Rick Allen’s departure from NBC’s NASCAR Cup Series broadcast booth was confirmed prior to the conclusion of the 2024 season, marking the end of his decade-long tenure. Leigh Diffey assumed the lead announcer position starting with the late August race at Daytona International Speedway, reflecting a significant shift in the network’s coverage strategy.
This NASCAR Cup Series announcer change came amid speculation that NBC sought to retain Diffey following IndyCar’s new broadcast agreement with Fox. Diffey, who had been NBC’s primary IndyCar commentator since 2013, was at risk of joining Fox for their open-wheel race coverage. Subsequently, Will Buxton was named IndyCar’s lead voice on Fox, joined by former NBC analysts James Hinchcliffe and Townsend Bell.
Background behind NBC’s move to replace Rick Allen
Having held the lap-by-lap announcer role for Cup Series races on NBC since 2015, Rick Allen found himself without a broadcasting slot once the 2025 season began. NBC’s decision to retain Diffey was a preemptive measure to keep a familiar voice for IndyCar and NASCAR, though it meant parting ways with the longtime commentator for NASCAR on NBC, drawing mixed reactions.
The broader changes in NASCAR’s media landscape influenced this transition. Under NASCAR’s recent seven-year, $7.7 billion media rights contract, all Xfinity Series races moved from NBC and USA Network to the CW Network. Adam Alexander, previously a Fox announcer, was appointed as the lead announcer for Xfinity Series broadcasts on the new network.
Broadcast team lineup for NBC and other networks
For Amazon Prime Video and TNT Sports coverage of NASCAR’s five-race schedules, Adam Alexander continues leading broadcasts, supported by former NBC commentators Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Steve Letarte. Earnhardt, who left NBC after the 2023 season, took a sabbatical in 2024, whereas Letarte remains active as a driver analyst.
With Diffey at the helm as lead announcer, Steve Letarte and Jeff Burton return as analysts for NBC’s coverage. This trio has been calling races together since the August Daytona event last year through the season finale in Phoenix Raceway. Their cohesive partnership is expected to continue throughout the current season.
Fan reactions and future broadcasting outlook
Rick Allen recently expressed the difficulty of his exit from NBC, highlighting how deeply the change affected him. Fans have responded to challenges faced by Fox’s NASCAR broadcast teams, especially in the Truck Series, by urging Fox and other networks to consider adding Allen to their roster for the 2026 season and beyond. However, no formal arrangements have yet been made to bring him back on air.
The upcoming Iowa Corn 350 at Iowa Speedway, airing on USA Network at 3:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, August 3, will be notable for marking the first NBC broadcast of the season without Allen leading the commentary after a handoff from other network segments. This change signals a new era in NBC’s NASCAR coverage as they continue adapting to evolving media partnerships and talent shifts.
