If you don’t know who Dave Despain is, we might need to revoke your BangShift card. With over 40 years of motorsports broadcasting experience, I can tell you that announcers like Brian and I would give our left arm for half the knowledge he possesses. And that voice. That’s the kind of blessing you just can’t buy. We’re incredibly excited to see Dave back in the saddle, announcing races rather than just working in the studio, and can’t wait to see what the next couple years with MAVTV will bring. And you won’t have to wait long to get your first taste, as he’ll be LIVE on MAVTV starting Saturday January 18th at 8:30 Eastern time, for the famed Chili Bowl Midget Race in Tulsa.
Here’s the scoop from MAVTV.
Renowned motor racing broadcaster Dave Despain has signed a two-year contract with MAVTV American Real to host the network’s five live events, beginning with the Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals presented by General Tire on Jan. 18, and a series of 30-minute, one-on-one programs interviewing drivers and other personalities from across the diverse American racing landscape.
The 67-year old Despain was attracted to joining the burgeoning independent network owned by Forrest Lucas by the opportunity to return to working at the race track and hosting the “Dave Despain Show.”
“I’m really excited to get back to the grass roots of racing,” Despain said. “And I’m also excited about being able to do a series of long-form interviews, the majority of which will feature the legends of grass roots racing. We’ll try to mix it up and have an interesting variety of personalities from all over the racing world.
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“I’ve watched Forrest Lucas and Lucas Oil emerging as a power in the racing world over a long span of time and was very interested in how they’ve used racing to promote their products. It was obvious to me it was part marketing genius and part passion. When I interviewed Forrest on ‘Wind Tunnel,’ he verbalized a world I’m very interested in, a passion for racing which I share. As far as MAVTV, just because it’s TV and I’m in the TV business, I was following what they were doing.”
“When Lucas bought MAVTV, I thought maybe it would be a good place to be somewhere down the road,” Despain said. “Did I want to retire or do another deal that was interesting, fun and exciting? MAVTV offered me an opportunity to kind of get back to where I started.
“People assume that if you’re in the racing scene, you’re at the track all the time. In reality, doing a Sunday night studio race show, you’re not ever at the racetrack. I missed that. There’s nothing like being face-to-face with a person. I like hosting a lot. It plays into what I consider my strength, being able to place an event in a larger picture context. There are stories I’m anxious to tell.”
MAVTV American Real President Bob Patison, also the Executive Vice President of Lucas Oil, found the perfect fit for the network’s racing expansion. “We brought in an icon,” Patison said. “Dave is probably the best known face and voice in motor racing on television.”
The Chili Bowl is an indoor event for midget race cars with about 275 entries in Tulsa, Okla.The network will also broadcast live the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series’ East Bay Late Model Nationals from Tampa, Fla., on Feb. 15, the Show Me 100 (Late Models) from Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Mo., on May 24, the Late Model Nationals from Knoxville, Iowa, on Sept. 27,the Lucas Oil Challenge Cup (Short Course Off Road) from Lake Elsinore, Calif., on Oct. 18 and many more live events.
Despain has been broadcasting motor racing for 40 years. He’s worked for ABC, CBS, ESPN and SPEED.
I can only get MAVTV on my DISH Network if I purchase the most expensive package they offer (which I am not willing to do). Is there a way to subscribe to the network and stream it on-line?
It’s actually on the $40 Dish America package, I never got Speed but now get most of the old speed programming with Mavtv, like Gearz. Between Mavtv and Velocity I have all of the car shows I can stand.
No MAVTv in Canada, which is a shame, it looks like it could be the new SPEED. Looks like it’s illegal downloads of Dave’s show for me…
I’ve got the top tier cable package, but to get MAVTV I have to pay an additional $10 per month, this in Indianapolis, IN, home of Lucas Oil Stadium, Morgan Lucas Racing and the Lucas estate, one of the most expensive properties in the state. Fox Sports buying Speed was a bad deal for motorsports in general. At least they retained their Nazzcar coverage, but killed Wind Tunnel, the smartest motorsports show in the history of tv. I might get MAVTV, be worth it just to watch the Chili Bowl. Progress.
Absolutely right Pete. Losing Wind Tunnel was the worst part of Speed going away.
I’m with you Jeff. I tried my best to never miss Wind Tunnel, and if I was away from the house I made sure I recorded it. But glad to see Dave back on TV, and fortunately I do get MavTV.
Well its about damn freaking godalmighty time somebody woke up and brought good ole Dave Despain back on board …. but errr …
.. like many others here … I’ve got top tier Xfinity …. and no MAVTV in sight anywhere to be found [ not even in the PPV sports section ] … so what the heck is it … and what good is it if most folks [ kind of like UniversalSports ] can’t get it ?
Damn ! So still no Dave Despain for me !!!! Damn !!!
Glad Dave is back on the tube. Got to meet him once on a segment that was on his old 2 Wheel Tuesday show. Just a regular guy, albeit with a camera crew following him, riding his bike to Daytona for Bikeweek.
Sadly, like others, the toe sucking cable company I’m stuck with doesn’t offer MAVTV. Bastids.
Comcast no mav tv.. was sad when gears when there now this.. hope the cable/dish networks start offering it, and not with some $$$$$$$$$ sports package..
MavTV is a premium channel with Time Warner In Raleigh unfortunately.
I get Mav TV and watch it regularly, and they will cover the Chili Bowl live, it is worth every penny.
Thats awesome they are going to show the chili bowl, I will have to look into my provider(cox) and see if they have it.
I am really not into dirt cars at all. However the Chili bowl is an exception to that rule, truly an awesome event. Nothing like lots of horsepower caged up in a building lol. I live in Tulsa and have been lucky enough to go several times…..great show.