Bob Varsha
| Bob Varsha | |
|---|---|
 Varsha at the 2010 Legends of Motorsport event at Barber Motorsports Park | |
| Born | April 21, 1951 |
| Alma mater |
Dartmouth College Emory University School of Law |
Bob Varsha (born April 21, 1951 in Northport, New York) is an American motorsport announcer who most recently worked for the defunct Speed Channel. He was one of the on air personalities for the host of the network's live Formula One coverage.
Early years
Varsha graduated from Dartmouth College in 1973 with a bachelor of arts degree in foreign language. While attending Dartmouth, Varsha won varsity letters in cross country and track. He even made the finals of the U.S. Olympic Trials marathon event twice, doing so while attending Emory University School of Law. Varsha also won the inaugural Peach Bowl Half Marathon in 1980, winning at a time of 1:08:23. Varsha then went on to practice law in Atlanta, but his life took a different direction when TBS asked him to cover the Peachtree Road Race, which he headed as part of the Atlanta Track Club in 1980. He did so well that TBS offered him a part-time job. In 1986, Varsha joined ESPN, where he hosted of the network's Formula One coverage as well many other international sports events including gymnastics, figure skating, track & field and 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Speed
In 1999, Varsha moved to SPEED, then known as SpeedVision. In 2002 and 2003, Varsha was the host of SPEED's Champ Car coverage. Rick DeBruhl took over Varsha's Formula One host chair for that period. In 2004, Varsha returned to his Formula One hosting duties. In 2004, Varsha was also a part-time host/narrator for SPEED's coverage of the World Rally Championship, even reporting on-site from the WRC's inaugural event in Mexico. Varsha also commentated on the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction on Speed Channel in Scottsdale, Arizona, Palm Beach, Florida, Orange County, California and Las Vegas, Nevada annually.
At the end of the 2012 F1 season, it was announced that Speed would no longer present the entire live Formula 1 grands prix schedule for the United States market. Varsha, who is under contract to Speed, was quoted as saying that this merely represented "one single apex in a life of innumerable apices." Varsha is being permitted by Speed to host only three F1 races during the 2013 season for the NBC Sports Network (namely the three races that are on the same day as an IZOD IndyCar Series race-Malaysia, Belgium, and Korea-as regular lead Leigh Diffey is lead on IndyCar broadcasts for NBCSN as well), which now carries F1 in the United States.
Focus On Racing Radio
In January 2002 Varsha joined Focus On Racing Radio,[1] syndicated by Westwood One. The show originates from Memphis, Tennessee, but Varsha hosts from Atlanta, Georgia and from the Speed TV studios in Charlotte, North Carolina
Varsha's co-host on the show is Forrest Goodman of Memphis, Tennessee.[2]
The radio program is delivered in a magazine-style format and features interviews with top drivers from all forms of motorsports. The show's slogan is "The Fastest Hour In Radio!"
Personal life
His son, Matt, drove in the Star Mazda Series for most of 2006, but had to withdraw near season's end due to lack of financial backing.[3]
References
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