Racing: Top 5 most underrated TV personalities
By Alex Herbst
Bob Varsha
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If there was a hall of fame for motorsports announcers in America, Bob Varsha would be in the inaugural class. A veteran of covering Formula One and sports car racing, his time regularly on the air with Fox Sports was cut short when IMSA chose Greg Creamer as his replacement ahead of the 2017 season. Ever since, fans of the perennial professional have been clamoring for his return to the airwaves.
Varsha was one of the early regular announcers on Speed, first covering Formula One when it came to the network. Beginning as a reporter and working his way into the broadcast booth, he got left behind in a way with his partners David Hobbs and Steve Matchett moving on to NBC Sports in 2013. Perhaps there is hope, though, for Varsha to be back covering racing full-time as ESPN takes over F1 rights, and will need a competent and controlled host for their race coverage.
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An underappreciated gem in a crowded landscape of announcers, Varsha brings a seriousness and elevation of the racing landscape when he calls a race. When Bob Varsha talks about action on the track, it’s not simply calling it as he sees it, but a story that you are along for the ride on. Varsha helped draw in an American audience to Formula One that NBC Sports has further cultivated. And racing fans are forever thankful for the work he has done. Who do you think are the most underrated announcers in racing around the globe? Are there other names that belong on this list?