In a surprising career twist, Rick Allen is swapping racetracks for bowling alleys! 🌟
The renowned NASCAR play-by-play announcer will now be heard on The CW, but not for NASCAR. Instead, he's taking on the role of the new play-by-play announcer for the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) starting in 2026.
But wait, there's a backstory...
After NBC decided against renewing Allen's contract post-2024 season, ending a remarkable 20-year stint as the voice of NASCAR, many wondered where he'd go next. Leigh Diffey took over the Cup Series booth, leaving Allen to finish his NBC contract calling Xfinity Series races before that series also moved to The CW.
And here's where it gets interesting:
The PBA role brings Allen back to The CW, which now boasts a diverse sports portfolio, including NASCAR's Xfinity Series, ACC and Pac-12 football and basketball, WWE NXT, and more. The network secured the rights to 10 PBA telecasts in 2026, marking a shift from Fox, the PBA's partner since 2018, which drew an impressive 738,000 viewers for the PBA World Championship last year.
While professional bowling and stock car racing are worlds apart, The CW's strategy of accumulating lower-tier sports rights has transformed it into a sports network. With live sports now comprising 40% of its programming, Allen's new role adds an intriguing twist. He remains linked to the world of motorsports, albeit in an unexpected way, leaving NASCAR fans and Allen himself potentially yearning for a return to the NASCAR booth.
Will Allen ever return to NASCAR? He's expressed his desire, and The CW connection keeps that door ajar. Stranger career comebacks have happened! For now, though, Allen's iconic voice will narrate strikes and spares, a far cry from the adrenaline-pumping late-race restarts he's famous for.
What do you think about this unexpected career shift? Do you think Rick Allen will find his way back to NASCAR, or is he destined for a new path in sports broadcasting?
