Ralph Lawler will announce Driver Introductions before Sunday's Auto Club 400

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Ralph Lawler is going back to his roots.

Lawler, the longtime LA Clippers play-by-play man who retiring at the end of the season, will announce the Driver Introductions for Sunday's Auto Cup 400 in Fontana.

Lawler served as the announcer for Riverside International Raceway, the sprawling road course that occupied much of what is now the western edge of Moreno Valley Riverside, beginning in 1964. In addition to racing, Lawler broadcast local sports, including three straight state championship seasons for Riverside City College teams.

"It has been a long time between NASCAR races for me, but my broadcast roots were born announcing NASCAR races at the Riverside international Raceway," said Lawler in a  release. "Richard Petty, David Pearson, Joe Weatherly, Ned Jarrett and Jr. Johnson would lead the field in two races a year around the winding 2.7 mile left and right turn road course. Those were 10 memorable years in my life in the 1960s, and I’m thrilled to be a part of the Auto Club 400."

Lawler was recently named a recipient of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame's Curt Gowdy Media Award this season.

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