NASCAR on television in the 1980s

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.

List of races televised

1980

Date Event Network Lap-by-lap Color commentator(s) Reporters
2/10 Busch Clash (Daytona) CBS Ken Squier David Hobbs Ned Jarrett
Brock Yates
2/14 Twin 125's (Daytona) CBS Ken Squier David Hobbs Ned Jarrett
Brock Yates
2/17 Daytona 500 CBS Ken Squier David Hobbs Ned Jarrett
Brock Yates
3/16 Atlanta 500 ABC Al Michaels Jackie Stewart
5/25 World 600 (Charlotte) CBS Ken Squier David Hobbs Ned Jarrett
Brock Yates
7/4 Firecracker 400 (Daytona) ABC Jim McKay Sam Posey Chris Economaki
7/27 Coca-Cola 500 (Pocono) ABC Chris Economaki Jackie Stewart
8/3 Talladega 500 CBS Ken Squier David Hobbs Ned Jarrett
Brock Yates
9/1 Southern 500 (Darlington) ABC Jim Lampley Sam Posey Chris Economaki
10/5 National 500 (Charlotte) NBC Paul Page Johnny Rutherford Bruce Jenner
Gary Gerould
11/15 Los Angeles Times 500 (Ontario) CBS Ken Squier David Hobbs Ned Jarrett
Brock Yates

1981

Date Event Network Lap-by-lap Color commentator(s)
1/11 Winston Western 500 (Riverside) MRN TV Mike Joy Ned Jarrett
2/8 Busch Clash (Daytona) CBS Ken Squier Dale Earnhardt
2/12 UNO Twin 125's (Daytona) CBS Ken Squier David Hobbs
2/15 Daytona 500 CBS Ken Squier David Hobbs
3/1 Carolina 500 (Rockingham) ESPN Bob Jenkins Eli Gold
3/15 Coca-Cola 500 (Atlanta) ABC Jim McKay Jackie Stewart
4/26 Virginia 500 (Martinsville) ESPN Bob Jenkins Eli Gold
5/3 Winston 500 (Talladega) ESPN Dave Despain Larry Nuber
5/17 Mason-Dixon 500 (Dover) ESPN Bob Jenkins Dick Berggren
5/24 World 600 (Charlotte) CBS Ken Squier David Hobbs
7/4 Firecracker 400 (Daytona) ABC Keith Jackson Jackie Stewart
7/26 Mountain Dew 500 (Pocono) NBC Paul Page Gary Gerould
8/2 Talladega 500 (Talladega) CBS Ken Squier Ned Jarrett
9/7 Southern 500 (Darlington) ABC Bill Flemming Jackie Stewart
10/11 National 500 (Charlotte) NBC Paul Page Gary Gerould
11/8 Atlanta Journal 500 ESPN Mike Joy Larry Nuber
  • ESPN broadcast its first race in 1981, from North Carolina Motor Speedway (its first live race was later in the year at Atlanta International Raceway), and TNN followed in 1991. All Cup races were nationally televised by 1985; networks struck individual deals with track owners, and multiple channels carried racing action. Many races were shown taped and edited on Wide World of Sports and syndication services like Mizlou and SETN, but almost all races were live by 1989.

1982

Date Event Network Lap-by-lap Color commentator(s)
2/7 Busch Clash (Daytona) CBS Ken Squier Richard Petty and A. J. Foyt
2/14 Daytona 500 CBS Ken Squier David Hobbs
2/21 Richmond 400 ESPN Bob Jenkins Larry Nuber
3/21 Coca-Cola 500 (Atlanta) ABC Al Michaels Sam Posey
4/4 CRC Chemicals Rebel 500 (Darlington) ABC Al Michaels Jackie Stewart
5/2 Winston 500 (Talladega) ESPN Bob Jenkins Larry Nuber
5/30 World 600 (Charlotte) Mizlou Dave Despain Dick Brooks
6/6 Van Scoy 500 (Pocono) Mizlou Dave Despain Dick Brooks
7/25 Mountain Dew 500 (Pocono) Mizlou Rick Benjamin Dick Brooks
8/22 Champion Spark Plug 400 (Michigan) ESPN Bob Jenkins Larry Nuber
9/6 Southern 500 (Darlington) ABC Bill Flemming Jackie Stewart
9/12 Wrangler 400 (Richmond) ESPN Bob Jenkins Larry Nuber
9/19 CRC Chemicals 500 (Dover) Diamond P Gil Stratton Brock Yates
11/7 Atlanta Journal 500 ESPN Bob Jenkins Larry Nuber
11/21 Winston Western 500 (Riverside) Mizlou Ken Squier Buddy Baker
  • From 1982 to 1984, USA Network broadcast the UNO Twin 125s (now the Gander RV Duel). USA used CBS' crew, graphics and announcers. USA also aired the Atlanta ARCA race in 1985 and televised several NASCAR Busch Series races in the late 1980s.

