Former NBC NASCAR play-by-play voice Rick Allen is making a surprising career shift, joining The CW as the new broadcaster for the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA). This move marks a significant departure from his previous role, as Allen will now be calling professional bowling events instead of stock car races. The CW, which has expanded its sports coverage through lower-tier rights deals, secured the rights to 10 PBA telecasts starting in 2026. Allen's hiring comes after NBC declined to renew his contract following the 2024 season, ending his 20-plus-year run calling NASCAR races. While professional bowling may seem like a stark contrast to stock car racing, it's still live sports on broadcast television. Allen's new role creates an interesting situation where he's technically still connected to the motorsports world, even if it's not in the way he or NASCAR fans probably hoped. Whether this leads back to a NASCAR booth remains unclear, but Allen has expressed his willingness to return to calling races if given the opportunity. For now, Allen's voice will be soundtracking strikes and spares instead of late-race restarts.
