Weber to continue as voice of NASCAR on TNT
By Jarrod Breeze, NASCAR.COM
July 31, 2006
12:28 PM EDT (16:28 GMT)
Bill Weber will continue his duties as pre-race host and play-by-play announcer for TNT when the new television contract for NASCAR goes into effect next year.
Weber currently is in his second year in the booth for NASCAR on NBC and TNT. He spent the previous four years as pre-race host and lead pit reporter for the two networks.Weber called the decision a "no-brainer."
"This was not a one-year decision; it was a career decision," Weber said. "[TNT] made me feel like this was my home."
Weber says he looks forward to the future, and in particular the rest of this season.
"I think the most exciting is yet to come," he said. "The system needs to be tweaked, but it's generating more excitement and there are a number of outstanding stories. It's what the sport needs."
Weber thinks the points race will be particularly fiercest from positions seven through 13, and he won't rule out Kurt Busch or Carl Edwards just yet.
"Some guys are going to get hot," he said.
Weber, a former Arena Football League announcer for NBC, likens the Chase to the NFL wild card. He also thinks that's where a tweak in the system should be made.
"Winning is the most important thing," Weber said. "You have to win and the other guys have to lose. You have to reward the winner for winning. I think there's a greater reward [now] for finishing second."
WEBER ON PARSONS
"He makes work fun. His spirits are great. I knew that wouldn't be an issue."
Weber envisions the changes NASCAR chairman Brian France plans on making to the Chase, coupled with the new television package and the addition of another manufacturer to the series, as factors for the sport's continued growth and popularity.
"I see it getting bigger and more competitive," he said.
With only six races remaining until the Chase, Weber thinks the road course at Watkins Glen and the half-mile bullring at Bristol, where "you have to be good and lucky," will be pivotal, but he added:
"I wouldn't want to miss the California and Richmond races. There's going to be a lot on the line. A lot of guys will be racing for their jobs."
Of course, this week's race is special because it's Indy.
"The prestige, the name on that trophy. There's nothing bigger than Indy," Weber said.
It's also special to Weber, who as a student at Butler University in the late '70s attended the Indianapolis 500, his first big-time auto-racing event.
"It's always a thrill going back there," said Weber, who began his career as a sports reporter for WISH-TV in Indianapolis in 1978. "I always go early to make sure my fraternity brothers aren't getting into trouble. It's tremendous."
Weber lists the 1994 Brickyard 400, when NASCAR first came to the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway, as one of his favorite racing moments as a broadcaster.
Other memories, of many, that stand out: His first Daytona 500, in 1991; standing in Victory Lane and having his picture taken with Rusty Wallace at Bristol in August 2000; and Dale Earnhardt's final victory in October 2000 at Talladega.
"I remember it for the excitement and the fun of it," Weber said.
"People often ask me who do I root for. I root for them all. I've had the two best jobs. I was going to Victory Lane and now I get the excitement of calling the race winner."
Weber is also looking forward to getting back in the booth with NBC/TNT analyst Benny Parsons, who announced last week he has lung cancer and has begun treatments.
"His spirits are great," Weber said. "I knew that wouldn't be an issue. He makes work fun. The fact I can watch the race on the same TV with Benny is great."
By Jarrod Breeze, NASCAR.COM
July 31, 2006
12:28 PM EDT (16:28 GMT)
Bill Weber will continue his duties as pre-race host and play-by-play announcer for TNT when the new television contract for NASCAR goes into effect next year.
Weber currently is in his second year in the booth for NASCAR on NBC and TNT. He spent the previous four years as pre-race host and lead pit reporter for the two networks.Weber called the decision a "no-brainer."
"This was not a one-year decision; it was a career decision," Weber said. "[TNT] made me feel like this was my home."
Weber says he looks forward to the future, and in particular the rest of this season.
"I think the most exciting is yet to come," he said. "The system needs to be tweaked, but it's generating more excitement and there are a number of outstanding stories. It's what the sport needs."
Weber thinks the points race will be particularly fiercest from positions seven through 13, and he won't rule out Kurt Busch or Carl Edwards just yet.
"Some guys are going to get hot," he said.
Weber, a former Arena Football League announcer for NBC, likens the Chase to the NFL wild card. He also thinks that's where a tweak in the system should be made.
"Winning is the most important thing," Weber said. "You have to win and the other guys have to lose. You have to reward the winner for winning. I think there's a greater reward [now] for finishing second."
WEBER ON PARSONS
"He makes work fun. His spirits are great. I knew that wouldn't be an issue."
Weber envisions the changes NASCAR chairman Brian France plans on making to the Chase, coupled with the new television package and the addition of another manufacturer to the series, as factors for the sport's continued growth and popularity.
"I see it getting bigger and more competitive," he said.
With only six races remaining until the Chase, Weber thinks the road course at Watkins Glen and the half-mile bullring at Bristol, where "you have to be good and lucky," will be pivotal, but he added:
"I wouldn't want to miss the California and Richmond races. There's going to be a lot on the line. A lot of guys will be racing for their jobs."
Of course, this week's race is special because it's Indy.
"The prestige, the name on that trophy. There's nothing bigger than Indy," Weber said.
It's also special to Weber, who as a student at Butler University in the late '70s attended the Indianapolis 500, his first big-time auto-racing event.
"It's always a thrill going back there," said Weber, who began his career as a sports reporter for WISH-TV in Indianapolis in 1978. "I always go early to make sure my fraternity brothers aren't getting into trouble. It's tremendous."
Weber lists the 1994 Brickyard 400, when NASCAR first came to the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway, as one of his favorite racing moments as a broadcaster.
Other memories, of many, that stand out: His first Daytona 500, in 1991; standing in Victory Lane and having his picture taken with Rusty Wallace at Bristol in August 2000; and Dale Earnhardt's final victory in October 2000 at Talladega.
"I remember it for the excitement and the fun of it," Weber said.
"People often ask me who do I root for. I root for them all. I've had the two best jobs. I was going to Victory Lane and now I get the excitement of calling the race winner."
Weber is also looking forward to getting back in the booth with NBC/TNT analyst Benny Parsons, who announced last week he has lung cancer and has begun treatments.
"His spirits are great," Weber said. "I knew that wouldn't be an issue. He makes work fun. The fact I can watch the race on the same TV with Benny is great."