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Northern Light IRL: IMS Radio Network to broadcast all 13 Indy Racing events live

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

INDIANAPOLIS- Beginning with this weekend's Pennzoil Copper World Indy 200, the IMS Radio Network will present live broadcasts of all 13 Indy Racing Northern Light Series events this season and will debut two new members on its on-air team.

Veteran broadcaster Mike King will return for his third year as the chief announcer. King will be joined by newcomers Johnny Parsons Jr. as the analyst and Kim Morris as a pit reporter.

"J.P. brings a great wealth of information from the driver perspective," said King, who has been with the network for seven years. "He has a dozen Indy 500 starts under his belt and has driven all types of open-wheel cars. He still competes in some open-wheel events. He can give us an idea of what it is like as a driver today."

Parsons competed in 12 Indianapolis 500s between 1974-96. His highest finish was fifth in 1977 and 1985. His father, Johnnie Parsons, competed from 1949-58, capturing the coveted crown jewel of auto racing in 1950.

The other new member in 2001 is Kim Morris who becomes the network's first full-time, female pit reporter. Morris has been a broadcaster for more than a decade and has covered motorsports for the last five years. She currently works for WXFN-AM, the IMS Radio Network affiliate in Muncie, Ind.

Jerry Baker returns as the veteran play-by-play announcer covering the backstraight and Turns 2 and 3. Mark Jaynes will start his sixth season with the network as the senior pit reporter.

"We are very happy because the same broadcast team will be in place for all of the events," said King. "It doesn't matter if you tune in at the first race in Phoenix or the last race at Texas, the same voices will bring you the action and tell you the stories form the pits."

In addition to live race coverage at all events, the network will broadcast qualifying shows at Phoenix International Raceway, Homestead-Miami Speedway, Pikes Peak International Raceway, Kansas Speedway, Kentucky Speedway, Gateway International Raceway, Chicagoland Speedway and the season finale at Texas Motor Speedway.

Live streaming audio of all events will be available at www.indyracing.com. The broadcast team also will provide live reports on the web site after qualifying and races.

"We have a nice blend as far as our understanding of open-wheel, oval-track racing," said King. "Mark, Baker and I have worked together for the last five or six years. You add someone like Kim Morris who is a veteran in racing coverage. Then fold in an expert analyst like Johnny Parsons Jr., and you have everything a broadcast team needs to keep fans informed."

Text provided by Paul Kelly

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.