“We didn’t make a big point of it. We didn’t get any credit for it; we didn’t ask for any credit for it,” Mike Joy said, defending the FOX broadcast.

The full-screen advertisement that has been hampering the green-flag racing action has been a massive issue for a long time now. But the broadcasters found a way around it, as they managed to run the advertisements while the race was still shown picture-in-picture, so the fans didn’t miss out on the action. As Joy said, FOX didn’t promote this feature as much, but he claimed that since the ‘streaming’ service did advertise it, many credited it.

Mike Joy on commercial breaks at the end of race which I thought was interesting.

“But we didn’t put up a big sign on the screen that said, “Okay, we’re commercial free from here on out.” We didn’t brag on it.” pic.twitter.com/GxW7jZBW4o

— 𝘽𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙚𝙮𝘽𝙚𝙨𝙩¹² (@BlaneyBest) June 27, 2026

“We didn’t put up a big sign on the screen that said or say, ‘Okay, we’re commercial-free from here on out.’ We didn’t brag about it. Well, maybe we should have because when the streaming people did, everybody said, ‘Yay, streaming is the best thing ever!'” he added.

This appeared to be a massive dig on the Prime Video broadcast, which recently ended with the San Diego race. The broadcast is largely appreciated for its deep insights and overall quality of production, which, many claim, FOX fails to replicate, despite having the biggest share of the broadcasting schedule. Moreover, there was the fact that Prime Video was arguably very economical with the advertisements they ran.

It is quite understandable that the broadcasters need to put up the advertisements during the races; it is what helps them make a profit. However, NASCAR is extremely unpredictable, and missing out on even the slightest bit of green flag racing action can feel like missing a huge chunk of the race. And with the frequency of advertisements that FOX showcases, not many seem to be too happy.

Moreover, while FOX did attempt not to show any full-screen ads while the race was green-flagged, it eventually did end up happening at Talladega earlier. As the race was running mostly spotless without cautions, the network was forced to broadcast full-screen advertisements twice in the second stage. Understandably, fans were quick to notice this. In fact, many also claimed that after the ‘Big One,’ FOX should have continued with some replays of the crash, but they decided to cut to the advertisements instead.

It is because of these reasons that the broadcast, which Mike Joy is attempting to defend, has been under the radar for most fans. And understandably, his comments did not sit well with many.

Fans are unhappy with Mike Joy as he attempts to defend FOX

“Fox makes a mockery of NASCAR. Amazon treats it like a serious sport,” a fan wrote. For a long time now, many have claimed that FOX’s priorities are showing advertisements and not the race itself, as a sarcastic dig at how most of their broadcasts look.

It seems that the fans have been getting more agitated in recent years, especially after Prime Video joined the broadcasting. The latter is able to provide much better production quality as well, which also appears to be an issue with FOX, as some of the fans seemed to point out.

“The commercial breaks are like 5th on the list of why FOX coverage sucks,” read another comment.

Many claim that FOX is not great with the camerawork during the races, either. Some claim that the broadcast can cut away from the main action, missing out on the key incidents, and even the random zoom-ins on a single car (perhaps to focus on a sponsor) have been pointed out. So it seems quite apparent that the advertisements aren’t the only issue with the broadcast.

But even though Mike Joy continues to defend that, there is more than just full-screen ads that are criticized.

“It doesn’t matter when you go to commercial every 3 laps for the first 2.5 stages,” wrote another fan.

The frequency of the ads that are being shown on the broadcast is also an issue for many. A lot of times, the advertisements can end up becoming the highlights of the race, as they are shown in such high frequency. Every few laps, the commentators, including Mike Joy, step back, and the broadcast moves to showing advertisements. Even though the race continues to go on in a little window for the fans, it can become agitating after a certain point.

It is because of these reasons that the fans have developed a certain distaste for FOX’s broadcast of the NASCAR races.

“I think everybody who watches these races on TV can agree Fox is the worst coverage for NASCAR easily by a mile,” read another comment.

Even though Joy claimed that the streaming services (taking a hit at Prime Video) had their way of advertising the same thing FOX offers, it seems quite apparent that the advertisements aren’t the only reason many criticize their broadcast.

The post NASCAR Fans React as Mike Joy Takes a Sly Dig at Prime Video Defending FOX’s Broadcast appeared first on EssentiallySports.

“Kyle, can you give me an example where we were unfair to you or where we didn’t treat you kindly? Mike Joy recalled his uncomfortable conversation with the veteran driver on the Lights out show. “Do you watch these races back?’ 

