TNT celebrates 25 years as NASCAR broadcast partner

LONG POND, Pa. -- After every pre-race show on NASCAR on TNT, announcer Bill Weber kicks off his shoes.

The gesture is symbolic of the style TNT announcers and analysts maintain in the broadcast booth; a recipe that has provided decades of success.

TNT Summer Series

Date	Race	Time
June 8	Pocono	12:30 p.m. ET
June 15	Michigan	12:30 p.m. ET
June 22	Infineon	3:30 p.m. ET
June 29	N. Hampshire	12:30 p.m. ET
July 5	Daytona	6:30 p.m. ET
July 12	Chicagoland	6:30 p.m. ET

• TNT Summer Series

"It makes me feel more comfortable. The viewers at home are not running around in dress shoes watching the race," said Weber, who this weekend at Pocono Raceway kicks off the first of six races of the TNT Summer Series, marking 25 years of coverage.

The chemistry and camaraderie TNT announcers have developed through the years has created a strong connection to the viewers at home. Through anecdotes, institutional knowledge and compelling storylines, Weber said the broadcast strives for an in-your-living-room type of feel -- a tribute to why TNT is NASCAR's longest-standing broadcast partner.

"Being in the booth, you have to form friendships or the broadcast doesn't work; if you're not friendly the viewers are going to know it," said Weber, beginning his fourth season as the lead announcer for the NASCAR on TNT Summer Series.

Stories of the friendships that have come to pass between journalist and icons in the sport -- Mike Joy, Ken Squire, Buddy Baker, Benny Parsons, Larry McReynolds and, more currently, Weber, Kyle Petty, Wally Dallenbach -- abound.

Weber's most significant memories come from his time with Parsons, who passed away in January 2007 from lung cancer.

"One of the primary reasons I came to TNT was to work with Benny," Weber said. "I have so many famous stories but one that comes to mind is the time we were leaving a track and trying to beat traffic."

Weber and pit reporter Marty Snider were waiting for a television escort, an escape route to avoid the crowd at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. But Parsons, known to be impatient, told the men they didn't need and escort, and he would get them out just as quickly.

Benny Parsons was fixture on TNT telecasts from 2001 until his death.

"We moved about 200 feet and stopped and didn't move for 35 minutes," Weber recalled. "But five minutes into the ride with BP, we saw the TV escort go by, waving to us. We never let him live that one down."

Snider, who has been a part of the TNT team since 1998, has unforgettable stories, as well. Echoing Weber's sentiments, Snider said TNT's coverage is like watching the race with your friends next door.

"We keep it conversational and fun," said Snider, remembering one of his memorable moments in 2002 at Kansas Speedway.

In the production meeting, the producer called for some entertaining content, only Snider didn't know the amusement would come at his expense.

"I had to interview Jason Keller and they had given his crew chief at the time, Steve Addington, a pie. While I was live on air, I had the pie thrown in my face," Snider laughed.

But Snider and Weber both agree that Dallenbach is the prankster of the bunch.

"I have a tendency to lay my cell phone down and Wally got a hold of it once and used up all the memory taking pictures of himself," Weber said. "Naturally, he didn't tell me."

Authentic relationships in the booth, as well as innovative thinking, has provided great success for the broadcast.

TBS interview with Dale Earnhardt.

Since its start in 1984 on TBS, Turner Broadcasting has continued to bring programming and special content for viewers that keep them tuned in.

Last year Turner Sports unveiled "Wide Open Coverage," an expanded format featuring limited commercial breaks. This year, "Wally's World," the popular shot-gun-style ride around the track with Dallenbach, will expand to two cars including Petty.

In 2006, along with broadcast partner NBC, TNT won an Emmy for its NASCAR coverage.

This year, NASCAR.COM and TNT will launch RaceBuddy, a multi-platform race experience (learn more).

"What sets us apart is our ability to tell stories and the ability to try new and innovative techniques. And our talent sets us apart," said Jeff Behnke, executive producer and senior vice president of Turner Sports.

Behnke oversees all aspects of production, including live remotes, studio broadcasts and talent services for sports programming on TNT and TBS.

"We've been fortunate to have so many talented people," he said. "For 25 years, we've had a long list of significant names and faces that have a deep knowledge of NASCAR history, its present and where the sport is going. That has added a huge amount of credibility to our coverage."