If you love cars and racing, chances are good the Speed channel is programmed as a favorite on your remote control. Though the channel was out-bid for Formula One coverage by NBC Sports, Speed still offers up NASCAR racing and qualifying, as well as coverage of Grand Am and ALMS races. There’s Barrett-Jackson classic car auction coverage, too, and racing commentary on shows like Wind Tunnel, NASCAR RaceDay and Speed Center.
That changes on August 17, as the Speed Channel will become Fox Sports 1 (FS1). To grow more competitive with NBC Sports (formerly Versus) and ESPN, FS1 will expand its coverage to focus on more mainstream sports. In 2014, it picks up select Major League Baseball games, while coverage of college football and college basketball begins this year. In 2015, certain NASCAR races will be aired on FS1, meaning that those lacking cable television won’t be watching their favorite drivers compete each weekend.
FS1 will cover international soccer and the Ultimate Fighting Championship, too, which seems like an odd collection of sports to portray alongside racing and baseball. We have no idea if the Barrett-Jackson events will be televised in the future, and as far as we can tell Wind Tunnel is going away, too. Adding to our confusion is the announcement that Regis Philbin will host a daily talk show, called “Rush Hour,” which will feature a panel of guest star athletes and celebrities. Fox calls the show “unpredictable,” but we’re already predicting it will crash and burn.
Also, don’t forget that you can get discounted new car pricing with a free quote through qualified local dealer partners.
Now that Versus has become NBC Sports and Speed is becoming FS1, those of us with a passion for cars will likely have a lot more free time on the weekends to attend car events instead of watching them on television. Maybe that’s a good thing after all.
Kurt Ernst has been passionate about automobiles and driving nearly his entire life. His early years were shaped working in the family service station, though his real passion was auto racing. After graduating from the University of Colorado, Kurt spent a year club racing with the Sports Car Club of America, before focusing on a business career in marketing and project management. Later, his passion for writing and the automotive hobby found him freelancing for a variety of automotive news sites, including Automotive Addicts and Motor Authority, where his work was syndicated and appeared in several national publications. Recognized as an expert in the automotive field, Kurt joined Hemmings Motor News as an Associate Editor in 2013, and in the years since has progressed to Editor, Hemmings Daily; Managing Editor for Hemmings Motor News, Hemmings Classic Car, Hemmings Muscle Machines, and the Hemmings Daily; and now, Managing Editor, Hemmings Auctions. Kurt was instrumental in organizing the Hemmings Motor News Concours d’Elegance from 2013-2019, and has served as a judge at this event and The Vintage Racing Stable Concours d’Elegance. A Skip Barber Racing School graduate and prolific writer, Ernst is also skilled in copyediting, project management, brand development, and public relations.
