Top Five NASCAR TV Analysts of All-Time

1. Larry Nuber

One of the pioneer analysts of NASCAR came through on a network that has had a sketchy history with the sport to say the least. Former U.S. Army Lieutenant and station advertiser Larry Nuber wasn’t on the path to television, until an encounter with Paul Page that would lead him to ESPN.

Covering a variety of motorsports including stock car racing from 1979 to 1989 with the worldwide leader, Nuber partnered frequently with Bob Jenkins, one of our top five NASCAR TV announcers of all-time. They covered ESPN’s first racing event together, a USAC race from Indiana, and grew their portfolio from there, including NASCAR. Additionally, Nuber would work with TNN and CBS on their coverage before his unexpected death in 2000.

While he did not have the in-car expertise that many now associate with NASCAR TV analysts, Nuber brought a steady hand to the booth alongside a young and exciting announcer in Bob Jenkins. On occasion, Nuber would go it alone and call the race himself, including the 1985 Southern 500. It was perhaps his most memorable race, as champion Bill Elliott became the first driver to win the Winston Million.

Despite his considerably important role in ESPN’s auto racing coverage, Nuber would leave the network in controversy in 1989 following an on-air argument during their Thursday Night Thunder telecast. Since then, ESPN has lost NASCAR coverage twice, in 2000 and 2014, and many NASCAR fans have continued to malign their network’s lack of auto racing knowledge. It makes some long once again for the days that Bob and Larry patrolled the TV booth.

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