NASCAR on television in the 1960s

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Main article: NASCAR on television and radio

One of the earliest telecasts of a NASCAR race was the 1960 Daytona 500, parts of which was presented as part of CBS Sports Spectacular, with announcer Bud Palmer.[1]

In the ensuing years, but before 1979, there were three main sources of NASCAR telecasts:[citation needed]

  • ABC's Wide World of Sports, the sports anthology program, provided coverage of select NASCAR Winston Cup races in the 1970s. In 1971, it presented a 200-lap race at Greenville-Pickens Speedway in its entirety, the first such broadcast of a NASCAR race. Throughout the 1970s, ABC presented portions of the Daytona 500, Southern 500, and other important races.
  • In the late 1970s, CBS Sports Spectacular aired some races; like Wide World of Sports, they were taped and edited.
  • Car and Track, a weekly auto racing show hosted by Bud Lindemann, recapped all of NASCAR's top-series races in the 1960s and 1970s in a weekly 30-minute syndicated show.

List of races televised[edit]

1960[edit]

Date Event Network Lap-by-lap Color commentator(s)
2/12 Twin 100's CBS[2] Bud Palmer

In February 1960, CBS sent a "skeleton" production crew to Daytona Beach, Florida and the Daytona International Speedway to cover the Daytona 500's Twin 100 (now the Bluegreen Vacations Duel) qualifying races on February 12, 1960.[3] The production crew also stayed to broadcast portions of the Daytona 500 itself, two days later. The event was hosted by John S. Palmer. CBS would continue to broadcast portions of races for the next 18 years, along with ABC and NBC.[4]

1961[edit]

Date Event Network Lap-by-lap Color commentator(s)
7/4 Firecracker 250 (Daytona) ABC[5] Bill Flemming Chris Economaki[6]

1962[edit]

Date Event Network Lap-by-lap Color commentator(s) Reporters
2/18 Daytona 500 ABC[7] Jim McKay[8] Stirling Moss Chris Economaki
7/4 Firecracker 250 (Daytona) ABC[9] Bill Flemming Chris Economaki
9/3 Southern 500[10] (Darlington) ABC Jim McKay Chris Economaki

From 1962 to 1978, the Daytona 500 was shown on ABC's Wide World of Sports.[citation needed] During the 1960s and early 1970s, the race was filmed and an edited highlight package aired the following weekend. In 1974, ABC began the first semi-live coverage (joined-in-progress) of the Daytona 500. Coverage was normally timed to begin when the race was halfway over. Brief taped highlights of the start and early segments were shown, then ABC joined the race live already in progress, picking up approximately the last 90 minutes of the race. This format continued through 1978.

1963[edit]

Date Event Network Lap-by-lap Color commentator(s)
2/24 Daytona 500[11] ABC[12][13][14] Bill Flemming[15] Chris Economaki
7/4 Firecracker 400 (Daytona) ABC[16] Bill Flemming Chris Economaki

1964[edit]

Date Event Network Lap-by-lap Color commentator(s) Reporters
2/23 Daytona 500 ABC[17] Bill Flemming[18] Stirling Moss Chris Economaki
4/5 Atlanta 500[19] CBS[20]
5/24 World 600[21] NBC
10/18 National 400[22] (Charlotte) ABC Jim McKay Chris Economaki

1965[edit]

Date Event Network Lap-by-lap Color commentator(s) Reporters
2/14 Daytona 500[23] ABC[24][25] Bill Flemming Dan Gurney
5/8 Rebel 300 (Darlington) ABC Jim McKay Chris Economaki
7/4 Firecracker 400[26] (Daytona) ABC Bill Flemming Chris Economaki
9/6 Southern 500 (Darlington) ABC[27] Jim McKay Rodger Ward Chris Economaki
10/17 National 400[28] (Charlotte) ABC Bill Flemming Rodger Ward Chris Economaki

1966[edit]

Date Event Network Lap-by-lap Color commentator(s) Reporters
2/27 Daytona 500[29] ABC[30] Curt Gowdy Rodger Ward Chris Economaki
4/30 Rebel 400[31] (Darlington) ABC Jim McKay Bill France[32]
7/4 Firecracker 400 (Daytona) ABC Jim McKay Rodger Ward Chris Economaki
9/5 Southern 500 (Darlington) ABC Bill Flemming Rodger Ward
10/16 National 500 (Charlotte) ABC Jim McKay Rodger Ward Chris Economaki

1967[edit]

Date Event Network Lap-by-lap Color commentator(s) Reporters
2/24 Twin 100 Races (Daytona) ABC Jim McKay Chris Economaki
2/26 Daytona 500[33] ABC Jim McKay Chris Economaki
5/13 Rebel 400 (Darlington) ABC Chris Economaki Fred Lorenzen
7/4 Firecracker 400[34] (Daytona) ABC Jim McKay Fred Lorenzen[35] Chris Economaki
9/4 Southern 500[36] (Darlington) ABC Bill Flemming Fred Lorenzen Chris Economaki
10/20 National 400 (Charlotte) ABC Keith Jackson[37] Ned Jarrett

1968[edit]

Date Event Network Lap-by-lap Color commentator(s)
2/25 Daytona 500[38] ABC[39] Bill Flemming Chris Economaki
5/11 Rebel 400[40] (Darlington) ABC Bill Flemming Fred Lorenzen[41]
7/4 Firecracker 400 (Daytona) ABC
9/2 Southern 500[42] (Darlington) ABC Bill Flemming Chris Economaki
10/20 National 500 (Charlotte) ABC Jim McKay Fred Lorenzen

