Those who have ever sat next to me at a local short track (my apologies if you are one of those that had to sit through that experience  ...) know that I can be very critical of track announcers... because honestly, most of them are not very good. Before the cries start of, "Well if it's that easy, then you do it...", I know it isn't easy... And no, I don't think I could do it, or would want to do it... But I also can't drive a racecar at 230+ mph into the first turn at Indy, or hit a baseball 400', but I can recognize when someone has talent (as is the case when watching a talented racer, or a skilled ball player), and as is definitely the case when I listen to a good announcer/host. ....And that is why when I hear a good announcer, (I'm talking about those that do it really well), I want to take a minute and recognize it.... and that has certainly been the case with Eric Brennan. I first heard Eric at Wall Stadium about 7 or 8 years ago, co-announcing with Earl Krause and Gary Larsen, and the three of them together provided an excellent combination of hospitality, sincerity, "appropriate excitement", attentiveness, knowledge of the current competitors/race teams, professionalism, and the right amount of history & respect for the sport to keep old guys like me feeling relevant. No phony FM DJ voices... No feigned excitement... No over annunciation of words... No schtick.... Just flat out hitting all the marks that a great announcer/great host somehow does. I got to meet Eric at a Matheny event he attended a few years ago, and was able to let him know that I appreciated his announcing, and that I thought good things were ahead for him. Not too long after that, I had heard that he had moved to North Carolina, and I think it was just last year or so that I stumbled on to a asphalt race on FLO, and right away, recognized that it was Eric doing the play by play. Today, I watched the ARCA event (FoxSports1) from Iowa. I DVR'd it earlier, and as is usually the case, I fast forwarded to the actual start of the race/green flag waving, and instantly recognized Eric's voice. (Had to then go back and replay the very beginning, and there was Eric with sport jacket and tie up in the booth, opening the program with co-announcer Phil Parsons.) As noted, the race was on FoxSports1, and I know that's not the top of the mountain yet, but I think Eric is well on his way to getting there, as he has whatever it is that those great announcers have. He is the real deal. Keep your eye on Eric Brennan.... or should I say, keep an ear open for Eric! Congratulations to Eric Brennan. More info on Eric from 2023: https://www.silive.com/gracelyn/2023/03/former-staten-islander-is-newest-announcer-for-cars-racing-tour-newly-acquired-by-nascar-icons.html
|
