Top Five NASCAR TV Pit Reporters of All-Time

Steve Byrnes

A favorite among fans, Steve Byrnes served as a pit reporter for NASCAR on FOX from 2001 to 2014. Sadly, Byrnes was taken from his family, friends, and the entire sport of auto racing too soon, passing away from head and neck cancer in 2015. However, his good-natured demeanor and relationship with everyone in the garage area continue to live on to this day.

Byrnes began his career as a producer at Sunbelt Video for Inside Winston Cup with Ned Jarrett. This first step into the sport of NASCAR would lead him to opportunities for reporting and announcing at TNN, Speed, and Fox Sports. He covered ASA, NASCAR, ARCA, and Monster Jam over his time at the networks, and even called a handful of NFL games on Fox in the 2000s.

Perhaps what stood out the most about Steve Byrnes was his friendliness and genuine smile when walking through the pit lane. He was well respected by his peers and the drivers that he covered, while also being able to ask the tough questions and encounter the difficult situations. His handling of situations like having to interview Tony Stewart after getting wrecked at Fontana earned him praise from fellow reporters.

Steve Byrnes was taken too soon from the NASCAR community, but those who saw him and those who met him through the sport are better off for knowing him.