Chris Economaki, A Household Name In Racing, RIP At 91

September 28, 2012

Another legend in motor racing has left us.

Left – Carroll Shelby, one of the automotive industry’s greatest legends. Right – Chris Economaki is a legendary American motorsports commentator, pit road reporter, and journalist. Chris Economaki has been given the title “The Dean of American Motorsports”. Both at Virginia International Raceway’s 50th Anniversary Celebration 2007 (Photo by Sherry Lambert) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

, ‘Dean of American Motorsports,’ dies at 91

Chris Economaki, who was known as the “Dean of American Motorsports,” died Friday morning at age 91.

Economaki was a household name in racing and had one of the most recognizable voices in motorsports through more than 40 years as a broadcaster for ABC’s Wide World of Sports, CBS and ESPN.

Economaki covered the 1961 Firecracker 250 at Daytona for ABC sports and went on to become a popular voice for ABC’s Wide World of Sports for such events as the Indy 500, the Daytona 500 and Formula One Grand Prix races. After 23 years, he switched to CBS Sports, where he became a fixture on pit road for the Daytona 500.

Economaki was so popular as a racing pit reporter that he made cameo appearances in the racing movies Stroker Ace and Six Pack.