IMSA, FOX Sports Make Changes to 2016 Television Package
Veteran sports car announcer Greg Creamer will move over from IMSA Radio into the television play-by-play role previously filled by Bob Varsha. Creamer anchors a team that includes analyst Calvin Fish and pit reporters Brian Till and Justin Bell.
The other big changes are behind the camera. Rather than use multiple 18-wheelers at the track as a final editing base, that will be done for most races out of the FOX Sports studios in Charlotte, N.C. Creamer and his co-anchor, former race driver Fish, will actually call the action, beginning with the Twelve Hours of Sebring in March, from the studio.
Additions for 2016 include the use of aerial cameras for a majority of events and special feature segments led by Bell that will highlight the personalities, technology, event experience and lifestyle of IMSA racing.
“We are focused on delivering the most compelling television content we can provide to our viewers," says Pettit. “[IMSA racing] is inherently thrilling, and together with our partners at FOX Sports and the broadcast team, we will improve how we showcase that excitement.
"We're going to bring some new energy to the broadcast, bring the race to life when we can," he says. "We need to captivate the fans with a little bit of a different broadcast style."
On the radio side, the popular IMSA Radio team of John Hindhaugh and Jeremy Shaw continue in their same roles as 2015. Shea Adam takes over in the role being vacated by Creamer.
Full television schedules for the WeatherTech Championship and Continental Tire Challenge will be announced shortly.
The 2016 WeatherTech Championship opens with the 54th Rolex 24 At Daytona on Jan. 30-31, one day after the Continental Tire Challenge opens at Daytona International Speedway with the BMW Performance 200.