Just because ESPN’s Dr. Jerry Punch decided to swap his stethoscope for a microphone doesn’t mean the medical degree he earned at Wake Forest hasn’t been useful over the years. Twice while working races as an ESPN announcer Punch has been called on to aid seriously-injured drivers.
At Bristol he revived Rusty Wallace, who had stopped breathing, and once after an ARCA crash he administered lifesaving first aid to injured racer Don Marnor. And ESPN’s Dr. Jerry Punch was addressing a Nashville Superspeedway media luncheon Tuesday at The Palm restaurant downtown when he was interrupted by a loud crash from the back of the room. Someone yelled “Is there a doctor in the house?”
Amid the laugher came a more serious shout: “We’re not kidding! We need a doctor back here!” Punch immediately rushed from the podium to the back of the room where Jenny Gill, a Nashville Superspeedway intern, had fainted. Punch helped to revive the Middle Tennessee State graduate student. She was taken to a local care center for observation and soon recovered, according to Sean Dozier, the superspeedway’s public relations director. Punch returned to the podium and resumed his speech.
- ESPN2 to carry Michigan race live
- Jerry Rice’s interest in NASCAR growing
- Jerry Rice named Grand Marshal of Nextel Cup Infineon race
- ESPN2 to cover Busch practice and qualifying from Gateway live
- Busch Series carried live on ESPN2 from St. Louis
I think the Doctor is one of the Better reporters for nascar. Thank God he was there for those people. keep up the great work!