Mike Joy isn’t planning on going anywhere quite yet.
According to a Sports Business Journal report, the veteran NASCAR commentator, known as the lead play-by-play voice for NASCAR on Fox, has expressed his intention to return to the broadcast booth for the upcoming season.
Joy has been a mainstay in Fox’s NASCAR coverage since the network began airing races in 2001. With the recent media rights changes in the sport, there was uncertainty about the on-air talent lineup. However, it seems Joy will continue his role as the voice of NASCAR on Fox.
While SBJ notes that Joy’s contract with Fox reportedly ends this year, there was no confirmation of renewal. However, his long history and established reputation at Fox likely make his desire to return a significant factor in negotiations.
The 74-year-old Joy recently texted SBJ that he was “looking forward to next year,” while Fox declined to comment.
Before calling his record-setting 45th Daytona 500 in February, Joy appeared on the Awful Announcing podcast. While he didn’t directly discuss his future with Fox, his passion for the sport shone through. He shared numerous untold stories, a testament to his impressive career covering NASCAR since 1977.
Former drivers Kevin Harvick and Clint Bowyer will round out the booth alongside Joy. While Harvick’s multi-year deal with Fox guarantees his presence next season, Bowyer’s future with the network remains in the air.
Joy’s presence was seemingly in doubt, but one text message has put that to rest—for now.
[SBJ]
About Sam Neumann
Since the beginning of 2023, Sam has been a staff writer for Awful Announcing and The Comeback. A 2021 graduate of Temple University, Sam is a Charlotte native, who currently calls Greenville, South Carolina his home. He also has a love/hate relationship with the New York Mets and Jets.