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