There were rumblings throughout the garage and media centers over the past few months about changes coming to the broadcast booth for next season on FOX. They ranged from a complete overhaul to some minor tweaks. While most fans seemed to lean toward the total remake, the network has decided to do a minor tweak. The anchor of the booth, Mike Joy, will continue to be the primary play-by-play announcer. NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Darrell Waltrip will be in the booth again as an analyst. The change comes for the second analyst. Larry McReynolds has been in the booth for the FOX broadcasts since 2001 with Joy and Darrell Waltrip. While McReynolds will be retained as an analyst in the “Hollywood Hotel,” Jeff Gordon will now be in the booth to complement as the second analyst.
Chris Myers will continue to host the NASCAR coverage with Michael Waltrip from the Hollywood Hotel and will be joined by McReynolds. Gordon will act as an in-car analyst for select races this season before FOX hands over the broadcast duties to NBC. He will begin his full-time broadcasting career with Speedweeks in Daytona in February 2016. Gordon’s responsibilities will include practice, qualifying and races.
Earlier this season, Gordon worked three Xfinity Series races as a guest analyst, a role that Kevin Harvick, Brad Keselowski and Clint Bowyer also tried on for size (Danica Patrick will take her turn in the booth at Michigan in June).
What is it that Mike Neff doesn’t do? Mike announces several shows each year for the Good Guys Rod and Custom Association. He also pops up everywhere from PRN Pit Reporters and the Press Box with Alan Smothers to SIRIUS XM Radio. He has announced at tracks all over the Southeast, starting at Millbridge Speedway. He's also announced at East Lincoln Speedway, Concord Speedway, Tri-County Speedway, Caraway Speedway, and Charlotte Motor Speedway.