June 3rd, 2012 
Journo Jimmie Johnson won the race on Sunday and edged a little closer to the points lead, but I think the bigger story was something that happened off the track. After 30 years on pit road, reporter Dr. Dick Berggren retired, making Dover his last race.
Berggren, like so many broadcasting greats who came before him symbolized Sunday through his reassuring voice, encyclopedic knowledge and that familiar flat cap. Through the changing times and personalities, Berggren brought consistency throughout. Tune in on Sunday and there was a good chance he was going to be there.
Berggren, a psychologist by trade found his passion on the short tracks of New England, racing himself for the better part of two decades. He later founded one of motorsports’ publications of record, Speedway Illustrated. In 1981, at Dover International Speedway, Berggren began his TV broadcasting career for ESPN.
And so it was on Sunday, Berggren made his last appearance on a NASCAR broadcast at Dover, some 32 years later.
Berggren was (and still is) a consummate professional, weekly toting around extensive research on each team. It’s fair to say he was the best informed and easily one of the best liked figures in the garage.
Sunday won’t be the same without Dick Berggren, but this is a moment that was well earned. We wish him and his wife Kathy, a happy semi-retirement and many years of enjoyable Friday nights at short tracks throughout the northeast.
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I met Dick in the garage at Martinsville three or four years ago, as a fan trying to shake the hand of everyone I recognized without getting in the way. He took a moment for some pleasantries and then excused himself. He was easily the nicest guy I met in the garage. I’ll miss seeing him on TV.
Dr. Dick knows racing… and he usually asked questions that real racing fans wanted answers for… instead of all that made up fluffy pointless the others tend to ask.
-W
Dick has always been a class act. This is obvious.
What I don’t understand is why a website of ‘Insiders’ is parading common knowledge in every post. Where is the ‘Inside’ information?
You should change the name of the website to “The Nascar Observers.”
Dr. Dick Berggren’s departure has left a hole that will never be filled. He was not only knowledgeable, he was a modest man who knew the drivers were the story. He was one of the kindest men in NASCAR, and his presence was always uplifting. As Dale Jr said, they just don’t make television/radio personalities like that any more.
Ditto!
The NASCAR journalists are such a huge part of the sport; I can’t think of any other sport where the fans know the names of the journalists as well as they know the athletes.
This isn’t just a “beat”, it’s a passion, and that was obvious every time Dick Berggren was on camera.
I will miss him.
We lost a class act in NASCAR reporting. Wish him all the best in his future endeavors.