“It was a wonderful ride”: Veteran NASCAR broadcaster bids farewell following retirement from legendary career

NASCAR broadcasting legend Doug Rice bid adieu to the sport last year. The 69-year-old took to his X handle to reflect on his farewell and the iconic career he had.

Doug Rice’s journey in NASCAR broadcasting began in 1988 when he became the lead announcer for the Performance Racing Network (PRN). Born and raised in Asheville, North Carolina, Rice’s passion for racing was ignited at a young age. A visit to the World 600 with his brothers left a lasting impression, thus igniting his desire to be part of the racing world.

While studying at the Appalachian State University, Rice ventured into radio, laying the foundation for what would go on to become a legendary broadcasting career. His first major play-by-play assignment came in 1993 at the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, marking the start of a long and successful tenure with PRN.

Rice’s final broadcast, fittingly, also took place at Charlotte Motor Speedway during the South Point 400 NASCAR Cup Series race in 2024. Reflecting on his career in a heartfelt post on X (formerly Twitter) on December 31, 2024, Rice wrote:

"Today is my last day of full time employment for Speedway Motor Sports. I can't imagine having worked for a better company. I love my @PRNlive family and will be around to do Fast Talk. It was a wonderful ride."

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Doug Rice on his special relationship with NASCAR's iconic Charlotte Motor Speedway

Charlotte Motor Speedway holds a special place in Doug Rice’s heart. In an interview with WCNC prior to his final race, he described his connection to the iconic venue:

"This place has meant a lot to me. Charlotte Motor Speedway is special. It's special. So much NASCAR history has been written at this place. To think I've been a little bitty part of that? That's pretty cool."

Rice’s broadcasting career has consisted of many of NASCAR’s most memorable moments. He called Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon’s first career win in 1994. Rice also narrated the dramatic finish of the ROVAL race where Ryan Blaney capitalized on a crash involving Martin Truex Jr. and Jimmie Johnson.

He called Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s first Xfinity and Cup Series victories at Texas Motor Speedway, as well as Dale Earnhardt’s championship-clinching races at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Rice was also the voice behind Kyle Busch and Jimmie Johnson’s dominant performances at Texas.

In a unique feat, Doug Rice is the only radio broadcaster to have completed the “Indy Double." He historically called both the Indianapolis 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on the same day.