The drama of the Cup Series playoff at Talladega Superspeedway delivered on its promise of chaos and heart-stopping finishes, but for Front Row Motorsports driver Todd Gilliland, the narrative began with a comedic flub by legendary announcer Leigh Diffey. As Todd was bravely wheeling his Ford through the pack, Diffey mistakenly referred to him as his father, David Gilliland, prompting a gentle yet effective correction from the team’s social media account.

Starting deep in the field, he threaded the needle through the inevitable “Big One” and led laps in the final frantic push, ultimately battling Chase Briscoe to the checkered flag. After the race, FRM couldn’t resist a gentle, digital tap on the shoulder with a tweet, writing, “Hey @leighdiffey, it’s Todd…not David.” But what followed was an exchange between Diffey and FRM, leaving fans in stitches.

A gentle correction from Leigh Diffey

Diffey’s response was pure gold, a mix of sheepish admission and professional acceptance, saying, “Yep no worries … I was always afraid of doing that and I guess it finally got me today … didn’t even realize it.” It was a classic example of the slip of tongue catching up with even the most polished voices in sports. After all, the Australian-born Diffey, known for his enthusiastic calls across IndyCar, F1, and NASCAR, is the master of high-octane verbal aerobatics that fans adore.

The confusion, of course, stems from the deep, rich legacy of the Gilliland name in stock car racing. David Gilliland, Todd’s father, forged a solid 12-year career in the NASCAR Cup Series, competing in over 330 races and securing a pole position for the 2007 Daytona 500. Like many 2nd-generation drivers, Todd carries the weight and the fame of a family name that is synonymous with the sport, making it easy for people to default to the name that has been heard in the booth for 2 decades.

The Gillilands also became the first family in history to have three generations of race winners when Todd won an ARCA Racing Series at Toledo Speedway in 2015, following wins by his father, David, and grandfather, Butch.

In fact, now in a true showcase of superspeedway savvy, Gilliland powered his No. 34 Ford to a stunning 2nd-place finish. His performance was a testament to the hard work put in by the single-car team at FRM, which consistently brings fast Fords to the superspeedways. At the end of Stage 2 of the race, Gilliland was in 7th place, while his teammate, Noah Gragson, was at 34th, and Zane Smith was at 22nd.

Following the nail-biting, overtime finish at Talladega, Todd Gilliland, who was right in the thick of the last-lap charge, was equal parts elated and reflective. “I’m definitely excited, but maybe wishing a little bit what I could’ve done differently,” he admitted in his post-race remarks, perfectly capturing the bittersweet feeling of coming so close to a Cup Series win.

He elaborated on the immense effort required, stating, “I mean, that’s just the dream, right? To be in contention to win a race like this, and I certainly think we had everything to get it done in our Ford Mustang. We just came up a bit short.” The ability to work seamlessly with other drivers is crucial, and Todd acknowledged this, noting, “Yeah, it happened to work out right that I saw my teammates a lot today, and we work well together.”

It was the moment Todd Gilliland cemented his identity not just as a second-generation driver, but as a legitimate threat in his own right, providing a great, new talking point for Leigh Diffey to use next time he calls the No. 34 car across the finish line. But this isn’t the first time Diffey remembers apologizing for an on-air slip-up.

Leigh Diffey revisits the call that defined his passion for NASCAR broadcasting

Leigh Diffey’s rise from a physical education teacher in Queensland, Australia, to one of motorsport’s most recognizable voices is a story of passion and persistence. After calling nearly 100 flat-track races in his first season, Diffey went on to narrate moments across Formula 1, IndyCar, and the Olympics before taking the helm as NBC’s lead NASCAR announcer in 2024. But amid his countless calls, one moment at Watkins Glen stood apart, a race that made him forget the script and just live the thrill.

Reflecting on the unforgettable 2024 Cup Series race at Watkins Glen, Diffey said, “I remember getting so caught up in it that I owed Mike Bagley an apology because we were meant to be doing it radio style and I just…I got so engrossed in the moment and it was it was incredible.” The duel between Chris Buescher and Shane van Gisbergen instantly transported him back to the 2012 Ambrose-Keselowski showdown.

“I can vividly remember sitting on the couch with my wife watching that race when Marcos Ambrose and Brad were getting into it at the Glen… it’s like oh my god this this is all coming together,” he recalled, drawing emotional parallels between two generations of road course battles. For Diffey, the resonance went beyond nostalgia; it was a reminder of why he loves the sport.

“Marcos Ambrose was a mentor, still is a mentor to Shane van Gisbergen, and here’s Chris Buescher driving for Brad Keselowski, and the worlds have come back together… they’re the kind of moments that we live for.” As he summed up the thrill of that call, Diffey admitted, “It was exhilarating for me and I do that in the moment as much as a broadcaster but maybe even more as a fan.” It was a broadcast that captured everything he stands for: passion, connection, and the pure heartbeat of racing.