Busch’s answer left them speechless, and it immediately changed the direction of the conversation.

“Nope, but my grandmother watches them all and she tells me what’s going on,” said Kyle Busch. For Joy, that response said everything.

“And I looked at Barry and I knew right then we were sunk because there’s no arguing with grandma, right?” Joy said.

@mikejoy500 on “Lights out” with @TheJohnnyTV pic.twitter.com/wKtuOFHfzU

— Kenny Wallace (@Kenny_Wallace) June 19, 2026

Joy knew then that this was no longer a discussion about broadcast excerpts or examples. Because Busch valued his grandmother’s viewpoint above all else. He actually had a strong relationship with his grandmother, Joann Busch, growing up.

Kyle once revealed that he grew up in Las Vegas, spending time with his grandma. They often went to Ethel M Chocolates, where he would browse the botanical cactus garden and choose candies. That memory came full circle when Kyle’s long-term sponsor featured the brand on his car. But the most impact his grandmother had in Kyle’s life and pivotal in fact is in mending his relationship with his brother.

Kyle and his older brother Kurt Busch had stopped talking after their infamous crash in the 2007 All-Star Race. Each brother blamed the other for the wreck and the loss of a $1 million prize. According to Kyle, this standoff lasted for a year before a family gathering for their grandmother’s birthday, or probably Thanksgiving, according to the veteran driver, which brought them back together. Now, in the wake of Busch’s passing, that relationship that was once repaired by their grandma has become even more meaningful.

Kurt has remained close to the family and was recently seen supporting Kyle Busch’s son, Brexton. When the 11-year-old returned to competition at Charlotte Motor Speedway’s Cook Out Summer Shootout, Kurt was cheering from the sidelines: “Go get ’em, Brex.”

Kurt also talked about his relationship with Kyle in an emotional Instagram tribute following his brother’s death.

“Finding a silver lining, I reflect back on the days Kyle and I raced anything we could get our hands on,” Kurt wrote. “From big wheels to competing on the biggest stages in motorsports, we were more than just fierce competitors. We pushed each other, challenged each other, and learned from each other.”

He added, “Kyle, your passion, determination, and love for your family inspired everyone who knew you. No trophy, championship, or accomplishment could ever measure the impact you had on my life and on so many others… Rest easy, little brother.”

The relationship that Joann Busch helped mend so many years ago is what is holding on. Mike Joy joked that there was “no arguing with grandma.” Looking back, it’s easy to see why. Few people shaped Kyle Busch’s life and relationships more than she did.

The post “No Arguing With Grandma”- Mike Joy Unmasks Uncomfortable Kyle Busch Confrontation That Left Fox Executives Defeated appeared first on EssentiallySports.

“One thing I really like about what he does is he doesn’t hide in the coach lot all weekend,” Joy said on the Happy Hour podcast with Kevin Harvick.

“If there’s a Saturday race, he’s up in the stands, sitting with the fans, taking it all in. Uh, and it takes me back to the days of I think Rusty Wallace being the last driver that you’d see out and about around town, making appearances not just for the sponsors but being out to dinner…” he added. And that is a huge comparison in itself.

Rusty Wallace was truly a fan favorite. He was not from the era of drivers that now disappear behind sponsor obligations, private motorhomes, media schedules, and carefully managed public appearances. In fact, he was famous for being someone who would stick around after the race ended, taking time to interact with the fans and sign autographs. People would often find him enjoying a meal at a local restaurants among regular folks minus all of the usual celebrity fanfare.

In fact even after he retired, the 1989 Cup champ continued giving fans the same level of importance. He even launched the Rusty Wallace Racing Experience in 2010 (now defunct), allowing everyday fans to drive actual stock cars at major speedways. So the Carson Hocevar comparison is huge, but there there is no denying that you can see a glimpse of the drivers of the past in Hocevar for sure.

In fact, after the Talladega race, when he was asked about his move, his answer was telling of that.

“I just wanted them to get as loud as possible. I felt like they would if they could see me seeing them. Yeah, I mean, ultimately, I just wanted to make sure I soaked every bit of it in. I think I could tell you what everybody was wearing, where every seat was, and where every 77 shirt was. I think I could have pointed it all out to you because I remember it so clearly right now.”

This however is not a new development or something that he is doing for the media. Hocevar has long insisted that he wants to put fans ahead of any sponsors of people in suits.

“Like, you know, obviously we, you know, do the business side of it, but I was just like, if I don’t enjoy this and it’s not what I dreamt of, I’m out. Like, it doesn’t matter how much money is available, because, you know, I would just be breaking the heart of the six-year-old kid that fell in love with NASCAR,” he said in an interview earlier this year.

