NASCAR on TBS

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]

NASCAR on TBS
GenreAuto racing telecasts
Presented byKen Squier
Allen Bestwick
Buddy Baker
Dick Berggren
See commentators section below
Opening theme"Thunder Fist"[1]
ComposerEdd Kalehoff
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Production locationVarious NASCAR venues
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running time4 hours or until race ended (including commercials)
Production companyTurner Sports
Release
Original networkTBS
Original releaseFebruary 27, 1983 (1983-02-27) – October 8, 2000 (2000-10-08)
Related
NASCAR on TNT (2001-2014)

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.

Coverage overview

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.

TBS race schedule

1980s
See also: NASCAR on television in the 1980s
1983
Rnd Date Race Title Track Lead Commentators Co-Commentators
2 February 27 Richmond 400 Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway, Richmond Ken Squier Cale Yarborough
29 November 6 Atlanta Journal 500 Atlanta International Raceway, Hampton Ken Squier Geoff Bodine
30 November 20 Winston Western 500 Riverside International Raceway, Riverside Ken Squier Cale Yarborough
1984
Rnd Date Race Title Track Lead Commentators Co-Commentators
2 February 26 Richmond 400 Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway, Richmond Ken Squier Buddy Baker
10 May 12 Coors 420 Nashville Speedway, Nashville Ken Squier Benny Parsons
29 November 11 Atlanta Journal 500 Atlanta International Raceway, Hampton Ken Squier Glenn Jarrett
30 November 18 Winston Western 500 Riverside International Raceway, Riverside Ken Squier Phil Parsons
1985
Rnd Date Race Title Track Lead Commentators Co-Commentators
2 February 24 Miller High Life 400 Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway, Richmond Ken Squier Benny Parsons
26 October 20 Nationwise 500 North Carolina Motor Speedway, Rockingham Ken Squier Benny Parsons
27 November 3 Atlanta Journal 500 Atlanta International Raceway, Hampton Ken Squier Dick Brooks
28 November 17 Winston Western 500 Riverside International Raceway, Riverside Ken Squier Benny Parsons
1986
Rnd Date Race Title Track Lead Commentators Co-Commentators
2 February 23 Miller High Life 400 Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway, Richmond Ken Squier Benny Parsons
27 October 19 Nationwise 500 North Carolina Motor Speedway, Rockingham Ken Squier Benny Parsons
29 November 16 Winston Western 500 Riverside International Raceway, Riverside Ken Squier Phil Parsons
1987
Rnd Date Race Title Track Lead Commentators Co-Commentators
3 March 8 Miller High Life 400 Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway, Richmond Ken Squier Lake Speed
27 October 25 AC Delco 500 North Carolina Motor Speedway, Rockingham Ken Squier Johnny Hayes, Lake Speed
28 November 8 Winston Western 500 Riverside International Raceway, Riverside Ken Squier Buddy Baker, Johnny Hayes
1988
Rnd Date Race Title Track Lead Commentators Co-Commentators
2 February 21 Pontiac Excitement 400 Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway, Richmond Ken Squier Johnny Hayes
10 May 29 Coca-Cola 600 Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord Ken Squier Johnny Hayes
22 September 11 Miller High Life 400 Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway, Richmond Ken Squier Johnny Hayes
1989
Rnd Date Race Title Track Lead Commentators Co-Commentators
4 March 26 Pontiac Excitement 400 Richmond International Raceway, Richmond Ken Squier Johnny Hayes
10 May 28 Coca-Cola 600 Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord Ken Squier Johnny Hayes
22 September 10 Miller High Life 400 Richmond International Raceway, Richmond Ken Squier Johnny Hayes
25 October 8 All Pro Auto Parts 500 Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord Ken Squier Johnny Hayes, Joe Ruttman

