NASCAR on TBS

*NASCAR on TBS*
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"
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.

Coverage overview[edit]

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[edit]

Winston Cup Series[edit]

1980s[edit]

1983[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

1990[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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

Busch Grand National Series[edit]

1995[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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

Craftsman Truck Series[edit]

1995[edit]

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

1996[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

Color commentary[edit]

Pit road reporters[edit]

Studio hosts[edit]

Late 1980s broadcasts were known for an infield broadcasting "host" set called "STP Race Central."

References[edit]

^ Thunder Fist (from NASCAR on TBS) on YouTube
^ Saying Goodbye to NASCAR (2000) on YouTube
^ Donohue, Steve (November 14, 1999). "Fox, NBC-TBS Win NASCAR Race". Multichannel.

External links[edit]

TBS Superstation - NASCAR at the Wayback Machine (archive index)

Preceded by None	NASCAR pay television carrier in the United States 1983 – 2000	Succeeded by TNT

[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.

[1]

[2]

[3]

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