Mike Joy, the renowned NASCAR play-by-play announcer for Fox Sports, has declared his intention to return to the booth for the upcoming media rights cycle. Joy has been a part of Fox’s NASCAR coverage since 2001 and is widely regarded as one of the industry’s most prominent voices. However, with the start of a new seven-year media rights cycle through 2031, there have been questions about the future of Fox’s NASCAR talent.
Joy’s contract with Fox is set to expire after this year, and it remains uncertain whether he has signed an extension. Nonetheless, given his lengthy tenure and prominence in the industry, his wishes to return are likely to hold weight with Fox executives. When asked about his status for 2025, Joy simply replied, “Looking forward to next year.” Fox Sports has not yet announced its broadcast booth for 2025 and declined to comment on contract negotiations.
Joy currently shares the booth with former drivers Kevin Harvick and Clint Bowyer. Harvick recently signed a multiyear deal with Fox Sports and is expected to return next year, but Bowyer’s status with the network after this year remains uncertain. Joy, who called his 45th Daytona 500 earlier this year, has been covering NASCAR since 1977.
Starting next year, NASCAR will have five media partners instead of two under the current rights deal. Fox and NBC have renewed their contracts but for fewer races, while The CW, Prime Video, and Warner Bros. Discovery will also be part of the next cycle. The new media deals are reported to bring in $7.7 billion in total for NASCAR, a 40% increase from the previous cycle.
Fox’s final Cup Series race of the 2024 season will take place this weekend at Sonoma Raceway in California before NBC Sports takes over next week by airing the first-ever Cup race at Iowa Speedway. Joy’s decision to return to the NASCAR broadcast booth next year will be eagerly awaited by fans and industry insiders alike.
In summary,
Mike Joy has announced that he plans on returning to the broadcast booth for Fox Sports’ upcoming media rights cycle for NASCAR coverage starting in 2025.
His contract with Fox expires after this year but given his prominence in