1990s-2000
See also: NASCAR on television in the 1990s and NASCAR on television in the 2000s
1990
Rnd Date Race Title Track Lead Commentators Co-Commentators
2 February 25 Pontiac Excitement 400 Richmond International Raceway, Richmond Ken Squier Chris Economaki
10 May 27 Coca-Cola 600 Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord Ken Squier Neil Bonnett, Lyn St. James
22 September 9 Miller Genuine Draft 400 Richmond International Raceway, Richmond Ken Squier Neil Bonnett, Johnny Hayes
26 October 7 Mello Yello 500 Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord Ken Squier Neil Bonnett, Johnny Hayes
1991
Rnd Date Race Title Track Lead Commentators Co-Commentators
2 February 24 Pontiac Excitement 400 Richmond International Raceway, Richmond Ken Squier Neil Bonnett, Ken Stabler
10 May 26 Coca-Cola 600 Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord Ken Squier Neil Bonnett
22 September 7 Miller Genuine Draft 400 Richmond International Raceway, Richmond Ken Squier Neil Bonnett, Ken Stabler
26 October 6 Mello Yello 500 Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord Ken Squier Neil Bonnett
1992
Rnd Date Race Title Track Lead Commentators Co-Commentators
3 March 8 Pontiac Excitement 400 Richmond International Raceway, Richmond Ken Squier Neil Bonnett
10 May 24 Coca-Cola 600 Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord Ken Squier Neil Bonnett
22 September 12 Miller Genuine Draft 400 Richmond International Raceway, Richmond Ken Squier Neil Bonnett
26 October 11 Mello Yello 500 Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord Ken Squier Neil Bonnett
1993
Rnd Date Race Title Track Lead Commentators Co-Commentators
3 March 7 Pontiac Excitement 400 Richmond International Raceway, Richmond Ken Squier Neil Bonnett
11 May 30 Coca-Cola 600 Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord Ken Squier Neil Bonnett
17 July 18 Miller Genuine Draft 500 Pocono International Raceway, Long Pond Ken Squier Neil Bonnett
23 September 11 Miller Genuine Draft 400 Richmond International Raceway, Richmond Ken Squier Neil Bonnett
27 October 10 Mello Yello 500 Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord Ken Squier Neil Bonnett
1994
Rnd Date Race Title Track Lead Commentators Co-Commentators
3 March 6 Pontiac Excitement 400 Richmond International Raceway, Richmond Ken Squier Dave Marcis, Kenny Wallace
11 May 29 Coca-Cola 600 Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord Ken Squier Richard Petty
17 July 17 Miller Genuine Draft 500 Pocono International Raceway, Long Pond Ken Squier Barry Dodson
24 September 10 Miller Genuine Draft 400 Richmond International Raceway, Richmond Ken Squier Chuck Bown
28 October 9 Mello Yello 500 Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord Ken Squier Chuck Bown, Cale Yarborough
1995
Rnd Date Race Title Track Lead Commentators Co-Commentators
3 March 5 Pontiac Excitement 400 Richmond International Raceway, Richmond Ken Squier Chuck Bown, Ernie Irvan
11 May 28 Coca-Cola 600 Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord Ken Squier Ernie Irvan, Richard Petty
17 July 16 Miller Genuine Draft 500 Pocono International Raceway, Long Pond Ken Squier Dick Berggren, Chad Little
24 September 9 Miller Genuine Draft 400 Richmond International Raceway, Richmond Ken Squier Dick Berggren, Chad Little
28 October 8 UAW-GM Quality 500 Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord Ken Squier Dick Berggren, Ernie Irvan
1996
Rnd Date Race Title Track Lead Commentators Co-Commentators
11 May 26 Coca-Cola 600 Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord Ken Squier Buddy Baker, Dick Berggren
17 July 21 Miller 500 Pocono Raceway, Long Pond Ken Squier Buddy Baker, Chad Little
28 October 6 UAW-GM Quality 500 Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord Ken Squier Buddy Baker, Mike Wallace
Exhibition November 24 NASCAR Suzuka Thunder Special Suzuka Circuit, Suzuka, Japan Ken Squier Buddy Baker
1997
Rnd Date Race Title Track Lead Commentators Co-Commentators
11 May 25 Coca-Cola 600 Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord Ken Squier Buddy Baker, Dick Berggren
18 July 20 Pennsylvania 500 Pocono Raceway, Long Pond Ken Squier Buddy Baker, Greg Sacks
28 October 5 UAW-GM Quality 500 Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord Ken Squier Buddy Baker
Exhibition November 23 NASCAR Suzuka Thunder Special Suzuka Circuit, Suzuka, Japan Ken Squier Buddy Baker
1998
Rnd Date Race Title Track Lead Commentators Co-Commentators
11 May 24 Coca-Cola 600 Charlotte 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 Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord Ken Squier Buddy Baker, Dick Berggren
Exhibition November 22 Coca-Cola 500 Twin Ring Motegi, Motegi, Japan 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 11 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

