NASCAR on WBC (Johnsonverse)

NASCAR on WBC is an American television show that broadcasts NASCAR races on the Johnson Industries-owned WBC television network. It has aired since the 2014 season, though it previously broadcast the Rebel 400 at Darlington Raceway on May 10, 1969. WBC's broadcasting team covers races throughout the season, with ESPN and several other networks covering races if needed, all using their own graphics and music with the WBC broadcasting team. WBC's coverage has been critically acclaimed for its broadcasting team, which has been nicknamed the "Dream Team of NASCAR broadcasting". It has won several awards since its inception.

History
In 1969, the then-relatively new WBC and Darlington Raceway struck a deal to broadcast the Rebel 400, which ran on May 10 of that same year. The coverage, hosted by Chris Economaki, was the first NASCAR race broadcast flag-to-flag, though it is often overshadowed by CBS' later telecast of the 1979 Daytona 500. The broadcast was so successful that WBC considered broadcasting more races as well, including the 1970 Daytona 500, but never did, due to WBC's desire to focus on their other sports. While he was running WBC (then known as JTV) during the 1980s, infamous CEO Phil Stacker seriously considered broadcasting NASCAR races on JTV, including the 1984 Daytona 500, which he would have hosted, and handled the play-by-play, due to him being a NASCAR fan himself, but opted to focus on broadcasting for other sports like MLB and NBA due to being unable to secure deals with any track, who feared that JTV's coverage would either be "way too cheesy", since JTV’s coverage of their other sports infamously featured cheaply-done graphics that frequently glitched, heavily biased in favor of certain drivers, as JTV's NBA coverage was infamous for being biased in favor of certain teams, or both (incidentally, Stacker fully approves of current CEO Tim Johnson's leadership of NASCAR).

When Johnson Industries took full control of NASCAR in 2014, having owned the sport since 2009, WBC was added to the list of broadcasters alongside Fox, TNT, ESPN, and ABC (later pared down to Fox and NBC in 2015), with WBC News' Tom Stephenson as the host, Ken Squier as the play-by-play announcer and pre-race host, and Ned Jarrett and Buddy Baker as color commentators; after Baker's death in July 2015, he was replaced by Wally Dallenbach, Jr., who has announced ever since, alongside Ralph Sheheen, Marty Snyder, Jamie Little, and Bill Weber as pit reporters, and Allen Bestwick as the post-race host, while Squier and Eli Gold alternate Busch Series events, and Paul Page and Bob Jenkins split between Craftsman Truck Series events. WBC's coverage was critically acclaimed, with its broadcasting team being dubbed by fans and the media as "the Dream Team of NASCAR broadcasting", in reference to the 1992 men's basketball Olympic team. It was also the first network to incorporate a virtual studio for analysis, and many of the set pieces in WBC Race Control were taken from the NASCAR on CBS studio that was used between 1997 and 2000, as the Johnsons acquired the set hours after the 2000 Chevy Silverado 200 Truck Series race (which was the final NASCAR race broadcast on CBS) on July 15 of that year, though Stephenson begins the telecasts out on the track itself, moving to WBC Race Control before the race starts. Beginning in 2020, David Hobbs was made a permanent member of the WBC broadcasting booth, having been a reserve broadcaster from 2014 to 2019.

At the 2014 Coke Zero 400, to promote the release of Sgt. Frog: The Great Rescue, as mentioned above, the normal broadcasters were relieved of their duties by Tim Johnson, Chloe Johnson, and Belle Armstrong, in-character as their Sgt. Frog characters (Fuyuki Hinata, Natsumi Hinata, and Momoka Nishizawa, respectively), with Jenny Smith serving in the pits in-character as Koyuki Azumiya (Sheheen, Snyder, and Weber remained in their positions), with the voice actors standing off-camera and broadcasting the races in-character; this team was used again in the Tokyo races, but with an all-Johnson cast (Sheheen was replaced by Wendee Lee as Konata Izumi, Snyder by David Matranga as Tomoya Okazaki, and Weber by Dan Castellaneta as Tamama), leaving Stephenson and the analysts as the only non-cartoon members of the team; in 2019, the characters started appearing onscreen for the first time thanks to Johnson's AnimeTronics. The Cartoon Network-sponsored Nazareth races follow suit, though with only the booth manned by the voice actors, again as their respective characters, and with technology allowing the characters to show up onscreen with their usual art style. In all cases, Squier still hosted the pre-race show before the race. The Johnson twins and Armstrong also broadcast the PrimeStar and Truck Series Tokyo races as themselves, which is still done every year, along with all Arby's Convertible Series events. It is expected that when the current television broadcast contract goes up in 2024, all Cup, PrimeStar, and SuperTruck events will move to WBC or WBC-owned networks such as ESPN, ESPN2, Speed, Freeform, or TNN, depending on broadcasting commitments. All other series were moved to a new spin-off channel to Speed Network, named The NASCAR Network, in 2019; before the creation of The NASCAR Network, races in the lower series were primarily broadcast on ESPN and ESPN2 using ESPN graphics and WBC broadcasters.