It’s no surprise that, in just a matter of months, Hocevar has become one of the most popular drivers in NASCAR, even emerging as a threat to Chase Elliott’s streak of winning the sport’s Most Popular Driver Award for eight consecutive years.

Carson Hocevar: first a fan, then a Cup Series star

Hocevar publicly celebrates being a NASCAR fan, in contrast to most young racers who carefully handle every public encounter. Hocevar never ceased acting like the child who grew up admiring driver personalities like Dale Earnhardt Jr., collecting diecasts, and watching races.

“I think what’s interesting about Hocevar is, yes, he’s unapologetically himself. But part of that is that he’s not ashamed to be a race fan. Like a lot of drivers get to the part like, oh, it’s not really cool to be like a fan. Hocevar is still a fan. Like he grew up as a fan the entire time and never ran from that,” Jeff Gluck said about the Spire Motorsports youngster in his podcast.

For Hocevar, it’s all about imagining whether the ‘fan version’ of himself would be a fan of the driver he is today. He carries himself the way he would want to see drivers carry themselves as a fan of the best racing series in the world.

“I wanted to be a fan of me, right? Like I wanted to be the person I am today and, you know, look back and just be like the kid I would be a fan of me watching, if that makes sense,” Hocevar recently explained on the Dale Jr. Download podcast.

Hocevar, who is only 23 years old, already has what NASCAR has been looking for for years: a driver who is approachable, unpredictable, and hard to ignore. He may become one of the biggest names in the sport if he can combine that bond with consistent success on the racetrack.

The post “Rusty Wallace Was the Last”- Cup Star Shattering NASCAR’s Traditional Boundary Has Fox Broadcaster Calling Out Entire Garage appeared first on EssentiallySports.

“It has a lot of moving parts, and since COVID, not all those parts are at the race track. All of our announcers are, but a lot of the folks doing graphics and replays and putting recorded tape pieces together for the telecast are far flung all around the country.” That explanation from Joy probably gave NASCAR fans more clarity than FOX Sports has managed in years.

The frequent broadcast errors (missed collisions, late replay cuts, strange camera swaps, missing battles for position, or random concentration on the wrong driver) can seem totally unexplainable to many fans. However, Joy’s remarks exposed how disjointed modern NASCAR programming has become in the background.

The racecourse is no longer the exclusive location for today’s racing coverage. A large majority of the production team works remotely from studios and production centers located across the nation. However, critical professionals, including commentators, pit reporters, camera operators, and trackside journalists, still travel to the site.

Mike Joy addressed the issues with the Fox broadcast

Mike seeems to hint at what the issue is. And guess what, it comes as no surprise.

Mike says that everyone at @NASCARONFOX works remotely from varying places around the country. @FOXSports ain’t even trying pic.twitter.com/6PcBQhMoJK

— whatsundersteer (@whatsundersteer) May 14, 2026

Fiber-optic technology and real-time digital feeds allow graphics operators, replay coordinators, editors, technical directors, and tape makers to collaborate from hundreds of miles distant from the event. That setup became increasingly common after COVID increased remote production workflows across sports television. And FOX certainly isn’t alone in doing it.

NASCAR itself recently opened a massive $53 million, 58,000-square-foot production facility in Concord, North Carolina, specifically designed to modernize race broadcasting. With considerably fewer employees physically present at tracks, networks increasingly use the centralized hub to produce coverage remotely. During its NASCAR coverage this season, including broadcasts from Rockingham, the CW used the facilities.

Therefore, the idea itself may not be the issue. The issue, according to many fans, is execution. Because while remote production may save costs and streamline operations, NASCAR viewers still expect broadcasters to catch the biggest moments live (and rightly so), especially in a sport where races can change in seconds.

Mike Joy set for emotional career milestone at Dover

Even while facing criticism over FOX Sports’ NASCAR coverage, Mike Joy is still adding another remarkable chapter to one of the most decorated broadcasting careers motorsport has ever seen. He will be the honorary starter for the 2026 NASCAR All-Star Race this weekend at Dover Motor Speedway.

He will formally wave the green flag before heading back to the FOX booth to call the race. Remarkably, the Cup Series named Joy an honorary starter for a race for the first time, despite spending decades covering NASCAR’s biggest events. For Joy, the moment carries extra personal significance.

Dover was always one racetrack that had a strong connection to his motorsport heritage while growing up in the Northeast. He has become one of the most well-known voices in American racing over the course of an incredible 57-year broadcasting career, covering everything from local small tracks to the Daytona 500.

