Kyle Petty remembers the great Ken Squier with heartfelt message

This morning the NASCAR world said goodbye to one of its legends, Ken Squier. Kyle Petty himself had a thoughtful message. Squier is one of those figures that transcended just a single generation. He helped propel the sport to the highest peaks with his legendary voice.

Over the last week, Ken Squier’s health had taken a turn for the worse. He had been put into hospice care at the hospital. Ultimately, the family decided to have Ken come home and live out the rest of his life there.

On Thursday morning it was announced that Squier passed.

Kyle Petty knew Squier from the years he spent in racing and broadcasting himself. The two got to know one another and spoke in one-on-one moments at times. Petty is going to miss Squier’s presence.

“It’s a sad day,” Petty wrote on Twitter. “Ken Squier changed the sport in more way than he knew and in more ways than fans today will ever know. From Thunder Road to starting MRN, to bringing live TV to the sport, his knowledge and passion may never be seen again. God speed my friend.”

It’s a sad day. Ken Squier changed the sport in more way than he knew and in more ways than fans today will ever know. From Thunder Road to starting MRN, to bringing live TV to the sport, his knowledge and passion may never be seen again. God speed my friend. pic.twitter.com/AnDxPha46I

— Kyle Petty (@kylepetty) November 16, 2023

It was Ken Squier who was on the call for that 1979 Daytona 500. It was the first full 500-mile race to be broadcast entirely on television. Along with David Hobbs, Brock Yates, Ned Jarrett, and Marianne Bunch-Phelps, the CBS crew brought the race to life.

Of course, it is also the most pivotally important moment in stock car racing. Cale Yarborough fighting Donnie and Bobby Allison after they wrecked – you can’t write better TV than that.

The voice of NASCAR may be gone, but his words will resonate forever.@DaleJarrett and @KylePetty pay tribute to legendary broadcaster and Hall of Famer Ken Squier. pic.twitter.com/7q7gFfXzQI

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) November 16, 2023

Ken Squier sends NASCAR into pop culture history

Prior to the 1979 Daytona 500, NASCAR was still a regional sport. If you weren’t in the South, you likely didn’t care. At least, you didn’t get to see races on TV. While the sport did well prior to this race, what we would see in the next two-plus decades after was unreal.

Yarborough and Donnie Allison wrecked battling for the lead. Richard Petty came in as they wrecked and took the lead as he went on to victory. Ken Squier’s call – still legendary to this day – set the tone for what NASCAR would be known for moving forward.

“And here comes a $60,000 car becoming a 22 passenger school bus to bring his crew to victory lane. Richard Petty, the great master, has just recorded his 186th career – And there’s a fight between Cale Yarborough and Donnie Allison!! The tempers overflowing; they’re angry. They know they have lost. And what a bitter defeat.”

For the rest of time, NASCAR will be tied to that call and that moment. King Richard wins, legends of the sport fist-fight. Also, a young Dale Earnhardt would finish P8 for Rod Osterlund Racing, a lap down.

When you write the history of American motorsports, this is the defining moment.