Dave Despain
Encyclopedia
Dave Despain is an American
motor sports
journalist
. He is the host of WindTunnel with Dave Despain
on Speed Channel
, and formerly the host of Inside Nextel Cup, until the latter underwent a format change at the beginning of the 2008 NASCAR Season.
, Despain worked for a time at KMCD-AM, the local radio station. His earliest work included a program called "Dave Despain's Record-Go-Round". Eventually he worked in all phases of KMCD's programming, and became known for a unique broadcasting style in which he vigorously nodded and bobbed his head while speaking. Despain, a former motorcycle racer, later joined the American Motorcycle Association in the public-relations department. One day in the 1970s, producers of ABC's Wide World of Sports asked him to appear on camera for its coverage of a prestigious bike race at Daytona International Speedway
. Despain agreed, and a new career was launched. Throughout the 1980s and '90s
, Despain was a pit reporter for both motorcycle and NASCAR races on WTBS and CBS
.
as host of its prerace show, NASCAR Today. His final appearance on November 12, 2000, is still fondly remembered by both fans and critics. After that race, ESPN stopped carrying NASCAR races after being outbid for a new contract (although ESPN returned to NASCAR in 2007). Despain also hosted Motor Week and filled in for Bob Jenkins
on SpeedWeek
, and hosted some programs featuring drivers walking away from scary crashes.
, Speed's racing newscast broadcast every weekend. In 2003, WindTunnel with Dave Despain
debuted, which saw Despain preside over an hour racing-centric call-in show. He continues to host the series to this day.
Despain became host of NASCAR Inside Nextel Cup
in 2005, replacing the panel show's longtime host Allen Bestwick
. Despain hosted the series until its cancellation in 2008, when it was replaced by This Week in NASCAR
.
Dave Despain hosts a series of specials called Dave Despain On Assignment that has documented the history of the Daytona Beach course and Daytona International Speedway
, and the Talladega Superspeedway
. The episodes have appeared on the weekends of the Daytona 500
and the Pepsi 400, and the fall AMP Energy 500.
, with his wife Wendy, ten dogs and five potbellied pigs.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
motor sports
Auto racing
Auto racing is a motorsport involving the racing of cars for competition. It is one of the world's most watched televised sports.-The beginning of racing:...
journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
. He is the host of WindTunnel with Dave Despain
WindTunnel with Dave Despain
WindTunnel with Dave Despain is a live viewer call-in show exclusively for auto racing fans that debuted on Speed Channel on February 22, 2003...
on Speed Channel
SPEED Channel
Speed , is a cable and satellite television network broadcast to various parts of North America, but primarily the United States...
, and formerly the host of Inside Nextel Cup, until the latter underwent a format change at the beginning of the 2008 NASCAR Season.
Early life and career
A native of Fairfield, IowaFairfield, Iowa
Fairfield is a city and the county seat of Jefferson County, Iowa, United States. The population was 9,464 in the 2010 census, a decline from 9,509 in the 2000 census. - History :...
, Despain worked for a time at KMCD-AM, the local radio station. His earliest work included a program called "Dave Despain's Record-Go-Round". Eventually he worked in all phases of KMCD's programming, and became known for a unique broadcasting style in which he vigorously nodded and bobbed his head while speaking. Despain, a former motorcycle racer, later joined the American Motorcycle Association in the public-relations department. One day in the 1970s, producers of ABC's Wide World of Sports asked him to appear on camera for its coverage of a prestigious bike race at Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway is a race track in Daytona Beach, Florida, United States. Since opening in 1959, it has been the home of the Daytona 500, one of the most prestigious races in NASCAR. In addition to NASCAR, the track also hosts races of ARCA, AMA Superbike, Grand-Am and Motocross...
. Despain agreed, and a new career was launched. Throughout the 1980s and '90s
1990s
File:1990s decade montage.png|From left, clockwise: The Hubble Space Telescope floats in space after it was taken up in 1990; American F-16s and F-15s fly over burning oil fields and the USA Lexie in Operation Desert Storm, also known as the 1991 Gulf War; The signing of the Oslo Accords on...
