Ryan Fitzpatrick, former NFL quarterback, joined NASCAR driver Corey LaJoie on his podcast, Stacking Pennies, to offer advice ahead of LaJoie’s new role as a NASCAR analyst on Amazon Prime Video. Starting this weekend at the Coca-Cola 600 held at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 25th, LaJoie will analyze five upcoming races broadcast by the streaming platform. Fitzpatrick, who has nearly 20 seasons of experience as an NFL analyst, also shared insights about managing life as a father of seven.
During their conversation, Fitzpatrick discussed how he and his wife came from large families and intentionally decided to build their own big family. He described the practical challenges they faced, especially when considering expanding to seven children.
Balancing Big Family Life with Humor
Fitzpatrick explained that both he and his wife grew up with three siblings each, which influenced their decision to have many children. The couple viewed adding each child as a simple choice at first, warmly questioning, “What’s one more?” Once they reached six kids, they realized that their usual vehicle wouldn’t suffice if they had a seventh.
“It’s wild, but really like we always thought we’d have a big family. I have three siblings, [His wife] had three siblings, we said, ‘What’s one more, what’s one more?’ And when you get to six and you’re making that decision, “Do we go to seven?” you no longer fit in a normal minivan if you go to seven,” he said.
Deciding to have seven children meant upgrading to a larger, 12-passenger van. This practical choice quickly turned into a source of amusement, as Fitzpatrick revealed what his kids’ friends started calling the vehicle.
“So that was the only time where we had to stop and think and be like ‘Okay, do we want to be the, not just weird, but now really weird family with the 12 passenger van driving around?’ and all of our kids’ friends call it the ‘kidnapper van’ now,” added Fitzpatrick [49:01 onwards].
Guidance for Corey LaJoie’s New Analyst Chapter
Fitzpatrick’s primary reason for appearing on LaJoie’s podcast was to share advice for the driver’s transition to a media role. He encouraged LaJoie to embrace every opportunity that comes with the new position, emphasizing the importance of saying yes to gain the full experience as an analyst.
“The piece of advice I give you just say yes to everything because there’s a lot of stuff that comes with it.” [47:41]
LaJoie expressed appreciation for this fresh career path back in January, when it was announced he would divide his time between driving and commentary during the NASCAR Cup Series season. He acknowledged that exploring roles beyond being a full-time Cup driver was a meaningful direction in his life.
“When [Amazon] were pursuing me towards the end of last year, I felt like there were things that were materializing in my life and doors that were opening from the Lord to allow me to see that there are other things that I can do outside of being a full-time Cup driver,” Corey LaJoie shared [via NASCAR].
LaJoie’s debut as a NASCAR analyst begins at the Coca-Cola 600 event on Sunday, May 25th, with Amazon Prime Video’s coverage wrapping up after The Great American Getaway 400 at Pocono Raceway on June 22nd.
Implications of LaJoie’s New Role and Future Prospects
LaJoie’s move into the analyst seat marks an important step in broadening his motorsports career, offering a platform to reach fans from a different perspective. With advice from a seasoned veteran like Fitzpatrick, LaJoie is positioned to gain valuable experience during the coming Amazon broadcasts. The blend of expertise from both men—one from the NFL’s analytic ranks and the other from the racetrack—adds unique insight to the coverage.
As LaJoie navigates this dual role this season, fans can expect to see how his driver’s perspective enhances his commentary, while Fitzpatrick’s support emphasizes the growth opportunities available when athletes step outside their primary professions. The collaboration between these two sports figures underscores a broader trend of athletes leveraging their competitive experiences into media careers, often with meaningful mentorship shaping their paths.