1995
Rnd Date Race Title Track Lead Commentators Co-Commentators
11 May 27 Red Dog 300 Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord Ken Squier Dick Berggren
24 October 7 All Pro Bumper to Bumper 300 Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord Ken Squier Dick Berggren, Darrell Waltrip

1996
Rnd Date Race Title Track Lead Commentators Co-Commentators
10 May 25 Red Dog 300 Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord Ken Squier Dick Berggren, Darrell Waltrip
24 October 5 All Pro Bumper to Bumper 300 Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord Ken Squier Larry McReynolds, Darrell Waltrip

1997
Rnd Date Race Title Track Lead Commentators Co-Commentators
14 May 24 Carquest Auto Parts 300 Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord Ken Squier Darrell Waltrip
27 October 4 All Pro Bumper to Bumper 300 Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord Ken Squier Buddy Baker, Darrell Waltrip

1998
Rnd Date Race Title Track Lead Commentators Co-Commentators
12 May 23 Carquest Auto Parts 300 Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord Ken Squier Buddy Baker, Darrell Waltrip
27 October 3 All Pro Bumper to Bumper 300 Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord Ken Squier Buddy Baker, Darrell Waltrip

1999
Rnd Date Race Title Track Lead Commentators Co-Commentators
14 May 29 Carquest Auto Parts 300 Lowe's Motor Speedway, Concord Ken Squier Buddy Baker, Rusty Wallace
28 October 9 All Pro Bumper to Bumper 300 Lowe's Motor Speedway, Concord Allen Bestwick Buddy Baker, Rusty Wallace

2000
Rnd Date Race Title Track Lead Commentators Co-Commentators
13 May 27 Carquest Auto Parts 300 Lowe's Motor Speedway, Concord Allen Bestwick Buddy Baker, Tony Stewart
28 October 7 All Pro Bumper to Bumper 300 Lowe's Motor Speedway, Concord Allen Bestwick Buddy Baker, Tony Stewart

1995
Rnd Date Race Title Track Lead Commentators Co-Commentators
Exhibition November 4 NASCAR Supertruck 25 Homestead Motorsports Complex, Homestead Ken Squier Dick Berggren

1996
Rnd Date Race Title Track Lead Commentators Co-Commentators
3 May 4 Craftsman 200 Portland Speedway, Portland Ken Squier Dick Berggren
4 May 11 Jerr-Dan/Nelson Truck 200 Evergreen Speedway, Monroe Ken Squier Dick Berggren, Larry McReynolds
23 October 26 GM Goodwrench/AC Delco 300 Phoenix International Raceway, Phoenix Ken Squier Larry McReynolds, Darrell Waltrip

1997
Rnd Date Race Title Track Lead Commentators Co-Commentators
5 May 3 Craftsman 200 Portland Speedway, Portland Ken Squier Dick Berggren
6 May 10 NAPACARD 200 Evergreen Speedway, Monroe Ken Squier Dick Berggren

1998
Rnd Date Race Title Track Lead Commentators Co-Commentators
4 April 25 Craftsman 200 By NAPA Auto Parts Portland Speedway, Portland Ken Squier Buddy Baker
5 May 8 NAPACARD 200 Evergreen Speedway, Monroe Ken Squier Larry McReynolds
26 October 24 GM Goodwrench Service Plus/AC Delco 300 Phoenix International Raceway, Phoenix 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
  1. Thunder Fist (from NASCAR on TBS) on YouTube
  2. Saying Goodbye to NASCAR (2000) on YouTube
  3. Donohue, Steve (November 14, 1999). "Fox, NBC-TBS Win NASCAR Race". Multichannel.
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