Play-By-Play
Almost every living NASCAR lead broadcaster is employed by WBC for NASCAR broadcasts. The exceptions are Ralph Sheheen and Dr. Jerry Punch (both pit reporters), Marty Reid (due to Reid's flub during the 2013 Kentucky 300 in which he declared Ryan Blaney the winner one lap early), and radio broadcasters (who remain at their posts on MRN, PRN, and IMS; several Johnson Radio stations are MRN affiliates, and all stations simulcast IMS coverage). The same broadcasting team is also used on Cartoon Network, TNN, Speed, Freeform, ESPN/ESPN2, and NASCAR Network broadcasts, albeit with some broadcasters being replaced. The broadcasters in the booth, the virtual studio, and WBC Race Control wear blazers with Johnson's iconic "Blue Globe" logo on their left breast pocket, a nod to most of the CBS broadcasters wearing the CBS logo on the pocket of their blazers.
 * Rick Allen (2017-present, Elite Division, Dash Series, and Mid-Size events)
 * Allen Bestwick (2016-present, ESPN broadcasts, SUV Series, E-Series, and Nintendo events)
 * Max Charles (2019, Harvey Beaks 300 as Harvey Beaks)
 * Leigh Diffey (2018-present; reserve broadcaster, broadcasts Brands Hatch races starting in 2019)
 * Will Friedle (2020, ThunderCats 300 as Lion-O)
 * Eli Gold (2015-present, TNN broadcasts and Busch events; alternates with Ken Squier for Busch events)
 * Bob Jenkins (2015-present, Speed broadcasts, Craftsman Truck Series events; alternates with Paul Page in Truck events)
 * Tim Johnson (2014-present, 2014 Coke Zero 400 and all Tokyo Cup events as Fuyuki Hinata; Craftsman Truck and Busch Series events at Tokyo, and all Convertible Series and Ultimate events as himself)
 * Mike Joy (2017-present, Cartoon Network broadcasts, Whelen Modified Tour, K&N Pro Series, and ARCA events)
 * Tom Kenny (2019, SpongeBob SquarePants 400 as SpongeBob SquarePants)
 * Paul Page (2015-present, The NASCAR Network broadcasts and Craftsman Truck Series events; alternates with Bob Jenkins in Truck events)
 * Ken Squier (1969; 2014-present, WBC broadcasts and Cup, Busch, and IROC events; alternates with Eli Gold for Busch events)
 * Alanna Ubach (2020, Welcome to the Wayne 400 as Ansi Molina)
 * Vince Welch (2015-present; reserve broadcaster, Freeform broadcasts)

Color Commentators

 * Belle Armstrong (2014-present, 2014 Coke Zero 400 and all Tokyo Cup events as Momoka Nishizawa; Craftsman Truck and Busch events at Tokyo, and all Convertible Series events as herself)
 * Buddy Baker (2014-2015, WBC broadcasts, Cup and Busch events; deceased)
 * Jackson Brundage (2019, Harvey Beaks 300 as Foo)
 * Rodger Bumpass (2019, SpongeBob SquarePants 400 as Squidward Tentacles)
 * Wally Dallenbach, Jr. (2015-present, WBC and Speed broadcasts, all events except Convertible, IROC, Whelen Modified Tour, Elite, ARCA, Nintendo, and K&N Pro Series; replaced Buddy Baker)
 * Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (2017-present, IROC, Nintendo, and Ultimate events)
 * Bill Fagerbakke (2019, SpongeBob SquarePants 400 as Patrick Star)
 * Barney Hall (1969)
 * David Hobbs (1969; 2020-present, reserve broadcaster from 2014-2019)
 * Dale Jarrett (2016-present, ESPN broadcasts and IROC and Elite Division events)
 * Ned Jarrett (1969; 2014-present, WBC broadcasts, all events except Convertible, IROC, Whelen Modified Tour, Elite, ARCA, Nintendo, and K&N Pro Series)
 * Chloe Johnson (2014-present, 2014 Coke Zero 400 and all Tokyo Cup events as Natsumi Hinata; Craftsman Truck and Busch events at Tokyo, and all Convertible Series and K&N Pro Series events as herself)
 * Chad Little (2019-present; TNN and Freeform broadcasts)
 * Billy López (2020, Welcome to the Wayne 400 as Olly Timbers)
 * Dave Marcis (2014-present; TNN broadcasts and Busch events)
 * Matthew Mercer (2020, ThunderCats 300 as Tygra)
 * Jerry Nadeau (2017-present, Freeform broadcasts, Convertible Series and Ultimate events)
 * Phil Parsons (2018-present, Freeform broadcasts)
 * Kevin Michael Richardson (2020, ThunderCats 300 as Panthro)
 * Dana Steingold (2020, Welcome to the Wayne 400 as Saraline Timbers)
 * Angela Wahler (2019, Harvey Beaks 300 as Fee)
 * Rusty Wallace (2016-present, ESPN broadcasts and Elite Division events)
 * Darrell Waltrip (2017-present, Speed broadcasts and Whelen Modified Tour, K&N Pro Series, and Nintendo events)
 * Michael Waltrip (2019-present, ARCA and Nintendo events)

