Jack Arute
Encyclopedia
Jack Arute, Jr. currently covers the NFL and college sports for Sirius XM Radio. He is the president of the Stafford Motor Speedway
in Connecticut. He was previously an auto racing
pit reporter and college football
sideline reporter for ESPN
and ABC
, and he previously covered the Izod IndyCar Series and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour on Versus
.
and ESPN
in 1984, after serving as a radio commentator for the MRN
from 1972–1980 where he was known as "Jackie Arute". He then served as Vice President of Charlotte Motor Speedway
in 1980. In recent years, he has served as president of Stafford Motor Speedway
, a regional NASCAR
track in Stafford Springs, Connecticut, a track which the family has owned since 1970. His brothers Mark and Rob are CEO and Vice President, respectively, at the track. He is now an announcer with Versus.
Arute was one of the track announcers during the 1970s, establishing the circuit as a top race track in the Northeast, establishing a strong link of announcers which also included Mike Joy
.
Arute worked as a pit reporter on CART
, IRL, and NASCAR
telecasts on ESPN and ABC from 1984–1998 and 2000-2009. In 1999, he covered the IRL for Fox Sports Net
and Speedvision. In some instances, particularly in 2004, Arute served as a booth announcer. During the same time period at ESPN and ABC, during the off-season of auto racing, Arute served as a sideline reporter for college football and during at least one NFL playoff game.
In 2009, Arute joined the Versus
on-air crew for the 2009 IndyCar season, serving on both the Versus and ABC telecasts. In August 2009, The Indianapolis Star
reporter Curt Cavin said that Arute will be leaving ESPN
at the end of 2009 in favor of Versus full-time. He was fired from Versus due to cost cutting moves after the merger with NBCUniversal. He was replaced by Kevin Lee who is also a pit reporter for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Network.
Stafford Motor Speedway
Stafford Motor Speedway is a semi-banked 1/2 mile paved oval located in Stafford Springs, Connecticut. It is part of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series. It hosts four events on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour in 2010....
in Connecticut. He was previously an auto racing
Auto racing
Auto racing is a motorsport involving the racing of cars for competition. It is one of the world's most watched televised sports.-The beginning of racing:...
pit reporter and college football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
sideline reporter for ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
and ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
, and he previously covered the Izod IndyCar Series and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour on Versus
Versus (TV channel)
Versus is a sports-oriented cable television channel in the United States. It was previously known as Outdoor Life Network and was launched on July 1, 1995, focusing on fishing, hunting, and other outdoor sports...
.
Biography
Arute began his work with ABC SportsESPN on ABC
ESPN on ABC is the brand used for sports programming on the ABC television network. Officially the broadcast network retains its own sports division; however, for all practical purposes, ABC's sports division has been merged with ESPN, a sports cable network majority-owned by ABC's parent, The...
and ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
in 1984, after serving as a radio commentator for the MRN
Motor Racing Network
The Motor Racing Network is the principal radio broadcasting operation of NASCAR, promoting themselves as "The Voice of NASCAR." It broadcasts coverage of most major NASCAR races at the top three levels of NASCAR at tracks owned by International Speedway Corporation as well as Dover International...
from 1972–1980 where he was known as "Jackie Arute". He then served as Vice President of Charlotte Motor Speedway
Lowe's Motor Speedway
Charlotte Motor Speedway is a motorsports complex located in Concord, North Carolina, United States 13 miles from Charlotte, North Carolina. The complex features a quad oval track that hosts NASCAR racing including the prestigious Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day weekend and the Sprint All-Star Race...
in 1980. In recent years, he has served as president of Stafford Motor Speedway
Stafford Motor Speedway
Stafford Motor Speedway is a semi-banked 1/2 mile paved oval located in Stafford Springs, Connecticut. It is part of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series. It hosts four events on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour in 2010....
, a regional NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
track in Stafford Springs, Connecticut, a track which the family has owned since 1970. His brothers Mark and Rob are CEO and Vice President, respectively, at the track. He is now an announcer with Versus.
Arute was one of the track announcers during the 1970s, establishing the circuit as a top race track in the Northeast, establishing a strong link of announcers which also included Mike Joy
Mike Joy
Mike Joy is an American TV sports announcer, who currently serves as the lap-by-lap voice of FOX Sports' NASCAR Sprint Cup coverage. His color analysts are Darrell Waltrip and Larry McReynolds. Joy has broadcast more than 30 Daytona 500s, NASCAR's biggest event...
.
Arute worked as a pit reporter on CART
Champ Car
Champ Car was the name for a class and specification of open wheel cars used in American Championship Car Racing for many decades, primarily for use in the Indianapolis 500 auto race...
, IRL, and NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
telecasts on ESPN and ABC from 1984–1998 and 2000-2009. In 1999, he covered the IRL for Fox Sports Net
Fox Sports Net
The Fox Sports Regional Networks, or simply Fox Sports Net , are a collection of cable TV regional sports networks in the United States owned and operated by News Corporation.- Beginnings :...
and Speedvision. In some instances, particularly in 2004, Arute served as a booth announcer. During the same time period at ESPN and ABC, during the off-season of auto racing, Arute served as a sideline reporter for college football and during at least one NFL playoff game.
In 2009, Arute joined the Versus
Versus (TV channel)
Versus is a sports-oriented cable television channel in the United States. It was previously known as Outdoor Life Network and was launched on July 1, 1995, focusing on fishing, hunting, and other outdoor sports...
on-air crew for the 2009 IndyCar season, serving on both the Versus and ABC telecasts. In August 2009, The Indianapolis Star
The Indianapolis Star
The Indianapolis Star is a morning daily newspaper that began publishing on June 6, 1903. It has won the Pulitzer Prize for investigative reporting twice, in 1975 and 1991. It is currently owned by the Gannett Company.-History:...
reporter Curt Cavin said that Arute will be leaving ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
at the end of 2009 in favor of Versus full-time. He was fired from Versus due to cost cutting moves after the merger with NBCUniversal. He was replaced by Kevin Lee who is also a pit reporter for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Network.