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IRL: King to Serve as Play-by-Play Announcer of Indy 500 on IRRN

7 May 1999

INDIANAPOLIS - Veteran sports broadcaster Mike King will call play-by-play on the radio broadcast of the 83rd Indianapolis 500 on May 30 as part of his role as anchor of the Indy Racing Radio Network.

The IRRN broadcast of the Greatest Spectacle in Racing will be heard on more than 500 stations around the world, including Armed Forces Radio. King replaces Bob Jenkins, who will perform play-by-play duties for ABC-TV during its live broadcast of the race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

"I'm very proud to have the opportunity to anchor the radio broadcast of the Indianapolis 500," King said. "It truly is an honor and the fulfillment of a career goal. The Indianapolis 500 is the world's greatest race, and I have always considered myself fortunate to be closely involved with this event and to fill in for someone of the stature of Bob Jenkins.

"The bottom line is that there are 11 on-air voices that are collectively the voice of the Indianapolis 500. I'm just the anchor of the event. It's very much like conducting an orchestra. If you take away the people playing the instruments, the conductor is just a guy waving a stick."

King, 41, brings a wealth of experience to his new role. He became anchor of the IRRN broadcasts of Pep Boys Indy Racing League events this January after serving as a pit and turn reporter with the network since 1995. He also plays host to the weekly IRRN program, "Track Talk," syndicated nationally.

King also has worked as a reporter during auto racing telecasts on CBS, ESPN, ESPN2, SpeedVision and Prime Sports Network, including the Indianapolis 500.

"I am, and always have been, a racing fan," King said. "Growing up in North Carolina, I cut my teeth on stock-car racing but have come to love the incredible excitement of open-wheel racing. I hope I am able to communicate that to fans around the world that will join us May 30."

King also worked as a sports director and sports anchor for CBS and ABC television affiliates from 1982-97 in Greenville, N.C., New Bern, N.C., and Terre Haute, Ind.

King and his wife, Nicole, have three children and live in Terre Haute.

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