Ken Squier

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ken Squier (born April 10, 1935) is an American sportscaster and motorsports editor from Waterbury, Vermont. From 1979-1997, he was the lap-by-lap commentator for NASCAR on CBS, and was also a lap-by-lap commentator for TBS from the time they had rights to NASCAR until 2000. Squier was the first announcer to give lap-by-lap commentary on the Daytona 500 in 1979. He coined the term "The Great American Race" for the Daytona 500, and developed the in-car camera for the 1982 Daytona 500. [1] He lives in Stowe, Vermont.

Contents

[edit] Sports announcing career

[edit] Early career

Squier's father Lloyd owned and operated WDEV in Waterbury, Vermont and Ken began his on-air work at age 12. [2] Squier's racing announcing career began when he announced a stockcar race from the back of an old logging truck at a tiny dirt track in Vermont at age 14. [3] He was the announcer at Mallets Bay and the Northeastern Speedway in the 1950's. In 1960 he opened Thunder Road International SpeedBowl, the Barre, Vermont quarter-mile oval which he still owns. [4]

Squier co-founded Motor Racing Network in 1969.

[edit] NASCAR announcer

Squier joined CBS Sports in 1972.

Ken Squier believed that people would watch the entire 200-lap Daytona 500. "It was a tough sell," Squier said. "There was a general feeling that this was more of a novelty thing and that it wouldn't work on a national level." [5] On February 15, 1979; CBS aired "The Great American Race" flag-to-flag. Television ratings were high, in part because a major snowstorm on the East Coast kept millions of viewers indoors. Richard Petty won the race, but the fight between Bobby Allison and Cale Yarborough made headlines throughout the United States.

For the next 20 years, beginning in 1981, various TV stations would get NASCAR coverage on various tracks: CBS, TBS, TNN, ESPN, ABC, and NBC. Squier would work for CBS and TBS over this time frame, covering half of the Winston Million races: Daytona 500 and Coca-Cola 600.

Squier stopped lap-by-lap announcing in 1997, and was replaced in the booth by Mike Joy. Squier had announced every Daytona 500 from 1979 to 1997. Squier became the studio host, where he remained until 2000.

[edit] Announcer in other sports

Squier has announced a wide range of sports outside of auto racing, including skating, golf, and tennis. [6] He has announced outside of the United States, including Australia, Japan, and Europe. [6] He was a play-by-play announcer for CBS' United States coverage of the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville. [7]

[edit] Selected filmography

Squier has acted in several movies, primarily as an announcer.

[edit] Business ventures

  • He helped co-found Motor Racing Network, as well as his play by play announcing on the network. [3]
  • President/Owner of Radio Vermont, Inc. and its radio stations WDEV, WLVB, and WCVT
  • Co-founded World Sports Enterprises with Fred Rheinstein, the first television production company to specialize in motorsports.[2] It was sold to The Nashville Network in 1995 and to CBS in 1997. WSE was closed by MTV Networks.
  • Owner and Founder of Thunder Road International Speed Bowl, Barre, VT.
  • Former Co-Owner of Airborne Raceway, Plattsburgh, NY

[edit] Career awards

[edit] Halls of fame

  • He was inducted in the Oceanside Rotary Club of Daytona Beach Stock Car Racing Hall of Fame in 2000. [3]
  • Squier was inducted in the New England Auto Racers Hall of Fame in 2002.
  • He was a charter member of the Vermont Broadcasters Hall of Fame.
  • He was awarded the 2003 Smokey Yunick Award for his lifelong contributions to motorsports.

[edit] Broadcasting awards

  • Henry T. McLenore Motorsports Press Award - Journalism
  • Buddy Shuman Award, Motor Racing Network - Radio Race Coverage
  • E.M.P.A. Art Peck Award - Announcer
  • Eastern Motor Sport Press Association Award - Journalism
  • Vermont Sportscaster of the Year - 1963, 1967, 1969, 1973, 1997
  • Flock Award, Charlotte Motor Speedway - 1987

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Ken Squier, BAM Racing, Sylvania, Post-Race Press Conferences & Special Guests on Sunday Sept. 17, 2006", Retrieved May 31, 2007
  2. ^ a b "Ken Squier to receive Smokey Yunick Award", [[September 8] 2003 article at motorsport.com, Retrieved May 31, 2007
  3. ^ a b c Biography at the Stock Car Racing Hall of Fame, Retrieved May 30, 2007
  4. ^ Biography at the New England Auto Racers Hall of Fame, Retrieved May 30, 2007
  5. ^ "NASCAR still setting standards for innovation in TV sports", February 15, 2003, theautochannel.com, Retrieved May 31, 2007
  6. ^ a b "Squier is the king of Vermont radio", February 1, 2000 Vermont Business Magazine, Retrieved May 31, 2007
  7. ^ Biography at Yahoo, Retrieved May 30, 2007

[edit] External links