NASCAR Reporter Jamie Little Is Continuing To Make History With Her New Job
Jamie Little has made history for women everywhere throughout her entire career covering NASCAR and racing on TV. Now, after recently accepting a new role, she is continuing to make more history within the sports media world. FOX Sports recently announced that Little will become the first woman TV play-by-play announcer for a national motorsports series, which could ultimately open doors for women across racing and TV.
Jamie Little has made history throughout her career
Racing fans have watched Little have success covering racing for years. According to her bio on FOX Sports, Little worked at ESPN prior to joining FOX. At ESPN, she covered NASCAR and the IndyCar Series, as well the Winter and Summer X Games. She also became the first female TV pit reporter to cover the the Indianapolis 500 in 2004.
In 2015, though, Little joined FOX’s NASCAR coverage to cover pit road for Cup Series and Xfinity Series races. She is also a reporter for FOX’s NASCAR RaceDay, a pre-race show on the network before Cup Series races.
Also, in 2015, Little made some more history when she became the first woman pit reporter to cover the Daytona 500 and the Indianapolis 500.
She is the first woman play-by-play announcer for a national racing series
FOX Sports announced on Nov. 16 that Little will make history by becoming the first woman TV play-by-play announcer of a national racing series. Little will do play-by-play for the ARCA Menards Series, starting with the season-opener in February, which will take place in Daytona.
The broadcast will be on FS1, and Phil Parsons will join Little as the analyst. Kate Osborne will also be the reporter on the team.
Although she is just now making history as a play-by-play announcer, Little has done play-by-play in the past. She did it at the Michigan International Speedway during two Xfinity Series practice sessions in 2018, according to Fox Sports. Little will call some practice races before the ARCA Menards Series begins, though, to prepare for her new role, according to The Athletic.
Little will also continue to be a pit reporter for the Xfinity Series and Cup Series, also according to The Athletic.
Jamie Little reacts to her new role at FOX
As expected, Little seems pretty excited about her new job.
“I am beyond excited and humbled to be offered this role for the ARCA Menards Series,” Little said, according to FOX Sports. “Although I’ve always preferred to be viewed as a motorsports broadcaster and not solely as a female broadcaster, it is an honor to be the first in this role. I definitely don’t take for granted being the first at anything. I know it can open other opportunities for women in the future, and I hope the younger girls aspiring to cover racing see the sky is the limit.”
Putting Little in this role was actually somewhat the idea of NBC Sports IndyCar announcer Leigh Diffey, according to The Athletic.
“He said, ‘Jamie, you’re going to think I’m crazy but I’ve been looking at these women getting promoted to play-by-play roles in other sports and you need to be the one to do it in racing,’” Little said, according to The Athletic.
Little then emailed FOX Sports senior vice president of production and talent development, Jacob Ullman, saying that play-by-play was something that she wanted to try to do, per The Athletic. Ullman first thought about having her do a few races in 2021. However, he then suggested the idea of her doing the entire ARCA series, making her the voice of it this upcoming season.
“The way that I have always conducted myself in my career and getting to the next step is speaking up and saying something,” Little said, according to The Athletic. “I’m never one to sit back and just say, ‘Well, if they want me to do that they’ll come and ask me.’ That’s just never been my personality. If I envision myself doing something, that means I can do it and I have to let somebody know.”
Jamie Little has made history her entire career. Now, she is continuing to open doors for other women in racing and in TV.
