Ken Squier was an American sportscaster and motorsports editor largely regarded as NASCAR’s voice. He was the first commentator to provide lap-by-lap commentary for the Daytona 500, stock car racing’s most renowned race.
He also invented the title “The Great American Race” for the Daytona 500 and was instrumental in introducing the event’s in-car camera. After a protracted fight with numerous health concerns, he died on November 15, 2023, at the age of 88.
Here is a post that Bob Pockrass made on Twitter:
Legendary broadcaster and NASCAR Hall of Famer Ken Squier died last night. His impact is felt every week as he helped shape how motorsports are broadcast and how the stories are told. RIP.
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) November 16, 2023
Ken Squier Age and Early Life
Ken Squier was born in Waterbury, Vermont, on April 10, 1935. Ken began his on-air career at the age of 12 when his father, Lloyd, owned and operated WDEV, a local radio station.
At the age of 14, he discovered a passion for racing and announced his first stock car race from the back of an old logging truck at a tiny dirt track in Vermont. He graduated from Stowe High School in 1953 and went on to study journalism at the University of Vermont.
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Ken Squier Career and Achievements
Ken Squier’s career as a racing announcer spanned more than six decades and included NASCAR, Formula One, IndyCar, sports cars, and motorcycles. In 1970, he co-founded the Motor Racing Network (MRN) with Bill France Sr., the founder of NASCAR.
He worked on the network for several years before transitioning to television in the late 1970s. He joined CBS Sports in 1972 and became a NASCAR lap-by-lap analyst for the network in 1979.
He was a part of the first live flag-to-flag coverage of the 1979 Daytona 500, which featured a thrilling finish and a famous brawl between Bobby Allison and Cale Yarborough. From 1983 until 1999, he worked for TBS, covering the second half of the Winston Million events, the Southern 500, and the Talladega 500.
He was noted for his poetic and expressive narration style, which caught the drama and intensity of racing. He was also known for coining catchphrases and nicknames, such as “The Alabama Gang” for a group of Alabama drivers, “The Intimidator” for Dale Earnhardt, and “The Rainbow Warriors” for Jeff Gordon’s team. He also conducted informative and amusing interviews with drivers, crew chiefs, and fans.
He retired from his position as a lap-by-lap broadcaster for CBS in 1997, and Mike Joy took his place. He continued to appear as a guest pundit and expert on TV and radio until his retirement in 2018. He also owned and controlled multiple radio stations in Vermont, including WDEV, as well as several racetracks, including Thunder Road International SpeedBowl and Catamount Stadium.
In 2018, he was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame, becoming the second broadcaster to do so after Barney Hall. He was also inducted into the American Motorsports Hall of Fame, the Vermont Sports Hall of Fame, and the New England Auto Racers Hall of Fame.
For his services to motorsports media, he garnered various awards and distinctions, including the Squier-Hall Award for NASCAR Media Excellence, the Myers Brothers Award, and the Henry T. McLemore Award.
Ken Squier Net Worth and Personal Life
Ken Squier’s net worth was estimated to be around $10 million at the time of his death. He amassed his fortune through a long and prosperous career as a sportscaster, radio station owner, and racecourse owner. He also possessed a vintage automobile and motorcycle collection, which he frequently showcased at various events and shows.
He had been married to Peggy for over 50 years until her death in 2016. They had two children: a son named David and a girl named Ashley. He had four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren as well. Until his death, he resided in Stowe, Vermont. He was a fervent Christian who supported numerous charity organizations, including the Victory Junction Gang Camp and the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Ken Squier Height
Ken Squier was said to be 5 feet 10 inches (178 cm) tall. He had gray hair and blue eyes. He was of white ancestry and American nationality.
He enjoyed jazz music and played the saxophone. He also liked to ski, fish, and hike. He was a voracious reader and writer who wrote various books and essays about motorsports and other subjects. His contemporaries and fans appreciated and respected him for his professionalism, ethics, and passion.
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