Barney Hall, veteran NASCAR announcer, dies at 83

NASCAR broadcasting legend Barney Hall died Tuesday from complications after a recent medical operation. He was 83.

The Hall of Fame announcer began radio broadcasting during his time in the United States Navy before he joined North Carolina station WIFM as a disc jockey.

A fast riser, Hall was calling the Daytona 500 by 1960 and became the first public address announcer of the Bristol Motor Speedway when it opened in 1961.

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In 1970 Hall joined the Motor Racing Network in its inaugural season, a gig that eventually landed him in the NASCAR Hall of Fame with the class of 2013.

The annual Squire-Hall Award for NASCAR Media Excellence, honoring Hall alongside TV broadcaster Ken Squire, is handed out for NASCAR Media Excellence.

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"The entire NASCAR family extends its condolences to the family, friends and fans of Barney Hall, a NASCAR broadcasting giant for more than 50 years," NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France told NASCAR.com. "Barney's impeccable delivery and incredible storytelling skills left an indelible mark on the sport that he so clearly loved."

Hall is survived by his wife of 35 years, Karen Carrier.

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