Ken Squier

Kenley Dean Squier(April 10, 1935 – November 15, 2023) was an Americansportscasterandmotorsportseditor fromWaterbury, Vermont.From 1979 to 1997, he served as the lap-by-lap commentator forNASCAR on CBS,and was also a lap-by-lap commentator forTBSfrom 1983–1999. Squier was the first announcer to give lap-by-lap commentary for theDaytona 500in 1979. He coined the term "The Great American Race" for the Daytona 500 and helped introduce the Australian-developed in-car camera for the1982 running of the event.He lived inStowe, Vermontuntil his death.

Ken Squier
Born	Kenley Dean Squier (1935-04-10)April 10, 1935 Waterbury, Vermont,U.S.
Died	November 15, 2023(2023-11-15)(aged 88) Stowe, Vermont,U.S.
Occupation	Sportscaster
Known for	Commentator onMRN,CBS SportsandTBSforNASCARraces

Sports announcing career

Early career

Squier's father, Lloyd, owned and operatedWDEVinWaterbury, Vermont,and Ken began his on-air work at age 12. When Lloyd Squier died in 1979, Ken Squier inherited the station and was its longtime principal owner and CEO.Squier's racing-announcing career began when he announced a stock car race from the back of an old logging truck at a tiny dirt track inVermontat age 14.He was the announcer at Malletts Bay, the Northeastern Speedway, and the Monadnock Speedway in the 1950s. In 1960 he openedThunder Road International SpeedBowl,theBarre, Vermont,quarter-mile oval, which was subsequently sold in April 2017.

Squier was among a group of six men who founded Catamount Stadium inMilton, Vermont,which operated from 1965–1987. He was a frequent announcer at this track, dubbed "The Home of the Brave".

Squier co-founded theMotor Racing NetworkwithBill France, Sr.in 1970. He announced races on the network for several years before moving to television in the later 1970s.

NASCAR announcer

Squier served as a pit reporter for the first live "flag-to-flag" coverage of theGreenville 200onABCin 1971and he joinedCBS Sportsa year later.

Squier believed that people would watch the entire Daytona 500. "It was a tough sell," he said. "There was a general feeling that this was more of a novelty thing and that it wouldn't work on a national level."On February 18, 1979, CBS aired the1979 running of 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 Pettywon the race, but a fight betweenDonnie AllisonandCale Yarboroughmade 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, andNBC.Squier would work for CBS and TBS over this time, covering half of theWinston Millionraces—the Daytona 500 andCoca-Cola 600.

Squier stepped down as a lap-by-lap announcer on CBS in 1997 and was replaced in the booth byMike Joy.Squier had announced every Daytona 500 from 1979 to 1997. He remained as TBS' lead commentator until retiring in 1999, withAllen Bestwickreplacing him. Squier became the studio host for both networks, where he remained until 2000. Squier was also present in theFox Sportsstudio during pre-race and post-race coverage ofDaytona Speedweeksand the2001 Daytona 500,as well as the first-ever regular seasonWinston Cup Seriesevent televised by Fox.

On July 13, 2014,NASCAR on TNTbroadcast its final race at the Camping World RV Sales 301. After the pre-race show, Squier said goodbye toNASCAR on TNTin this speech:

Hello everyone, I'm Ken Squier. And as the engines have fired at New Hampshire, I remind you that this is the final NASCAR broadcast forTurner Sports.I was the play-by-play announcer for TBS for 18 years. Beginning in the very first year of NASCAR coverage, 1983. It's been a real honor to be a part of today's broadcast, and I wish my colleagues the very best today on TNT. As this amazing, 32-year run comes to a close, I hope you enjoy today's race.

In September 2015, it was announced Squier would call part of theBojangles' Southern 500race as part of a throwback weekend for NASCAR to celebrate the years 1970–1974. Squier was joined byNed Jarrettand his sonDale Jarrett.As part of the deal with Darlington with its throwback theme for the next several years, the trio called part of the race again in 2016 as the years 1975–1984 were celebrated. They returned in the same capacity for 2017.Squier got some media reaction after nicknamingErik Jones"That Jones Boy" for his top 5 streak.

