A little part of every motorsports fan died last weekend as SPEED, known by many as the “Motorsports Authority,” signed off the air for the final time.
“For 18 years, it’s been our honor and privilege to present motorsports and automotive-related programming to you on the network that began as Speedvision, became SPEED Channel and is now known as SPEED,” Mike Joy stated in the final minutes of the channel’s existence.
“But now it’s time to switch off the ignition and turn in the keys. This is the end of SPEED in America.”
From the day it launched to its final hours, SPEED brought fans something no other network had: a sole spotlight for motorsports. For many, SPEED was the place to enjoy racing, from motorcycles to NASCAR, whenever they wished – there was no sharing the channel with other forms of sports.
The channel, with so much potential, lived up to expectations and was successful in the eyes of many. People connected with the programs, the hosts, and of course the racing itself. SPEED had quickly developed the power to connect fans of all kinds of motorsports together. From WindTunnel to Trackside, fans could not get enough.
Now, SPEED no longer exists and gone are many of the popular shows that once made the network great. Programs like Trackside, WindTunnel, and the fairly new but popular SPEED Center are no longer a part of a racing fan’s weekend.
While the recent years have brought much criticism to SPEED over some programming changes that many felt were unnecessary, the channel still upheld its core value: showing the racing action on a regular basis. Despite the backlash of SPEED’s final years, people were still in love with the network and would always tune in.
So when SPEED officially went dark, fans felt empty and sad. But when FOX Sports 1, FOX’s new all sports network that replaced SPEED, took over, there was a sense of optimism.
While many race fans are quick to say negative things about FS1 – they of course feel robbed of motorsports content – the new channel offers NASCAR, and motorsports in general, something very exciting.
Despite the loss in motorsports programming, NASCAR is still a major part of FS1. On day one alone, the channel aired over six hours of live content dedicated to NASCAR specifically. As more sports content floods the new network, so the do the eyeballs of many sports fans. So, when the same NASCAR content that fans love pops up on the screen, more people will be exposed to it. This gives NASCAR a chance to increase the fan base and grow the sport.
FOX Sports 1 also brings hope to motorsports fans that racing will be covered heavily with other sports news. FOX Sports Live, FOX’s version of SportsCenter, brings hope for extensive coverage of NASCAR and other motorsports leagues. This can also increase interest in the sport.
As FOX Sports 1 grows as a sports channel, it will do so around NASCAR. FOX has the rights to the full Camping World Truck Series season through 2024, all on FS1. The first 14 Nationwide Series races will also air on the channel beginning in 2015. And soon, select Cup races will migrate to the network.
There is no doubt that FOX Sports 1 is committed to NASCAR for a very long time.
Hey, it might not be that bad after all.
Sorry – it’s just another ESPN with a little more motorsports coverage. SPEED was the only channel that covered all things motorsports. And the kicker is – in our area – we had to pay extra for SPEED and I assume that will continue under Fox. So I would cancel that extra charge on my bill…..except…..Fox is not going to put the cup races on there too. So they make me pay for racing. I just may switch to all radio coverage.
This just flat out sucks !!! The only reason I paid more for cable was to have the Speed channel and now its gone
Agreed with the previous post, Na$car is just a very small slice of motorsports. It is a sad day to see Speed disappear, even though recent years have been filled with an overwhelming amount of junk like pass time re-runs while the true hard core motorsports show of Wind Tunnel kept getting kicked down, from the heyday of 5 hours a week down the the little 1/2 hour Sunday spot. You just had to watch a single episode of Wind Tunnel to see what was out there for motorsports outside of Na$car. I hope Dave Despain lands somewhere that can showcase his talents and will draw every true motorsports fan to his new network and away from the new FS1 that only also has racing, instead of being a racing network.
I’m seriously considering cancellation of “dish” due to this b.s.–I only payed the big bucks to see and hear about racing.Why in hell nascar didn’t buy Speed and do their own thing,I don’t know,but I’ll bet big Bill would not have let the only channel dedicated to racing die.I tried to watch the “new’ stuff-yesterday hub was on at 4:30,and today at noon,minus a half hour,just like trackside. Even raceday has been cut in half.Sound like Espn?? I give up. RIP SPEED.
It’s easy to say it with Rose Colored Sunglasses, as honestly, I still feel hurt that shows and people that are part of my or other fans life are gone. To me, it doesn’t make things easier as Mike Joy deserves better than what he’s had as I don’t think any of us are cheering over Fox Sports 1.
Sorry Travis, but it WILL be that bad. Terrible, in fact. FOX screwed all of us motorsports fans and gearheads for more of the same old crap we get from the myriad of other sports outlets….talking heads in suits blathering on about stick-and-ball sports, overpaid druggies disguised as athletes, blah blah blah…..the same garbage I used to have to put up with and surf through to find a nugget of racing news here and there. Sorry, I won’t waste my time….. Fox1 can go to hell as far as I’m concerned.
Heck, even the Golf Channel manages to make the business model work and carry a fulltime network about grown men in funny pants chasing a little white ball around in the grass. The demise of SPEED says way more about the inability of FOX suits to manage, than it does about the dedication of motorsports fans.
I sincerely hope FOX1 goes down in flames and the dopes that made this decision starve to death.
To a true motorsports enthusiast, its more than just Nascar.
What about all the sports car race coverage’s (road racing, you know, turning right as well).
Reviews of new and upcoming sports cars.
There was so much that SPEED covered, it will remain to be seen if FS1 will be able to hold the motorsports crowd.
All they have done is weaken their market as the gearheads will just tune out once the racings over.