Dave McClelland’s Golden Voice Silenced

The golden voice of Dave McClelland, beloved by NHRA and other motorsports fans and participants worldwide, has been silenced. McClelland, 85, is said to have passed of natural causes on May 22nd. He was a natural behind a microphone and renowned for his work in NHRA from the 1970s through to the early 1990s, both as an announcer and on television broadcasts of the sport of drag racing.

With more than 60 years in the broadcasting trade, Dave McClelland made friends around the country and was known as much for his great humor, kindness as much as his skills as an announcer and broadcaster. A native Kansas City, MO, he started in drag racing in 1955 – and actually spent time behind the wheel, was a track operator – and retired from NHRA in 2003.

The founder of the popular Super Chevy Shows, he gained knowledge of NHRA working with the sanctioning body’s public relations department after serving in track management for Southland Dragway in Houma, LA and as general manager of Dallas International Motor Speedway in 1971, before that track left the NHRA group of race tracks.

Inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2016, “Big Mac” received the 1994 Big Ollie award at the All-Star Drag Racing team ceremony, earning SERMA’s Industry Icon award as one of his many, many accolades.

McClelland explained to NHRA how he got hooked on the sport in 1955: “I was just finishing high school in Liberty, MO and the event,” in his hometown, “was the kickoff of a new track – which hosted the NHRA Nationals in 1956. This first event was one of the stops in 1955 of the original Drag Safari, a group that toured the country for three years, bringing drag racing to all parts of the U.S.,” he said.

“I was blown away by what I saw. I had been attending oval track events for several years but this was something totally unique. You could get close to the cars, the drivers, the action. What a far cry from being in the grandstand at a midget dirt track. Not that oval racing is bad,” McClelland allowed, “but drag racing is something I could see myself doing – and I did.”

When the Dallas track left NHRA, McClelland joined the sanctioning group and in 1973 became the on-camera, play-by-play host of NHRA. He also announced NHRA events around the country. He left NHRA bin 1978 to do ad sales for Popular Hot Rodding magazine, and stayed there until January of 1985, wen he began his own company. He still worked with NHRA, in one form or another, for about 44 years.

In addition, he’s served as master of ceremonies, done voice work for such clients as NHRA, SEMA, NASCAR, ISCA, AARWBA, the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum, for R.J. Reynolds, the Petersen Automotive Museum, International Drag Racing Hall of Fame, Championship Auto Shows, Petersen Publishing, Primedia, ProMedia, General Motors, Ford, Chrysler, Castrol, Mopar, Toyota, Shelby Automobiles, Meguiar’s, and many other organizations.

The McClelland family, including Dave’s wife of 64 years, Louise, have stated there won’t be a memorial service. They do plan to have a celebration of McClelland’s life at some point and ask that his friends and associates consider a donation to Racers for Christ or the Drag Racing Association of Women in his memory.