NASCAR broadcasters: Start your talent wish lists.
After multiple guest stints in the booth this year, Dale Earnhardt Jr. says he’s open to a career in broadcasting after he hangs up his helmet.
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Dale Earnhardt Jr. (second from right) has used time recovering from concussion issues to gain experience in the broadcast booth, a move that could lead to a post-driving career.
Photo by: NBC |
While working to return to his No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet next season after missing the second half of the 2016 season due to concussion issues, Earnhardt appeared in the booth three times this year. He made one appearance for Fox Sports in the first half of the season during an Xfinity Series race and two appearances during Sprint Cup Series races in the second half for NBC Sports.
Earnhardt, 42, says he has been making progress toward returning to racing, and he could have a number of years left behind the wheel. But as he begins to ponder life after racing, the sport’s most popular driver said he enjoyed his stints in the booth enough that he would consider going into broadcasting full time.
“I’m open to it, absolutely,” he said two weeks ago from Homestead-Miami Speedway. “I would want to get better; I would want to be put to school; I would want to do everything I could to be as good as possible. I don’t want to do it because my name or what I’ve accomplished in the car. I would only want to do it if I was good enough.”
Fox and NBC took different approaches to Earnhardt’s appearance. While NBC viewed him as a traditional guest, Fox treated Earnhardt more like an employee by reviewing tape of his performance afterward and making notes on what he did well and what he could improve. Fox just wrapped up its second season in which it brings a Cup Series driver into the booth for Xfinity races to help call the action — a move the network thinks is paying off.
“It’s a great way to see who might think broadcasting is their next career,” said Eric Shanks, president of Fox Sports. “On the flip side, we’ve probably had a dozen drivers do Xfinity races for us, and it gives them a really good sense of what’s happening in the booth — like walking a mile in the broadcasters’ shoes.”
Shanks said the main thing he tries to convey to drivers trying out broadcasting is to be concise and, as he stressed to Jeff Gordon this year, “Don’t bury your lead.” Shanks thinks drivers and fighters are uniquely positioned to do well in broadcasting because “their value and interaction with media is based solely upon themselves,” whereas with stick-and-ball players who are used to being on a team, “it’s been a bit more hit and miss.”
Shanks was pleased with Earnhardt, who focused on describing his specific experiences on track to give viewers insight that only a driver can give.
“For the first couple of times out, his bold, incisive statements and entertaining personality would be something that I think anybody would look at when the time is right,” Shanks said.
Sam Flood, NBC Sports’ executive producer, also rated Earnhardt highly.
“He was very relaxed and comfortable in the setting and said things that were clearly beneficial to the audience,” Flood said. “People learned by listening, which is always what you want to have happen.”
However, Flood noted NBC is happy with its current triumvirate in the booth of Rick Allen, Jeff Burton and Steve Letarte.
“We love the team we have, so we’re not looking to change,” Flood said. “It’s fun to see Dale Jr. doing this, and down the road if he decides to get involved in it, everyone will have conversations.”
Earnhardt would bring a broad perspective to the booth, as he is also co-owner of Xfinity and Camping World Truck Series team JR Motorsports. Earnhardt does not have an agent or manager, instead relying on the executive team at JRM, which includes his sister Kelley Earnhardt Miller, to handle his business ventures.
