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 done so 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). 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 much of the set pieces in WBC Race Control were taken from the NASCAR on CBS studio that was used between 1998 and 2000, as the Johnsons acquired the set hours after the 2000 Chevy Silverado 200 Truck Series race on July 15 of that year.

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 host Tom Stephenson as the only non-cartoon member 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. 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, Speed, or TNN, depending on commitments to other sports. 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, and NASCAR Network broadcasts. 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.


 * Ken Squier (1969; 2014-present, Cup, Busch, and IROC events; alternates with Eli Gold for Busch events)
 * Eli Gold (2015-present, TNN broadcasts and Busch events; alternates with Ken Squier for Busch events)
 * Paul Page (2015-present, The NASCAR Network broadcasts and Craftsman Truck Series events; alternates with Bob Jenkins in Truck events)
 * Bob Jenkins (2015-present, Speed broadcasts, Craftsman Truck Series events; alternates with Paul Page in Truck events)
 * Mike Joy (2017-present, Whelen Modified Tour, K&N Pro Series, and ARCA events)
 * Allen Bestwick (2016-present, ESPN broadcasts, SUV Series, E-Series, and Nintendo events)
 * Rick Allen (2017-present, Elite Division, Dash Series, and Mid-Size events)
 * Leigh Diffey (2018-present; reserve broadcaster, broadcasts Brands Hatch races starting in 2019)
 * Vince Welch (2015-present; reserve broadcaster, broadcasts Cartoon Network races)
 * 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)
 * Tom Kenny (2019, SpongeBob SquarePants 400 as SpongeBob SquarePants)
 * Max Charles (2019, Harvey Beaks 300 as Harvey Beaks)
 * Alanna Ubach (2020, Welcome to the Wayne 400 as Ansi Molina)
 * Will Friedle (2020, ThunderCats 300 as Lion-O)

Color Commentators

 * Barney Hall (1969)
 * Ned Jarrett (1969; 2014-present, all events except Convertible, IROC, Whelen Modified Tour, Elite, ARCA, Nintendo, and K&N Pro Series)
 * Buddy Baker (2014-2015, Cup and Busch events; deceased)
 * Wally Dallenbach Jr. (2015-present, all events except Convertible, IROC, Whelen Modified Tour, Elite, ARCA, Nintendo, and K&N Pro Series; replaced Buddy Baker)
 * David Hobbs (1969; 2014-present; reserve broadcaster, broadcasts Brands Hatch races starting in 2019)
 * Dave Marcis (2014-present; Busch events)
 * Darrell Waltrip (2017-present, Whelen Modified Tour, K&N Pro Series, and Nintendo events)
 * Michael Waltrip (2019-present, ARCA and Nintendo events)
 * Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2017-present, IROC, Nintendo, and Ultimate events)
 * Jerry Nadeau (2017-present, Convertible Series and Ultimate events)
 * Dale Jarrett (2016-present, IROC and Elite Division events)
 * Rusty Wallace (2016-present, Elite Division events)
 * 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)
 * 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)
 * Bill Fagerbakke (2019, SpongeBob SquarePants 400 as Patrick Star)
 * Rodger Bumpass (2019, SpongeBob SquarePants 400 as Squidward Tentacles)
 * Jackson Brundage (2019, Harvey Beaks 300 as Foo)
 * Angela Wahler (2019, Harvey Beaks 300 as Fee)
 * Billy López (2020, Welcome to the Wayne 400 as Olly Timbers)
 * Dana Steingold (2020, Welcome to the Wayne 400 as Saraline Timbers)
 * Matthew Mercer (2020, ThunderCats 300 as Tygra)
 * Kevin Michael Richardson (2020, ThunderCats 300 as Panthro)

Pit Reporters

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

Studio (WBC Race Control)

 * Chris Economaki (1969, host)
 * Tom Stephenson (2014-present, host)
 * Dale Jarrett (2014-present, analyst, all events except Dash Series events)
 * Greg Gumbel (2014-present, pre-race host, analyst, Busch, Truck, SUV, Convertible, Dash Series, and Nintendo events, post-race host)
 * Jeff Gordon (2018-present, analyst)
 * Dave Despain (2014, rules and technical analyst)
 * Andy Petree (2015-2017, rules and technical analyst; 2018-present, pre-race host)
 * Larry MacReynolds (2018-present, rules and technical analyst)
 * Kyle Petty (2014-present, pre-race host and WBC car driver)
 * Ricky Craven (2014-present, post-race host)
 * Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2018-present, post-race host)

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): Eight Bells 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: Thriller 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 Starting Grid theme
 * Mid-Ohio: Burn On by Randy Newman
 * Watkins Glen: New York, New York by Frank Sinatra
 * Indianapolis: Delta Force Theme by Alan Silvestri
 * Walt Disney World: Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah by Allie Wrubel
 * 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
 * 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
 * Other tracks (in the event a Fox or NBC network has commitments and the race needs to be moved to a Johnson-owned network such as WBC, TNN, Freeform or Cartoon Network) and mid-week races: 2001-2007 NASCAR on Fox Starting Grid theme
 * Busch Series: Days of Thunder intro theme by Hans Zimmer
 * Craftsman Truck Series: Can You Feel It (instrumental) by The Jackson 5
 * 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: Fuel by Metallica
 * Supercar: 1999-2000 NASCAR on CBS Starting Grid theme
 * 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
 * Ultimate: 1997-1998 NASCAR on CBS Starting Grid theme

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