We now know that Dale Earnhardt Jr. will be a color commentator for both Amazon’s and Warner Bros. Discovery’s coverage of NASCAR in 2025. While an extra color commentator will likely come as well, the Play-by-Play (or Lap-by-Lap) broadcaster has yet to be determined. Who could fill that slot and join Dale Earnhardt Jr. starting in 2025?
With the Fox portion of the schedule done after 14 races, Adam Alexander could easily slot into the Amazon/TNT broadcasts during the summer. While FS1 will maintain the rights of the Truck Series, with most races being companion races to the Cup Series, Alexander could easily do both races.
It’s not unprecedented for broadcasters to swap between networks during a NASCAR season. Back in the 1990s, Mike Joy and Ken Squier both worked for CBS in addition to TNN and TBS respectively. In the 2000s and early 2010s, Matt Yocum and Larry McReynolds worked for both Fox and TNT.
Leigh Diffey is an interesting broadcaster to watch for Amazon and Warner Bros. Discovery. NBC’s contract with IndyCar is running out, so Diffey may not fit in at NBC the same as he used to. If IndyCar leaves NBC, could he give NASCAR a shot?
Diffey has called NASCAR races before, and he is incredibly well-versed in all forms of motorsports. He’s tremendously popular amongst the fans as well. Plus, Diffey and Earnhardt Jr. both would be coming from the same place, NBC.
Kevin Lee works on IndyCar broadcasts on NBC, and he has plenty of Play-by-play experience across multiple sports on both radio and television. This includes a few play-by-play gigs in IndyCar. With the IndyCar on NBC contract running out, could Lee take the jump?
It partially depends on whether or not Lee wants to stay in IndyCar. If he is committed to IndyCar itself, then NASCAR would not make much sense.
This might be a long shot, but Allen Bestwick is absolutely in his prime as a broadcaster. He was the voice behind many iconic NASCAR moments during the boom of the early 2000s on TV and the rise of NASCAR in the 1990s on the radio.
The problem with Bestwick is his other job. He is the track announcer at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and the Indianapolis 500 plus the Brickyard 400 could both be in this spot on the schedule. Would Bestwick want to leave his spot at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway?
This is another absolute longshot, but bringing in Mike Tirico gives NASCAR on Amazon and TNT genuine legitimacy. Tirico is the lead commentator of Sunday Night Football on NBC, and he hosts big events such as the Indianapolis 500. If Tirico is there, the event is big, and the summer is a downtime for NBC.
However, getting Tirico to leave NBC could be a tough task. He is committed to NBC for major events, and, likely, NBC would not be keen on him leaving.
Which of these commentators would you love to see broadcasting NASCAR alongside Dale Jr.? Is there someone we missed?
