TV Producer, Executive, Media Innovator, Team Owner

The massive amount of motorsports coverage on television today can be traced directly back to this multi-Emmy-winning Indianapolis native. In 1980, Lingner was the second-ever production-department employee at then-new cable network ESPN. His first project? The USAC short track-based show that would become Thursday Night Thunder. In 1981, he was promoted to Coordinating Producer for all global motorsports, including F1, NASCAR, CART, IMSA, IHRA and the creation of SPEEDWEEK. The network is widely credited with NASCAR’s massive growth and USAC’s resurgence, and Lingner was arguably the person most responsible. Lingner also produced ESPN’s first two 24 Hours of Le Mans broadcasts (1987, 1988) and created and promoted ESPN’s live go-karting series. Motorsports broadcasters Lingner assigned included Chris Economaki, Bob Jenkins, Jamie Little, Larry Nuber, Benny Parsons, Ned Jarrett, David Hobbs, Jackie Stewart, Derek Daly, Dave Despain, Marty Reid, Amy East, Lindy Thackston, Bob Varsha, Jerry Punch, Robin Miller, Tommy Kendall, Leigh Diffey, Townsend Bell and Danica Patrick. In 1997, Terry became co-owner and -founder of IRL’s Panther Racing.