Paul Page
Encyclopedia
Paul Page is an American motorsports broadcaster who was the lead announcer for ABC Sports' coverage of CART and the IRL from 1988 to 2004. He currently is the lead announcer for NHRA.
but grew up in Stuttgart, Germany, as a military brat
, and is married to fellow broadcaster Sally Larvick. He studied at the University of Tulsa
. He served six years in the U.S. Army.
Page's broadcasting career began on WIBC in Indianapolis, Indiana
, in 1968. On December 1, 1977, while doing a helicopter
traffic report, Page was nearly killed in an accident, as he crashed near a Speedway, Indiana
, high school.
In the 1980s, Paul was also a commentator for the motorsports show American Sports Cavalcade
on the cable network TNN, The Nashville Network
. While working for TNN, he covered NHRA drag racing
, World of Outlaws
sprint car racing, AMA
supercross, monster truck racing and truck and tractor pulling from TNT Motorsports
, and swamp buggy
racing, among others.
. Page served as a pit reporter from 1974–1976, and as Chief Announcer from 1977–1987. Page served as anchor of auto racing telecasts on NBC
from 1978–1987, covering both Indycar and the NHRA. He also worked on NBC's Sportsworld.
Paul gave the opening introduction to Papyrus's IndyCar Racing
& IndyCar Racing II
video game, released in 1995. Page also was selected to be the short-phrase commentator for the Destruction Derby 2
wrecking/racing video game of 1996.
While working for ABC, he was also their lead AMA Supercross commentator when ABC would cover dirt bike racing.
His place on ABC's IRL coverage was taken by Todd Harris
for the 2005 in a move that proved unpopular. Page was reassigned to cover other events for the ESPN
family of networks, most notably the X Games
, NHRA, and has quietly become a fixture calling the annual Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest
. He called both IRL and Champ Car
races.
In 2006, Page split announcing duties with Marty Reid
on ESPN
's coverage of NHRA Drag Racing, sharing duties with Reid, when Reid was on assignment, ironically calling the Indy Racing League. Page became the full-time anchor in 2007.
In 2009, Page returned to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network
coverage of the 2009 Indianapolis 500
. It was Page's first Indy 500 race he covered since the 2004
. He had also voiced the race between 1988 and 1998. He was back for the 2010 Indianapolis 500
.
Early life and career
Page was born in IndianaIndiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
but grew up in Stuttgart, Germany, as a military brat
Military brat
A military brat describes people who spend their childhood or adolescence while a parent serve full-time in the armed forces, and can also refer to the unique subculture and lifestyle of American military brats, the term refers to both current and former children of such families.Lifestyle: The...
, and is married to fellow broadcaster Sally Larvick. He studied at the University of Tulsa
University of Tulsa
The University of Tulsa is a private university awarding bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA. It is currently ranked 75th among doctoral degree granting universities in the nation by US News and World Report and is listed as one of the "Best 366 Colleges" by...
. He served six years in the U.S. Army.
Page's broadcasting career began on WIBC in Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, in 1968. On December 1, 1977, while doing a helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
traffic report, Page was nearly killed in an accident, as he crashed near a Speedway, Indiana
Speedway, Indiana
Speedway is a town in Wayne Township, Marion County, Indiana, United States. The population was 12,881 at the 2000 census. Speedway is the home of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, from which the town derives its name, and is a complete enclave of Indianapolis....
, high school.
In the 1980s, Paul was also a commentator for the motorsports show American Sports Cavalcade
American Sports Cavalcade
American Sports Cavalcade was an American motorsports television show produced by Diamond P Sports that aired on TNN from 1983 to 1995. American Sports Cavalcade was also a winner of the cable television Ace Awards for their motorsports coverage....
on the cable network TNN, The Nashville Network
The Nashville Network
The Nashville Network, usually referred to as TNN, was an American country music-oriented cable television network. Programming included music videos, taped concerts, movies, syndicated programs, and numerous talk shows...
. While working for TNN, he covered NHRA drag racing
Drag racing
Drag racing is a competition in which specially prepared automobiles or motorcycles compete two at a time to be the first to cross a set finish line, from a standing start, in a straight line, over a measured distance, most commonly a ¼-mile straight track....
, World of Outlaws
World of Outlaws
The World of Outlaws is an American motorsports sanctioning body. The body sanctions two major national touring series. It is best known for sanctioning a national tour of sprint cars. It later purchased a national tour of late model stockcars called the World of Outlaws Late Model Series...
sprint car racing, AMA
American Motorcyclist Association
The American Motorcyclist Association is an American not-for-profit organization of more than 300,000 motorcyclists that organizes numerous motorcycling activities and campaigns for motorcyclists' legal rights...
supercross, monster truck racing and truck and tractor pulling from TNT Motorsports
TNT Motorsports
TNT Motorsports was a popular promoter of monster truck races, tractor pulls, and occasionally mud racing in the 1980s. Events were shown on Powertrax on ESPN, Trucks and Tractor Power on TNN and the syndicated Tuff Trax.-Series:...