, Despain was a pit reporter for both motorcycle and NASCAR races on WTBS and CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
.
ESPN
He then moved to ESPNESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
as host of its prerace show, NASCAR Today. His final appearance on November 12, 2000, is still fondly remembered by both fans and critics. After that race, ESPN stopped carrying NASCAR races after being outbid for a new contract (although ESPN returned to NASCAR in 2007). Despain also hosted Motor Week and filled in for Bob Jenkins
Bob Jenkins
Bob Jenkins is an American television and radio sports announcer with NBC Sports Network, also known for his work at ABC and ESPN calling IndyCar and NASCAR telecasts. He is currently the lead commentator for the IndyCar Series on NBC Sports Network.-ESPN and ABC:Bob Jenkins was born in Richmond,...
on SpeedWeek
SpeedWeek
SpeedWeek is an American television program on ESPN. For 14 years, the weekly show aired multiple times in a week. When SpeedWeek ended in 1997, it was the longest-running motorsports magazine show...
, and hosted some programs featuring drivers walking away from scary crashes.
Speedvision/Speed Channel
Despain joined Speed Channel in 2000 (then known as Speedvision). For some time Despain was one of several anchors of Speed NewsThe Speed Report
SPEED Center is Speed Channel's news show that debuted on February 13, 2011, replacing The SPEED Report. Airing on Sunday evenings at 7:00 PM EST, it has rotating anchors though its most noted are Leigh Diffey, Adam Alexander, Bob Varsha, and Krista Voda.SPEED Center and its predecessors have been...
, Speed's racing newscast broadcast every weekend. In 2003, WindTunnel with Dave Despain
WindTunnel with Dave Despain
WindTunnel with Dave Despain is a live viewer call-in show exclusively for auto racing fans that debuted on Speed Channel on February 22, 2003...
debuted, which saw Despain preside over an hour racing-centric call-in show. He continues to host the series to this day.
Despain became host of NASCAR Inside Nextel Cup
NASCAR Inside Nextel Cup
NASCAR Inside Nextel Cup is a show that aired Monday nights on Speed Channel during the NASCAR season. Inside Nextel Cup was hosted by Dave Despain. The show was taped every Monday morning at SPEED's studios in Charlotte, North Carolina about 11 a.m., unless a race is postponed to Monday, in which...
in 2005, replacing the panel show's longtime host Allen Bestwick
Allen Bestwick
Allen Bestwick is the host of ESPN's NASCAR pre-race show NASCAR Countdown and play-by-play announcer for the Sprint Cup Series races for the same company. He took over that position in 2011 after serving as the countdown to green host from 2008-2010 and a pit reporter for the network in 2007...
. Despain hosted the series until its cancellation in 2008, when it was replaced by This Week in NASCAR
This Week in NASCAR
This Week in NASCAR , was a 60-minute program that aired Monday nights on the Speed Channel. It was hosted by veteran NASCAR personality Steve Byrnes with panel members Michael Waltrip and Greg Biffle. Other panelists such as Chad Knaus, Bootie Barker and Dave Blaney made regular appearances...
.
Dave Despain hosts a series of specials called Dave Despain On Assignment that has documented the history of the Daytona Beach course and Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway is a race track in Daytona Beach, Florida, United States. Since opening in 1959, it has been the home of the Daytona 500, one of the most prestigious races in NASCAR. In addition to NASCAR, the track also hosts races of ARCA, AMA Superbike, Grand-Am and Motocross...
, and the Talladega Superspeedway
Talladega Superspeedway
Talladega Superspeedway is a motorsports complex located north of Talladega, Alabama, United States. It is located on the former Anniston Air Force Base just outside the small city of Lincoln. It was constructed by International Speedway Corporation, a business controlled by the France Family, in...
. The episodes have appeared on the weekends of the Daytona 500
Daytona 500
The Daytona 500 is a -long NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held annually at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is one of four restrictor plate races on the Cup schedule....
and the Pepsi 400, and the fall AMP Energy 500.
Personal life
Despain lives in suburban Atlanta, GeorgiaAtlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
, with his wife Wendy, ten dogs and five potbellied pigs.