Jeff Gordon to join Fox as full-time TV analyst in 2016

CONCORD, N.C. — Sprint Cup driver Jeff Gordon, who has shown television talent both in motorsports and entertainment productions, will join Fox Sports next year as a race analyst.

Gordon, who is retiring from full-time driving at the end of this season after a career that includes four Sprint Cup championships and 92 race wins, will work in the Fox booth with anchor Mike Joy and fellow retired driver Darrell Waltrip.

"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."

Fox said Gordon has agreed to a multi-year contract that will include in-race reporting this season and work as an analyst that will begin with next February's Speedweeks events from Daytona International Speedway.

Gordon will work Sprint Cup races, practices and qualifying sessions for the network. Former crew chief Larry McReynolds will move to the pit broadcast booth with Chris Myers and Michael Waltrip.

Fox Sports President Eric Shanks said Gordon and Waltrip "will treat fans to unmatched insights each and every week."

Shanks noted how Gordon won the pole for the Sprint Cup race at Talladega earlier this month, then immediately went to the TV booth to provide color commentary on the Xfinity Series race.

"The things that you see and are able to tell the fans and observe for the fans, when you are that close, and that relevant, from getting out of the car, is really unique," Shanks said. "It's great to be able to get somebody who will be able to tell you exactly what it's like to try to pass Kevin Harvick or hold off Kevin Harvick."

Gordon, who helped put NASCAR on the national map, has become a mainstream personality over the years. He is the only driver to have hosted Saturday Night Live, he has co-hosted Live! With Regis and Kelly more than 10 times, and has appeared as himself on The Simpsons, Spin City and The Drew Carey Show.

"The time is right for me to do something different from driving, but I still want to be a part of this sport," Gordon said on Fox Sports' NASCAR Race Hub after Thursday's announcement. "I think this is a great time for me to continue to show how much I really care about racing, how much I love it; take the knowledge I've had over the years and hopefully be able to bring that to the fans in a little bit of a unique and new way. If I'm not going to be doing that, I'm going to be watching it at home every Sunday anyway."

Contributing: The Associated Press

PHOTOS: Behind the wheel with Jeff Gordon