1983

Date Event Network Lap-by-lap Color commentator(s)
2/14 Busch Clash (Daytona) CBS Ken Squier David Hobbs
2/17 UNO Twin 125's (Daytona) USA Ken Squier David Hobbs
2/20 Daytona 500 CBS Ken Squier David Hobbs
2/27 Richmond 400 TBS Ken Squier Cale Yarborough
3/13 Warner W. Hodgdon 500 (Rockingham) ESPN Bob Jenkins Larry Nuber
5/1 Winston 500 (Talladega) NBC Paul Page Johnny Rutherford
5/7 Marty Robbins 420 (Nashville) TNN Brock Yates Steve Evans
5/15 Mason-Dixon 500 (Dover) Mizlou Ken Squier Phil Parsons
5/29 World 600(Charlotte) Mizlou Ken Squier Phil Parsons
7/4 Firecracker 400 (Daytona) ABC Bill Fleming Sam Posey
7/24 Like Cola 500 (Pocono) Mizlou Ken Squier Buddy Baker
7/31 Talladega 500 CBS Ken Squier David Hobbs and Ned Jarrett
9/18 Budweiser 500 (Dover) TNN Brock Yates Steve Evans
10/9 Miller High Life 500 (Charlotte) Mizlou Ken Squier Donnie Allison
11/6 Atlanta Journal 500 TBS Ken Squier Geoff Bodine
11/20 Winston Western 500 (Riverside) TBS Ken Squier Cale Yarborough
  • During its coverage of the 1983 Daytona 500, CBS introduced an innovation which director Bob Fishman helped develop – a miniature, remote-controlled in-car camera called RaceCam. Fishman directed every Daytona 500 telecast on CBS, with the exception of 1992, 1994 and 1998 because Fishman was away directing CBS' figure-skating coverage for the Winter Olympics.
  • TNN started showing races live in 1991, but it had aired taped coverage of a few Winston Cup races in the 1980s on its American Sports Cavalcade program.

1984

Date Event Network Lap-by-lap Color commentator(s)
2/12 Busch Clash (Daytona) CBS Ken Squier Ned Jarrett
2/16 UNO Twin 125's (Daytona) USA Ken Squier David Hobbs
2/19 Daytona 500 CBS Ken Squier David Hobbs and Ned Jarrett
2/26 Richmond 400 (Richmond) TBS Ken Squier Buddy Baker
3/4 Carolina 500 (Rockingham) SETN Mike Joy Benny Parsons
3/18 Coca-Cola 500 (Atlanta) ABC Jim Lampley Sam Posey
4/15 TransSouth 500 (Darlington) ESPN Bob Jenkins Larry Nuber
5/12 Coors 420 (Nashville) TBS Ken Squier Benny Parsons
5/20 Budweiser 500 (Dover) Mizlou Mike Joy Phil Parsons
6/10 Van Scoy 500 (Pocono) Mizlou/ESPN Mike Joy (Mizlou)
Bob Jenkins (ESPN)
Donnie Allison (Mizlou)
Larry Nuber (ESPN)
7/4 Firecracker 400 (Daytona) ABC Jim Lampley Sam Posey
7/22 Like Cola 500 (Pocono) ESPN Bob Jenkins Larry Nuber
7/29 Talladega 500 (Talladega) CBS Ken Squier Ned Jarrett and Benny Parsons
9/2 Southern 500 (Darlington) ESPN Bob Jenkins Jack Arute
10/21 American 500 (Rockingham) SETN Mike Joy Benny Parsons
11/11 Atlanta Journal 500 (Atlanta) TBS Ken Squier Glenn Jarrett
11/18 Winston Western 500 (Riverside) TBS Ken Squier Phil Parsons

1985

Date Event Network Lap-by-lap Color commentator(s)
2/10 Busch Clash (Daytona) CBS Ken Squier David Hobbs and Ned Jarrett
2/17 Daytona 500 CBS Ken Squier David Hobbs and Ned Jarrett
2/24 Richmond 400 TBS Ken Squier Benny Parsons
3/3 Carolina 500 (Rockingham) SETN Mike Joy Benny Parsons
4/6 Valleydale Meats 500 (Bristol) ESPN Bob Jenkins Benny Parsons
4/14 Transouth 500 (Darlington) ESPN Bob Jenkins Larry Nuber
4/21 Northwestern Bank 400 (North Wilkesboro) ESPN Bob Jenkins Larry Nuber
4/28 Sovran Bank 500 (Martinsville) SETN Mike Joy Benny Parsons
5/5 Winston 500 (Talladega) NBC Paul Page Bobby Unser
5/25 The Winston (Charlotte) Jefferson-Pilot Mike Joy Kyle Petty
5/26 Coca-Cola World 600 (Charlotte) Jefferson-Pilot Mike Joy Johnny Hayes
6/2 Budweiser 400 (Riverside) TNN Steve Evans Brock Yates
6/9 Van Scoy 500 (Pocono) ESPN Bob Jenkins Larry Nuber
6/16 Miller 400 (Michigan) CBS Ken Squier Ned Jarrett
7/4 Pepsi Firecracker 400 (Daytona) ABC Al Trautwig Sam Posey
7/28 Talladega 500 CBS Ken Squier Ned Jarrett
8/24 Busch 500 (Bristol) ESPN Larry Nuber Benny Parsons
9/1 Southern 500 (Darlington) ESPN Larry Nuber Jack Arute
9/8 Wrangler Sanfor-Set 400 (Richmond) SETN Mike Joy Benny Parsons
9/15 Delaware 500 (Dover) Mizlou Mike Hogewood Dick Brooks
9/22 Goody's 500 (Martinsville) SETN Mike Joy Benny Parsons
10/6 Miller Genuine Draft 500 (Charlotte) Jefferson-Pilot Mike Hogewood Johnny Hayes
10/20 Nationwise 500 (Rockingham) TBS Ken Squier Benny Parsons
11/3 Atlanta Journal 500 TBS Ken Squier Dick Brooks
11/17 Winston Western 500 (Riverside) TBS Ken Squier Benny Parsons

1986

Date Event Network Lap-by-lap Color commentator(s)
2/9 Busch Clash CBS Ken Squier Ned Jarrett and David Hobbs
2/16 Daytona 500 CBS Ken Squier Ned Jarrett and David Hobbs
2/23 Richmond 400 TBS Ken Squier Benny Parsons
3/16 Motorcraft 500 ABC Jim Lampley Sam Posey
4/6 Valleydale Meats 500 (Bristol) ESPN Bob Jenkins Larry Nuber
4/13 Transouth 500 (Darlington) ESPN Bob Jenkins Jack Arute
4/20 First Union 400 (North Wilkesboro) ESPN Bob Jenkins Benny Parsons and Larry Nuber
4/27 Sovran Bank 500 (Martinsville) SETN Mike Joy Benny Parsons
5/4 Winston 500 (Talladega) ESPN Bob Jenkins Larry Nuber
5/11 The Winston (Atlanta) ESPN Bob Jenkins Larry Nuber and Benny Parsons
5/18 Budweiser 500 (Dover) Mizlou Steve Grad Dick Brooks
6/1 Budweiser 400 (Riverside) TNN Steve Evans Brock Yates
6/8 Miller High Life 500 (Pocono) SETN Mike Joy Jerry Punch
7/20 Summer 500 (Pocono) SETN Mike Joy Jerry Punch
7/27 Talladega 500 CBS Ken Squier Ned Jarrett and Neil Bonnett
8/10 Bud at the Glen (Watkins Glen) ESPN Bob Jenkins Rick Mears
8/17 Champion Spark Plug 400 (Michigan) ESPN Jack Arute Jerry Punch
8/23 Busch 500 (Bristol) ESPN Bob Jenkins Larry Nuber and Benny Parsons
9/14 Delaware 500 (Dover) Mizlou Steve Grad Dick Brooks
9/21 Goody's 500 (Martinsville) SETN Eli Gold Jerry Punch
9/28 Holly Farms 400 (North Wilkesboro) ESPN Larry Nuber Benny Parsons
10/19 Nationwise 500 (Rockingham) TBS Ken Squier Benny Parsons
11/2 Atlanta Journal 500 ESPN Bob Jenkins Larry Nuber
11/16 Winston Western 500 (Riverside) TBS Ken Squier Phil Parsons

