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Legendary motorsports broadcaster Ken Squier dead at 88, NASCAR world mourns

profilephotocropby:Suzanne Halliburton•11/16/23•

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ken squier nascar
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Ken Squier, the legendary NASCAR broadcaster who first dubbed the Daytona 500 as the “great American race” died late Wednesday. He was 88.

Long-time friend Dave Moody announced Squier’s death on social media and then ran the story on the radio station Squier owned in Vermont.

Moody wrote: “It’s over. Ken earned his wings last night at 8:20 PM ET, surrounded by his incredible, loving family. I grieve for the loss of my dear friend and lifelong mentor, but rejoice in the fact that his pain and struggle are over. Thanks everyone for all the prayers and good wishes.”

Moody said that Squier had been in hospice care.

NASCAR greats honor Ken Squier’s memory

 Dale Earnhardt Jr. was one of the NASCAR greats who paid tribute to Squier after they learned of his death.

“Ken Squier was there when NASCAR was introduced to the rest of the world in 1979 for the Daytona 500,” Earnhardt wrote. “I’m convinced that race would have not had its lasting impact had Ken not been our lead narrator. We still ride the wave of that momentum created on that day. Kens words and energy were perfection on a day when Nascar needed it. I am forever grateful for his major role in growing stock car racing. RIP”

NASCAR inducted Squier into its Hall of Fame in 2018. He’d already earned the Squier-Hall Award via the Hall of Fame. It was created to honor media’s contributions to motor sports racing. So it seemed appropriate he also should win the trophy.

Dale Jarrett, a NASCAR broadcaster and three-time winner of the Daytona 500, paid tribute to Squier by posting a throwback photo. He called him a “true legend in the sport.”

The Squier family business was broadcasting

Millions of NASCAR fans were entertained and educated by Ken Squier. He did lap-by-lap coverage of NASCAR events for CBS from 1979-97. He did the same for TBS from 1983-99.

Broadcasting was the Squier family business. Ken Squier inherited the Vermont radio station from his father. He started calling racing events when he was 14. In 1970, he co-founded the Motor Racing Network. By 1972, he worked as a pit reporter for NASCAR events for CBS.

Winston Kelley, the executive director of the NASCAR Hall of Fame, also honored the memory of his friend.

Kelley wrote: “Ken Squier’s contribution to and accomplishments in NASCAR are incalculable. The depth and breadth of his legacy cannot be overstated. Prayers to his family. So thankful for the trail he blazed for so many of us. A true legend and treasure. RIP my friend.”

The legendary Richard Petty said of the iconic broadcaster:

“He was a big pusher for Cup racing,” Petty told NASCAR.com. “He understood the racing people, he understood NASCAR and he was really good at it.

“If you’re an amateur or never heard a race or never knew anything about a race, he could explain it to you in layman’s terms. He was one of the first ones, if not the first one, they got to (tell) the general public how exciting Cup racing was.”