Waltrip Bids Adieu At Sonoma After 19-Year Broadcasting Run

Fox' Darrell Waltrip called his final NASCAR race yesterday from Sonoma Raceway, telling his co-hosts and the television audience, “It’s a weekend I've dreaded but once I got here and all my friends and the things that all you guys have put together, that was fun.” Waltrip talked about a dinner he had with several colleagues from his broadcasting career, including his “buddy,” fellow analyst Jeff Gordon. Waltrip: “We’ve actually turned out to be buddies. I don’t know if we ever thought that would happen." As Waltrip fought back tears, he said, “It’s been a great ride. I’ve had a great time, a lot of great friends. Now I’ll go home and I’m going to watch all my great friends as they do what I’ve done for 19 years” (“Toyota/Save Mart 350,” FS1, 6/23). Waltrip "found himself lathered in tributes, all the way to the end with a sentimental group hug in the booth that made everyone smile" (L.A. TIMES, 6/24).