 @ Rockingham on YouTube
117. 1985 Valleydale Meats 500 on YouTube
118. 1985 Transouth 500 on YouTube
119. 1985 Northwestern Bank 400 on YouTube
120. 1985 Winston 500 on YouTube
121. 1985 The Winston on YouTube
122. 1985 The Winston on YouTube
123. 1985 NASCAR Winston Cup Budweiser 400 @ Riverside (Full Race) on YouTube
124. 1985 Van Scoy Diamond Mine 500 on YouTube
125. 1985 Michigan 400 on YouTube
126. 1985 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Pepsi Firecracker 400 at Daytona on YouTube
127. NASCAR Winston Cup 1985 R09 Talladega 500 on YouTube
128. 1985 BUSCH 500 on YouTube
129. 1985 Southern 500 on YouTube
130. 1985 Wrangler Sanfor-Set 400 on YouTube
131. 1985 Delaware 500 on YouTube
132. 1985 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Goody's 500 on YouTube
133. 1985 Nationwise 500 on YouTube
134. 1985 Atlanta Journal 500 on YouTube
135. 1985 Winston Western 500 on YouTube
136. 1986 NASCAR Winston Cup Busch Clash on YouTube
137. 1986 Daytona 500 on YouTube
138. 1986 Miller High Life 400 on YouTube
139. Richmond 400 Feb 23, 1986 on YouTube
140. 1986 Motorcraft 500 on YouTube
141. 1986 Valleydale 500 on YouTube
142. 1986 Transouth 500 on YouTube
143. NWC 1986 transouth 500 at Darlington part 1 on YouTube
144. 1986 First Union 400 on YouTube
145. 1986 FIRST UNION 400 on YouTube
146. 1986 Sovran Bank 500 @ Martinsville on YouTube
147. Winston 500 May 4, 1986 on YouTube
148. 1986 Winston 500 on YouTube
149. NASCAR The Winston May 11, 1986 - Atlanta on YouTube
150. NWC 1986 Budweiser 500 on YouTube
151. 1986 Budweiser 400 on YouTube
152. 1986 Miller High Life 400 on YouTube
153. 1986 Summer 500 on YouTube
154. 1986 Talladega 500 (Raw Satellite Feed) on YouTube
155. 1986 Talladega 500 - Full Race on YouTube
156. 1986 Budweiser At The Glen on YouTube
157. 1986 Champion Spark Plug 400 on YouTube
158. 1986 Busch 500 - Part 1/3 on YouTube
159. 1986 Delaware 500 @ Dover (Highlights) on YouTube
160. 1986 Goody's 500 on YouTube
161. 1986 Holly Farms 400 on YouTube
162. 1986 Nationwise 500 @ Rockingham on YouTube
163. 1986 NASCAR Winston Cup Atlanta Journal 500 @ Atlanta Motor Speedway (Full Race) on YouTube
164. 1986 Atlanta Journal 500 @ Atlanta on YouTube
165. 1986 Winston Western 500 on YouTube
166. 1987 Busch Clash on YouTube
167. 1987 7-Eleven Twin 125s @ Daytona (Highlights) on YouTube
168. 1987 Daytona 500 (CBS Broadcast) on YouTube
169. 1987 Daytona 500 on YouTube
170. NWC 1987 Miller High Life 400 Richmond on YouTube
171. 1987 NASCAR Winston Cup Miller High Life 500 @ Pocono (Full Race) on YouTube
172. 1987 Atlanta Motorcraft 500 on YouTube
173. 1987 Motorcraft Quality Parts 500 on YouTube
174. 1987 Transouth 500 on YouTube
175. NWC 1987 First Union 400 on YouTube
176. NWC 1987 Valleydale Meats 500 on YouTube
177. 1987 Sovran Bank 500 on YouTube
178. 1987 Winston 500 on YouTube
179. 1987 Winston 500 (Raw Satellite Feed) on YouTube
180. 1987 Winston All Star Part 1 Of 11 on YouTube
181. 1987 NASCAR Winston Cup Series The Winston on YouTube
182. 1987 Budweiser 500 @ Dover Downs on YouTube
183. 1987 Miller High Life 500 on YouTube
184. 1987 Pepsi Firecracker 400 (Raw Satellite Feed) on YouTube
185. NWC 1987 Busch 500 Bristol on YouTube
186. 1987 Wrangler Jeans Indigo 400 on YouTube
187. 1987 Delaware 500 @ Dover Downs on YouTube
188. 1987 Delaware 500 on YouTube
189. 1987 Goody's 500 on YouTube
190. 1987 Winston Western 500 on YouTube
191. 1987 Winston Western 500 on YouTube
