GRAND-AM

Eli Gold, Booth Annoucer/"NASCAR LIVE" Host Eli has been with MRN since 1976 as booth announcer, pit reporter and turn announcer. Since 1982, he has been the voice of “NASCAR Live” a weekly show heard on more than 475 stations. Eli has also done play-by-play for CBS, NBC, ESPN and TNN Motorsports. In addition to his racing work, Eli has covered professional football, hockey and baseball. He’s the four-time Alabama Sportscaster of the Year Award winner as the voice of University of Alabama Crimson Tide football. Eli is a two-time Alabama Sportscaster of the Year from the Associated Press and once from United Press International. He resides in Birmingham, AL with his wife Claudette and their daughter, Elise.

Preston Root, Pit Reporter Preston Root was born in the shadows of Daytona International Speedway at Halifax Hospital and has worked in motorsports broadcasting for 25 years. At first a news reporter for one of MRN 's earliest affiliates WNDB in Daytona Beach. Preston has been with MRN for 8 years as a pit reporter and booth announcer for Grand-Am's Rolex24. Preston's family has been involved in racing for many years including entries into the Daytona 500 with Marshal Teague and Bobby Allison, the Indy 500 with Pat O'Connor and Andy Hillenburg and the Rolex 24 with Michael Andretti and Chapman Root II. As a pit side announcer Preston is constantly combing pit road during the race for the stories on how the teams and drivers are developing their race strategy. When it's time to make those 17 second pit stops Preston is right there to bring you the action live. Chassis adjustments, tires, fuel, you will know what is happening after Preston calls the stop.