Tony Elliott is known as many things around Hawley, Texas, from baseball & football coach, dad to three kids, husband to a popular fourth-grade teacher, but it’s his summer job as track announcer at Abilene Speedway that has him nearly a decade into the world of announcing.

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Elliott grew up around the race track so he knows pretty much everyone there which makes him perfect for Saturday nights at the dirt track.  Because of his familiarity, he doesn’t stay confined to the announcer’s booth but finds a way to wander about the track meeting fans, talking to drivers and making sure the fans stay informed.

It was nearly a decade ago that he and his son Aaron were just watching a race when owner Rob Poor asked him to announce.  Following a polite no, Poor asked again the next week and sweetened the deal.

In that time, he’s helped at other tracks for other announcers who return the favor when the football season approaches, but the racing season is still in full swing.

Feature photo by Greg Jaklewicz/REPORTER-NEWS