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25 Facts About Ken Squier

1.

Kenley Dean Squier was an American sportscaster and motorsports editor from Waterbury, Vermont.

2.

Ken Squier coined the term "The Great American Race" for the Daytona 500 and helped introduce the Australian-developed in-car camera for the 1982 running of the event.

3.

Squier's father, Lloyd, owned and operated WDEV in Waterbury, Vermont, and Ken began his on-air work at age 12.

4.

When Lloyd Squier died in 1979, Ken Squier inherited the station and was its longtime principal owner and CEO.

5.

Ken Squier was the announcer at Malletts Bay, the Northeastern Speedway, and the Monadnock Speedway in the 1950s.

6.

Ken Squier was a frequent announcer at this track, dubbed "The Home of the Brave".

7.

Ken Squier co-founded the Motor Racing Network with Bill France, Sr.

8.

Ken Squier announced races on the network for several years before moving to television in the later 1970s.

9.

Ken Squier served as a pit reporter for the first live "flag-to-flag" coverage of the Greenville 200 on ABC in 1971 and he joined CBS Sports a year later.

10.

Ken Squier believed that people would watch the entire Daytona 500.

11.

Ken Squier stepped down as a lap-by-lap announcer on CBS in 1997 and was replaced in the booth by Mike Joy.

12.

Ken Squier had announced every Daytona 500 from 1979 to 1997.

13.

Ken Squier remained as TBS' lead commentator until retiring in 1999, with Allen Bestwick replacing him.

14.

Ken Squier became the studio host for both networks, where he remained until 2000.

15.

Ken Squier was present in the Fox Sports studio during pre-race and post-race coverage of Daytona Speedweeks and the 2001 Daytona 500, as well as the first-ever regular season Winston Cup Series event televised by Fox.

16.

Ken Squier was joined by Ned Jarrett and his son Dale Jarrett.

17.

Ken Squier got some media reaction after nicknaming Erik Jones "That Jones Boy" for his top 5 streak.

18.

Ken Squier's unique broadcasting style featured grandiose words and colorful metaphors.

19.

Ken Squier often described NASCAR drivers in his era as "common men doing uncommon things".

20.

Ken Squier was known for the ability to switch between the "radio" style of broadcasting and "TV" styles.

21.

Ken Squier announced CBS Sports' occasional CART IndyCar broadcasts in the 1990s as well as hosted the 1982 Individual Speedway World Championship from the Los Angeles Coliseum alongside four-time Speedway World Champion Barry Briggs of New Zealand and pit reporter Dave Despain.

22.

Ken Squier announced a wide range of sports outside of auto racing, including ice skating, golf, and tennis.

23.

Ken Squier announced outside of the United States, including Australia, Japan, and Europe.

24.

Ken Squier was a play-by-play announcer for CBS' United States coverage of the 1992 and 1994 Winter Olympics.

25.

Ken Squier died from complications of an intestinal blockage in Stowe, Vermont, on November 15,2023.