Bob Frey
Bob Frey in some ways is a typical car nut but is different in others. As a teenager he loved being around cars and being part of the culture. His first car was a 1961 Ford followed by a ’72 Dodge Dart. Bob tested the Ford at the local track one time but quickly changed directions.
Instead of participating as a racer, other than that one time, Bob learned he was good at announcing the local races and that he really enjoyed it. Bob served in the United States Air Force from 1965 to 1969 and began announcing the races at Strato Rods Drag Strip while stationed at McGuire Air Force Base. In 1966 he branched out and worked as an announcer at Atco Dragway in New Jersey. In 1967 he was able to begin announcing local NHRA divisional events.
In 1971 Bob moved over to the IHRA camp and became its official announcer through 1981. He continued announcing various events over the next few years and in 1985 he accepted the position as NHRA’s National Event Announcer where he stayed until 2012.
In addition to announcing NHRA and IHRA events, Bob is one of the very few people who ever announced for NASCAR drag racing events.
His career has not been limited to track announcer by any measure. Bob was co-host for TNN’s NHRA Today show from 1991 through 1999 and Host for TNN’s live NHRA national event races from 1997 through 1999. He has co-hosted special event coverage by ESPN, served as a Columnist for National Dragster, 1994 through 2012 and served as Special Contributor for DragRaceCentral.com.
Bob is also one of the most widely recognized drag racing historians today. His expertise in this arena is often put to use by various organizations. He is also currently working as statistician and statistical provider for NHRA on Fox TV shows. Also, not to be overlooked is Bob’s duties as special event announcer for such events as NHRA’s Hot Rod Reunion and the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame annual events.
His list of honors is also very impressive.
Drag Racing Association of Women (DRAW) Person of the Year 1997
Car Craft Magazine Special Award Winner for Contributions to Drag Racing 2001
Maple Grove Raceway Hall of Fame 2009
Only non-driver to ever receive the NHRA Championship ring 2012
NHRA Northeast Division Hall of Fame 2013
Grand Marshall for the New England Hot Rod Reunion 2014
NHRA Lifetime Achievement Award 2014
Atco Raceway Hall of Fame 2017
Eastern Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame 2020
Founders Award from the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame 2023
