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NASCAR Race Hub officially went off the air for the final time on Tuesday, June 11th, 2024. It meant the end of 15 years of the daily NASCAR show, the final remnant of the now-defunct Speed Channel. However, the memories of Race Hub will forever live in the minds of NASCAR fans, and these are some of the best.
Many drivers have gone to NASCAR Race Hub to make special announcements throughout the years, and perhaps the coolest came this year. Kyle Larson unveiled his throwback paint scheme, paying tribute to Terry Labonte. The best part is that Labonte was in the room as it happened.
Labonte was visibly emotional when he saw the scheme paying tribute to the iconic Kellogg’s Corn Flakes car from his 1996 Championship season. These raw moments are what made this show great.
Perhaps the first NASCAR driver famous for ranting on the radio was Kurt Busch, and Kurt Busch: Radio Sweetheart was the genesis of the popular “Radioactive” segment. The most famous Kurt Busch: Radio Sweetheart segment came in 2012 at Darlington. A difficult night saw Busch drop expletives like it was nobody’s business, even leaving Jimmy Spencer speechless.
Eventually, “Radio Sweetheart” evolved as it was implemented into the Radioactive segment. However, it all started thanks to one NASCAR Champion’s tough season.
There were plenty of great “Radioactive” moments, perhaps too many to count on this list. However, the most creative of these segments came in 2016. A groundhog invaded the track during Xfinity Series practice at Michigan.
The segment was complete with the expletives that are oh-so-common on NASCAR driver radios. Having an animal invade the track is one thing, but it’s even more interesting when the animal is given that kind of personality.
Race Hub was more than just wacky sideshows and comedic moments. When the time came to make serious feature stories on heavy subject matter, Race Hub often knocked it Out of the Park. Perhaps the best example was the story of Shane Hmiel, a driver who was banned by NASCAR due to his drug addiction.
Race Hub told every part of Hmiel’s story, the good, the bad, and the ugly, with Hmiel open as a book. It showcased Hmiel’s resistance as he overcame drug addiction and fought for his life after a terrifying crash in a USAC Silver Crown car. A driver whom many fans rightly had little sympathy for was more humanized and was given a chance to showcase that his ban from NASCAR was not the end of the road.
Jimmy Spencer’s iconic segments and awards, including the “Crying Towl,” “Straight Jacket,” and “Cigar,” made his appearances on Race Hub that much more memorable. In 2011, he spent the entire segment talking about one driver, Brian Vickers, after he wrecked multiple times at Martinsville.
It was comedic, but it also showcased just how pathetic that race was for Vickers. It was so crazy that Spencer created a new word, “Vickernism.”
What was your favorite Race Hub moment? Let us know on Discord or X what your take is, and don’t forget you can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and even YouTube.
