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The NASCAR Cup Series race at Sonoma on Sunday afternoon was the final Cup Series race to be broadcast by FOX.
The rest of the season now heads over to NBC until the season finale at Phoenix in November.
It may also wind up the final race broadcast for legendary commentator Mike Joy.
Joy, 73, is a legend of the sport.
He has been calling races since he was hired ad a pit reporter for CBS in 1973 and could well end up in the sport’s hall of fame down the line.
But the 2023 season has not been easy on him.
Joy came under fire from fans earlier this season when he commented about fans who complain about the number of commercials shown during a race.
“For all the keyboard warriors, I’m gonna do this in words of one syllable,” he said. “The last green-flag, full-screen break of this race comes right now.”
Mike Joy's defensiveness regarding the Daytona 500 commercial criticism is obnoxious
He's a pro. The commercial criticism was valid whether he agrees with it or not. But being defensive ahead of ad breaks in the races after the 500 isn't the pro way to handle that feedback
— Nick Bromberg (@NickBromberg) March 12, 2023
The comments were in response to fans who have complained they miss too much of the race due to commercials.
That controversy quickly died down. Though criticism of Fox’s NASCAR coverage is longstanding and dates back a number of years.
On Sunday, Joy made another slip up that got called out.
Fitting end to the Fox 2023 season with Mike Joy saying that Truex is the oldest road course winner since Tony Stewart in 2016 when Stewart beat Truex in Sonoma despite Stewart famously moving Denny Hamlin out of the way in that race for the win
Truex finished fifth in 2016
— Nick Bromberg (@NickBromberg) June 11, 2023
Joy responded to the error on Twitter.
Yes, Stewart moved Hamlin for his 2016 Sonoma win. I misremembered it (2x), then later made a correction.
I'll see you in Daytona from the @NascaronFOX booth, with Kevin Harvick, Clint Bowyer, and occasional special guests.
Hope you enjoy the rest of this #Nascar season on @NBC.— Mike Joy (@mikejoy500) June 12, 2023
But some fans are now saying it might be time for him to call it a career prior to the 2024 season.
Mike Joy needs to retire from the booth.
He’s a booth legend but he’s only going to deteriorate more and more the longer he keeps doing it. Today proved it. Time to pass the torch to Adam Alexander and give the Fox booth a much needed clean slate.#NASCAR
— Digital Gashouse (@DigitalGashouse) June 11, 2023
“Mike Joy needs to retire from the booth” @NRF_Productions said. “He’s a booth legend but he’s only going to deteriorate more and more the longer he keeps doing it. Today proved it. Time to pass the torch to Adam Alexander and give the Fox booth a much needed clean slate.”
And he wasn’t alone.
I love Mike Joy’s knowledge but I would trade some knowledge for some excitement and continuity in the booth. Also who ever runs what’s being seen on screen has a agenda that doesn’t always match what they are talking about. The booth feels Broken.
— Matthew Dunham (@mdunham92) June 12, 2023
Nascar on NBC has their issues, but I'm happy Fox is gone.
The Fox broadcast was absolutely terrible. The constant commercial breaks, the random camera cuts and missed action. Not to mention Mike Joy taking shots on-air at people who dared to mention the mistakes. #nascar
— Tim Owens (@RacingGuy87) June 12, 2023
When Joy does call it a career, it’ll be the end of an era. But it seems that could come sooner rather than later.