Dallenbach has Offers UPDATE 4 It’s Official – to NBC: Wally Dallenbach, left without a ride when the #75 Galaxy Motorsports team closed up, is looking at what might be two out-of-this-world offers to resume his long racing career and is in talks regarding at least two major deals. One is an opportunity to leave Winston Cup and compete full-time in the IRL starting next year, joining Sam Hornish Jr. on the well-financed Indianapolis-based Pennzoil-sponsored Panther Racing team. Dallenbach and Panther have been in negotiations for the last month or so. “Panther and myself have been working real hard on the IRL program,” Dallenbach said. “Things look pretty optimistic there.” But a new player has come into the picture that gives Dallenbach a bit more latitude and another racing option. While he won’t reveal the name of the team or its owner, another Winston Cup situation has been presented to him to consider for next season. “A Winston Cup opportunity kind of has arisen recently, and I think there’s some possibilities there,” Dallenbach said. “Now, this (both the IRL and Cup programs) is all for next year. I would think that if anything was put together as far as next year goes, we’d probably run some races this year … just to get our feet wet(ESPN), actually hearing the Winston Cup offer may be for Wally to be the third person in the NBC booth with Allen Bestwick and Benny Parsons(5-30-2001) UPDATE: Wally Dallenbach Jr. is in the running for the third chair in NBC’s racing broadcast booth. Dallenbach received high marks after auditioning for the job and will be part of a mock broadcast of this weekend’s race at Michigan. NBC and TNT start their coverage of Winston Cup and Busch Series racing with the July 7 Pepsi 400 at Daytona(Daytona Beach News Journal)(6-5-2001) UPDATE 2: Wally Dallenbach will join Benny Parsons and Alan Bestwick in the NBC booth during the second half of the season. Dallenbach, 37, has been on sabbatical since Galaxy Motorsports failed to find sponsorship for the 2001 season. “I’m looking forward to the experience, but if I had a top-10 ride, it would be a different story,” Dallenbach said. Next season Dallenbach hopes to fulfill his dream of driving in the Indianapolis 500 in a car fielded by Panther Racing(Sporting News)(6-11-2001) UPDATE 3: Wally Dallenbach will be officially named Thursday to the NASCAR announcer team for NBC and TNT. Dallenbach, 38, spent last weekend rehearsing at Michigan International Speedway with the NBC/TNT broadcast team that will take over Winston Cup and Grand National telecasts beginning with events leading up to the July 7 running of the Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway. “We rehearsed all day Saturday and Sunday,” said Sam Flood, producer for the NBC/TNT racing team. “It went really well. “Wally has a fresh perspective. He will be racing this weekend, so there’s a real connection there. He and Benny (Parsons) can go back and forth on some issues and we think they will have a nice give and take.” Dallenbach’s path to the job began with a call to Parsons, who along with anchor Allen Bestwick will join Dallenbach in the booth(That’s Racin’)(6-14-2001) UPDATE 5: Wally Dallenbach will join the NASCAR on TNT and NBC broadcast booth when the networks begin coverage of NASCAR at the Pepsi 400 from Daytona International Speedway, the networks jointly announced Thursday. Dallenbach will debut with analyst Benny Parsons and play-by-play announcer Allen Bestwick, beginning with Bud Pole Qualifying, July 5 at 8:00pm/et on TNT, and the Pepsi 400, July 7 at 7:30pm/et on NBC.(CNN/SI)(6-15-2001) (6-14-2001)
