NASCAR Voice Barney Hall Dies

Barney Hall, who called his first Daytona 500 in 1960 and was one of the most recognizable voices in NASCAR history while working for the Motor Racing Network, died Tuesday from complications following a recent medical procedure. He was 83.

Hall had been part of all but four Daytona 500 broadcasts in the 57-year history of the race. He started at MRN with the network's inception in 1970 and retired from his weekly broadcasting duties in July 2014.

"For many of us in the racing and broadcasting industries, Barney was more than just 'The Voice' who brought us the NASCAR action each week on the radio," MRN President David Hyatt said in a news release. "He was an inspiration, a teacher and, mostly, a friend.

"Barney was a consummate professional whose style and honesty made him one of the most revered voices of the sport and perhaps the most trusted reporter of his day."

As word spread on social media Tuesday that Hall was not doing well, Dale Earnhardt Jr. tweeted earlier in the day: "For the longest time he was THE voice of @NASCAR. Just perfection. Thoughts and prayers."

Along with Ken Squier, Hall was one of the first two recipients as well as the namesake of NASCAR's Squier-Hall Award for NASCAR Media Excellence, which is awarded during the annual Hall of Fame induction.