1969[edit]

Date Event Network Lap-by-lap Color commentator(s)
2/23 Daytona 500[43] ABC Bill Flemming Chris Economaki
3/30 Atlanta 500[44] ABC Bill Flemming Chris Economaki
5/10 Rebel 400 (Darlington) ABC[45] Jim McKay Chris Economaki
7/4 Firecracker 400[46] (Daytona) ABC Jim McKay Chris Economaki
9/1 Southern 500 (Darlington) ABC[47] Bill Fleming Chris Economaki
10/12 National 500[48] (Charlotte) ABC Jim McKay Chris Economaki

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Ryan McGee (2007). ESPN Ultimate NASCAR. ESPN Books. pp. 42–43. ISBN 978-1-933060-25-5.
  2. ^ "Ars Enter Daytona. - Page 17". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. January 14, 1960. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  3. ^ "NASCAR Countdown: Chicagoland". ESPN MediaZone. July 7, 2007. Archived from the original on May 17, 2008.
  4. ^ http://the506.com/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1232064927/0[permanent dead link]
  5. ^ "Speedway Has Year Round Impact On Area Economy. - Page 5". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. July 30, 1965. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  6. ^ Barnes, Mike (September 28, 2012). "Chris Economaki, the Voice of American Motorsports on TV, Dies at 91". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  7. ^ "Sonotone Of Reading. 112 South Fifth Street Fr 6-5305. - Page 92". Reading Eagle. March 18, 1963. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  8. ^ Herbst, Alex (May 9, 2016). "Top-Five NASCAR TV Announcers of All-Time". Beyond the Flag. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  9. ^ "Today's Sports. - Page 8". Warsaw Times - Union. July 16, 1962. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  10. ^ 1962 Southern 500 @ Darlington on YouTube
  11. ^ 1963 Daytona 500 (ABC Broadcast) on YouTube
  12. ^ "Sports - Page 85". Reading Eagle. March 10, 1963. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  13. ^ Kahn, Bernard (October 5, 1963). "France Sees Speedway Up In 63. - Page 16". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  14. ^ Kahn, Bernard (July 26, 1962). "France Sees Speedway $$ Up In '63". Daytona Beach Sunday News-Journal. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  15. ^ "Video: The 1963 Daytona 500". Motor City Garage. August 3, 2019. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  16. ^ "Auto Race. Rehash Scheduled. On Tv. - Page 10". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. July 16, 1962. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  17. ^ "Sports - Page 43". Reading Eagle. February 22, 1964. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  18. ^ "Tv Key... Prevewers Recommend These Programs Tonight. - Page 6". Meriden Journal. February 29, 1964. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  19. ^ 1964 Paul Goldsmith flip @ Atlanta on YouTube
  20. ^ "Test Slated For New Mode At International Speedway. L-Ri Ta. ..." Gadsden Times. March 17, 1964. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  21. ^ 1964 World 600 on YouTube
  22. ^ 1964 Firecracker 400 @ Daytona on YouTube
  23. ^ 1965 Daytona 500 on YouTube
  24. ^ "Tv Key. Prevewers Recommend These Programs Tonight. - Page 3". Meriden Journal. February 27, 1965. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  25. ^ "Fingerprinted Because Her Dog Barked. - Page 5". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. February 10, 1965. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  26. ^ 1965 Firecracker 400 on YouTube
  27. ^ Ketron, Talmadge (September 16, 1965). "New Series Begins With This Issue. - Page 5". Kingsport Post. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  28. ^ 1965 Charlotte 250 - NASCAR Modified-Sportsman/Grand National on YouTube
  29. ^ 1966 Daytona 500 on YouTube
  30. ^ "Saturday It's The Law Dtheflying Fisher Man Cmor Othe Texan ..." Daytona Beach Morning Journal. February 27, 1966. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  31. ^ 1966 Rebel 400 on YouTube
  32. ^ Kahn, Bernard (April 30, 1966). "Daytona Beach Morning Journal - Page 9". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  33. ^ 1967 Daytona 500 on YouTube
  34. ^ 1967 Firecracker 400 Finish on YouTube
  35. ^ "Ana Ufa Ri. Daytona Beach Florida. Sunday, July. Ger Fastest ..." Daytona Beach Sunday News-Journal. July 2, 1967. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  36. ^ 1967 Southern 500 on YouTube
  37. ^ "NASCAR on TV - Keith Jackson". NASCAR on TV. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  38. ^ 1968 Daytona 500 on YouTube
  39. ^ Knight, Buck (March 7, 1968). "Pit Stop. With Buck Knight. - Page 19". The Free Lance-Star. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  40. ^ 1968 Rebel 400 in 4K on YouTube
  41. ^ "Atlanta Car Race On Wide World. - Page 19". Schenectady Gazette. April 13, 1969. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  42. ^ 1967 Southern 500 on YouTube
  43. ^ 1969 Daytona 500 on YouTube
  44. ^ 1969 Atlanta 500 on YouTube
  45. ^ Granger, Gene (May 19, 1969). "Accident Was Through No Fault Of Mine: Pearson - Page 5". Herald-Journal. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  46. ^ 1969 Firecracker 400 on YouTube
  47. ^ "Flat Finish. Penske's Camaro Wins Again Nears Second ... - Page 7". The Telegraph-Herald. September 8, 1969. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  48. ^ 1969 National 500 @ Charlotte on YouTube
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