Dave Despain (born May 20, 1946) is an American motor sports journalist. He is the host of WindTunnel with Dave Despain on Speed Channel, and formerly the host of Inside Nextel Cup, until the latter underwent a format change at the beginning of the 2008 NASCAR Season.
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Early life and career
A native of Fairfield, Iowa, Despain worked for a time at KMCD-AM, the local radio station. His earliest work included a program called "Dave Despain's Record-Go-Round". Eventually he worked in all phases of KMCD's programming, and became known for a unique broadcasting style in which he vigorously nodded and bobbed his head while speaking. Despain, a former motorcycle racer, later joined the American Motorcycle Association in the public-relations department. One day in the 1970s, producers of ABC's Wide World of Sports asked him to appear on camera for its coverage of a prestigious bike race at Daytona International Speedway. Despain agreed, and a new career was launched. Throughout the 1980s and '90s, Despain was a pit reporter for both motorcycle and NASCAR races on WTBS and CBS.
ESPN
He then moved to ESPN as host of its prerace show, NASCAR Today. His final appearance on November 12, 2000, is still fondly remembered by both fans and critics. After that race, ESPN stopped carrying NASCAR races after being outbid for a new contract (although ESPN returned to NASCAR in 2007). Despain also hosted Motor Week and filled in for Bob Jenkins on SpeedWeek, and hosted some programs featuring drivers walking away from scary crashes.
Speedvision/Speed Channel
Despain joined Speed Channel in 2000 (then known as Speedvision), launched WindTunnel--a motorsports talk show--in 2003, and replaced Allen Bestwick at Inside Nextel Cup in 2005. He was replaced in 2008 by Steve Byrnes when Inside NEXTEL Cup became This Week in NASCAR
Dave Despain hosts a series of specials called Dave Despain On Assignment that has documented the history of the Daytona Beach course and Daytona International Speedway, and the Talladega Superspeedway. The episodes have appeared on the weekends of the Daytona 500 and the Pepsi 400, and the fall AMP Energy 500.
Personal life
Despain lives in suburban Atlanta, Georgia, with his wife Wendy, ten dogs and five potbellied pigs.
External links
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