Few individuals in motorsports have the ability to tell a story quite like Sam Posey.
Of course, few individuals in motorsports also can develop their stories on the backs of having been a successful driver in their own right prior to getting behind the mic.
But Posey and David Hobbs are among the two where their driving careers were great enough, and they’ve extended their careers tenfold with their commentary careers.
Perhaps there’s no one better than Hobbs, analyst for NBC Sports Group’s Formula 1 coverage, to describe why Posey is a worthy inductee to the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America this June in Daytona. Posey is one of seven who will be inducted at the end of June.
“Well Sam had a great career in racing himself, and has had an even better career in sports broadcasting,” Hobbs told NBC Sports at Daytona for the Rolex 24 at Daytona last month.
“He did about 20 years on ABC for the Indy 500, when the ratings were really high. So yes, he’s known more for his broadcasting.
“But I think it’s time he’s inducted. I’ll be delighted to be inducting him in June. He’s certainly a deserving inductee.
“He’s one of the great drivers, from Trans-Am, (racing) with (Dan) Gurney in the ’60s, F5000, third at Le Mans, fifth at Indy… he’s got a very wide range of driving ability.”
Hobbs also hinted that Posey’s essays will continue to be a part of the NBC F1 shows for 2016.
“He still works for us now even though his health isn’t terribly good. He is on NBC shows and does those every week. I’ll be very pleased to see him here.”
Beyond the Hall of Fame induction, Posey also has a new book out, “Where the Writer Meets the Road,” published by David Bull Publishing in March 2015. Fittingly, Hobbs wrote the foreword.
The Motor Press Guild named Posey’s Where The Writer Meets The Road its Best Book of 2015. The award was announced at the Peterson Automotive Museum in Los Angeles on December 15. Another David Bull Publishing title, Tyler Alexander’s A Life and Times With McLaren was also a finalist for the award.
