:NASCAR on television in the 1960s

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{{more footnotes needed|date=August 2019}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}

{{main|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.{{cite book| title=ESPN Ultimate NASCAR| publisher=ESPN Books| year=2007| isbn=978-1-933060-25-5| author=Ryan McGee| pages=[https://archive.org/details/espnultimatenasc00ryan/page/42 42–43]| url-access=registration| url=https://archive.org/details/espnultimatenasc00ryan/page/42}}

In the ensuing years, but before 1979, there were three main sources of NASCAR telecasts:{{Citation needed|date=February 2011}}

  • 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

=[[1960 NASCAR Grand National Series|1960]]=

class=wikitable
Date

!Event

!Network

!Lap-by-lap

!Color commentator(s)

2/12

|Twin 100's

|CBS{{cite news |last= |first= |date=January 14, 1960|title=Ars Enter Daytona. - Page 17|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=h3cjAAAAIBAJ&dq=NASCAR+on+CBS&pg=PA17&article_id=980,2166463|work=Daytona Beach Morning Journal|location= |access-date=May 12, 2024}}

|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.{{cite web|title=NASCAR Countdown: Chicagoland|url=http://www.espnmediazone.com/press_releases/2007_07_jul/20070712_NASCARCountdown-Chicagoland.htm|work=ESPN MediaZone|date=July 7, 2007|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517132837/http://www.espnmediazone.com/press_releases/2007_07_jul/20070712_NASCARCountdown-Chicagoland.htm|archivedate=May 17, 2008}} 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.http://the506.com/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1232064927/0{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

=[[1961 NASCAR Grand National Series|1961]]=

class=wikitable
Date

!Event

!Network

!Lap-by-lap

!Color commentator(s)

7/4

|Firecracker 250 (Daytona)

|ABC{{cite news |last= |first= |date=July 30, 1965|title=Speedway Has Year Round Impact On Area Economy. - Page 5|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=znwoAAAAIBAJ&dq=NASCAR+on+ABC&pg=PA5&article_id=878,5800549|work=Daytona Beach Morning Journal|location= |access-date=May 12, 2024}}

|Bill Flemming

|Chris Economaki{{cite news |last=Barnes|first=Mike|date=September 28, 2012|title=Chris Economaki, the Voice of American Motorsports on TV, Dies at 91|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/chris-economaki-indianapolis-500-daytona-motorsports-375046/|work=The Hollywood Reporter|location= |access-date=May 12, 2024}}

=[[1962 NASCAR Grand National Series|1962]]=

class=wikitable
Date

!Event

!Network

!Lap-by-lap

!Color commentator(s)

!Reporters

2/18

|Daytona 500

|ABC{{cite news |last= |first= |date=March 18, 1963|title=Sonotone Of Reading. 112 South Fifth Street Fr 6-5305. - Page 92|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SZAuAAAAIBAJ&dq=NASCAR+on+ABC&pg=PA92&article_id=2238,5169531|work=Reading Eagle|location= |access-date=May 12, 2024}}

|Jim McKay{{cite news |last=Herbst|first=Alex|date=May 9, 2016|title=Top-Five NASCAR TV Announcers of All-Time|url=https://beyondtheflag.com/2016/05/09/top-five-nascar-tv-announcers-time/4/|work=Beyond the Flag|location= |access-date=May 12, 2024}}

|Stirling Moss

|Chris Economaki

7/4

|Firecracker 250 (Daytona)

|ABC{{cite news |last= |first= |date=July 16, 1962|title=Today's Sports. - Page 8|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cCFSAAAAIBAJ&dq=NASCAR+on+ABC&pg=PA8&article_id=4296,5343362|work=Warsaw Times - Union|location= |access-date=May 12, 2024}}

|Bill Flemming

|Chris Economaki

|

9/3

|Southern 500{{YouTube|title=1962 Southern 500 @ Darlington|id=aXczwjgNEOI}} (Darlington)

|ABC

|Jim McKay

|Chris Economaki

|

From 1962 to 1978, the Daytona 500 was shown on ABC's Wide World of Sports.{{citation needed|date=February 2019}} 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 NASCAR Grand National Series|1963]]=

class=wikitable
Date

!Event

!Track

!Network

!Lap-by-lap

!Color commentator(s)