Pit Reporters

 * Dick Berggren (2018-present, Busch events)
 * Dave Burns (2017-present, Goody's and Elite Division events)
 * Dan Castellaneta (2016-present Tokyo Cup events as Tamama)
 * Dave Despain (2015-present, IROC events)
 * Barbara Dunkelman (2019 RWBY 400 as Yang)
 * Kara Eberle (2019 RWBY 400 as Weiss)
 * Melissa Fahn (2018 Tokyo Cup events as Neptune)
 * Erin Fitzgerald (2018 Neptunia 400 as Noire)
 * Lindsay Jones (2019 RWBY 400 as Ruby)
 * Wendee Lee (2016-2017 Tokyo Cup events as Konata Izumi; 2018 Neptunia 400 as Blanc)
 * Jamie Little (2014-present, all events)
 * David Matranga (2016 Tokyo Cup events as Tomoya Okazaki)
 * Tara Platt (2018 Neptunia 400 as Vert)
 * Dr. Jerry Punch (2016-present, SUV Series, Whelen Modified Tour, and K&N Pro Series events, Grid Walks for Nintendo and ARCA)
 * Stephanie Sheh (2017 Tokyo Cup events as Yui Hirasawa)
 * Ralph Sheheen (2014-present, all events)
 * Jenny Smith (2014-present; 2014 Coke Zero 400 and all Cup Tokyo races as Koyuki Azumaya, Truck and Busch events at Tokyo, and all Convertible Series and Goody's events as herself)
 * Marty Snider (2014-present, all events)
 * Spike Spencer (2017-present, Tokyo Cup events as Shinji Ikari)
 * Bill Stephens (2014-present, Busch and Craftsman Truck events, Cup events since 2020)
 * Michael Waltrip (2018-present, Grid Walks for all events except Nintendo and ARCA)
 * Bill Weber (2014-present, Cup, Busch, Craftsman Truck, and Convertible Series events)
 * Arryn Zech (2019 RWBY 400 as Blake)

Studio (WBC Race Control)

 * Allen Bestwick (2014-present, post-race host)
 * Dave Despain (2014, rules and technical analyst)
 * Chris Economaki (1969, host)
 * Jeff Gordon (2018-present, analyst)
 * Dale Jarrett (2014-present, analyst, all events except Dash Series events)
 * Larry MacReynolds (2018-present, rules and technical analyst)
 * Andy Petree (2015-2017, rules and technical analyst; 2018-present, pre-race host)
 * Kyle Petty (2014-present, analyst and WBC car driver)
 * Ken Squier (2014-present, pre-race host)
 * Tom Stephenson (2014-present, host)

Opening sequence
The opening sequence changes from year-to-year.

WBC

 * 2014 - An homage to the 1998-2000 NASCAR on CBS intro.
 * 2015 - Live-action footage of cars racing is reflected from a driver's helmet, with the NASCAR on WBC logo on the side of it.
 * 2016 - CGI cars race along a track, before a blue #68 car passes by, taking the checkered flag, and the NASCAR on WBC logo is shown on the hood.
 * 2017 - A live-action sequence showing race cars (directed by Tim himself) at Daytona International Speedway, featuring a blue #68 WBC Dodge passing the #48 of Jimmie Johnson and the #15 of Macy Waltrip. The NASCAR on WBC logo is shown at the start-finish line.
 * 2018 - Shown are various clips of races, including Ken Squier, Ned Jarrett, and Wally Dallenbach, Jr.
 * 2019 - Footage of the cars at the garage area of North Wilkesboro Speedway precede footage of race cars at various races from throughout the 2018 season.
 * 2020 - Time-lapse shots of the garage area and haulers precede footage of stock cars racing.

