Jamie Little joins Fox Sports
Jamie Little was loyal to ESPN/ABC, the sports broadcasting giant at which over 16 years she built a career as a motor sports pit reporter.
But Little, who went to Green Valley High School and lives in Summerlin, also knew ESPN wouldn’t be airing NASCAR after this season.
A motor sports person at heart, Little will leave for Fox Sports to cover NASCAR beginning next season.
“God knows I will cover anything with a motor,” Little said Thursday morning before leaving for Dover, Del., to cover this weekend’s NASCAR races for ESPN. “I’ve been traveling for racing since I was 22. That’s why I didn’t want to cover anything but racing. I’m so invested in it. I enjoy it so much. It isn’t a job to me.”
Fox Sports will broadcast the first half of the NASCAR schedule next season, and NBC will take over the second half.
Little will stay close to the sport over the final half of the season as well, still going to races and reporting for the Fox Sports 1 studio show. But the travel will be a little lighter, and that was important for Little, who has a 2-year-old son, Carter Selman.
“I can be a mom,” she said. “Now I should be home more.”
She also will get to cover Las Vegas’ Sprint Cup Series race in March. Little had covered the Nationwide Series race for ESPN, but Fox Sports handled the Sprint Cup race.
Little, 36, has a history with Fox Sports, covering motor sports events for that network’s SPEED channel in 2002 and 2003. SPEED now is Fox Sports 1.
“Bringing Jamie into the NASCAR on FOX fold is a huge addition for Fox Sports,” John Entz, Fox Sports executive vice president and executive producer, said in a statement. “While her versatility is remarkable, her ability to think on her feet and report not only the news but also the sport’s human-interest stories, with a down-to-earth presentation, makes her a perfect fit for Fox.”
Little knew last summer when NBC landed the NASCAR contract she would have to consider leaving ESPN/ABC. Her deal with ESPN/ABC was up at the end of this season anyway, so the timing worked out for her.
“I’m excited for the opportunity,” Little said. “I’m rejuvenated.”
Contact reporter Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914. Follow him on Twitter:@markanderson65.