Joy has been the network’s primary play-by-play announcer since FOX joined NASCAR as a broadcast partner in 2001, and he has now led FOX NASCAR coverage for 26 straight seasons. That longevity is exactly why, despite the frustration many fans direct toward FOX broadcasts today, Joy himself still commands enormous respect throughout the garage and the NASCAR community.

In many respects, his recent honesty about FOX’s production difficulties should further solidify that reputation. Joy publicly highlighted the difficulties with modern racing broadcasts rather than trying to avoid criticism. He is being transparent with fans, something that big sports networks seldom do.

The post Mike Joy’s Honest Confession Publicly Exposes Chaotic Reality Behind FOX’s Broadcast Blunders appeared first on EssentiallySports.

Joy began his career as a radio announcer in the 1970s and became a voice on national television in 2001 with FOX Sports. He soon rose to become a lead commentator and has been the leading voice for 47 Daytona 500s, dozens of championship races, and many of the sport’s most iconic moments over the past 20 years.

So, to honor Joy’s career, he will get the chance to wave the green flag for the first-ever NASCAR All-Star race held in the Northeast region, his home. But some mistook this as a sign that he’s bidding adieu.

“No, I’m afraid you’ve got your signs mixed up,” Joy bluntly replied to a fan discussing his retirement on X (formerly Twitter). He wants this moment to be purely about the present.

Oh man. Definitely a sign this could be Mike Joy’s final #NASCAR race in the booth https://t.co/k9TdvYKRPW

— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) May 13, 2026

It’s a full-circle moment for Joy. Raised in Connecticut and deeply connected to racing in the Northeast, he worked as the public address announcer at Riverside Park Speedway in the 1970s while attending college in New England. More than five decades later, he now gets the chance to be part of history at Dover.

Mike Tatoian, the Speedway’s president and general manager, said, “It’s hard to imagine someone more connected to the history and growth of NASCAR broadcasting than Mike Joy,” he said. “Mike is a motorsports legend, especially in the Northeast, and we’re thrilled to be hosting the first-ever NASCAR All-Star Race in our region.”

This definitely means that not everyone is thinking about Joy’s retirement. And it’s also not the first time he’s had to deal with this. At the 2025 Kansas Speedway weekend. Kevin Harvick stepped into the lead play-by-play role while Joy was away from the FOX booth. The temporary change immediately sparked wild speculation online, with some social media accounts claiming that he had been removed for making incorrect statements on air.

Joy had to take matters into his own hands. “Sigh. Anonymous BS clickbait. See you tomorrow on @FS1,” Joy had written on his X account.

Sigh. Anonymous BS clickbait. See you tomorrow on @FS1. https://t.co/xbWkEGGBTl

— Mike Joy (@mikejoy500) May 10, 2025

This Sunday in Dover, after waving the green flag, a not-so-retired Joy will head straight back to the booth to call the race, treating it like just another day at the office.

What’s New in the 2026 NASCAR All-Star Race?

It has never been an event short on chaos, and the 2026 edition of the All-Star Race might feature one of the sport’s boldest experiments yet.

The event will be held at Dover Motor Speedway, meaning the iconic Monster Mile will go without a points-paying Cup Series race for the first time since 1968. There’s going to be a format shake-up, which continues NASCAR’s tradition of using the All-Star Race as a testing ground for new ideas.

Qualifying will feature a three-lap format with a mandatory four-tire pit stop midway through the run. Drivers will complete a single flying lap, hit pit road for fresh tires without fuel, and then race back to the start line.

In the race, all 36 charter teams will compete. The opening segment will run 75 laps with no competition caution before NASCAR flips the top 26 finishers for segment two. After another 75 laps, 10 drivers will be eliminated. Nineteen drivers are already locked into the final segment through Cup wins or championships, including Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, Denny Hamlin, and Joey Logano.

Six more drivers will advance based on the best average finish across the first two stages, while the final spot will go to the fan vote winner. The remaining drivers will then battle through a 200-lap final segment featuring just one competition caution at lap 75 before the race turns into a full sprint to the finish.

It was Logano who won last year’s All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro. He led 199 of the 200 laps in the previous format, which featured a straightforward main event with a late “Promoter’s Caution” designed to bunch the field back together for a final restart.

The post NASCAR Broadcaster Silences Retirement Rumors Amidst All-Star Race Tribute appeared first on EssentiallySports.

“Shane van Gisbergen is not only the best road racer now, but he might also just be the best of all time in NASCAR,” said the voice behind FOX’s NASCAR broadcast, Mike Joy.

