NASCAR on TBS


NASCAR on TBS is the name of former television program that broadcast NASCAR races on the TBS cable network. Select NASCAR Winston Cup Series, Busch Series, and Craftsman Truck Series races were aired on TBS from its debut in 1983 up to the 2000 season.
Races were switched to TNT in 2001 as part of the then-new NASCAR TV deal, although the initial plans 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, Atlanta and Riverside.
For several years in the 1990s, the only Cup Series races aired on TBS were the two races from Charlotte Motor Speedway ; 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

Winston Cup Series

1980s

1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989

1990s-2000

1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000

Craftsman Truck Series

1996

1997

RndDateRace TitleTrackLead CommentatorsCo-Commentators
5May 3Craftsman 200Portland Speedway, PortlandKen SquierDick Berggren
6May 10NAPACARD 200Evergreen Speedway, MonroeKen SquierDick 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

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