The video tribute to Bob below was published by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway this week.
I think it’d be fair to say I am not the only person who can refer to Bob Jenkins as one of the primary voices of my childhood.
The earliest memories I have of watching NASCAR (the 2000 season), or playing NASCAR games (NASCAR 2000 in the Nintendo 64), featured his signature friendly voice as the narration to the racing action I was absorbing. There was an old VHS we had, and still have to this day – in fact I’m watching it while I write this – titled NASCAR: Legendary Tracks and Unforgettable Moments.
While the show itself was hosted by another legend, the lat Benny Parsons, the voice that sticks in my head to this day from the tape is the one heard in the clips of great finishes and grinding crashes alike. Bob Jenkins.
I watched this tape over and over and over. To this day, I can still recite moments like Davey Allison’s tumble at Pocono or the 1990 big one in the Lap 2 Big One from the 1990 Pepsi 400 by heart.
As I grew older, Bob remained a mainstay of my auto racing media consumption until his last IndyCar broadcast in 2012. But that wasn’t the last time I’d hear his voice. Between his full-time retirement and his passing this week, Bob served as PA announcer at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Watching practice streams through the month of May, his voice was a welcoming fixture when I, and many others, would tune in. Hearing Bob’s voice crackle through the speakers at IMS in person, though, was almost an otherworldly experience. It’s hard to explain hearing that voice at that place while in attendance.
My lasting memory of Bob, however, will not be of any racing broadcast or particular quotes from his commentary.
When I was in high school, I was a member of our school’s robotics team, primarily as lead announcer on our broadcast team (Shout out to Team 3602! If you watched our streams, you will get this reference). During this time, I discovered Bob had a website with a contact form on it. I filled it out mainly looking for some advice but I never got my hopes up.
Within days, Bob got back to me with advice and then some. Over the course of several months, we went back and forth a couple of times via email. With each message, it was easy to tell Bob cared about what he was typing and that he wanted to help out a measly high schooler, as unguided as some of my questions may have been.
And when he was busy with a project and knew there'd be a delay in his response, he would always let me know. That still sticks out to me.
To this day, Bob is one of the main reasons I fell in love with motorsports media. And I know I’m not the only one. I just wish I had had the chance to meet him in person.
Bob, for everything you did for the motorsports world, for all of us who you inspired, and for just being you, thank you.