The First Lady of NASCAR Radio Gets Emotional as She Draws the Curtain on a 22-Year-Long Career Leaving Fans Heartbroken

For almost 30 years, Claire B. Lang has been the voice NASCAR enthusiasts turned to for an insider’s scoop. Every race weekend, she’d snag postrace interviews and capture raw emotions from drivers, crew, and team owners. These chats often turned into headline-worthy quotes. And during the week, the ‘Dialed In’ show on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio was the place to be. It was a treasure trove of in-depth interviews and breaking news, where fans could also chime in with their two cents.

But now it’s time to turn the page. Claire announced that after 22 years on the job, she will no longer be with SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. However, she did not forget to mention that her ‘virtual helmet’ is still very much in the game, even though this was not the journey she initially chose.

Claire B. Lang no longer with SiriusXM NASCAR Radio 

As they say, all good things must come to an end, known affectionately as the “First Lady” of NASCAR Radio, Lang took to ‘X’ to announce her departure from the company. Her heartfelt post read,  “A personal note from me. A lifetime covering #NASCAR for you all and it mattered. ❤️ Still does. Follow and I’ll keep you posted.” She expressed gratitude for her incredible 22-year journey with SiriusXM, starting from the channel’s early days.

Furthermore, she thanked everyone and wrote,  “I wanted to thank SiriusXM for an incredible 22 years – starting with just two of us on the NASCAR channel (the program director and myself) from day one.” She said will always be a believer in the channel and will support them “through changes in direction for the channel and in SiriusXM had them utilize my air time and position for other programming.” 

SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (as well as the overall sports agenda at SiriusXM Satellite Radio) has gone through several changes over the last year and it appears there are even more still to come. Claire added, “I am sorry I was not able to finish my last few shows…It was an end that did not allow me to have a fitting goodbye to this part of the career that I am incredibly proud of…” But why wasn’t she given a chance to say goodbye to her loyal listeners? Was laid off or fired or her contract wasn’t renewed? Only time can reveal this as she promised that she’ll have more to say soon.

Claire reminisced about her unwavering belief in the channel, even as SiriusXM’s programming evolved and shifted away from using her talents as much. Her shows on SiriusXM have earned her the prestige of being one of NASCAR’s most respected reporters. She has covered significant moments in the sport ranging from the death of Dale Earnhardt Sr. to all 7 championships that Jimmie Johnson won.

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Lang has been more than just a host of ‘Dialed In’ and a reporter since 1996. And though she’s stepping back, it seems she’s not quite ready to completely leave the NASCAR scene just yet.

Claire’s unplanned journey from English teacher to NASCAR Radio icon

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Claire B. Lang’s path to becoming a radio icon was anything but planned. She set off aiming to be an English teacher, immersed in her studies at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. But in her junior year, a crush on a guy at the campus radio station took her down a completely different road, she graduated in 1976.

While hosting a popular radio show and later co-hosting mornings at Charlotte’s WSOC, Claire found herself increasingly drawn to the world of racing. This could have been her calling since her roots run deep in the world of sports, as she is the daughter of John Bennett, a silver medalist in the long jump at the 1956 Summer Olympics. 

The newfound interest unlocked doors to the NASCAR realm, where she penned a column for NASCAR Winston Cup Illustrated and reported for TNN’s Inside Winston Cup Racing.

In 1996, the ‘Jack’s Garage’ segment of Lang’s show ‘Dialed In’ was a remarkable program from Lang as it offered insights into the workings of RFK Racing. In 2001, her impressive resume in racing caught the eye of XM, leading to an offer to join their nascent NASCAR channel. She jumped on board. For over two decades, including the last 22 Daytona 500s, Lang has been a witness to and a chronicler of pivotal NASCAR moments, from the heart-wrenching loss of Dale Earnhardt Sr. to the crowning of Jimmie Johnson as a seven-time champ, not to mention the sport’s overall escalation.

Beyond the airwaves, Lang has left her mark on multiple platforms. She’s graced The John Boy & Billy Show, TBS, Fox Television, Inside NASCAR, and even Sky Sports in Europe. She even lent her voice as the narrator in the 2017 video game NASCAR Heat 2. 

Her interviews with drivers and key figures have been a pinnacle after every Cup Series race. The 2023 season marked her 22nd year with SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Claire B. Lang’s incredible work approach has made her an instant favorite. After spending more than 30 years in a male-dominated field, from the racers to the reporters, Claire B. Lang stands as a true trailblazer. She’s carved a path for young women eyeing a future in NASCAR journalism.

She asserted, “It’s been a wild ride through radio and the business world, breaking barriers and paving the way. But what really fueled me was the love of storytelling and crafting radio magic. I never put much stock in being a woman in this field. I avoided making a fuss about gender when others leaned into it. I believed I could make it by being just a person—a broadcaster, plain and simple.”

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