NASCAR on FOX announces changes for 2012

When the NASCAR season starts back up in 2012, NASCAR on FOX will be debuting some new changes to their cast.

The Hollywood Hotel just became a little more crowded, Michael Waltrip will be joining his big brother Darrell and Chris Myers in the booth for prerace.

Where does this leave Jeff Hammond? Hammond is taking his extensive experience as a championship-winning crew chief back to the garages and pit road.  FOX Sports Media Group President, Co-COO and Executive Producer, Eric Shanks debuted the changes today while discussing the 2012 plans for NASCAR on FOX..

“Michael is simply one of NASCAR’s most gregarious, genuine personalities, and we loved the dynamic between him and Darrell when we paired them up on occasion last season,” Shanks said. “Michael has also been featured in numerous television commercials over the last decade, which makes him familiar to a much broader audience. I expect a lot of ‘gotta see’ TV coming out of an all-Waltrip Hollywood Hotel next season.”

Michael will also be contributing to analysis and updates during the race as time allows.

Michael Waltrip now adds NASCAR on FOX to his list on on-air jobs that include work with SPEED and Showtime’s “Inside NASCAR.” Michael is a natural on TV, appearing in numerous commercials for his sponsors including current sponsors Aaron’s, Tums and NAPA. As an owner in the Sprint Cup Series, Waltrip currently fields cars for David Reutimann and Martin Truex Jr.

Jeff Hammond will take his crew-chief experience to the pits, as he says “Real men work in the pits.” Having a former crew chief serving in this role in a first for NASCAR’s network coverage.

“We’re excited about Jeff’s new role,” Shanks said. “It’s a first for televised NASCAR coverage, and no one knows more about cars than Jeff does. Now he’ll be in a much better position to cover and humanize that side of the sport for viewers.”

Jeff Hammond has been a member of the NASCAR on FOX family since 2001, the first year that the network began covering the sport. In his broadcasting career, Hammond received a 2006 Sports Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Sports Personality – Studio Analyst.In his career, he served as the crew chief for Darrell Waltrip during the pinnacle of Waltrip’s career. The duo had an impressive 43 wins which includes Waltrip’s Daytona 500 win in 1989 and the birth of the Ickey Shuffle.

Hammond led Darrell Waltrip to two of his three total NASCAR titles (1982 and 1985). He has a total of 508 NASCAR Cup races under his cap, television credits which include work for FX, ESPN, TNN and Turner.

When the 2012 season returns in February, hold on tight, we will have two Waltrips in the booth at the same time and Hammond roving the pits while Chris Myers tries to navigate it all.