Rick Allen Schwieger[1] (born June 17, 1969) is a former American television personality, play-by-play announcer, and voice-over artist.[2][3] He most recently served as the lead play-by-play commentator for NASCAR's Xfinity Series on NBC Sports,[4] served on an interim basis for the International Motor Sports Association, and covered track & field for NBC Sports. He previously did play-by-play broadcasting for Fox Sports coverage of NASCAR's Camping World Truck Series.[5]
Rick Allen | |
|---|---|
| Born | Rick Allen Schwieger June 17, 1969 Grand Island, Nebraska, U.S. |
| Years active | 2002–2024 |
| Sports commentary career | |
| Genre | Play-by-play |
| Sport(s) | NASCAR, College basketball, Track and field |
| Employer | FOX (2003–2014) NBC (2014–2024) CW (2024) |
Biography
editAllen was the second of two siblings. Allen grew up in Grand Island, Nebraska, and was a walk on for the University of Nebraska Track and Field team, where he was a letter winner all four seasons, a three-time All-American in the sport, winning two Big Eight Conference decathlon titles (1991–92).[6][7][8] He received his bachelor's degree of communications from the university. After graduation, he worked as a public address announcer for the University of Nebraska athletic department, and later at local dirt oval racetracks including Eagle Raceway, where Fox Sports found him.[6]
From 2003 to mid-2014, Allen worked for Fox Sports, where his main duty was calling the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and ARCA Racing Series on SPEED and later Fox Sports 1. He occasionally covered Nationwide Series (now Xfinity Series) events.[6][7][9][10]
On December 4, 2013, it was announced that Allen would become the lead announcer for NASCAR on NBC for the Sprint Cup Series and Nationwide Series starting in 2015.[11]
During the Truck Series Eldora race on July 23, 2014, Allen announced that it would be his last race at Fox Sports, as he was now bound only to NBC.[12]
It was announced in 2016 that Allen would be joining the IndyCar Series on NBC broadcast team for select Verizon IndyCar Series events beginning at Phoenix in 2016, filling in for regular IndyCar play-by-play announcer Leigh Diffey because Diffey worked with NBC's Formula One coverage.[13]
In 2024, NBC Sports announced that Allen would be replaced by Diffey as NASCAR Cup Series play-by-play announcer, but would remain on Xfinity Series telecasts, which will relocate to The CW later that season ahead of full-season coverage of that series beginning in 2025.[14][15]
References
edit- ^ "NBC's Rick Allen Doesn't Use His Real Last Name Because of Advice from a Legend". Barrett Sports Media. July 8, 2022. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
- ^ "NBC Sports adds Rick Allen to NASCAR booth". 4 December 2013.
- ^ "Auto Racing Hot Topics: NBC hires Rick Allen for NASCAR play-by-play; Can Formula 1 and NASCAR coexist on same day in Texas?". 5 December 2013.
- ^ "Leigh Diffey named NBC Sports' NASCAR Cup Series lead play-by-play commentator". NBC Sports. 2024-08-20. Retrieved 2024-08-25.
- ^ "Rick Allen • Television Personality & Voice Over Talent". 2013-12-13. Archived from the original on 2013-12-13. Retrieved 2015-07-10.
- ^ a b c Grell, Clarck (July 4, 2015). "Nebraska's Rick Allen begins his dream job calling Sprint Cup races for NBC". Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
- ^ a b Hambleton, Ken (February 16, 2014). "Former Husker takes on NASCAR announcing challenge". Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
- ^ Ebersole, Amanda (September 2011). "Rick Allen: The Voice of NASCAR". Skirts and Scuffs. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
- ^ "Daytona 500 on Fox Broadcast Guide" (PDF). Fox NASCAR. 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 March 2016. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
- ^ "Rick Allen Television Personality & Voice Over Talent". 2013-10-24. Archived from the original on October 24, 2013. Retrieved 2015-07-10.
- ^ "NBC tabs Rick Allen as lead race announcer". NASCAR. December 4, 2013. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
- ^ Hyatt, Ryan (July 24, 2014). "Five things to ponder after NASCAR took to the dirt at Eldora". motorsport.com. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
- ^ Bonkowski, Jerry (March 28, 2016). "Allen Fulfilling Lifelong Dream to Call Verizon IndyCar Series Race". IndyCar.com. Brickyard Trademarks, Inc. Retrieved August 6, 2017.
- ^ "LEIGH DIFFEY NAMED NBC SPORTS' NASCAR CUP SERIES LEAD PLAY-BY-PLAY COMMENTATOR". NBCSports.com. NBC Universal. August 20, 2024. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
- ^ Engle, Greg (August 11, 2024). "NASCAR Confirms Xfinity Series Moving To CW Earlier Than Planned". Forbes.com (soft-paywalled article). Forbes. Retrieved August 20, 2024.