1987

Date Event Network Lap-by-lap Color commentator(s)
2/8 Busch Clash (Daytona) CBS Ken Squier Ned Jarrett and David Hobbs
2/12 7-Eleven Twin 125's (Daytona) CBS (tape delayed to 2/14) Ken Squier Ned Jarrett and David Hobbs
2/15 Daytona 500 CBS Ken Squier Ned Jarrett and David Hobbs
3/8 Miller High Life 400 (Richmond) TBS Ken Squier Lake Speed
3/15 Motorcraft 500 ABC Jim Lampley Sam Posey
3/29 TranSouth 500 (Darlington) ESPN Larry Nuber Jerry Punch
4/5 First Union 400 (North Wilkesboro) ESPN Bob Jenkins Larry Nuber
4/12 Valleydale Meats 500 (Bristol) ESPN Bob Jenkins Larry Nuber
4/26 Sovran Bank 500 (Martinsville) SETN Eli Gold Jerry Punch
5/3 Winston 500 (Talladega) ESPN Bob Jenkins Larry Nuber
5/17 The Winston (Charlotte) ABC Keith Jackson Donnie Allison
5/31 Budweiser 500 (Dover) ESPN Larry Nuber Jerry Punch
6/14 Miller High Life 500 (Pocono) SETN Eli Gold Jerry Punch
7/4 Pepsi Firecracker 400 (Daytona) ABC Keith Jackson Donnie Allison
8/22 Busch 500 (Bristol) ESPN Bob Jenkins Larry Nuber
9/13 Wrangler Indigo 400 (Richmond) SETN Eli Gold Jerry Punch
9/20 Delaware 500 (Dover) ESPN Bob Jenkins Larry Nuber
9/27 Goody's 500 (Martinsville) SETN Eli Gold Jerry Punch
11/8 Winston Western 500 (Riverside) TBS Ken Squier Johnny Hayes and Buddy Baker
11/22 Atlanta Journal 500 ESPN Bob Jenkins Larry Nuber

1988

Date Event Network Lap-by-lap Color commentator(s)
2/7 Busch Clash (Daytona) CBS Ken Squier Ned Jarrett and Chris Economaki
2/11 Twin 125's (Daytona) CBS (tape delayed to 2/13) Ken Squier Ned Jarrett and Chris Economaki
2/14 Daytona 500 CBS Ken Squier Ned Jarrett and Chris Economaki
2/21 Pontiac Excitement 400 (Richmond) TBS Ken Squier Johnny Hayes
3/20 Motorcraft Quality Parts 500 ABC Keith Jackson Jerry Punch
3/27 TranSouth 500 (Darlington) ESPN Bob Jenkins Ned Jarrett
4/10 Valleydale Meats 500 (Bristol) ESPN Bob Jenkins Ned Jarrett and Gary Nelson
4/17 First Union 400 (North Wilkesboro) ESPN Bob Jenkins Ned Jarrett and Gary Nelson
5/1 Winston 500 (Talladega) ESPN Bob Jenkins Gary Nelson and Ned Jarrett
5/22 The Winston (Charlotte) ABC Keith Jackson Jerry Punch
5/29 Coca-Cola 600 (Charlotte) TBS Ken Squier Johnny Hayes
6/12 Budweiser 400 (Riverside) ESPN Bob Jenkins Ned Jarrett
6/19 Miller High Life 500 (Pocono) FNN/Score Pat Patterson Bob Latford
6/26 Miller High Life 400 (Michigan) CBS Ken Squier Ned Jarrett and Chris Economaki
7/2 Pepsi Firecracker 400 (Daytona) ABC Paul Page Johnny Rutherford
7/31 DieHard 500 (Talladega) CBS Ken Squier Ned Jarrett and Chris Economaki
8/21 Champion Spark Plug 400 (Michigan) ESPN Bob Jenkins Ned Jarrett and Gary Nelson
8/27 Busch 500 (Bristol) ESPN Bob Jenkins Ned Jarrett and Gary Nelson
9/4 Southern 500 (Darlington) ESPN Bob Jenkins Ned Jarrett and Gary Nelson
9/11 Miller High Life 400 (Richmond) TBS Ken Squier Johnny Hayes
9/18 Delaware 500 (Dover) ESPN Bob Jenkins Ned Jarrett and Gary Nelson
9/25 Goody's 500 (Martinsville) ESPN Bob Jenkins Gary Nelson and Ned Jarrett
10/16 Holly Farms 400 (North Wilkesboro) ESPN Jerry Punch Ned Jarrett
10/23 AC Delco 500 (Rockingham) ESPN Bob Jenkins Ned Jarrett and Gary Nelson
11/6 Checker 500 (Phoenix) ESPN Bob Jenkins Ned Jarrett
11/20 Atlanta Journal 500 ESPN Bob Jenkins Ned Jarrett and Gary Nelson
  • After SETN folded, one Pocono race a year was produced by Jim Wiglesworth on pay-per-view for Viewer's Choice (now In Demand) from 1988 to 1990. They were not a huge success, as fans were reluctant to pay for what they could see last week for free. The Viewer's Choice shows were noteworthy in that they premiered viewer phone-in questions during the races.

