“Treats the race like a sitcom”- Mike Joy blasted online for his comments against criticism of commercial-ridden Fox NASCAR coverage

The 2023 season opener Daytona 500 viewing experience on TV was often disturbed by the commercials.

Mike Joy has been calling NASCAR races for decades and has established himself as one of the most respected personalities in the sport. But recently, the legendary commentator has found himself in a heated debate with fans. Joy stepping up to defend Fox’s network commercial strategy during races is widely criticized.

He prompted more criticism during the Phoenix Cup race, where he indirectly called out the individuals who are bashing Fox on live air. He said, “For all the keyboard warriors, I’m gonna do this in words of one syllable. The last green-flag, full-screen break of this race comes right now,”. Fans were upset about the veteran commentator labeling the critics as Keyboard warriors. He continued his criticism on Twitter as well.

The commercial-ridden coverage of the season opener Dayton 500 stated all the debate. It even affected the total viewership and ratings of the event. The broadcasters continuing such practices in the following race weeks prompted situations where fans also missed race-defining incidents due to commercials.

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Commercials are a necessary evil when it comes to race broadcasting or any type of sports coverage. But when the fan experience is disturbed beyond a limit, it affects the sport. Mike Joy also has the responsibility of defending his employers when the time calls for it. It’s important that there is a balance between normal race coverage and commercials.

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How fans on Twitter reacted to Mike Joy’s criticism live air

Mike Joy, Tony Stewart and Clint Bowyer — Mike Joy, Tony Stewart, and Clint Bowyer (Credits: Fox Sports)

The reaction online from fans was mixed, with a slim majority of critics of Joy’s actions. Some fans called out the veteran for not standing up for the fans. Some individuals supported Mike Joy, claiming he was doing the right thing and the commercials were justified.

Mike Joy mocking fans every week, on air, for being frustrated with commercials is really ridiculous and an immature response by FOX Sports.

I understand it’s a necessary evil, but that’s really low.
— Alex (@newgayden) March 12, 2023

hard to have respect for mike joy when he continues to treat the viewers like this https://t.co/heNslnSr2M
— Zack (@DreamyZackRacin) March 12, 2023

Mike Joy must be really confident in his broadcast booth and Fox as a whole to make a statement like that.#NASCAR
— Digital Gashouse (@DigitalGashouse) March 12, 2023

Mike Joy out here spilling the deets https://t.co/0Bjzr4FCc9
— S1apSh0es (@S1apSh0es) March 11, 2023

Lol savage mike joy – semi-trolling their own terrible coverage
— boogityboogity (@notdwaltrip) March 12, 2023

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

As much as I totally understand Mike Joy's frustrations with people not listening to him and getting upset about it, I don't think openly bashing a portion of the fan base on national TV is the right flex.
— Toby Christie (@Toby_Christie) March 12, 2023

Fox broadcasting coverage of Nascar treats the race like a sitcom. Something to make fun of, act like nobody really cares about missing racing action by filling it with silly Clint Bowyer-isms and a completely silly pre-race show. Compare to NBC who respects the intricacies and https://t.co/sksH2hnWqj
— The Big One Podcast (Racing/NASCAR) (@podcastbigone) March 12, 2023

Some comments and attacks on Mike joy are unjustified as he has minimal control over the Broadcaster’s commercial airing strategy. But as Dale Earnhardt Jr pointed out that the commentators do have the opportunity to decide, at least on certain occasions, when is the right time for a full-screen commercial. Their expertise helps them to identify moments that could change the race, and they should instruct the producer when going for commercials. They could also use the split-screen commercials more than fully committed breaks.

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#About the Author

Justin P Joy

(5089 Articles Published)

Justin P Joy is a Motorsports writer and editor at FirstSportz. He has been a motorsport journalist since 2020 and has published over 4500 articles. Justin has extensively covered two NASCAR, Formula One, and Moto GP seasons for FirstSportz. He has invested more than a decade of his life on Motorsports, first as a fan and later as a dedicated writer. Justin’s in-depth knowledge of Motorsports and his experience as a fan make his writing resonate with most racing fans worldwide. Justin's love for racing started when he discovered Moto GP at the age of 8. That love later guided him into the world of Formula 1. He fell in love with NASCAR after watching Tom Cruise’s “Days of Thunder” and has been an avid follower of the premier stock car racing series since. He has also been investing his time to exploring WEC, WRC, Formula E, Extreme E, and IndyCar in a bid to deeply understand the culture and history of Motorsports to present a unique perspective to the fans.

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“Treats the race like a sitcom”- Mike Joy blasted online for his comments against criticism of commercial-ridden Fox NASCAR coverage

How fans on Twitter reacted to Mike Joy’s criticism live air

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