PRN Expands Broadcast Team with New Role for Wendy Venturini at Charlotte
Venturini to Be First Female to Call a NASCAR Race from the Radio Broadcast Booth
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (May 25, 2012) – The Performance Racing Network, long known for its engaging, fan-friendly broadcasts, is making history this weekend – rightfully at the History 300. It will make Wendy Venturini the first-ever female announcer to lead the NASCAR radio broadcast from the booth.
PRN is expanding the role for pit reporter Venturini at Charlotte to pair her with PRN president Doug Rice in the booth to announce Saturday’s History 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. It is the first time in history a female has anchored a NASCAR radio broadcast. Venturini joins the broadcast team of turn announcers Rob Albright and Brad Gillie, pit reporters Steve Richards, Brett McMillan, Jim Noble and Pat Patterson, director Alicia Lingerfeldt and technical director Harrill Hamrick.
“We’re thrilled to have Wendy join us in the booth at Charlotte and expand our reporting bench strength,” said Rice. “Her knowledge of and passion for the sport are incredible, and we think she will bring a new level of excitement and entertainment to our broadcast.”
Venturini spends most weekends as a reporter for SPEED’s pre-race show, NASCAR RaceDay, and other SPEED programming, in addition to working as a pit reporter for selected races for PRN. Previously, she was a pit reporter in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Venturini is a 2000 graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In 2007, Venturini was one of the commentators for DIRECTV NASCAR HotPass, making her the first female play-by-play television announcer in auto racing history.
“I’ve been blessed to enjoy the best of both worlds between my TV role with SPEED and occasional opportunities I’ve had to fill in on pit road for PRN,” Venturini said. “This chance to step into the booth on Saturday came as a surprise to me, but I’m flattered to be considered and ready for the challenge they’ve given me. Women like my mother, who served on my father’s ARCA championship-winning pit crew, made moments like this possible for me and other women in the industry.”
The PRN broadcast of the History 300 airs on local affiliates and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90) beginning at 2 p.m. ET on Saturday, May 26. The broadcast also will be available online at www.GoPRN.com.
On Sunday, May 27, host Mark Garrow will return to the booth with Doug Rice for the broadcast of the 53rd running of the Coca-Cola 600, beginning at 5 p.m. For additional broadcast details and station listings, visit www.GoPRN.com.
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About the Performance Racing Network
The Performance Racing Network (PRN) is one of two NASCAR licensed multi-broadcast radio networks which markets, produces and distributes motorsports programming 365 days a year. PRN broadcasts 13 NASCAR SPRINT Cup Series races, twelve NASCAR Nationwide Series events and produces “Fast Talk”, “The Pit Reporters”, “Garage Pass” and “zMAX Racing Country.” Performance Racing Network is a subsidiary of Speedway Motorsports, Inc. (NYSE:TRK), a leading marketer and promoter of motorsports entertainment in the United States. Its programming airs on more than 725 radio stations.