1989

Date Event Network Lap-by-lap Color commentator(s)
2/12 Busch Clash (Daytona) CBS Ken Squier Ned Jarrett and Chris Economaki
2/16 Twin 125's (Daytona) CBS (tape delayed to 2/18) Ken Squier Ned Jarrett and Chris Economaki
2/19 Daytona 500 CBS Ken Squier Ned Jarrett and Chris Economaki
3/19 Motorcraft Quality Parts 500 (Atlanta) ABC Paul Page Bobby Unser and Sam Posey
4/16 First Union 400 (North Wilkesboro) ESPN Bob Jenkins Ned Jarrett and Gary Nelson
5/7 Winston 500 (Talladega) ESPN Bob Jenkins Ned Jarrett and Benny Parsons
5/21 The Winston (Charlotte) ABC Paul Page Benny Parsons and Bobby Unser
5/28 Coca-Cola 600 (Charlotte) TBS Ken Squier Johnny Hayes
6/4 Budweiser 500(Dover) ESPN Bob Jenkins Ned Jarrett and Benny Parsons
6/11 Banquet Frozen Foods 300 (Sears Point) ESPN Bob Jenkins Ned Jarrett and Benny Parsons
6/18 Miller High Life 500 (Pocono) PPV Dave Despain Lyn St. James and Gary Nelson
7/1 Pepsi 400 (Daytona) ESPN Bob Jenkins Ned Jarrett and Benny Parsons
7/23 AC Spark Plug 500 (Pocono) ESPN Bob Jenkins Ned Jarrett and Benny Parsons
7/30 DieHard 500 (Talladega) CBS Ken Squier Ned Jarrett and Chris Economaki
8/13 Bud at the Glen (Watkins Glen) ESPN Bob Jenkins Ned Jarrett and Benny Parsons
9/10 Miller High Life 400 (Richmond) TBS Ken Squier Johnny Hayes and Phil Parsons
9/17 Peak Performance 500 (Dover) ESPN Bob Jenkins Ned Jarrett and Benny Parsons
9/24 Goody's 500 (Martinsville) ESPN Bob Jenkins Ned Jarrett and Benny Parsons
10/8 All Pro Auto Parts 500 (Charlotte) TBS Ken Squier Johnny Hayes and Joe Ruttman
10/15 Tyson Holly Farms 400 (North Wilkesboro) ESPN Bob Jenkins Ned Jarrett and Benny Parsons
11/5 Autoworks 500 (Phoenix) ESPN Bob Jenkins Ned Jarrett and Benny Parsons
11/19 Atlanta Journal 500 (Atlanta) ESPN Bob Jenkins Ned Jarrett and Benny Parsons
  • At the 1989 Motorcraft Quality Parts 500 NASCAR event, ESPN/ABC broadcaster Dr. Jerry Punch was reporting from the pit stall of Richard Petty when a fire broke out, injuring two crew members who Punch proceeded to treat on the spot. Following the incident, in which several items of Punch's clothing were singed or melted, ESPN mandated that its pit reporters wear fire-retardant suits. Other networks have since adopted the practice.

This page was last updated at 2023-12-23 17:13 UTC. Update now. View original page.

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