2/24

|Daytona 500{{YouTube|title=1963 Daytona 500 (ABC Broadcast)|id=djIfUA7K5MA&t}}

|Daytona

|ABC{{cite news |last= |first= |date=March 10, 1963|title=Sports - Page 85 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UowtAAAAIBAJ&dq=NASCAR+on+ABC&pg=PA85&article_id=4597,4451343|work=Reading Eagle|location= |access-date=May 12, 2024}}{{cite news |last=Kahn|first=Bernard|date=October 5, 1963|title=France Sees Speedway Up In 63. - Page 16|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tX4eAAAAIBAJ&dq=NASCAR+on+ABC&pg=PA6&article_id=2036,831530|work=Daytona Beach Morning Journal|location= |access-date=May 12, 2024}}{{cite news |last=Kahn|first=Bernard|date=July 26, 1962|title=France Sees Speedway $$ Up In '63|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PngjAAAAIBAJ&dq=NASCAR+on+ABC&pg=PA16&article_id=1039,4487419|work=Daytona Beach Sunday News-Journal|location= |access-date=May 12, 2024}}

|Bill Flemming{{cite news |last= |first= |date=August 3, 2019|title=Video: The 1963 Daytona 500|url=https://www.macsmotorcitygarage.com/video-the-1963-daytona-500/|work=Motor City Garage|location= |access-date=May 12, 2024}}

|Chris Economaki

7/4

|Firecracker 400

|Daytona

|ABC{{cite news |last= |first= |date=July 16, 1962|title=Auto Race. Rehash Scheduled. On Tv. - Page 10|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=k00fAAAAIBAJ&dq=NASCAR+on+ABC&pg=PA10&article_id=3497,2618989|work=Daytona Beach Morning Journal|location= |access-date=May 12, 2024}}

|Bill Flemming

|Chris Economaki

=[[1964 NASCAR Grand National Series|1964]]=

class=wikitable
Date

!Event

!Network

!Lap-by-lap

!Color commentator(s)

!Reporters

2/23

|Daytona 500

|ABC{{cite news |last= |first= |date=February 22, 1964|title=Sports - Page 43 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8RorAAAAIBAJ&dq=NASCAR+on+ABC&pg=PA43&article_id=5217,2325122|work=Reading Eagle|location= |access-date=May 12, 2024}}

|Bill Flemming{{cite news |last= |first= |date=February 29, 1964|title=Tv Key... Prevewers Recommend These Programs Tonight. - Page 6|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ps5IAAAAIBAJ&dq=NASCAR+on+CBS&pg=PA6&article_id=2891,6092007|work=Meriden Journal|location= |access-date=May 12, 2024}}

|Stirling Moss

|Chris Economaki

4/5

|Atlanta 500{{YouTube|title=1964 Paul Goldsmith flip @ Atlanta|id=-QkEet35Quo}}

|CBS{{cite news |last= |first= |date=March 17, 1964|title=Test Slated For New Mode At International Speedway. L-Ri Ta. ...|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tW0fAAAAIBAJ&dq=NASCAR+on+CBS&pg=PA23&article_id=4493,2014026|work=Gadsden Times|location= |access-date=May 12, 2024}}

|

|

|

5/24

|World 600{{YouTube|title=1964 World 600|id=Sq_yKpk24qo}}

|NBC

|

|

|

10/18

|National 400{{YouTube|title=1964 Firecracker 400 @ Daytona|id=eMX45KM804c}} (Charlotte)

|ABC

|Jim McKay

|Chris Economaki

|

=[[1965 NASCAR Grand National Series|1965]]=

class=wikitable
Date

!Event

!Network

!Lap-by-lap

!Color commentator(s)

!Reporters

2/14

|Daytona 500{{YouTube|title=1965 Daytona 500|id=Gn50Uq15BpU&t}}

|ABC{{cite news |last= |first= |date=February 27, 1965|title=Tv Key. Prevewers Recommend These Programs Tonight. - Page 3|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9MtIAAAAIBAJ&dq=NASCAR+on+ABC&pg=PA3&article_id=868,5936503|work=Meriden Journal|location= |access-date=May 12, 2024}}{{cite news |last= |first= |date=February 10, 1965|title=Fingerprinted Because Her Dog Barked. - Page 5|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bXkjAAAAIBAJ&dq=NASCAR+on+ABC&pg=PA5&article_id=4461,1664231|work=Daytona Beach Morning Journal|location= |access-date=May 12, 2024}}

|Bill Flemming

|Dan Gurney

|

5/8

|Rebel 300 (Darlington)

|ABC

|Jim McKay

|Chris Economaki

|

7/4

|Firecracker 400{{YouTube|title=1965 Firecracker 400|id=LQ74UGBXpaY}} (Daytona)

