Bob Jenkins

American sports announcer (1947–2021)

Robert Francis Jenkins (September 4, 1947 – August 9, 2021) was an American television and radio sports announcer, primarily calling Indy car and NASCAR telecasts for ESPN/ABC and later Versus/NBCSN. Jenkins was the radio "Voice of the Indianapolis 500" on the IMS Radio Network from 1990 to 1998, then held the same role on ABC Sports television from 1999 to 2001. His last position was the lead commentator for NBCSN coverage of the IndyCar Series. He retired from broadcasting after the 2012 IndyCar season finale to care for his wife Pam who was battling brain cancer. After his wife's death that offseason, Jenkins came out of retirement for occasional reserve roles on television, radio, and public address primarily at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Bob Jenkins was born in Richmond, Indiana, and grew up in the nearby town of Liberty. He graduated from Short High School in 1965 and Indiana University in 1969. A music aficionado, Jenkins wanted to be a radio disc jockey, but instead found work as a radio news reporter. During this timeframe, Jenkins befriended Paul Page, who worked at 1070 WIBC AM. Page helped Jenkins get his start in motorsports broadcasting, inviting him to serve as a pit reporter for Indy car races on the radio, as well as on television. For several years, Jenkins was co anchor for nationally syndicated farm news show, AgDay.

Jenkins was one of the first anchors on ESPN when it debuted in 1979, Many were ridiculing the race and the IRL for struggling to fill the field to the traditional 33 cars. At the end of the 2003 season, Jenkins was released from ABC/ESPN.

After being released from ABC/ESPN in 2003, Jenkins joined the Indianapolis Motor Speedway staff in various roles including public address announcer and designated emcee of various events and press gatherings (such as the Victory Banquet, Last Row Party, and press conferences). The 2003 Brickyard 400 was his first foray as part of the P. A. team. In 2004, he had a short stint as an announcer for Champ Car on Spike TV but was soon fired by the production company. He joined SPEED and was an anchor for Speed News for a little over one year. Jenkins has also been a contributor to WIBC radio in Indianapolis, and the communications director for the Premier Racing Association. In 2006, Jenkins was the chief announcer of the IMS Radio Network for the U. S. Grand Prix, and in 2007, called Indy Pro Series broadcasts on ESPN2. He anchored the 2007 Brickyard 400 on the radio, his first NASCAR race call since November 2000. For 2007–2008, he returned to the IMS Radio Network for the Indy 500, reporting from the turn two position. In 2008, Jenkins returned to the ESPN booth for two IndyCar races, the Edmonton Indy and the Gold Coast Indy 300 at Surfers Paradise. Regular play by play announcer Marty Reid was unable to broadcast due to scheduling conflicts.

In 2009, the IndyCar Series started a new television contract with Versus. Jenkins was signed as the chief announcer, and returned to Indy car racing full time for the first time since 2001. He opted out of reprising his turn two role on the radio network, but recorded segments for air on the radio broadcast, as all three living "Voices of the 500" (Page, Jenkins, and King) participated in the broadcast. Jenkins worked for Versus in 2009 and 2010. In 2011, Versus was bought by NBC Sports Group, becoming NBCSN. NBC inherited the IndyCar rights and hired Jenkins to continue as lead announcer for IndyCar on NBC. During the month of May, and on race day at the Indianapolis 500 (which ESPN/ABC still had the rights to), he continued his part time work on the public address announcing team. Jenkins was involved in NBCSN's practice and qualifying coverage at Indy. In 2012, he announced he would retire at the end of the season, in part due to his wife Pam, who had terminal cancer. She died shortly after the season ended. and resided in the Indianapolis area. His wife Pam died from complications of Primary peritoneal cancer in Carmel, Indiana on October 25, 2012. Jenkins revealed on February 16, 2021, that he himself had been diagnosed with brain cancer following a suspected stroke he suffered on December 25, 2020. In the interview, Jenkins stated "I had colon cancer in 1983 and I survived that, and with God's help and my beloved race fans, I'm gonna make it." Jenkins died of brain cancer on August 9, 2021, aged 73. Jenkins was an aficionado and collector of 1950s and 1960s music, with a collection of over 10,000 45 rpm vinyl records. Jenkins claimed to have attended every Indianapolis 500 from 1960 to 2021 missing only twice (sixty races). He did not go in 1961; in 1965 he was instead on a high school senior trip (though he listened to the race on the radio). The 2020 race was his final race as public address announcer, one of a very small number of non participants in attendance as the race was held behind closed doors due to the COVID 19 pandemic. His final "500" was in 2021, attending only as a spectator, less than three months before his death.