CONCORD, N.C. – (By Gray Caldwell) While 2015 marks Jeff Gordon’s final full-time Sprint Cup Series season, fans will still see plenty of the four-time Cup champion on race days next year.
Thursday evening, FOX Sports announced that Gordon will join its NASCAR broadcast team full-time in 2016 as a race analyst for the network’s 16th year of Sprint Cup Series coverage. He will team with play-by-play announcer Mike Joy and analyst Darrell Waltrip in the booth.
“NASCAR has provided me so many incredible memories, experiences and opportunities throughout my 23 years as a driver, and I can’t wait to start a new chapter in racing with this new relationship with FOX and to be in the booth with Mike and Darrell,” Gordon said. “I feel so lucky to be a part of a sport that I’m very passionate about, and now I get the opportunity to share that passion to millions of race fans from a whole new perspective.”
Gordon, who agreed to a multi-year contract with FOX Sports that begins this season with in-race reporting from the No. 24 Chevrolet SS during select Cup races, will transition to his analyst role commencing with Daytona Speedweeks in February 2016. He will call all Sprint Cup races, practices and qualifying sessions for FOX Sports in 2016. Chris Myers will host the network’s coverage alongside analysts Larry McReynolds and Michael Waltrip.
Gordon, who will remain an equity partner in Hendrick Motorsports following the 2015 season, got a taste of the FOX broadcast booth this season when he served as a race analyst for three NASCAR XFINITY Series races.
“Jeff is not only a champion but an icon of a racing generation,” said Eric Shanks, FOX Sports president, COO and executive producer. “We are thrilled he has chosen to become a part of the FOX Sports family and pair his experience with Darrell. Each is credited with helping elevate NASCAR to the popularity it attained in his respective era, and alongside Mike Joy, this duo will treat fans to unmatched insights each and every week.”