While Joy has been around the sport long enough to make such a bold statement, SVG refuses to buy into the contention… yet.

“It’s special for people to be saying stuff like that, but I live in the moment. It’s probably something I’ll think about when I stop racing,” Shane van Gisbergen replied to Joy’s comments while talking to the media at The Glen after what was perhaps one of the greatest road-course performances in NASCAR history.

With 40 laps to go in the race, the Kiwi was asked to push while other drivers were told to save fuel. He managed to hold position, but when he pitted under green with 25 laps remaining, the #97 car dropped to 25th place, nearly 30 seconds behind the leader, Ty Gibbs. Then came the moment that defined the race. Within the next 16 laps, he stormed back to snatch the lead, making up ground at an impressive rate, before spending the final eight laps building a 7-second gap over Gibbs in second place.

Of course, the fact that most of the field was saving fuel by that point helped SVG open the gap and gain those positions. But for a driver still in the early years of his Cup career, it was unprecedented.

And if you even glance at the all-time road-course winners’ advanced stats, you’ll see that Shane van Gisbergen has already matched, or is rapidly approaching, the career numbers of Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, and Chase Elliott in a fraction of the starts they had.

Joy may have been right to contend that he is the greatest road-course driver of all time, but there is still one major factor limiting SVG.

“We still have to work on our oval program to get better,” Stephen Doran, the #97’s crew chief, told the media while discussing the chances for a title contention this season.

The 37-year-old spent much of his professional racing career competing in Australia’s Supercars Series. It is understandable why he dominates road courses in NASCAR, but unfortunately for him, most NASCAR and stock-car racing takes place on ovals, something he still needs to master.

Safe to say, SVG has been making gains on ovals, too. His sixth-place finish at Atlanta earlier this year was his best finish at an oval. But the rest of the time, he finds it hard to make a top 10 finish at ovals. Perhaps this is one of the reasons keeping him from embracing Mike Joy’s comment. But his recent remarks prove that he is not here just to showcase his road-course skills. He’s here to win the title.

Shane van Gisbergen comments on his oval racing future

If this were the 2025 season, he would already be comfortably locked in to contend for the Cup Series championship. However, with the elimination-style playoff gone and the Chase format being reinstated, he will have to put in a lot of work, and he understands that fact.

“I really want to earn my way in this year, and that’s what you have to do,” SVG said. “I know that we need to get a lot better as a team, and I still need to improve a lot as a driver.”

Pulling a Chevrolet into Victory Lane has already been difficult this season. Even the best drivers at Hendrick Motorsports haven’t been able to achieve it. Chase Elliott had to wait until Martinsville to secure his and Chevy’s first win of the season. This was primarily because of the changes introduced in the ZL1’s body. But now that Toyota’s dominance over Chevy is slowly disappearing, SVG might actually have a shot at the title. As he revealed, he has been working on his weakness:

“I still enjoy it and still feel like I’m learning a lot, especially the last couple of years,” he added. “It’s probably more than I’ve ever learned, and I don’t feel like I’m getting any slower. I’ll keep doing it as much as I can.”

Consistency is key to clinching the title in this format, so it remains difficult to say whether he will realistically have a shot at the championship. However, with seven road-course wins under his belt, now just two shy of Jeff Gordon atop the all-time road-course wins list, perhaps Mike Joy wasn’t completely wrong in calling him the best road-course driver in NASCAR history.

The post “Live in the Moment”: SVG & Co. Stay Grounded After Cup Victory While Admitting Biggest Concern appeared first on EssentiallySports.

In his support, though, many have come forward, questioning why these rules apply differently to different people. And now, some of FOX Sports’ most prominent voices have also claimed that NASCAR had this one wrong. 

FOX broadcasters push back against NASCAR’s punishment

“I think they got this wrong. In this case, I hope that Preece is able to win the appeal. Right-rear hook is different. This is not the same wreck that we’ve seen a lot, so that’s why I don’t think it warrant’s a fine.”

“It all comes down to the radio and what you say. When you talk and have intent and it puts them in a tough spot. They don’t want to penalize you.”

That was McMurray and Harvick, and neither was disputing the contact itself. Their argument was more specific and, frankly, more uncomfortable for NASCAR: the execution on track didn’t match the level of deliberateness the penalty implied.

