Leigh Diffey has been named as the lead play-by-play announcer for coverage of the NASCAR Cup Series from NBC Sports, starting this weekend from Daytona International Speedway for the Coke Zero Sugar 400. Diffey enters the position with deft experience in motorsports commentating, including working as the lead INDYCAR commentator on NBC Sports for more than decade, including all six Indianapolis 500 broadcasts from the entity. Moreover, he has served as the play-by-play announcer for nearly every major motorsports series, some of which include NASCAR, Formula 1 and MotoGP. Diffey steps into the role for Rick Allen, who will continue as the voice of NASCAR Xfinity Series races on NBC Sports and The CW Network for the rest of the season.
Over the last several weeks, Diffey had been serving as the lead track and field play-by-play announcer for competition at the Olympic Games Paris 2024. Despite botching a call where he incorrectly declared Kishane Thompson of Jamaica as the winner of the men’s 100-meter race, he quickly took responsibility for the error via a statement on social media. As the Olympic Games continued, he delivered memorable calls for several other races and earned plaudits from sports fans in the United States and around the world.
Diffey has worked on several NASCAR races throughout his broadcasting career in Australia and the United States. When he joined NBC after a stint with Speed Channel, he hosted a studio show for NASCAR America and broadcast races within the Xfinity Series. In 2017, he returned behind the microphone to call two Cup races at Watkins Glen and Michigan.
“For me, that was kind of like a toe in the water in between then and now,” Diffey said in an interview with Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic. “But I’m really excited to rely on the memories of that, but those great memories also make me super excited about making my return at Daytona.”
Kevin Lee will call the remainder of NBC Sports coverage of the 2024 NTT INDYCAR Series, continuing his play-by-play career that has lasted over three decades. Outside of this style of commentary, he has also worked as a host and pit reporter on this coverage since 2009 while also covering several INDYCAR races as a play-by-play announcer this season. As for Allen, he will continue calling NASCAR Xfinity Series races airing on USA Network until the Food City 300 at Bristol Motor Speedway on Sept. 20, coinciding with when The CW Network becomes the television home of the racing series.
NBC Sports will present coverage of the Coke Zero Sugar 400 from Daytona International Speedway starting on Friday, Aug. 23 at 3 p.m. EST on USA Network with qualifiers for the Xfinity Series, leading into Cup Series qualifying and the Xfinity Series race in the prime time slot. The Coke Zero Sugar 400 takes place in prime time the next day on NBC and Peacock where Diffey will call the action, continuing through the playoffs and season championship at Phoenix Raceway on Nov. 10.