|ABC

|Bill Flemming

|Chris Economaki

|

9/6

|Southern 500 (Darlington)

|ABC{{cite news |last=Ketron|first=Talmadge|date=September 16, 1965|title=New Series Begins With This Issue. - Page 5|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aINTAAAAIBAJ&dq=NASCAR+on+ABC&pg=PA5&article_id=7255,3564081|work=Kingsport Post|location= |access-date=May 12, 2024}}

|Jim McKay

|Rodger Ward

|Chris Economaki

10/17

|National 400{{YouTube|title=1965 Charlotte 250 - NASCAR Modified-Sportsman/Grand National|id=_fCLVapcR2A}} (Charlotte)

|ABC

|Bill Flemming

|Rodger Ward

|Chris Economaki

=[[1966 NASCAR Grand National Series|1966]]=

class=wikitable
Date

!Event

!Network

!Lap-by-lap

!Color commentator(s)

!Reporters

2/27

|Daytona 500{{YouTube|title=1966 Daytona 500|id=cCSABgvYKgs&t}}

|ABC{{cite news |last= |first= |date=February 27, 1966|title=Saturday It's The Law Dtheflying Fisher Man Cmor Othe Texan ...|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vHooAAAAIBAJ&dq=NASCAR+on+ABC&pg=PA45&article_id=2743,5851599|work=Daytona Beach Morning Journal|location= |access-date=May 12, 2024}}

|Curt Gowdy

|Rodger Ward

|Chris Economaki

4/30

|Rebel 400{{YouTube|title=1966 Rebel 400|id=h0CeoaRdAL4&t}} (Darlington)

|ABC

|Jim McKay

|Bill France{{cite news |last=Kahn|first=Bernard|date=April 30, 1966|title=Daytona Beach Morning Journal - Page 9|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aZwoAAAAIBAJ&dq=NASCAR+on+ABC&pg=PA9&article_id=1615,6228992|work=Daytona Beach Morning Journal|location= |access-date=May 12, 2024}}

|

7/4

|Firecracker 400 (Daytona)

|ABC

|Jim McKay

|Rodger Ward

|Chris Economaki

9/5

|Southern 500 (Darlington)

|ABC

|Bill Flemming

|Rodger Ward

|Chris Economaki

10/16

|National 500 (Charlotte)

|ABC

|Jim McKay

|Rodger Ward

|Chris Economaki

=1967-69=

class=wikitable
Year

!Date

!Event

!Track

!Network

!Coverage

!Lap-by-lap

!Color commentator(s)

!Pit Reporters

rowspan=6 |1967

|February 24

|Twin 100 Races

|Daytona

|ABC

|{{Tooltip|Highlights|The race aired on March 4th.}}

|Jim McKay

|Chris Economaki

|

February 26

|Daytona 500{{YouTube|title=1967 Daytona 500|id=Mc2NtjHncKM}}

|Daytona

|ABC

|{{Tooltip|Highlights|The race aired on March 11th.}}

|Jim McKay

|Chris Economaki

|

May 13

|Rebel 400

|Darlington

|ABC

|{{Tooltip|Highlights|The race aired on May 26th.}}

|Chris Economaki

|Fred Lorenzen

|

July 4

|Firecracker 400{{YouTube|title=1967 Firecracker 400 Finish|id=DemovedPIfc}}

|Daytona

|ABC

|{{Tooltip|Highlights|The race aired on July 8th.}}

|Jim McKay

|Fred Lorenzen{{cite news |last= |first= |date=July 2, 1967|title=Ana Ufa Ri. Daytona Beach Florida. Sunday, July. Ger Fastest ...|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MHIeAAAAIBAJ&dq=NASCAR+on+ABC&pg=PA7&article_id=888,230853|work=Daytona Beach Sunday News-Journal|location= |access-date=May 12, 2024}}

|Chris Economaki

September 4

|Southern 500{{YouTube|title=1967 Southern 500|id=386VbE7mxok}}

|Darlington

|ABC

|{{Tooltip|Highlights|The race aired on September 23rd.}}

|Bill Flemming

|Fred Lorenzen

|Chris Economaki

October 20

|National 400

|Charlotte

|ABC

|{{Tooltip|Highlights|The race aired on October 21st.}}

|Keith Jackson{{cite web |url=https://sites.google.com/site/nascarracingontv/home/the-announcers/a-m/keith-jackson|title=NASCAR on TV - Keith Jackson|last= |first= |date= |website=NASCAR on TV|publisher= |access-date=May 12, 2024|quote=}}