“I don’t think it warranted a fine.”- @jamiemcmurray, @KevinHarvick and @ClintBowyer talk with @The_ChrisMyers about Ryan Preece vs. Ty Gibbs at Texas pic.twitter.com/uXDUjvdyVO

— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) May 10, 2026

Here is where the incident actually began. Late in Stage 1, Gibbs slid aggressively underneath Preece entering Turn 1. Furious, Preece went straight to the radio:

“Alright, when I get to that 54 I’m done with him. F—- idiot. That car is so fing fast, p—– me off. I can’t stand when idiots like him have fast race cars where they can do stupid sh– and get away with it. End of rant.”

It was, by his own description, a vent. But in NASCAR’s rulebook, it became evidence. Then came Lap 101 of the Würth 400. As Gibbs went low entering Turn 3, the two made contact, sending Gibbs spinning into the SAFER barrier and ending his day with a 36th-place finish.

Preece, in the moment, radioed that he felt he did not touch Gibbs’ car. He later clarified on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio the night before his penalty was announced: “He pretty much was very close to clear getting into Turn 3, and I could lift, but I didn’t. I was right there and I felt like he came down, and I was not going to cut him a break.”

Gibbs, being himself, reposted Preece’s earlier rant on social media with a single line: “Hmm, at least he is honest.” NASCAR, of course, agreed.

Based on the race video, SMT data, and the radio transmission, the governing body penalized Preece under Sections 4.3 and 4.4. A — the rules covering member conduct and intentional on-track actions — dropping him from 12th to 13th in the standings, now sitting 38 points above the playoff cutline.

NASCAR’s managing director, Mike Forde, explained the rationale by pointing to a direct precedent.

“We try to look at prior instances,” Forde said. “The deliberation on how we wanted to handle this one was the Denny Hamlin penalty. When he wrecks Ross Chastain at Phoenix a few years ago, and then the next day, talked about it on his podcast, later got the exact same penalty. So, he [Preece] said what he said, and then he did what he said. And so, in our view, it was intentionally wrecking another vehicle. That’s where we landed.”

It was back in March 2023 that Hamlin admitted on his Actions Detrimental podcast that he had deliberately wrecked Ross Chastain at Phoenix Raceway. Hamlin then received the identical $50,000 fine and 25-point deduction. But the difference, according to McMurray and Harvick, is that Preece’s wreck lacked the same level of obvious intent or dangerous execution.

It wasn’t a right-rear hook or a deliberate high-speed dump into the wall. Instead, they viewed it as a racing incident made worse by a heated radio outburst.

Then there is the fact that at the same Texas race, Busch made contact with John Hunter Nemechek in the closing laps. NASCAR reviewed the incident but ordered no penalty. Forde explained that SMT data was inconclusive on intent and that Busch’s car showed significant prior damage that may have contributed to the contact.

Still, what mattered more was that Busch had made no radio declarations beforehand. “There was no audio that came out that said, ‘I’m going to wreck the 42,’ and then he wrecked the 42,” Forde said.

Naturally, RFK Racing wasted no time filing the appeal, and the team plans to use telemetry data to argue that aerodynamic factors contributed to the contact.

“I don’t get surprised very much, Bob, so I wouldn’t say I’m surprised. I’m glad there’s an appeal process. Ryan will go through that whenever it’s scheduled. I’ve been part of a couple of them before, and generally I think they’re pretty fair,” Co-owner Brad Keselowski said, measured as ever. 

“Honestly, a bit surprised. But I’m thankful that NASCAR has an appeals process so that I can feel like I can be heard and let that process play itself out,” Preece added, telling the media at Watkins Glen. 

A three-member panel of the National Motorsports Appeals Panel, an independent panel made up of former drivers, owners, and industry figures, will ultimately decide whether to uphold, reduce, or overturn the penalty. It is not a process that frequently favours the appellant, as history tells us, but the growing chorus of voices suggests this one may be worth watching.

The post “They Got This Wrong”: FOX Broadcasters Join Hands to Take Stern Stand Against NASCAR Penalty appeared first on EssentiallySports.

The entire fiasco started on his SiriusXM show. There, a caller argued that Richard Petty, a NASCAR legend, also deserves to be mentioned among the greatest athletes. He was still winning championships at 42, after all. But Smith was not having it, saying, “Come on, man. That doesn’t count. You are driving a car. Getting behind the wheel of a car is not the same.” In a sport where risk and endurance define everything, that was disrespectful, and it landed poorly.

Mike Joy of FOX Sports gave a sarcastic jibe. “Earlier this week, a well-known online pundit said, ‘Race car drivers are not athletes,'” on the live NASCAR broadcast during the race at the Talladega Superspeedway. Reviewing Ty Gibbs’ brutal contact with the wall in the race, Joy added, “I want to send him this sequence and ask him to think about it.”