Style

Squier's unique broadcasting style featured grandiose words and colorful metaphors. He often described NASCAR drivers in his era as "common men doing uncommon things". He called a last-lap battle at the 1979 Daytona 500 as "two of the greatest, fiddling, fidgeting with first place" and summed up Dale Earnhardt's wreck at the1997 Daytona 500with: "A true American hero, stymied another time at Daytona." His many catchphrases included describing wrecks as "side over side, end over end" and calling wrecked racecars "all torn up". A battle for position involving a large pack of cars drew comparisons to "an Oklahoma land rush."Drivers battling side by side would be" door handle to door handle "or" knuckle to knuckle ". He was also known for the ability to switch between the" radio "style of broadcasting and" TV "styles. One of the best-known examples was the 1981Talladega 500,when with a handful of laps to go the video went out and only the audio remained. Squier called the final laps and describedRon Bouchard's upset victory in typical style: "Three cars came out of the tri-oval, lined up like a squadron ofP-51sout of World War Two and down they came to the line! "

Announcer in other sports

Squier announced CBS Sports' occasionalCART IndyCarbroadcasts in the 1990s as well as hosted the1982 Individual Speedway World Championshipfrom theLos Angeles Coliseumalongside four-timeSpeedway World ChampionBarry Briggsof New Zealand and pit reporterDave Despain.Squier hosted CBS' "live flag-to-flag" coverage of AmericanFormula Oneraces in the 1980s (e.g. Detroit, Dallas) along withDavid Hobbsand pit reporterChris Economaki.

Squier also announced a wide range of sports outside of auto racing, includingice skating,golf,andtennis.He announced outside of the United States, including Australia, Japan, and Europe.He was a play-by-play announcer for CBS' United States coverage of the1992and1994 Winter Olympics.In 2013, he was an announcer on the television showR U Faster Than a Redneck?.

Later life and death

Squier contractedCOVID-19in November 2020.After long-term rehabilitation, Squier recovered from his illness by April 2021.

Squier died from complications of an intestinal blockage inStowe, Vermont,on November 15, 2023. He was 88.

Selected filmography

Squier acted in several movies, primarily as an announcer.

• The Cannonball Run(1981)
• Stroker Ace(1983)
• Rad(1986)
• CMT 40 Greatest NASCAR Moments
• Daytona 500: Drama, Danger, Dedication

Business ventures

• He helped co-foundMotor Racing Network,as well as his play by play announcing on the network.
• President/owner of Radio Vermont, Inc. and its radio stationsWDEV,WLVB,andWCVT.Squier sold the stations to Steve Cormier in 2017but continued to host thenovelty musicshowcase "Music to Go to the Dump By" until his retirement. Cormier and the Squier estate sold the stations toScott MilneandMyers Mermelafter Squier's death.
• Co-foundedWorld Sports EnterpriseswithFred Rheinstein,the first television production company to specialize in motorsports.It was sold to The Nashville Network in 1995 and then to CBS in 1997. WSE was closed by MTV Networks.
• Founder ofThunder Road International SpeedbowlinBarre Town, Vermont,which he sold in April 2017.
• Founder of theAmerican Canadian Tourlate model racing series.
• Former co-owner ofAirborne Speedway,Plattsburgh, New York.

Career awards

Halls of Fame

• He was in theOceanside Rotary Club of Daytona BeachStock Car Racing Hall of Famein 2000.
• Squier was inducted into theNew England Auto Racers Hall of Famein 2002.
• He was a charter member of the Vermont Broadcasters Hall of Fame.
• He was awarded the 2003Smokey YunickAward for his lifelong contributions to motorsports.
• He was in theVermont Sports Hall of Fame.
• He was a member of theNASCAR Hall of Fame's Class of 2018.
• He was inducted into theMotorsports Hall of Fame of Americain 2010.

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

External links

• Ken SquieratIMDb
• Vermont Sports Hall of Fame Bio