Bob Jenkins was the radio "Voice of the Indianapolis 500" on the IMS Radio Network from 1990 to 1998, then held the same role on ABC Sports television from 1999 to 2001.
31 Facts About Bob Jenkins
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Bob Jenkins retired from broadcasting after the 2012 IndyCar season finale to care for his wife Pam who was battling brain cancer.
3.
Bob Jenkins was born in Richmond, Indiana, and grew up in the nearby town of Liberty.
4.
Bob Jenkins graduated from Short High School in 1965 and Indiana University Bloomington in 1969.
5.
Page helped Bob Jenkins get his start in motorsports broadcasting, inviting him to serve as a pit reporter for Indy car races on the radio, as well as on television.
6.
For several years, Bob Jenkins was co-anchor for nationally syndicated farm news show, AgDay.
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Bob Jenkins was one of the first anchors on ESPN when it debuted in 1979, working there as one of the most senior members of the network until 2003.
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Bob Jenkins hosted the weekly racing magazine show SpeedWeek during most of his tenure at ESPN.
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Bob Jenkins reported various positions, including the backstretch, turn four, and served as chief announcer of the Indianapolis 500 from 1990 to 1998.
10.
Paul Page was assigned to the CART broadcasts, and Bob Jenkins was moved exclusively to the chief announcing position of the IRL and Indianapolis 500 broadcasts.
11.
For 2002, with CART floundering, Page was moved back to the Indy Racing League, and Bob Jenkins was shifted to the lesser host position.
12.
In 2003, during the closing minutes of Indy 500 Bump Day coverage on ESPN, Bob Jenkins made an impassioned commentary, defending the event from media detractors.
13.
Bob Jenkins joined SPEED and was an anchor for Speed News for a little over one year.
14.
Bob Jenkins has been a contributor to WIBC radio in Indianapolis, and the communications director for the Premier Racing Association.
15.
In 2006, Bob Jenkins was the chief announcer of the IMS Radio Network for the US Grand Prix, and in 2007, called Indy Pro Series broadcasts on ESPN2.
16.
Bob Jenkins anchored the 2007 Brickyard 400 on the radio, his first NASCAR race call since November 2000.
17.
In 2008, Bob Jenkins returned to the ESPN booth for two IndyCar races, the Edmonton Indy and the Gold Coast Indy 300 at Surfers Paradise.
18.
Bob Jenkins was signed as the chief announcer, and returned to Indy car racing full-time for the first time since 2001.
19.
Bob Jenkins opted out of reprising his turn two role on the radio network, but recorded segments for air on the radio broadcast, as all three living "Voices of the 500" participated in the broadcast.
20.
NBC inherited the IndyCar rights and hired Bob Jenkins to continue as lead announcer for IndyCar on NBC.
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Bob Jenkins was involved in NBCSN's practice and qualifying coverage at Indy.
22.
Bob Jenkins made a one-time return to NBCSN in a substitute role during Indy 500 Carb Day coverage, as primary announcer Leigh Diffey was covering the Monaco Grand Prix for NBC.
23.
Bob Jenkins had three movie credits, one of which was an on-camera appearance.
24.
Bob Jenkins did voice over work in the movie Kart Racer.
25.
Bob Jenkins's voice was used in the EA Sports NASCAR video game series, from NASCAR 98 to NASCAR 2001, the Codemasters video games IndyCar Series and IndyCar Series 2005 as well as the Destineer video game Indianapolis 500 Evolution.
26.
Bob Jenkins appeared in the video game Andretti Racing on the PS1.
27.
Bob Jenkins was a colon cancer survivor and resided in the Indianapolis area.
28.
Bob Jenkins revealed on February 16,2021, that he himself had been diagnosed with brain cancer following a suspected stroke he suffered on December 25,2020.
29.
Bob Jenkins was an aficionado and collector of 1950s and 1960s music, with a collection of over 10,000 45 rpm vinyl records.
30.
Bob Jenkins claimed to have attended every Indianapolis 500 from 1960 to 2021 - missing only twice.
31.
Bob Jenkins did not go in 1961; in 1965 he was instead on a high school senior trip.