, and swamp buggy
Swamp buggy
The Swamp Buggy is a vehicle used to traverse the vast, boggy swamps of the American South. Invented by Ed Frank[1], in Naples, Florida, the swamp buggy proved valuable during early development of the Everglades in the 1930s and 1940s....
racing, among others.
IndyCar Racing career
From 1974-1987, Page served on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio NetworkIndianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network , is an in-house radio syndication arrangement which broadcasts the Indianapolis 500, IndyCar, and the Brickyard 400 to radio stations covering most of North America....
. Page served as a pit reporter from 1974–1976, and as Chief Announcer from 1977–1987. Page served as anchor of auto racing telecasts on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
from 1978–1987, covering both Indycar and the NHRA. He also worked on NBC's Sportsworld.
Paul gave the opening introduction to Papyrus's IndyCar Racing
IndyCar Racing
IndyCar Racing, followed up two years later by its sequel, IndyCar Racing II, is a racing game by Papyrus Design Group. It was released in 1993...
& IndyCar Racing II
IndyCar Racing II
IndyCar Racing II is a racing game developed by Papyrus Design Group. It is the sequel to IndyCar Racing, and was released in 1995. A little over a year later, the game was re-released, with a few minor upgrades, under the title CART Racing...
video game, released in 1995. Page also was selected to be the short-phrase commentator for the Destruction Derby 2
Destruction Derby 2
Destruction Derby 2 is a video game released in October 1996 for the PlayStation and Microsoft Windows, developed by Reflections Interactive. A version for the Sega Saturn was also planned and developed by Probe Entertainment, but was never released....
wrecking/racing video game of 1996.
While working for ABC, he was also their lead AMA Supercross commentator when ABC would cover dirt bike racing.
His place on ABC's IRL coverage was taken by Todd Harris
Todd Harris
Todd Harris is a play-by-play announcer for ESPNU college football coverage and Ultimate Fighting Championship airing on Versus.Prior to those duties, he was the lead play-by-play announcer for ABC and ESPN's coverage of the Indy Racing League's IndyCar Series...
for the 2005 in a move that proved unpopular. Page was reassigned to cover other events for the 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....
family of networks, most notably the X Games
X Games
The X Games is a commercial annual sports event, controlled and arranged by US sports broadcaster ESPN, which focuses on action sports. The inaugural X Games was held in the summer of 1995 in Rhode Island....
, NHRA, and has quietly become a fixture calling the annual Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest
Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest
The Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest is an annual American competitive-eating competition, which is run as a publicity gathering event by Shea Communications. It is held each July 4 at Nathan's Famous Corporation's original, and best-known restaurant at the corner of Surf and Stillwell Avenues in...
. He called both IRL and Champ Car
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...
races.
In 2006, Page split announcing duties with Marty Reid
Marty Reid
Marty Reid is an American television sportscaster who has worked for ESPN since 1982.Reid is currently the lead television announcer for ESPN on ABC's coverage of the IndyCar Series, including the Indianapolis 500, and was the lead announcer for ESPN and ABC's NASCAR Sprint Cup coverage for the...
on 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....
's coverage of NHRA Drag Racing, sharing duties with Reid, when Reid was on assignment, ironically calling the Indy Racing League. Page became the full-time anchor in 2007.
In 2009, Page returned to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network , is an in-house radio syndication arrangement which broadcasts the Indianapolis 500, IndyCar, and the Brickyard 400 to radio stations covering most of North America....
coverage of the 2009 Indianapolis 500
2009 Indianapolis 500
The 93rd Indianapolis 500 was held on Sunday May 24, 2009, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana. It was the 14th Indy 500 sanctioned by the Indy Racing League, and the premier event of the 2009 IndyCar Series season....
. It was Page's first Indy 500 race he covered since the 2004
2004 Indianapolis 500
The 2004 Indianapolis 500 was held at the Indianapolis on Sunday, May 30, 2004. It was part of the 2004 IndyCar Series season and the ninth Indy 500 sanctioned by the Indy Racing League. Pole winner Buddy Rice led the most laps and won the race for team owners Bobby Rahal and David Letterman.After...
. He had also voiced the race between 1988 and 1998. He was back for the 2010 Indianapolis 500
2010 Indianapolis 500
The 94th Indianapolis 500 was held on Sunday, May 30, 2010, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It was the 15th Indy 500 sanctioned by the Indy Racing League, and was the premier event of the 2010 IZOD IndyCar Series season. The race was won by Dario Franchitti, ahead of Dan Wheldon and Marco...
.