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Speed Channel covers wide spectrum of USAC racing in '03
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind (January 30, 2003)
Speed Channel's 2003 coverage of United States Auto Club racing events will encompass a wide variety of competition, from Midgets to Sprint Cars to Silver Crown Championship cars, on tracks ranging from dirt to pavement and from 1/5-mile to 1 mile in length.
Beginning with the March 20 broadcast of the 2003 National/Western Midget Car Series opener at Ventura, Calif., a total of 22 events will be showcased, culminating with a season highlights and awards presentations show in December.
A total of 15 races are slated for broadcast as part of "Dirty Thursday" programming, which will air at 9 pm on Thursday nights, the lone exception being the "Turkey Night Grand Prix" from Irwindale (Calif.) Speedway, which will air "live" at 10 pm Thanksgiving Night, November 27! Live and taped programming are part of the package, which also includes seven Saturday night events.
Included in the 22-race offering are traditional spectaculars like the "Copper World Indy 200" events at Phoenix, Ariz. in March, the "Hoosier Hundred" at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis in May, the "Night Before the 500" Midget Classic at Indianapolis Raceway Park in May and "Indiana Sprint Week" in July. Also slated for airing are the purse-rich "Twin 25" Midget classics at Irwindale, Calif. and Indianapolis Raceway Park, the "Buckeye Nationals" in Ohio, USAC's inaugrual visit to Lowe's Motor Speedway's Dirt Track, USAC's return to the Tulsa (Okla.) Fairgrounds, "tripleheaders" at Pikes Peak International Raceway in Colorado and Nazareth (Pa.) Speedway and the exciting Silver Crown event at Richmond International Raceway. In addition, both Silver Crown events at Indianapolis Raceway Park and slated for airing.
Augmenting the entire package is the airing of USAC's newest event, the million-dollar non-winged Sprint car race at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio September 20-21!
Orchestrating the 2003 broadcasts will be three of America's most knowledgeable motorsports broadcasters: Rick Benjamin, Larry Rice and Dave Argabright. Their expertise will certainly give Speed Channel's coverage of USAC racing unparalleled excitement.
"I'm thrilled to get the opportunity to call USAC's exciting open wheel races as they come to Speed Channel," says Benjamin. "Fans across the country are in for a treat as we showcase the next class of racing superstars. Full-throttle open cockpit racing is USAC's trademark. It's the closest, toughest, most demanding competition you can find anywhere and NASCAR and IRL team owners know many of their future stars will come from USAC's ranks. Working with a great driver and broadcaster like Larry Rice will be a thrill and I can't wait to get started!"
Larry Rice adds: "I am extremely excited to be a part of the new team that USAC has put together for their first year on SPEED. Sprint car and Midget racing has always been some of the best racing on TV and I think that Rick, Dave and I can convey that in a unique and fun way to the viewer. I have been a part of USAC either as a driver or broadcaster for 34 years and they have always been a class act. I believe this is just one more step toward keeping USAC in the forefront of the motorsports industry."
Argabright has been a lifelong fan of USAC racing. "I'm delighted to be involved in this project," he says. "Larry is a good friend and I'm excited about working with him and Rick. It's going to be fun for all of us."
Talent profiles:
RICK BENJAMIN: The anchor for the popular award-winning RaceDay motorsports show from 1995-2000, Rick was one of Speedvision's original on-air announcers and has orchestrated broadcasts of nearly every form of major auto racing competition. A local news anchor for two decades, he has served as a broadcaster for numerous networks, spanning a wide spectrum of the sport. Not a newcomer to USAC racing, his knowledge of the sport is extensive and diverse.
LARRY RICE: Winner of 23 USAC National feature events during his distinguished racing career, Larry won USAC's Silver Crown driving championship in 1977 and 1981 and National Midget Car title in 1973. A color analyst for auto racing broadcasts since 1990, Larry has broadcast a wide variety of motorsports events and can relate to the sport on an intimate basis. A member of the National Midget Car Hall of Fame, Larry has earned numerous awards both in and out of the cockpit. In 1978 he shared the "Rookie of the Year" honors at the Indianapolis 500 with Rick Mears after finishing 11th.
DAVE ARGABRIGHT: Covering the sport of auto racing since 1981, Dave's insightful writing has earned him the respect of the entire motorsports fraternity. As a broadcaster, he has earned additional praise for his work in the pits and in the booth. Contribution and Appreciation awards have been numerous and he has penned three books, the latest - "Hewitt's Law" - released this year, a salute to the life and racing career of the legendary USAC racer Jack Hewitt.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind (January 30, 2003)
Speed Channel's 2003 coverage of United States Auto Club racing events will encompass a wide variety of competition, from Midgets to Sprint Cars to Silver Crown Championship cars, on tracks ranging from dirt to pavement and from 1/5-mile to 1 mile in length.
