NASCAR on Fox Ends 2012 in Dover

Fox ends its NASCAR season today at the famed Dover International Speedway for the FedEx 400. Next week, TNT will start its summer season with six Sprint Cup races before ESPN takes the final 17 including the Chase for the Sprint Cup.

However, before we go to the last 23 races of the season, Fox will end its schedule Sunday. It also marks the end of the line for pit reporter Dick Berggren who has been with the network dating back to its first foray into NASCAR back in 2001. He will retire from Fox and spend his time raising money for a motorsports museum in New Hampshire.

Let’s get the preview from Fox Sports.

FOX SPORTS NOTES, QUOTES & ANECDOTES

NASCAR on FOX Season Finishes Strong From Dover Sunday at 12:30 PM ET
Jeff Hammond: “What is Going on With Jeff Gordon?”

2012 NASCAR ON FOX SEASON FINALE THIS SUNDAY – Memorial Day weekend provided plenty of action; 11 different leaders and winner Kasey Kahne setting a 155 mph track record. On Sunday, June 3 (12:30 PM ET), NASCAR on FOX heads to Dover International Speedway looking to close its 2012 coverage with just as much excitement.

Coverage starts with FOX NASCAR SUNDAY prerace show hosted by Chris Myers, with up-to-the-minute reports, live interviews with drivers, crewmen and officials shaping the day’s action, and analysis from Darrell Waltrip and Michael Waltrip.

Veteran analyst Jeff Hammond takes his extensive experience as a former championship-winning crew chief to where the action is, in the garages and pit road. Once the green flag drops, race announcer Mike Joy is alongside analysts Waltrip and Larry McReynolds to call all the twists and turns on the track while Dick Berggren, Steve Byrnes, Krista Voda and Matt Yocum patrol the pits for reports on teams and pit stops.

HAMMOND: “WHAT’S GOING ON WITH JEFF GORDON?” – 2012 got off to a rough start for the Hendrick Motorsports racing team. However, with Kasey Kahne’s win last week, recent strong racing from Jimmie Johnson combined with the stellar season had by Dale Earnhardt, Jr., NASCAR on FOX analyst Jeff Hammond sees the Hendrick team embarking on a dominant final stretch this season. “I wonder if the giant has come awake one more time. Johnson, Dale Jr. and Kahne are red hot and are now the three lead horses at Hendrick Motorsports.” Hendrick writes. “The question or the pressure at Hendrick Motorsports has to be on Jeff Gordon. Where is he? He’s our sport’s four-time champion, and it seems like he has picked up all of Kasey’s bad luck from early this season and made it his own. It really has everyone asking the same question — ‘What is going on with Jeff Gordon?’”

To read all of Hammonds’ thoughts on the Hendrick Motorsports team, click here: http://on-msn.com/JQHikW

PIT REPORTER DICK BERGGREN SAYS GOODBYE TO FOX SPORTS – This Sunday, FOX Sports Media Group says so long to one of NASCAR’s most recognizable broadcasters as pit reporter Dick Berggren works his final race for the network. Berggren, who celebrated his 70th birthday by working the Coca-Cola 600 on FOX last Sunday, has been with FOX Sports since its first NASCAR race in 2001. Coincidentally, Berggren made his NASCAR broadcasting debut at Dover in 1981 alongside Mike Joy, his NASCAR on FOX and SPEED colleague, the only NASCAR broadcaster on-air longer than Berggren. In his newfound downtime, Berggren contributes stories and columns to Speedway Illustrated, a publication he founded, and will dedicate his time to building an auto racing museum at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. “The Northeast has a rich racing history that deserves to be saved and displayed,” said Berggren. “We’re fund raising and accumulating things to display. Getting the museum up and running is a big job and it’ll take a lot of time.” Of course we’d be remise without saying what Berggren might enjoy doing most with his downtime; checking out local track racing. “After the FOX portion of the year ends, I’ve always traveled to local tracks where I still enjoy sitting in the stands with a hot dog in one hand and a beer in the other, watching the local heroes.”

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About Ken Fang

Ken has been covering the sports media in earnest at his own site, Fang's Bites since May 2007 and at Awful Announcing since March 2013. He provides a unique perspective having been an award-winning radio news reporter in Providence and having worked in local television. Fang celebrates the three Boston Red Sox World Championships in the 21st Century, but continues to be a long-suffering Cleveland Browns fan.

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