Beginning in the 1970s as a public address announcer at Riverside Park Speedway and advancing through radio stints at MRN and CBS, Mike Joy became FOX’s definitive voice of NASCAR when the network secured its first broadcast deal in 2001. A Daytona 500 veteran, he has narrated over 45 runnings of the sport’s marquee event on both radio and television, earning a reputation for unwavering consistency and insightful storytelling.
Three years into the Hall of Fame’s existence, Joy was named the sole media representative on its exclusive nominating panel in December 2013. And remains a charter member of the NASCAR Hall of Fame Voting Panel to this day. But despite being the voice of NASCAR and sharing the booth with a prominent personality, at 75, it feels as if he has lost his magical touch. Fans were able to identify errors during his FOX broadcast from earlier this year.
“Alright, we move into group two with Erik Jones. Who got his first Cup pole at Bristol in August of 1917,” Joy was heard on the broadcast. Jones’ first pole was in 2017, and fans were quick to highlight this blunder on social media. And he lost his train of thought again. “Chase Elliott started top 10 in 12 of his 15 Bristol shart, uh, starts. Here’s the Napa Auto Parts Chevrolet.” It wasn’t a huge deal, but fans felt as if Joy was past his prime years, and started to ask the questions that how long FOX would continue with the veteran announcer.
But Mike Joy was in his element and firing on all cylinders, making a cameo appearance for the LIUNA! 500 Truck Series race at his home track, Lime Rock Park. He was transporting viewers through nearly 70 years of motorsports heritage in a single, unscripted take. With zero notes or a teleprompter, he mapped out every nuance of Lime Rock’s flowing mile-and-a-half layout.
The high-speed sweep of Big Bend, the braking precision through the Left Ender and Right Hander, the uphill momentum into West Bend, and the downhill plunge that precedes the Esses between Turns 3–4, then the subtle rhythm of the No-Name Straight (4–5) and the Back Straight (5–6). He wove in an archival context. 1957’s inaugural race footage, Sam Posey’s upset in a Cannon GT Jaguar, and Parnelli Jones’ 1973 Trans‑Am win in a B Moore Mustang. And Paul Newman’s championship-winning runs, before inviting fans to “settle in on the hillsides with your lawn chairs,” all in real time as Aaron Suissa and Rich Gross queued up historic photos behind him.
The technical mastery and genuine warmth of that minute-long segment ignited an outpouring of respect across X. Long-time viewers have come to expect Joy’s dependable cadence. But this raw, one-shot demonstration of his encyclopedic grasp left even seasoned professionals impressed. Chris Thomos, out of curiosity, asked, “Does he have a teleprompter, or is he doing this extemporaneously while knowing the media piece that’s been prepared?” Legends like Jim McKay, Pat Summerall, Dick Enberg, Bob Costas, and Mike Joy are the voices of the sports. And show how rare it is nowadays in broadcasting to give such a vivid description of some race or incident that happened 60-70 years ago.
LOL… that’s one take, unscripted, no prompter and no notes, Chris.
I previously reviewed available footage and photos; those were edited in afterward… great work by Aaron Suissa and Rich Gross. @FOXSports https://t.co/fkG7YSTgHK
— Mike Joy (@mikejoy500) June 30, 2025
Beyond the praise, analytics underscored fan fascination. Proof that true expertise still resonates in an age of bite-sized sound bites. No outlines. No second takes. Just decades of racing knowledge distilled into a minute of pure, unfiltered commentary. Suddenly, the fans who were questioning his talent with the mic were now taken aback by his splendid performance. No data sheets or live feed, it was the off-the-top memory lane visit that struck the right chord with NASCAR fans.
Fans tip their hats after witnessing broadcasting brilliance on live TV
“I still remember your call of Jarrett’s crash at Daytona 1999.”Mike Joy demonstrated his signature broadcast preparedness during Dale Jarrett’s lap 135 crash in the 1999 Daytona 500. While the crash was significant, Joy’s call isn’t singled out as iconic. His defining technique, memorizing CBS’s commercial cues and calling the action by watching live cars rather than monitors. It was championed for its authenticity. This approach earned commendation from broadcasting legend Chris Economaki in AutoWeek.
“Don’t mess with @mikejoy500. Negative keyboard warriors would take an autograph from him anytime.” Despite some online critics, Joy’s appeal remains undeniable. There’s a reason he’s called the voice of NASCAR; while the racing has changed so much, his voice in the booth still remains the gold standard. Not to forget the stories of the good old days or references from the past that even catch Kevin Harvick off guard.
“Mike is one of the best ever and cares so deeply for the stories.” Mentored by the late Brian Drebber. Joy developed a meticulous prep routine. Reviewing race footage, historical archives, and fan-produced programs to enrich his narrative. RaceDayWeekly credits those methods with elevating his broadcasts from mere commentary to living history lessons.
As a seasoned historic racer, Joy competed and even secured a win in the 2013 Historic Trans-Am event at Lime Rock. He also returned in 2022 to finish 2nd in another Trans-Am race at Lime Rock, just behind his son, underscoring not just his but the entire family’s deep connection to the track and the sport. “You’re better than Wikipedia, Mike,” a race fan concluded.
Given how much Joy knows about NASCAR, it shouldn’t be a surprise that he had endless stories and memories from Lime Rock Park. There’s a reason why people call him the encyclopedia of American motorsports. And while some fans will debate about his place in the FOX booth, he is likely to return next year and call out the Daytona 500.
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