Beginning with the March 20 broadcast of the 2003 National/Western Midget Car Series opener at Ventura, Calif., a total of 22 events will be showcased, culminating with a season highlights and awards presentations show in December.
A total of 15 races are slated for broadcast as part of "Dirty Thursday" programming, which will air at 9 pm on Thursday nights, the lone exception being the "Turkey Night Grand Prix" from Irwindale (Calif.) Speedway, which will air "live" at 10 pm Thanksgiving Night, November 27! Live and taped programming are part of the package, which also includes seven Saturday night events.
Included in the 22-race offering are traditional spectaculars like the "Copper World Indy 200" events at Phoenix, Ariz. in March, the "Hoosier Hundred" at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis in May, the "Night Before the 500" Midget Classic at Indianapolis Raceway Park in May and "Indiana Sprint Week" in July. Also slated for airing are the purse-rich "Twin 25" Midget classics at Irwindale, Calif. and Indianapolis Raceway Park, the "Buckeye Nationals" in Ohio, USAC's inaugrual visit to Lowe's Motor Speedway's Dirt Track, USAC's return to the Tulsa (Okla.) Fairgrounds, "tripleheaders" at Pikes Peak International Raceway in Colorado and Nazareth (Pa.) Speedway and the exciting Silver Crown event at Richmond International Raceway. In addition, both Silver Crown events at Indianapolis Raceway Park and slated for airing.
Augmenting the entire package is the airing of USAC's newest event, the million-dollar non-winged Sprint car race at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio September 20-21!
Orchestrating the 2003 broadcasts will be three of America's most knowledgeable motorsports broadcasters: Rick Benjamin, Larry Rice and Dave Argabright. Their expertise will certainly give Speed Channel's coverage of USAC racing unparalleled excitement.
"I'm thrilled to get the opportunity to call USAC's exciting open wheel races as they come to Speed Channel," says Benjamin. "Fans across the country are in for a treat as we showcase the next class of racing superstars. Full-throttle open cockpit racing is USAC's trademark. It's the closest, toughest, most demanding competition you can find anywhere and NASCAR and IRL team owners know many of their future stars will come from USAC's ranks. Working with a great driver and broadcaster like Larry Rice will be a thrill and I can't wait to get started!"
Larry Rice adds: "I am extremely excited to be a part of the new team that USAC has put together for their first year on SPEED. Sprint car and Midget racing has always been some of the best racing on TV and I think that Rick, Dave and I can convey that in a unique and fun way to the viewer. I have been a part of USAC either as a driver or broadcaster for 34 years and they have always been a class act. I believe this is just one more step toward keeping USAC in the forefront of the motorsports industry."
Argabright has been a lifelong fan of USAC racing. "I'm delighted to be involved in this project," he says. "Larry is a good friend and I'm excited about working with him and Rick. It's going to be fun for all of us."
Talent profiles:
RICK BENJAMIN: The anchor for the popular award-winning RaceDay motorsports show from 1995-2000, Rick was one of Speedvision's original on-air announcers and has orchestrated broadcasts of nearly every form of major auto racing competition. A local news anchor for two decades, he has served as a broadcaster for numerous networks, spanning a wide spectrum of the sport. Not a newcomer to USAC racing, his knowledge of the sport is extensive and diverse.
LARRY RICE: Winner of 23 USAC National feature events during his distinguished racing career, Larry won USAC's Silver Crown driving championship in 1977 and 1981 and National Midget Car title in 1973. A color analyst for auto racing broadcasts since 1990, Larry has broadcast a wide variety of motorsports events and can relate to the sport on an intimate basis. A member of the National Midget Car Hall of Fame, Larry has earned numerous awards both in and out of the cockpit. In 1978 he shared the "Rookie of the Year" honors at the Indianapolis 500 with Rick Mears after finishing 11th.
DAVE ARGABRIGHT: Covering the sport of auto racing since 1981, Dave's insightful writing has earned him the respect of the entire motorsports fraternity. As a broadcaster, he has earned additional praise for his work in the pits and in the booth. Contribution and Appreciation awards have been numerous and he has penned three books, the latest - "Hewitt's Law" - released this year, a salute to the life and racing career of the legendary USAC racer Jack Hewitt.