192. 1988 Busch Clash on YouTube
193. 1988 Winston Cup Busch Clash part 1 of 2 on YouTube
194. 1988 Twin 125 Qualifiers @ Daytona (Highlights) on YouTube
195. 1988 Daytona 500 on YouTube
196. February 14, 1988 - Daytona 500 at Daytona on YouTube
197. 1988 Daytona 500 on YouTube
198. 1988 Daytona 500 (Raw Satellite Feed) on YouTube
199. 1988 Pontiac Excitement 400 (Raw Satellite Feed) on YouTube
200. 1988 Motorcraft Quality Parts 500 on YouTube
201. 1988 TranSouth 500 (Raw Satellite Feed) on YouTube
202. 1988 Transouth 500 on YouTube
203. 1988 Valleydale Meats 500 on YouTube
204. 1988 First Union 400 Part 1 on YouTube
205. 1988 Winston 500 on YouTube
206. 1988 Winston 500 (Raw Satellite Feed) on YouTube
207. 1988 The Winston @ Charlotte on YouTube
208. NWC 1988 Coca Cola 600 on YouTube
209. 1988 Coca Cola 600 on YouTube
210. 1988 Budweiser 400 on YouTube
211. 1988 Budweiser 400 @ Riverside on YouTube
212. NWC 1988 Miller High Life 500 Pocono on YouTube
213. NWC 1988 Miller High Life 400 Michigan on YouTube
214. 1988 Pepsi Firecracker 400 (Raw Satellite Feed) on YouTube
215. 1988 Firecracker 400 on YouTube
216. 1988 Talladega DieHard 500 on YouTube
217. NWC 1988 Champion Spark Plug 400 on YouTube
218. 1988 Busch 500 @ Bristol on YouTube
219. 1988 Southern 500 on YouTube
220. NWC 1988 Southern 500 on YouTube
221. 1988 Miller High Life 400 on YouTube
222. NWC 1988 Delaware 500 (re-upload) on YouTube
223. 1988 Goody's 500 on YouTube
224. NWC 1988 Goody's 500 on YouTube
225. 1988 Holly Farms 400 @ North Wilkesboro on YouTube
226. 1988 Winston Cup Holly Farms 400 part 1 of 4 on YouTube
227. NWC 1988 AC Delco 500 on YouTube
228. 1988 Checker 500 on YouTube
229. 1988 CHECKER 500 on YouTube
230. 1988 Checker 500 [1/7] (Start) on YouTube
231. 1988 Atlanta Journal 500 on YouTube
232. 1989 Twin 125 Qualifiers on YouTube
233. 1989 Daytona 500 on YouTube
234. 1989 Daytona 500 on YouTube
235. 1989 Motorcraft Quality Parts 500 (Raw Satellite Feed) on YouTube
236. 1989 NASCAR Winston Cup Season on YouTube
237. 1989 Winston 500 on YouTube
238. 1989 The Winston (Raw Satellite Feed) on YouTube
239. NWC 1989 Coca Cola 600 on YouTube
240. 1989 Coca-Cola 600 on YouTube
241. 1989 NASCAR Winston Cup Budweiser 500 on YouTube
242. 1989 NASCAR Winston Cup Banquet Frozen Foods 300k @ Sears Point/Infineon/Sonoma (Full Race) on YouTube
243. 1989 Miller High Life 500 @ Pocono on YouTube
244. 1989 Pepsi 400 on YouTube
245. 1989 AC Spark Plug 500 on YouTube
246. 1989 Talladega DieHard 500 on YouTube
247. 1989 The Budweiser At The Glen on YouTube
248. 1989 Miller High Life 400 on YouTube
249. 1989 Peak Performance 500 on YouTube
250. 1989 Goody's 500 on YouTube
251. 1989 All Pro Auto Parts 500 on YouTube
252. 1989 All Pro 500 on YouTube
253. 1989 Tyson Holly Farms 400 on YouTube
254. 1989 NASCAR Winston Cup Checker Autoworks 500 @ Phoenix (Full Race) on YouTube
255. 1989 NASCAR Winston Cup Atlanta Journal 500 @ Atlanta Motor Speedway (Full Race) on YouTube
256. Hall, Andy (10 April 2012). "Punch's near miss led to safety gear for ESPN's NASCAR pit reporters". ESPN Front Row . Retrieved 8 November 2016.

See also

• List of Daytona 500 broadcasters
• List of Wide World of Sports (American TV series) announcers
• List of events broadcast on Wide World of Sports (American TV series)
• NASCAR on television in the 1960s
  • NASCAR on television in the 1970s
  • NASCAR on television in the 1990s
  • NASCAR on television in the 2000s
  • NASCAR on television in the 2010s