|Ned Jarrett

|

rowspan=5|1968

|February 25

|Daytona 500{{YouTube|title=1968 Daytona 500|id=BYVfFGP-bZo}}

|Daytona

|ABC{{cite news |last=Knight|first=Buck|date=March 7, 1968|title=Pit Stop. With Buck Knight. - Page 19|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=69FNAAAAIBAJ&dq=NASCAR+on+ABC&pg=PA19&article_id=6957,751175|work=The Free Lance-Star|location= |access-date=May 12, 2024}}

|{{Tooltip|Highlights|The race aired on March 2nd.}}

|Bill Flemming

|Chris Economaki

|

May 11

|Rebel 400{{YouTube|title=1968 Rebel 400 in 4K|id=gMFsrRdEB6M}}

|Darlington

|ABC

|{{Tooltip|Highlights|The race aired on May 18th.}}

|Bill Flemming

|Fred Lorenzen{{cite news |last= |first= |date=April 13, 1969|title=Atlanta Car Race On Wide World. - Page 19|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=048uAAAAIBAJ&dq=NASCAR+on+ABC&pg=PA19&article_id=3584,2877070|work=Schenectady Gazette|location= |access-date=May 12, 2024}}

|

July 4

|Firecracker 400

|Daytona

|ABC

|{{Tooltip|Highlights|The race aired on July 13th.}}

|

|

|

September 2

|Southern 500{{YouTube|title=1967 Southern 500|id=386VbE7mxok}}

|Darlington

|ABC

|{{Tooltip|Highlights|The race aired on September 28th.}}

|Bill Flemming

|Chris Economaki

|

October 20

|National 500

|Charlotte

|ABC

|{{Tooltip|Highlights|The race aired on October 26th.}}

|Jim McKay

|Fred Lorenzen

|Chris Economaki

rowspan=6|1969

|February 23

|Daytona 500{{YouTube|title=1969 Daytona 500|id=SgEkoQKtq2Q&t}}

|Daytona

|ABC

|{{Tooltip|Highlights|The race aired on March 8th.}}

|Bill Flemming

|Chris Economaki

|

March 30

|Atlanta 500{{YouTube|title=1969 Atlanta 500|id=nV2Eir8Hap8}}

|Atlanta

|ABC

|{{Tooltip|Highlights|The race aired on April 5th.}}

|Bill Flemming

|Chris Economaki

|

May 10

|Rebel 400

|Darlington

|ABC{{cite news |last=Granger|first=Gene|date=May 19, 1969|title=Accident Was Through No Fault Of Mine: Pearson - Page 5 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=X3wsAAAAIBAJ&dq=NASCAR+on+ABC&pg=PA5&article_id=2916,3819632|work=Herald-Journal|location= |access-date=May 12, 2024}}

|{{Tooltip|Highlights|The race aired on May 17th.}}

|Jim McKay

|Chris Economaki

|

July 4

|Firecracker 400{{YouTube|title=1969 Firecracker 400|id=er3b_nr52W8}}

|Daytona

|ABC

|{{Tooltip|Highlights|The race aired on July 26th.}}

|Jim McKay

|Chris Economaki

|

September 1

|Southern 500

|Darlington

|ABC{{cite news |last= |first= |date=September 8, 1969|title=Flat Finish. Penske's Camaro Wins Again Nears Second ... - Page 7|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nr1FAAAAIBAJ&dq=NASCAR+on+ABC&pg=PA7&article_id=2016,3181296|work=The Telegraph-Herald |location= |access-date=May 12, 2024}}

|{{Tooltip|Highlights|The race aired on September 13th.}}

|Bill Fleming

|Chris Economaki

|

October 12

|National 500{{YouTube|title=1969 National 500 @ Charlotte|id=BtdOgmumu-g}}

|Charlotte

|ABC

|{{Tooltip|Highlights|The race aired on November 1st.}}

|Jim McKay

|Chris Economaki

|

See also

References

{{reflist}}

{{NASCAR on CBS}}

{{NASCAR on NBC}}

{{NASCAR on television and radio}}

{{NASCAR on ESPN}}

{{ABC's Wide World of Sports}}

Category:ABC Sports

Category:CBS Sports

Category:NBC Sports

Category:Wide World of Sports (American TV program)

Category:CBS Sports Spectacular

1960s

Category:1960s in American television