Calls for ‘Firing’ Mount Against FOX as Declining Broadcaster Goes Down an Ugly Slump on Live Coverage

“It’s not OK but it’s what fans have come to expect from Fox’s NASCAR coverage on a weekly basis.” An offhand remark during a shaky Martinsville broadcast sums up a season of frustration for FOX’s NASCAR team. It was a busy Saturday at Martinsville Speedway with Cup Series practice and qualifying for the Cook Out 400, where Josh Berry and Chris Buescher were dialing in their cars. Joy, Clint Bowyer, and Kevin Harvick tried to keep up in the booth, but the stumbles were hard to miss: wrong camera cuts, mixed-up names, and a rising tide of fan discontent.

FOX is marking its 25th year of NASCAR coverage in 2025, and Joy’s been the lead voice since 2001, a constant through decades of racing shifts. But Martinsville wasn’t a one-off, Bowyer’s telestrator breakdown got derailed by a pit road switch, and Joy tagged Josh Berry as Kyle Larson before correcting himself, leaving fans buzzing online.

Fans are almost used to FOX’s usual shenanigans of half-hearted coverage, which was evident at COTA along with the testing commercial breaks every 10 laps. While the production team at FOX has a habit of being called out, the recent events have raised questions about the talent inside the booth. 

The heat’s zeroing in on Mike Joy, FOX’s lead announcer since 2001, with growing calls for him to step aside. He’s got 50 years in motorsports broadcasting, including 45 Daytona 500s since his MRN Radio debut in 1979. At Martinsville, though, Joy faltered, starting an in-car segment with “Kyle Larson, a little bit different approach here,” only for Bowyer to interrupt, “That is not Kyle Larson.” Joy corrected Josh Berry, pinning it on a producer’s cue, but the mistake hit hard amid a season of scrutiny.

The trouble wasn’t just his. Bowyer’s analysis of Martinsville’s rubber buildup, “If you can see where that rubber’s starting to build up there,” was cut off when the broadcast flipped to pit road, leaving his point stranded. Joy’s worked with Bowyer since 2021 and Harvick since 2024, but their rhythm feels shaky compared to tight races like William Byron’s Daytona win by 0.113 seconds. Some say Joy’s old-school delivery, shaped by years with legends like Ken Squier, can’t match the punch of NBC’s Leigh Diffey, who nailed Harrison Burton’s Daytona win last year.

FOX’s 25th season has hit snags, but Mike Joy’s losing his charm inside the booth during the Martinsville race was felt by a lot of fans. With NASCAR’s new media deal bringing Amazon and Warner Bros in 2025, the question arises: how long until FOX continue with current talent, and are they ready to move on from “The Voice of NASCAR”?

Fans Speak Out: A Booth Under Pressure

Fans are dissecting FOX’s woes on Reddit, and their takes, sandwiched between praise and critique, reveal a messy picture.

“Thought the same thing. His calls on most of the on-track incidents were really sharp… That said, it definitely feels like Mike is having more of those off weeks sprinkled between the good ones.” Joy was in top gear at Phoenix, narrating Christopher Bell’s win with a razor-sharp precision that had fans buzzing. Then Martinsville threw a curve, and he mixed up Berry and Larson, a slip that dulled his shine. What started as a smooth run is now hitting bumps, and fans are noticing every wobble.

Sharing his take on Joy’s recent stint a fan added, “Yea I felt like I caught a lot of mistakes he was making… it seemed like a lot loved his energy today and how blunt he was about his comments regarding the Xfinity ‘dumpster fire.” Like most of the veterans, Mike Joy didn’t shy away from calling out the demolition derby Xfinity Series race. But when it came to bringing life to the main event on Sunday, he seemed out of touch. 

Another user was quick to highlight that FOX is cornered right now without good options to replace Joy. “Mike isn’t the greatest, but Fox just doesn’t really have anyone to bring up into the booth.” FOX is really cornered with how the rest of the media have roped in the best talents. Leigh Diffey is with NBC, while Dale Jr, Carl Edwards, and Steve Letarte are signed up with Amazon Prime Video. At 75, Joy might be on his final few laps of calling out races from the booth, but despite that, FOX seems unprepared to replace the veteran announcer. 

The drama peaks with a team tangle: “The rest of the booth isn’t helping. Harvick has some talent but Bowyer is sucking away any attention for his drunken ramblings mid-race.” Clint Bowyer hasn’t been able to win over the fans with his commentary in the FOX booth. Although with Harvick’s addition, the booth is somewhat stable, the former RCR driver isn’t sure if he needs to lead the calls or let Big Mike talk about the big moment. 

“No. Put him back with McReynolds in the booth, and he will be a rejuvenated man,” a fan argued. For the time being, Larry Mac only chips in as an analyst during the live coverage, while Harvick and Bowyer to the heavy lifting from the FOX booth. There was a time when the trio of Darallel Waltrip, McReynolds and Mike Joy called races from the booth, and this run stretched for 15 years. But, with the massive shake up in NASCAR media rights deals, it feels as if FOX has taken a backseat.

What do you think about the current lineup calling NASCAR on FOX? And if Mike Joy were to end his stint, who should be the ideal candidate to replace him?

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