Don't think of this weekend as saying goodbye to Darrell Waltrip. Rather, it's more of a "see you soon."
Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series race at Sonoma will be Waltrip's final broadcast call for Fox. The Hall of Famer has been with Fox since the tragic 2001 Daytona 500, injecting race broadcasts with the same Southern twang and vibrant personality that made him a famous driver so many years ago.
But with Waltrip retiring, a question presents itself: Who replaces him in the booth?
Veteran Mike Joy remains as a steady unifying presence, and four-time Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon offers well-timed personal stories, too. Rumors about who might join that duo have run rampant for months. Kevin Harvick, who is committed to driving for Stewart-Haas Racing next season, would have made perfect sense. But his career behind the wheel isn't done yet, so nix that one.
That said, after speaking with people in the NASCAR industry and close to Fox, there are a few names worth keeping an eye on. Here are five that stand out:
