Leigh Diffie spent a year covering the IMSA Rolex 24 at Daytona, the Indianapolis 500, the Paris Summer Olympics, and currently a starring role in the NASCAR playoffs for NBC Sports. The variety is as rich as the frequent flyer odometers. “I like to say I’m in somebody’s club,” Diffie said with a laugh. He recognized the level of exclusivity and how far the French capital is from Talladega or Bristol. Diffie has deftly navigated the world and those changes this year, and her journey continues this weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. In three weeks he will announce the Phoenix Cup Series championship for the first time as the main announcer in the broadcast booth. “If you’re a motorsports commentator, this is your dream,” says Diffie. “I keep pinching myself.”
Diffie has been on NBC Sports’ roster of broadcasters since joining the network in 2013, but this year marked the first time he was named NASCAR Network’s top announcer. The 53-year-old veteran still jokingly refers to himself as the “new guy” on the broadcast team, but his experience working with pundits Jeff Burton and Steve Letarte has eased his transition at headquarters. Diffie won rave reviews for his exuberant recall of memorable moments from the second half of the Cup Series campaign. His fellow broadcasters took advantage of this natural enthusiasm and saw him visit some of NASCAR’s most popular tracks for the first time. “That’s Leigh’s passion. You’ve heard her talk about racing and other sporting events…” says Burton. “Anyone who’s ever heard him knows what Lee can do.”
Ironically, Diffie’s career might have turned out very differently if some of his motorcycling friends in Australia hadn’t invited him to take on broadcasting duties at local meetings. Diffie has long been a fan of two-wheel racing, a passion he inherited from his father and raced with his older brother from the age of six until his teenage years. “I was good, I wasn’t great,” Diffy says, referring to how some of his friends went on to have championship careers. “I didn’t grow up dreaming of a career in motorsports or sports broadcasting,” says Diffie. “At some point in my career or life, I thought I would be a farmer or work in agricultural economics because I studied agronomy in high school.”
Teaching experience was also an issue. Diffie earned a bachelor’s degree in education and worked briefly as a physical education teacher. “I didn’t work part-time at McDonald’s or an ice cream parlor. “I worked on a farm,” he said. “I picked tomatoes, grapes and pumpkins and stayed with the farmers. So I thought this is where I’ll spend my life.”Even after cycling, Diffie kept in touch with friends from the same background. When he picked up the PA mic, his worldview changed. “I think it’s something I never expected when I was in my 20s, so I’m glad it happened,” Diffie said.
Eventually, an Australian Supercars circuit opened, followed by motorcycle racing and rallying commissions. Diffie came to the United States more than 20 years ago to cover IndyCar and other forms of racing and was the voice of American broadcasts of Formula 1 events for several seasons. Diffie’s IndyCar operation ended this season with the news that FOX Sports will become the series’ primary broadcaster in 2025. He called the transition “bittersweet” but said he has little time left to think about the end of this chapter of his 27-year television career. “I never dreamed I’d be lucky enough to post an Indy 500. I ended up posting six of them, so I feel incredibly blessed and fortunate that it happened,” Diffie said.
… It’s always hard to end something you’re passionate about. But it helped. I would say that my sphere of activity also focuses on the Olympics, I do a great job, it’s all-encompassing, it’s all-consuming. Then I found out there was a 7,000 pound gorilla waiting for me at the end of the year in NASCAR. So I had to divide the year into several parts. “I had to go through it with blocks.”A major problem arose this summer when it announced it would bring athletics to the world stage at its sixth Olympics. “No disrespect to other host countries or cities, but this was the best,” said Diffie, describing the atmosphere in Paris as unprecedented. His residence at the time was within walking distance of the Stade de France. This allowed him to easily communicate with the spectators and fans visiting the stadium.
“During the walk with the general public and fans, everyone was laughing and joking. There was music and fun and they were wearing their country’s colors,” said Diffie. “I just… loved going to work every day.”Two weeks after the closing ceremony, Diffie was in the Daytona International Speedway booth covering the final race of the NASCAR Cup Series regular season. According to Diffie, the influence of executive producer and chairman Sam Flood helped the network develop its dizzying mix of sports, from luge, bobsleigh, track and field and rugby to major auto racing. Produced by NBC Sports. Diffy recalled Flood telling him when he was starting his gig at NBC. “We’re going to give you a lot and see what works.”
“And he said, ‘So you’re going to announce another race for us, are you willing to do that?'” he said: “Of course, I said I was hired by NBC for Formula 1 and IndyCar, and he said, “But we’re not going to put you in the Olympics. He said he would send it to Edo as well. Sam is the same gentleman who had the vision, dedication and faith to introduce me to athletics and NASCAR. So I owe it to Sam and his belief in me. Flexible enough to adapt and move on. “Whatever his idea is, I have to implement it and so far so good. “It’s been a fun ride.”
Leigh Diffie says that apart from some interactions on social media, she doesn’t read comments. “I either love you or hate you,” he says. “It’s really similar to politics. There is no middle ground. “It was a big turning point,” he said.On the other hand, there are praises that shine with praise. When Diffie called for play-by-play for the skeleton race at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, the Associated Press reported, “We are confident that NBC can make Leigh Diffie’s Monday morning commute as exciting and historic as possible.” On the other hand, some people are surprised to hear non-Southern dialect in the NASCAR broadcast booth. But most reactions were lukewarm, and Diffy won over all the skeptics with his charming, fun-loving style.
“I was shocked, you are so kind.” Diffie talks about the welcoming atmosphere. “Of course, I’m not everybody’s favorite, I’m not stupid enough not to admit that or not know that, and look, NASCAR has been around for 75 years and there’s never been a non-American voice. -play. So Jackie Stewart and David Hobbs did. One was from Scotland and the other from England. They did it as analysts at the time. Singing in a foreign voice to an American audience at the Indy 500 was never something I was meant to do. And we’re doing that now in NASCAR, and I’m proud of that. . “But remember, I’m an American, even if I don’t sound like one. I am a proud American citizen and have been for 13 years.
My two sons were born in Atlanta, Georgia. I chose American citizenship and I am proud of it. Of course, I’m proud of my Australian heritage, where I grew up. But this is where my career was defined. I love this country and it has done so much for me and for me. And giving back to this country and being an American citizen, I feel really privileged and passionate about this country.”Diffie has been here long enough that he doesn’t have to worry about Aussie slang creeping into his broadcast model. That said, the breadth of his vocabulary sometimes led some of his colleagues to double-take. In particular, Letarte admitted that as an analyst he limited himself to a maximum of two syllables.
In a recent show, Diffie left Letarte cold by describing the driver’s maneuvers as “suspicious.” “He said, ‘Oh, you’ve got to pass me again,'” Diffie recalled, adding that both Letarte and Burton mocked some of his antics. Such humility inspires respect. Letarte easily placed Diffie’s name alongside the legendary Hall of Fame broadcaster. Letarte said: “I can tell you I’m always amazed at what words Leigh can come up with. “It reminds me of some of the great things I’ve been through. Mike Joy has the ability to put things into context. Barney Hall had the same ability. Ken Skier, of course. Squeerism is as famous as the people themselves. The problem is that the calls are not only vibrant and precise, but also poetic and colorful, creating a moment that is bigger than what it is.”
Diffie came to the booth at Daytona two months ago and took his first Harrison Burton Cup win with his father, Jeff, looking on. Capturing the high drama, Diffie noted how close Kyle Busch came to ending the longest skid of his career as Burton’s confident shot took the win and secured the 100th win for the Wood Brothers. “Jeff, your son did it!” exclaimed Diffie, reflecting on one of NASCAR’s biggest upsets in recent memory.
“Seeing Harrison come out of Turn 4, how excited Jeff was heading to Victory Lane and hearing Leigh’s call are moments I’ll never forget,” Letarte said. “This is nothing compared to Jimmy’s seventh championship or any other great race I’ve been to. We all have our own abilities, but finding these words in this moment really adds something. It’s really fun.”All three booths mentioned the chemistry that grew throughout the season, but everything clicked as they understood each other’s responsibilities. During the race, when it comes to pit stops, strategy or refereeing rules, former team principal Letarte takes on a bigger role. If an accident or driving situation occurs, the sound of the button becomes louder. Diffie sets the scene as a defender and does his best to seize the decisive moment. Letarte and Burton gladly entrusted him with this task.
Diffie enjoys the atmosphere as he navigates this busy time of year, calling his NASCAR experience “a glimpse into America.” His increased workload on the bandwagon took him to new places, but also connected him with new fans eager for his knowledge. a fan yelled at him at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval camp last weekend. The Aussie transplant broke down the fence that separated his home and motor racing home and stepped out for a chat. “That’s where you get the pulse and rhythm of the sport,” says Diffie. “That’s it.”
