Motorsports journalist Chris Economaki dies at 91

DOVER, Del. – Chris Economaki, a journalist regarded as the authoritative voice in motorsports for decades, died Friday.

He was 91.

National Speed Sport News, where Economaki worked as an editor for more than 60 years, announced his death.

Economaki was known as the “Dean of American Motorsports Journalism,” and worked in TV for more than 40 years with stints at ABC, CBS and ESPN.

Economaki was part of ABC’s first telecast from Daytona International Speedway in 1961.

His love of motorsports blossomed as a child and he sold copies of National Speed Sport News as a teenager.

“Many people consider Chris the greatest motorsports journalist of all time,” NASCAR chairman Brian France said. “He was, indeed, ‘The Dean.’ Chris … played a huge role in growing NASCAR’s popularity.”

In 2006, the Trackside Conference Room at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Media Center was renamed the Economaki Press Conference Room in his honor.