NASCAR broadcaster Barney Hall dies

Barney Hall, whose folksy delivery brought NASCAR racing to life for radio listeners across the country for more than five decades, died late Tuesday. He was 83.

NASCAR officials confirmed Hall's death early Wednesday, with chairman and CEO Brian France saying “the entire NASCAR family extends its condolences to the family, friends and fans of Barney Hall, a NASCAR broadcasting giant for more than 50 years.”

Hall called his first Daytona 500 in 1960 and missed “The Great American Race” just four times in 57 years.

A native of Elkin, North Carolina, Hall was one of the original members of the Motor Racing Network staff and widely known as the “Voice of MRN.” He was inducted into the National Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2007.