Along with being a trusted voice as NBC’s primary Olympics announcer, Leigh Diffey is also the primary Australian-American voice of NBC’s NASCAR and motorsports coverage. From Formula One and IndyCar to the NASCAR Cup Series, he has covered it all, bringing a unique perspective to NASCAR announcing. Recently, he added another feat to his career by winning a prestigious award.

In May 2025, Diffey won the 2024-25 Sports Emmy Awards. He received the honors in the Outstanding Live Special, Championship Event category for his coverage of the 2024 Paris Olympics. Although he won the award in May, he received the trophy by mail recently. Diffey was delighted to receive the prized package and took to X (formerly Twitter) to share his excitement and joy.

“Something very special arrived in the mail today – I think I’ll keep it! Very grateful to & for everyone in my life & career who made this possible … especially my @nbcsports & @NBCOlympics family. Thank you!” Diffey wrote on X with a photo of the trophy.

In the 2024 Paris Olympics, Diffey was NBC’s lead commentator for track & field, and his expertise made the coverage stand out, for which he received the award. He received plenty of praise for his coverage, which also included an exciting call of American Cole Hooker’s 1,500-meter victory.

Ever since his NBC debut in 2013, Diffey has covered major events. He became NBC’s first broadcaster for the Indianapolis 500 in 2019 and has covered six Indy 500 races so far. This also includes his last year’s iconic call of Josef Newgarden‘s last-lap pass. But versatility is what sets Diffey apart, and it’s also his strength.

He has contributed to Speed’s F1 coverage and has covered multiple track and field championships, including the Sochi and PyeongChang Winter Games, as well as the Rio Olympics. He has also been part of the commentating booth for the Rugby World Cup and the Premiership Rugby.

Although Diffey has called his Tokyo and Paris Olympics coverage the highlight of his career, he was announced as the lead NASCAR Cup Series play-by-play commentator for the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series. He then continued it for the 2025 season as well.  Back in 2017, he filled in for the 2017 cup races, but the 2024 role was his first time leading the booth.

Although Diffey has been mostly applauded for his coverage, it has its fair share of criticism as well, to which Diffey has even replied.

Leigh Diffey responded to criticism of his coverage

Leigh Diffey was born in Brisbane, Australia, which is why he doesn’t carry the traditional Southern accent that many NASCAR fans love to hear. Instead of the traditional style of commentary, Diffey brings his years of experience to the table, sprinkling it with exciting calls and bursts of energy during the thrilling parts of the coverage.

This is what many people dislike, and his ESPN associate, John Kernan, took to X to criticize his accent. But Diffey is not one of those who was going to stay silent about it, especially when his style and accent, not his expertise, are being challenged. He addressed the criticism during an interview with Daytona Beach News-Journal.

Look, the majority of the critics, or the negative Nellies… simply because of the way I speak,” Diffey said.  “I can’t choose the way I speak, nor can any of them. We are who we are. We’re all different for a reason… You gotta take the positives and plow on.”

When one looks at Diffey’s career, it becomes clear why he has become a leading voice in many sports. From the Indy 500 to Olympic glory, Diffey has accomplished many notable achievements during his time in the booth. Amid the criticism, Diffey’s work and achievements overshadow what people think about his accent and style.