Robert Francis Jenkins (September 4, 1947 – August 9, 2021) was an American television and radio sports announcer,[1][2] primarily calling Indy car and NASCAR telecasts for ESPN/ABC and later Versus/NBCSN.

He retired from broadcasting after the 2012 IndyCar season finale to care for his wife Pam who was battling brain cancer.

After his wife's death that offseason, Jenkins came out of retirement for occasional reserve roles on television, radio, and public address primarily at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Page helped Jenkins get his start in motorsports broadcasting, inviting him to serve as a pit reporter for Indy car races on the radio, as well as on television.

By the early 1990s, the crew (sans Jarrett, who was contracted with CBS) would also cover races on ABC Sports, including the Brickyard 400 from 1994 to 2000.

By the late 1980s, Paul Page took over as anchor for Indy car racing on ABC/ESPN, with Jenkins focusing primarily on NASCAR.

For 2002, with CART floundering, Page was moved back to the Indy Racing League, and Jenkins was shifted to the lesser host position.

In 2003, during the closing minutes of Indy 500 Bump Day coverage on ESPN, Jenkins made an impassioned commentary, defending the event from media detractors.

In 2004, he had a short stint as an announcer for Champ Car on Spike TV[8] but was soon fired by the production company.

[9] In 2006, Jenkins was the chief announcer of the IMS Radio Network for the U.S. Grand Prix, and in 2007, called Indy Pro Series broadcasts on ESPN2.

Jenkins was signed as the chief announcer, and returned to Indy car racing full-time for the first time since 2001.

During the month of May, and on race day at the Indianapolis 500 (which ESPN/ABC still had the rights to), he continued his part-time work on the public address announcing team.

[5] For 2013, he worked on the public address system for both the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the USAC Silver Crown Series.

Jenkins made a one-time return to NBCSN in a substitute role during Indy 500 Carb Day coverage, as primary announcer Leigh Diffey was covering the Monaco Grand Prix for NBC.

Jenkins, still at the Speedway for the public address system, also narrated some vignettes for NBC's NASCAR coverage on both weekday programs and race weekends.

In the interview, Jenkins stated "I had colon cancer in 1983 and I survived that, and with God's help and my beloved race fans, I'm gonna make it.