At the Starting Line
Before the roar of the engines, before more than 300,000 fans fill the grandstands, and before millions of listeners tune in around the world, Nick Yeoman, ’10, has already been at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for hours.
On race day, he arrives before sunrise, finding a quiet spot high in the front-stretch grandstands. As fireworks signal the opening of the gates at 6 a.m. and fans begin pouring into the Speedway, he takes a moment to soak it all in.
“I always pick out a spot at the top of the grandstands and watch the fireworks show,” Nick said. “It’s one of my favorite traditions.” 
A few hours later, his voice will become part of another tradition.
Today, Nick serves as a broadcaster for two of the nation’s premier motorsports radio networks, covering IndyCar for the IMS Radio Network and NASCAR for the Performance Racing Network. Whether he’s calling the action from the booth or reporting live from pit lane, his voice has become familiar to racing fans across the country. But long before he was broadcasting the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” he was discovering his passion behind a microphone in Indiana.
Learning the Curve
That passion first took shape at Lafayette Jefferson High School, where Nick joined the school’s student-run radio station. He started as a morning DJ, called basketball games, and quickly realized broadcasting was more than just a hobby.
“I got an opportunity to really discover that this was something I enjoyed—and something I was decent at,” he said.
When it came time to choose a college, the decision felt natural.
“It was always going to be Ball State because of the incoming SportsLink program. I knew I’d get a chance to broadcast if I got involved.”
He was right. As a telecommunications major and one of SportsLink’s early students, Nick immersed himself in as many broadcasting opportunities as he could find. Football. Basketball. Gymnastics. Swimming and diving. Every event became another chance to sharpen his skills.
“I call it getting the reps,” Nick said. “Ball State allows you to actually broadcast in ways that are unlike a lot of schools around the country.”
Those repetitions mattered.
Calling a gymnastics meet may not seem like preparation for the Indianapolis 500, but for Nick, every broadcast taught the same core skills: thinking quickly, telling compelling stories, and staying composed during live events.
The experiences also gave him memories he’ll never forget.
One season stands above the rest: Ball State football’s historic 12-0 run in 2008.
“It was me and three other guys packing into a van and driving all over the Midwest,” he recalled. “The camaraderie that we shared, that stood out. Those are memories that will stay with me for a long time.”
By the time graduation arrived, Nick was ready for his first professional opportunity.
“I had to be ready right away,” he said. “I really credit all the opportunities I got at Ball State.”
He began his career as a pit reporter, spending race weekends interviewing drivers, crew chiefs, and teams while covering every detail unfolding along pit lane. After seven years, he earned the opportunity to become a turn announcer, calling the action from around the track. Today, he also serves as an anchor for NASCAR’s Performance Racing Network, continuing to build a career that has taken him to some of the biggest events in motorsports.
Throughout that journey, one lesson from Ball State has remained constant.
“Putting in the work ahead of putting out the finished product was something that applies to everything I do in broadcasting.”
Preparation defines nearly every part of his week. While race fans experience the excitement over a few hours on the weekend, Nick spends days researching drivers, reviewing statistics, preparing storylines, and coordinating broadcasts long before race day arrives.
Race Day
Then comes race weekend.
The schedule becomes nonstop, but one event still feels different.
“The Indy 500 is special because of the tradition,” Nick said. “There’s the singing of Back Home Again in Indiana, the playing of taps. It’s Memorial Day weekend, so we’re always mindful that there’s a bigger purpose as well.”
As the pre-race ceremonies conclude and the anticipation builds, the magnitude of the moment never fades.
“Knowing that there’s millions of people listening, it’s easy to get nervous,” he said. “But it’s also a labor of love for all of us. We’re very passionate about the race.”
Even after years in broadcasting, Nick says the Ball State name still carries weight throughout the industry.
“People know when you come out of Ball State,” he said. “They understand the type of prospective broadcaster they’re getting. In reputation alone, it means quite a bit.”
For current students hoping to follow a similar path, his advice is simple.
“Never say no to opportunities.”
Whether it’s broadcasting a football game, covering swimming and diving, or taking on an assignment outside your comfort zone, every experience helps build the skills needed for whatever comes next.
“You can get noticed doing just about anything,” Nick said. “Whatever gets presented to you, run with it, make the best of it, and do as good of a job as you can.”
It’s advice he has lived throughout his career.
From student broadcaster to one of the voices behind the Indianapolis 500, Nick’s journey wasn’t built on one defining moment. It was built on preparation, experience, and a willingness to embrace every opportunity that came his way.
And on race morning, before the crowds arrive and before the engines roar to life, it all comes full circle.
For a few quiet moments atop the grandstands, one Ball State graduate gets to take in the spectacle before helping bring it to life for millions of racing fans.
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