1986 Motorcraft 500
Network: ABC
Date and time: March 16, 1986, 1:30 PM
Format: Live
Length: 4 and a half hours
The race was broadcast live and in full on ABC, billed as the "Atlanta 500". The broadcast made use of in-car cameras in the cars of Geoff Bodine and Cale Yarborough. Both drivers also had microphones, allowing the crew to talk to them, but only under caution flags to prevent interference.
The post-race coverage was notably unusually long for the time, lasting half an hour, as the race ended well before the end of the timeslot. After the broadcast ended formally with technical credits shown, an extended "wrap-up" was aired with interviews and various talk, as well as a replay of the last few laps.
Personnel:
Announcers: Jim Lampley, Sam Posey
Pit reporters: Tim Brant, Al Trautwig
Producer: Chuck Howard
Associate producers: Ben Harvey, Elise Backus, Sara Harrison, Ray Smaltz, Tony Tortorici
Director: Larry Kamm
Associate directors: Dick Buffinton, Jack Graham
Technical director: Werner Gunther
Technical manager: Rick Okulski
Unit-manager: Bob Simon
Telecommunications manager: Hal Schmitz