Ted started his broadcasting career as a Play by Play sportscaster in Sidney Ohio. At the tender age of 19, he built his first radio station in Delphos Ohio.
Ted’s interest turned to drag racing, and operated four drag strips in Indiana and Ohio. After successful endeavors as a track owner, Jones was recruited by International Hot Rod Association founder, Larry Carrier.
Jones sold his tracks and moved to Bristol Tennessee to serve as Vice President and General Manager of the IHRA. Under Ted’s leadership, the IHRA became a major force in professional drag racing. Interestingly, that was the impetus for Ted to return to his first love: Broadcasting.
When Ted Jones introduced ESPN to professional drag racing and served as a consulting producer of the IHRA’s National Event TV coverage, he went on to become a recognized on-air personality on those programs. Ted would eventually become President and part-owner of the IHRA before selling his interest in the organization.
Jones’ accomplishments in drag racing have earned him many accolades. He is a member of the International Drag racing Hall of Fame in Gainesville, Florida, the North Carolina Drag Racing Hall of Fame, the IHRA Hall of Fame, and in 2019 Ted was enshrined as a Legend of Thunder Valley at the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals in Bristol, Tennessee.
After selling his interest in the IHRA, Ted started Masters Entertainment Group, a television production company concentrating on the long-running ESPN series “Inside Drag Racing”. From there, MEG became a prolific supplier of television programming to ESPN, ESPN 2, NBC Sports, CBS Sports, the Outdoor Channel, Comcast Sports South, MAVTV, MAV Canada, REVN Network, Discovery Network, Speedvision, Destination America, and Motor Trend Network. Ted produced or served as talent on many forms of motorsports on several networks, as well as rodeo, basketball, and boating, where Ted, a USCG-licensed Captain, hosted the popular series “Pleasure Boater.” Today, Ted is semi-retired, but still keeps a steady hand on MEG, working with his management committee of Dave Dobson, David Pennington, and Holly Vining.