Well, maybe he needs to watch the races closely to just see how brutal they are. He didn’t stop at “It’s not a real sport.” Smith also compared the sport to something that “grandma and grandpa” can do!

Fox announcer Mike Joy now calls out Stephen A. Smith (“a well-known online pundit”) over the NASCAR comments.pic.twitter.com/yXZ7vLBxsN https://t.co/IvC8dzdbaL

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) April 26, 2026

“NASCAR is a sport. Are they athletes too? Because they can get behind the wheel of a car and drive 100-plus miles per hour around the track 500 times. You trying to tell me they’re athletes too?… If you’re out there doing stuff that grandmas and grandpas can do, I’m not gonna look at you that way.” While he might not look at the drivers, he sure can look at the actual data, backing up that they are very much athletes!

The main disconnect in Smith’s perspective comes from visibility. In sports like football or basketball, the physical toll is obvious. You see everything happening in front of you. In NASCAR that strain is hidden inside the cockpit, but make no mistakes; they too are highly trained, sport-specific athletes.

They race their horses in cockpit temperatures that can reach 50–60°C, enduring up to 5G forces through every corner, lap after lap, at speeds exceeding 180 mph. Imagine having a 40-pound weight strapped to your head, pulling violently every time you turn. All the while you’re expected to stay focused and in control.

That’s the reality these drovers operate in. And that is why this isn’t just “driving.” Moreover, the sheer dangers of the entire motorsports world no one can ignore. Just days back, a 66-year-old endurance veteran, Juha Miettinen from Finland, lost his life after a massive seven-car pileup during the opening race of the ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers.

Of course, this controversial take by Stephen A. Smith was not taken well. In fact the entire racing world is speaking against him now. For once, drivers, teams, and fans set aside their differences to mock his comments.

NASCAR drivers react to Stephen A. Smith’s comments

“Never heard of him,” AJ Allmendinger told Frontstretch, when asked about his reactions to Smith’s comments.

While this seemed a little too straightforward, it is understandable for a racing driver not to recognize a public figure. But at the same time, many did, and they seemed disappointed with what he had to say about their abilities as athletes.

“Well, it’s for the attention. I mean, [he] made a career out of that,” said Ross Chastain.

It did seem like the Trackhouse Racing driver was going to take his comments in a tougher direction, but he ended up explaining that NASCAR drivers might not be the most athletic personalities out there, but they have their training to go through.

Others, including the likes of Todd Gilliland and Chase Briscoe, mentioned that it was disappointing to see those comments coming from a figure as prominent as Smith, but didn’t seem to be too focused on it.

At the end of the day, it can perhaps be argued what defines being an athlete, or what defines being athletic, but as Chastain mentioned, “We’re not the athletes that swing baseball bats, that kick soccer balls, that we’re not. But we are our own, like we have to be able to do what we do,” it seems apparent that race car drivers, especially NASCAR drivers, have their strengths and weaknesses.

Maybe generalizing and claiming that drivers are not athletes was a rough comment coming from Stephen A. Smith, but unless he changes his stance, the likes of the fans and even Mike Joy might continue with this slander.

The post Mike Joy Takes On-Air Jab at Stephen A. Smith After NASCAR Drivers “Don’t Count” as Athletes Rant appeared first on EssentiallySports.

Mike Joy’s take revives a forgotten NASCAR formula

“A great explanation… toys that kids love can influence buying preferences years later.”

That was Mike Joy’s simple yet powerful response to a fan breakdown of how General Motors turned the Chevrolet Camaro into a cultural icon through Transformers. The fan pointed out how the Camaro, once discontinued due to falling sales, found new life after being cast as Bumblebee, capturing the imagination of millions, especially younger audiences who weren’t even car buyers yet.

The takeaway wasn’t just about clever marketing but influence. Kids who watched those movies, bought the toys, and connected emotionally with the car eventually grew up into customers. By the time the Camaro returned to dealerships, demand was already built in. It wasn’t just a product anymore; it was a symbol.

A great explanation… toys that kids love can influence buying preferences years later. https://t.co/4H0GeHfQW4

— Mike Joy (@mikejoy500) April 13, 2026

That’s where NASCAR’s traditional model starts to feel outdated. For decades, the sport thrived on the “win on Sunday, sell on Monday” philosophy. Manufacturers raced their cars on track, fans saw them win, and showroom sales followed. But today’s audience doesn’t work that way, especially younger generations.