Music

 * Theme song: 1998-2000 NASCAR on CBS theme/1998 IRL on CBS theme by Lorraine Wolf and Godfrey Nelson
 * Theme song (for ESPN and ESPN2): 1998-2006 ESPN SpeedWorld theme based on the piano interlude from "18th Avenue (Kansas City Nightmare)" by Cat Stevens
 * Theme song (for TNN): 1996-1997 TNN Motorsports theme
 * Theme song (for Speed): Speed Network Theme
 * Theme song (for The NASCAR Network): Thunder Fist by Edd Kalehoff/1997 NASCAR on TSS theme
 * Theme song (for Cartoon Network): Eight Bells by Edd Kalehoff
 * Theme song (for Freeform): Mogul Base by Edd Kalehoff
 * Post-race theme song: 1995-1998 NAPA Auto Parts 300 NASCAR on CBS intro theme by Mark Wood
 * Pre-race theme song: 1995-1998 NAPA Auto Parts 300 NASCAR on CBS closing theme by Mark Wood

Starting grid themes

 * Road America: Escape by Dave Grusin (from The Electric Horseman)/1983-1985, 1987 Daytona 500 Starting Grid theme, 1983 and 1986 Michigan 400 Starting Grid theme, and 1983, 1985-1986 Talladega 500 Starting Grid theme
 * Rockingham: Carolina in My Mind by James Taylor
 * Talladega: Sweet Home Alabama by Lynyrd Skynyrd
 * North Wilkesboro: Chasing Shadows by Yanni/1989, 1992, 1994 Daytona 500 Starting Grid theme
 * Charlotte: Las Vegas by Hans Zimmer (from Rain Man)/1990-1991 Daytona 500 Starting Grid theme
 * Summer Shootout: Beat It by Michael Jackson
 * Darlington: Caribbean Queen by Billy Ocean/1986 Daytona 500 Starting Grid theme
 * Twin Ring Motegi: 1989 Hungarian Grand Prix Starting Grid theme by BBC
 * Tokyo: Start Your Engines by Takenobu Mitsuyoshi (from Daytona USA)
 * Sonoma: California Dreamin' by The Mamas and the Papas
 * Daytona: Axe Splat - Killer Tracks by Gavin Griffiths (2001 Daytona 500 Starting Grid theme)
 * Pocono: Philadelphia Freedom by Elton John
 * Michigan: 1988 Daytona 500 theme by CBS
 * Mid-Ohio: Burn On by Randy Newman
 * Watkins Glen: New York, New York by Frank Sinatra
 * Indianapolis: Delta Force Theme by Alan Silvestri (from The Delta Force)
 * Walt Disney World: Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah by Allie Wrubel (from Song of the South)
 * Nashville: Ring of Fire by Johnny Cash
 * Iowa: Iowa Stubborn by Meredith Wilson (from The Music Man)
 * Brands Hatch: Here Comes The Sun by The Beatles
 * Nazareth: March Onward by Edd Kalehoff
 * Mid-week races: Kings Scepter by Edd Kalehoff
 * Other tracks (in the event a Fox or NBC network has other commitments and the race needs to be moved to a Johnson-owned network such as WBC, TNN, Freeform or Cartoon Network): 2001-2007 NASCAR on Fox Starting Grid theme
 * ESPN broadcasts: 1998-2006 ESPN SpeedWorld Starting Grid theme based on the piano interlude from "18th Avenue (Kansas City Nightmare)" by Cat Stevens
 * TNN broadcasts: 1996-1997 TNN Motorsports theme
 * Speed Network broadcasts: Eagle Keeper by Edd Kalehoff
 * The NASCAR Network broadcasts: Centipede Circle by Edd Kalehoff
 * Freeform broadcasts: Stroker's Theme by The Charlie Daniels Band (from Stroker Ace)
 * Busch Series: Days of Thunder intro theme by Hans Zimmer
 * Craftsman Truck Series: Fuel by Metallica
 * Howard Johnson's SUV Series: The Diary of Jane by Breaking Benjamin
 * Arby's Convertible Series: Zipliner by Edd Kalehoff/1997-2000 NASCAR on TSS theme
 * K&N Pro Series: Life is a Highway by Tom Cochrane/1993 Busch Clash theme
 * Busch North Series: Going Fast by Gary Nichols
 * All-Star Race: Thunder by David Robidoux
 * Elite Division: Pit Viper by Edd Kalehoff
 * Dash Series: King of the Road by Roger Miller
 * Whelen Modified Tour: Last of the Hardcore Troubadours by Steve Earle
 * E-Series: Thunderstruck by AC/DC
 * Mid-Size: Can You Feel It (instrumental) by The Jackson 5
 * Supercar: 1999-2000 NASCAR on CBS Starting Grid theme by CBS
 * Nintendo Racing Series: The Eve of the War by Jeff Wayne/1982 Daytona 500 Starting Grid theme
 * ARCA Racing Series: Where Did We Go Wrong by Magna-Fi
 * IROC: 1993 Daytona 500 Starting Grid theme by CBS
 * Ultimate: 1997-1998 NASCAR on CBS Starting Grid theme by CBS

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