NBC Sports Group today added three-time NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES champion crew chief Ray Evernham and seasoned broadcaster Ralph Sheheen to its growing lineup of motorsports experts. Evernham and Sheheen will handle coverage of NASCAR WHELEN MODIFIED TOUR and NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour Events on NBCSN. The announcement was made today by Jeff Behnke, Vice President of NASCAR Production for NBC Sports and NBCSN.
2015 marks the 30thAnniversary season for the northeast-based NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, which traces its roots back to the very first NASCAR-sanctioned race on the beach and road course at Daytona Beach, Fla. in 1948. Evernham, who began his remarkable career in motorsports working on short track race cars at age 15, will first team with Sheheen to cover the 41strunning of the Icebreaker from Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park in Thompson, Conn., airing on Saturday, April 18 at 12:30 a.m. ET (late Friday night). The complete
NASCAR WHELEN MODIFIED TOUR telecast schedule on
NBCSN is listed below.
"We're thrilled to continue our 2015 NASCAR Touring Series with the knowledge and experience of Ray Evernham and Ralph Sheheen behind the microphone," said Behnke. "This is a win for all race fans and the enthusiastic followers of the Whelen Modified Tours."
NASCAR's Whelen Modified Tours, the association's only open-wheeled division, compete at historic short tracks spanning from New Hampshire to North Carolina. The southeast-based NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour was established in 2005 as a sister tour to the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour.
"I grew up watching and racing modifieds and still get goose bumps every time I watch them race," said Evernham. "I am really looking forward to being part of NBCSN's motorsports coverage."
"Big power, open wheels and passionate fans-the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tours might be the coolest series in racing," said Sheheen. "Ray and I are going to have a lot of fun calling these races."
The appointment of Evernham and Sheheen follows previous
NBC Sports NASCAR on-air announcements for analysts Jeff Burton, Steve Letarte, Kyle Petty and Dale Jarrett, race announcer Rick Allen, pre- and post-race host Krista Voda, and pit road reporters Marty Snider, Kelli Stavast, Mike Massaro and Dave Burns.
In 1983, Evernham teamed with Roger Penske and Jay Signore to resurrect the International Race of Champions (IROC) series, giving him an opportunity to work with and learn from
LEGENDS such as Mario Andretti, A.J. Foyt, Dale Earnhardt and Bill Elliott. Ray later joined Hendrick Motorsports, and in 1993 teamed with driver Jeff Gordon as crew chief for the Rainbow Warriors, leading a historic partnership that included three championships, 47 wins and two Daytona 500 victories. In 2000, Evernham took on the challenge of team ownership, teaming with Dodge to spearhead the unproven manufacturer's successful re-entry into NASCAR. In 2006, the media voted Ray the greatest crew chief of all time.
Sheheen has been broadcasting a wide variety of motorsports, ranging from Swamp Buggies to Formula One, on national TV for 27 years. NASCAR has always been a large part of his broadcasting schedule, as he has covered all of the famed sanctioning bodies at one point along the way. One of his career highlights was being a part of the
CBS Sports broadcast team that televised Dale Earnhardt's Daytona 500 victory in 1998. Sheheen also is the owner of SPEED SPORT, a multi-layered media company that produces a diversified lineup of motorsports coverage. A native of Sacramento, Calif., he currently resides in Moorseville, N.C.
