Thu, 2 Nov 2000, 02:28 PM NHRA TV Personality Steve Evans Passes Away

By Phil Burgess, NHRA.com

LAS VEGAS -- Steve Evans, the man that every racer wanted to see when he or she climbed out of their race car at the end of a quarter-mile pass at an NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series national event, knowing that an interview from the renowned broadcaster meant that they had done well, was discovered dead in his hotel room Nov. 1 in Las Vegas.

Steve Evans

Evans was in Las Vegas to cover a World of Outlaws event, just one of the many racing series beyond drag racing where his knowledge, expertise, and skill were valued.

Evans became a familiar face to drag race fans for more than two decades of NHRA drag racing primarily as the top-end reporter, rushing to the scene to inform racers of their record runs or congratulating them for their victories. Evans was loved by the racers, who often opened up their emotions to the man behind the microphone.

Evans worked on NHRA's syndicated TV shows for more than two decades working and for 18 years covered NHRA drag racing on TNN, ABC, and NBC. He was the host of the weekly television newsmagazine NHRA Today, which aired more than 500 shows between 1990 and 1998.

Evans got started in drag racing early, announcing drag races at age 19 at the fabled San Gabriel and Fontana tracks in California and later managed all three of Southern California's famed tracks - Lions Dragstrip, Orange County Int'l Raceway, and Irwindale Raceway.

He began announcing national events in 1966 and a year later went to work full time for NHRA as editor of National DRAGSTER, and later as public relations director.

Evans also is remembered for an endless variety of unforgettable and award-winning radio commercials hawking weekly events at the tracks that he managed. In 1987, Evans released Be There, a cassette compilation of his greatest hits, along with other memorable drag racing radio commercials. He recently re-released the collection in CD format.



NHRA: 10 Most Recent Entries [ top ]

Feb 10- Wally Parks 75th Anniversary Appreciation Fund Part of $27 Million Overall Purse
Feb 08- NHRA Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League Releases 2026 Schedule
Feb 07- Huge List of Legends Set to Appear at Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals
Feb 05- NHRA and Legends Global Extend Merchandise Partnership Ahead of 75th Anniversary Season
Feb 04- Doug Foley Announces Addition of Ron Douglas as Consultant to Foley Lewis Racing Top Fuel Team
Feb 04- Tickets Now on Sale for NHRA's Debut at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park and Rockingham Dragway
Feb 04- Reed, Zetterström to Share Driving Duties of Reed Trucking & Excavating Top Fuel Dragster
Jan 29- NHRA to Honor Iconic John Force in 2027 with "50 Years Of Force"
Jan 28- Top Fuel All-Star Callout Returns to Open NHRA's 75th Anniversary Season at Gatornationals
Jan 28- John Force Racing Announces Crew Chiefs for NHRA's 75th Anniversary Season