They’re not as tied to brands through racing results alone. Their preferences are shaped by culture, media, and long-term exposure, not just performance on a Sunday afternoon. NASCAR, by extension, faces a challenge. It can no longer rely solely on on-track success to drive automotive interest.

The link between racing and road cars isn’t as strong as it once was, with younger audiences now shaped more by movies, gaming, and digital content. Tap into those spaces effectively, and you don’t just spark interest in cars again, but you create a pathway that can eventually lead them back to NASCAR.

And that’s exactly what Mike Joy’s comment hints at. The future of the auto industry and NASCAR’s role in it may depend on thinking beyond the racetrack and tapping into where the next generation is actually paying attention.

NASCAR’s streaming gamble is already reaching a new generation

If there was ever proof that NASCAR needs to think beyond the racetrack, it’s already here, and it’s working. According to NASCAR’s chief media and revenue officer Brian Herbst, the sport’s push into streaming content has opened doors that traditional broadcasts couldn’t.

“We actually launched [production for Full Speed] in February 2023. The results came back, it was trending in the top five on Netflix for the first ten days. But the most important data point, at least for me, was 90 per cent of the people that watch that show, they did not watch a single minute of the Nascar playoffs the year before.”

That’s a staggering shift. NASCAR: Full Speed, which debuted on Netflix in 2024, followed drivers through the Daytona regular-season finale and into the 2023 playoffs. It wasn’t just content for existing fans but more of an entry point for entirely new audiences.

And NASCAR didn’t stop there. The latest season moved to Prime Video, joining a broader media lineup that includes Fox Sports, NBC, and Warner Bros. Discovery. The strategy is clear: meet viewers where they are. Streaming audiences are already trending younger. Prime Video’s viewers skew nearly seven years younger than traditional TV audiences. Still, with a median age of 56.1, the sport knows there’s more ground to cover.

But the early signs are promising.

The post Worried NASCAR Broadcaster Subtly Proposes Smart Fix to Save American Automobile Industry appeared first on EssentiallySports.

“We’ve already lost some very historic race tracks to reference Romford Speedway, for example, it was very historic… There are so many racetracks where the cities around them have grown all around them to a point where property becomes more valuable than the racetrack does,” said Martin. “We’ve already lost so many, I know there’s a huge battle at Greenville-Pickens.”

The FOX’s broadcast team also echoed the same tune, as Mike Joy encouraged more people to join the initiative to visit the iconic racetrack.

“The developers are closing in, council meetings, county and city council, folks want to save Greenville-Pickens Speedway,” said Joy on the official broadcast. “You need to get involved, go to these government meetings, because race tracks don’t vote. If you want to save the site of the first televised NASCAR race in full, you need to help out.”

“You need to get involved, go to these government meetings, race tracks don’t vote if you want to save the site of the first televised NASCAR race” Mike Joy on saving Greenville-Pickens Speedway

FOX pic.twitter.com/WiUuMFkRus

— Save The Speedway (@savethespeedway) March 22, 2026

Efforts to save the track by the NASCAR community have yielded some positive outcomes, as Pickens County leaders voted against the demolition. While this does not guarantee the future, another positive is that Jackie Manley, who has ties to the track, is working on purchasing it and saving the Speedway from developers.

“I was completely shocked,” Manley said. “I was like, ‘Oh man, this is real. We’re going to have to try to do something to help.’ My dad and grandpa ran wreckers and cleanup trucks. My mom sold tickets, so when I was born, my dad picked us up at the hospital, me and my mom, and we come straight to the racetrack so my mom could do the sign-in.”

The track is not just important for South Carolina, but also for NASCAR due to its historic significance.

Greenville Pickens Speedway is etched in NASCAR history

Started in the 1940s as a dirt track, after it was paved, the Pickens Speedway hosted some iconic races. It was also home to NASCAR’s first-ever live televised race from start to finish.

The Pickens Speedway also played an important role in the growth of stock car racing in the Southeast.

Since being closed down in 2022, the track’s future has been uncertain. The recent outcome has given the NASCAR community a glimmer of hope, but efforts from the likes of Dale Earnhardt Jr. could help save its future.

Earnhardt has already expressed a desire to race on the track if it is saved from going into redevelopment as an industrial park.

“If @GPspeedway1 can survive, the @CARSTour will be first in line to return, and I’ll be the first entry,” tweeted Earnhardt.

This is a great move as more races being conducted on the track will be the only way to fuel its resurgence.

With a few already being closed down and many other tracks dealing with situations similar to that of the Greenville Pickens, it is time that NASCAR steps in and finds a way to save these iconic tracks from being closed down to preserve the sport’s historic significance.

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