Christopher Economaki

Chris Economaki, America’s best-known motor racing journalist and TV broadcaster, passed away Sept. 27, 2012 at the age of 91. Chris was the best friend of every up-and-coming driver in every form of motorsports could have – a man who had seen it all happen. No driver in any series, no publicist, no sanctioning body head would ignore his phone call. His ‘voice’ was National Speed Sport News, (the only racing paper in the Library of Congress) where he started his career by hawking copies at East Coast tracks while still a teenager. Received his first byline in 1935, earning him a press card which enabled him to see the 1936 Vanderbilt Cup races at Roosevelt Raceway. Became NSSN’s editor around 1950 and became Publisher Emeritus. Joined ABC-TV in 1961. Called races in over 15 countries, including the famed 1957 Race of Two Worlds at Monza. He was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of American in 1994. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., his first race as a fan was in 1929 when he peered through the fences at Ho-Ho-Kus Driving Park in New Jersey, then found a way to get into the races free by lying on the running board of cars as they passed the ticket gate. The Dean of American Motorsports Journalists is dead. Long live the Dean.