A significant NASCAR Cup Series broadcast change is set for the upcoming season as Rick Allen, after a decade with NBC and USA Network, steps aside for Leigh Diffey, who will take on the lead announcer responsibilities. This transition follows NBC’s decision to retain Diffey, likely influenced by shifts in major U.S. motorsport media rights and competition between broadcast networks.
Leigh Diffey Takes Over Following NBC’s Strategic Move
The departure of Rick Allen from his familiar post was made public before the conclusion of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season. NBC and USA Network confirmed that Allen would be replaced by Leigh Diffey starting with the late August race at Daytona International Speedway. Diffey, well-regarded for calling IndyCar races on NBC since 2013, was a sought-after talent, especially as Fox secured new media rights for IndyCar coverage and appointed Will Buxton as lead announcer, supported by analysts James Hinchcliffe and Townsend Bell, both of whom previously worked with NBC.
This preemptive personnel change by NBC appeared aimed at holding onto Diffey amid fears that the popular Australian commentator might shift to Fox to maintain his IndyCar role. The move led Allen to solely handle Xfinity Series races through the end of the 2024 campaign but left his future at the network uncertain as NBC’s lineup evolved for 2025 and beyond.
Restructuring in NASCAR Broadcast Teams and Media Rights
Allen’s departure coincides with broader changes tied to NASCAR’s new seven-year, $7.7 billion media agreement, which saw all Xfinity Series event coverage move to the CW Network with Adam Alexander—formerly from Fox—slated as the lead announcer. For the five-race segments handled by Amazon Prime Video and TNT Sports, Alexander will also serve as the play-by-play voice, joined by former NBC personalities Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Steve Letarte.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. exited NBC at the end of 2023, choosing to pause his broadcast activities during 2024, while Steve Letarte continues as a driver analyst. The NBC Cup Series broadcast will feature Diffey, Letarte, and returning analyst Jeff Burton, creating stability in the commentary booth through the end of the 2024 season, similar to the lineup seen in the latter months of the previous year, including events like the season finale at Phoenix Raceway.
Allen’s Future Uncertain as Fans and Peers React
After nearly a decade as NBC’s primary NASCAR voice since 2015, Rick Allen’s lack of a placement for 2025 drew considerable attention within the motorsport community. Although the rationale for keeping Diffey is apparent, the replacement is viewed as a major shift, especially among viewers accustomed to Allen’s commentary style. Several NASCAR fans, referencing earlier broadcast issues in Fox’s Truck Series coverage, have voiced support for Allen’s potential recruitment by another network in 2026, though no formal moves have been made.
When NBC’s broadcast window opens with the Iowa Corn 350 at Iowa Speedway on Sunday, August 3, it will mark a new era—this event is the first transition from another network’s broadcast to NBC without Allen at the helm. Prominent figures in motorsports broadcasting, including Letarte, Earnhardt, Alexander, and Buxton, continue to play visible roles across multiple networks and series, underlining the dynamic state of U.S. racing coverage.
Looking Ahead: New Voices and Broadcast Partnerships for NASCAR
The NASCAR Cup Series broadcast change signals a fresh start for NBC’s coverage, with Leigh Diffey serving as lead announcer alongside established analysts. Meanwhile, Rick Allen’s departure punctuates a period of widespread realignment among broadcast teams and networks, influenced by extensive media rights agreements and evolving talent lineups. As the season resumes, viewers will experience this revamped commentary team first-hand, beginning with the anticipated Iowa Corn 350, and speculation continues regarding Allen’s next role in racing media.
Get rid of Diffey, he sucks! This is an American sport. And the chic announcer sucks too.