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Announcer Childers Ready To Step Back
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It’s only fitting that veteran public address announcer Jim Childers hails from Superman’s hometown of Metropolis, Illnois. He’s been the “Superman” behind the microphone at the Illinois State Fair and the DuQuoin State Fair for more than 30 years.
And as it will be much to the chagrin of thousands of State Fair fans across the country, Childers, after 36 consecutive seasons of roaming across the Midwestern countryside with a microphone, one of the premier motorsports announcers in the country, has decided to step back from the business.
Childers has announced every ARCA-sanctioned race at both the Illinois State Fairgrounds and DuQuoin State Fairgrounds ever since ARCA started sanctioning the events in 1983. This year’s SuperChevyStores.com- Allen Crowe 100 at Springfield and the Southern Illinois at DuQuoin mark his 33rd consecutive season of announcing both the ARCA and USAC championship races at both State Fair events.
The southern Illinois native made the difficult decision over the winter to step back from a career that began across the Ohio River in 1980.
“I owe a lot to many people, including the late Bill Oldani, Bob Sargent and Kenny Brown among them,” Childers said. “I really want to thank the fans, the racers and the people I’ve worked alongside during the last 36 years. They made it fun and kept me coming back year after year.”
A long time race fan, Childers secured the job as the announcer at Paducah International Raceway in 1980, a job that ultimately led him to the announcing position for the Midget Auto Racing Association (MARA) series in 1983. A chance meeting with the Director of Motorsports at the Illinois State Fair, the late Bill Oldani, opened the door for Childers to become the long time public address voice at both Springfield and the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds.
“It’s been a great ride, and it’s very hard to walk away. These last two events at Springfield and DuQuoin are going to so rough. I’m walking away from something I truly love.”
While Childers called midget action for MARA and the USAC and ARCA action at both fairgrounds, his resume continued to grow calling late model, modified and sprint car races at a variety of locations across the Midwest.
His career leaves virtually no stone unturned in announcing circles. He has announced races for NASCAR, USAC, the World of Outlaws, ARCA, UMP, ASCoC, ASCS, NDRA, Hav-A-Tampa, AIS, IRA and the Northern All Stars.
And as it will be much to the chagrin of thousands of State Fair fans across the country, Childers, after 36 consecutive seasons of roaming across the Midwestern countryside with a microphone, one of the premier motorsports announcers in the country, has decided to step back from the business.
Childers has announced every ARCA-sanctioned race at both the Illinois State Fairgrounds and DuQuoin State Fairgrounds ever since ARCA started sanctioning the events in 1983. This year’s SuperChevyStores.com- Allen Crowe 100 at Springfield and the Southern Illinois at DuQuoin mark his 33rd consecutive season of announcing both the ARCA and USAC championship races at both State Fair events.
The southern Illinois native made the difficult decision over the winter to step back from a career that began across the Ohio River in 1980.
“I owe a lot to many people, including the late Bill Oldani, Bob Sargent and Kenny Brown among them,” Childers said. “I really want to thank the fans, the racers and the people I’ve worked alongside during the last 36 years. They made it fun and kept me coming back year after year.”
A long time race fan, Childers secured the job as the announcer at Paducah International Raceway in 1980, a job that ultimately led him to the announcing position for the Midget Auto Racing Association (MARA) series in 1983. A chance meeting with the Director of Motorsports at the Illinois State Fair, the late Bill Oldani, opened the door for Childers to become the long time public address voice at both Springfield and the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds.
“It’s been a great ride, and it’s very hard to walk away. These last two events at Springfield and DuQuoin are going to so rough. I’m walking away from something I truly love.”
While Childers called midget action for MARA and the USAC and ARCA action at both fairgrounds, his resume continued to grow calling late model, modified and sprint car races at a variety of locations across the Midwest.
His career leaves virtually no stone unturned in announcing circles. He has announced races for NASCAR, USAC, the World of Outlaws, ARCA, UMP, ASCoC, ASCS, NDRA, Hav-A-Tampa, AIS, IRA and the Northern All Stars.
