United States Senator Bernie Sanders Joins NASCAR World in Mourning As He Pens Emotional Tribute to Ken Squier

Ken Squier breathed his last and set off for his heavenly abode on Wednesday, November 15th in Waterbury, at the age of 88. His contribution to the sport was so noticeable that even Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Chair of the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, tweeted about his unfortunate demise and expressed his utter remorse at the world of motorsports losing one of its brightest stars.

Sanders offers his respects to the departed soul of Ken Squier

Ken Squier’s affinity for racing developed no sooner than his ambitions for commentary and broadcasting were born. His father, Lloyd, was the owner of WDEV News in Waterbury, Vermont. It’s there that Squier found his knack behind the microphone, something he continued doing for the rest of his life.

Bernie Sanders wrote a long note commemorating the numerous contributions that the Hall of Famer has made to the world of NASCAR. He wrote, “With the passing of Ken Squier, Vermont has lost a true legend. From his work as one of NASCAR’s original broadcasters and the first journalist to be inducted into their Hall of Fame, to his founding of Thunder Road in Barre and his leadership of WDEV Radio, Ken was an undeniable voice for generations of Vermonters and car racing fans across the country.”

According to Jim France, chairman and CEO of NASCAR, exclaimed that though Squier never sat behind the wheel of a stock car, his storytelling and mellifluous usage of words “contributed to the growth of NASCAR as much as any competitor.”

Watch this story: The Unspoken Regret of a NASCAR Legend

He was the one who inaugurated the Thunder Road speedway in his home state of Vermont back in 1960. The contributions that Squier made in the NASCAR arena are plenty. So much so that the governor of Vermont joined in to extend his respect to the fallen legend.

“…race would have not had its lasting impact”- Dale Earnhardt Jr. showers his flowers on Ken Squier

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The inventor of the word “Great American Race”, Squier, was a common man who did uncommon things. That is what the 82nd governor of Vermont, Phil Scott, posted on his social media. He said, “From the booth, he often described those racing as ‘common men doing uncommon things.’ But in reality, he was describing himself — because Ken was indeed a very common man who did extraordinary things.”

Ken Squier was there in the booth back in 1979 when NASCAR kicked off its first-ever race at Daytona Beach in Florida. On that note, Junior tweeted,

Fans felt like they knew Squier, whether they had ever met him in person or not. NASCAR has also named its annual media award after Ken Squier and broadcaster Barney Hall. Winston Kelley, executive director of the NASCAR Hall of Fame, said, “While perhaps best known for his memorable last lap and post-race descriptions of the 1979 Daytona 500, he had the incomparable ability to so effectively articulate the human side of all NASCAR competitors.”

“Among his signature phrases, used at just the right time, was ‘common men doing uncommon things’ which helped audiences and we mere mortals understand the unique skills, risks, and gravity of manhandling a 3,400-pound racecar at speeds in excess of 200 mph with 39 other snarling competitors entrenched around one another,” he added.

Read more: NASCAR Hints at Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s “Surprise” Entry Amid Top-10 Glory

The entire EssentiallySports team sends their heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones of Ken Squier. We hope and believe that he will truly find the peace that he rightfully deserves.