Shannon Spake
Encyclopedia
Shannon Spake is a NASCAR
correspondent for ESPN
. Spake contributes to both NASCAR Countdown
and NASCAR Now
, and occasionally appears on SportsCenter
to give pre and post-race reports. Also works as a sideline reporter for ESPN on SEC basketball games
Before coming to ESPN, Spake worked at Speed Channel
, where she co-hosted NASCAR Nation
in its second version (June through November 2005
) and was a reporter in its first (February through June 2005). She also co-hosted Back Seat Drivers, a talk show, with online columnist Marty Smith
. Her previous on-air jobs included those at WCCB
in Charlotte, North Carolina
, and Carolina Sports and Entertainment Television
.
For the 2008 season, Spake was a full-time pit reporter for Nationwide and Sprint Cup races aired on ESPN.
Before becoming an on-air reporter, she worked for Nickelodeon
, CBS
(on The Early Show
with Bryant Gumbel
), and MTV
as a production assistant.
Spake grew up in Florida
. She is a graduate of Piper High School
and Florida Atlantic University
.
Shannon gave birth to twins, Brady and Liam, on January 1, 2010.
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
correspondent for ESPN
ESPN
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....
. Spake contributes to both NASCAR Countdown
NASCAR Countdown
NASCAR Countdown is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and Nationwide Series prerace show that debuted on February 17, 2007. It is a live on-site pre-race show for all Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series races televised on ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC...
and NASCAR Now
NASCAR Now
NASCAR Now is a NASCAR news and analysis show that airs year round Monday through Friday as a thirty minute show at 5:00pm ET on ESPN2. NASCAR Now, that debuted on February 5, 2007, is broadcast in HD from Bristol, Connecticut and also has a daily segment on SportsCenter...
, and occasionally appears on SportsCenter
SportsCenter
SportsCenter is a daily sports news television show, and the flagship program of American cable network ESPN since the network launched on September 7, 1979. Originally broadcast only daily, SportsCenter is now shown up to twelve times a day, replaying the day's scores and highlights from major...
to give pre and post-race reports. Also works as a sideline reporter for ESPN on SEC basketball games
Before coming to ESPN, Spake worked at Speed Channel
SPEED Channel
Speed , is a cable and satellite television network broadcast to various parts of North America, but primarily the United States...
, where she co-hosted NASCAR Nation
NASCAR Nation
NASCAR Nation was a program on the Speed Channel, which aired Monday nights, discussing the lifestyle of NASCAR drivers when they are not on the track. It was cancelled after the 2005 season....
in its second version (June through November 2005
2005 in NASCAR
The 2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series began on Saturday, February 12. The ten race Chase for the Nextel Cup started with the Sylvania 300 on Sunday, September 18, and ended on Sunday, November 20, with the Ford 400....
) and was a reporter in its first (February through June 2005). She also co-hosted Back Seat Drivers, a talk show, with online columnist Marty Smith
Marty Smith
Marty Smith is a former professional motocross racer. He won three AMA National Motocross championships, all aboard Hondas, and was runner-up twice...
. Her previous on-air jobs included those at WCCB
WCCB
WCCB is the Fox affiliate television station in Charlotte, North Carolina. The station's headquarters are located just outside Uptown, off Independence Boulevard across from Bojangles' Coliseum at . It is the flagship station of its owner and operator, Bahakel Communications...
in Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
, and Carolina Sports and Entertainment Television
Carolina Sports and Entertainment Television
Carolinas Sports Entertainment Television, or C-SET, was a regional sports network in the United States that was in operation from October 2004 until June 2005. This was the primary television vehicle of the Charlotte Bobcats of the National Basketball Association during that team's first season...
.
For the 2008 season, Spake was a full-time pit reporter for Nationwide and Sprint Cup races aired on ESPN.
Before becoming an on-air reporter, she worked for Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon (TV channel)
Nickelodeon, often simply called Nick and originally named Pinwheel, is an American children's channel owned by MTV Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom International. The channel is primarily aimed at children ages 7–17, with the exception of their weekday morning program block aimed at preschoolers...
, 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...
(on The Early Show
The Early Show
The Early Show is an American television morning news talk show broadcast by CBS from New York City. The program airs live from 7 to 9 a.m. Eastern Time Monday through Friday; most affiliates in the Central, Mountain, and Pacific time zones air the show on tape-delay from 7 to 9 a.m. local time. ...
with Bryant Gumbel
Bryant Gumbel
Bryant Charles Gumbel is an American television journalist and sportscaster. He is best known for his 15 years as co-host of NBC's The Today Show. He is the younger brother of sportscaster Greg Gumbel.-Early life:...
), and MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
as a production assistant.
Spake grew up in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. She is a graduate of Piper High School
Piper High School (Florida)
Piper High School is a public high school located in Sunrise, Florida, one of the nation's fastest growing cities. The school is a part of the Broward County Public Schools district....
and Florida Atlantic University
Florida Atlantic University
Florida Atlantic University, also referred to as FAU or Florida Atlantic, is a public, coeducational, research university located in , United States. The university has six satellite campuses located in the Florida cities of Dania Beach, Davie, Fort Lauderdale, Jupiter, Port St. Lucie, and in Fort...
.
Personal life
Shannon Spake married Jerry McSorley April 14, 2008 at the Augustinian Priory in Ireland.Shannon gave birth to twins, Brady and Liam, on January 1, 2010.