Legendary race car driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. is typically a NASCAR commentator for NBC, but FOX is borrowing him for today’s GEICO 500.
Earnhardt Jr., who has also contributed to NBC Sports’ Super Bowl and Olympics coverage, is in the booth this afternoon with FOX’s Mike Joy and Clint Bowyer. They are calling the action from Talladega Superspeedway.
Because he won six times at Talledega, Earnhardt Jr. seems like a natural fit to call this race. Combing through Twitter, it seems like many racing fans think he is a natural fit with the FOX contingent in general.
You will never see someone witness and calmly discuss their own car being stolen on live TV with more grace and professionalism than Dale Jr. #NASCAR #Talladega pic.twitter.com/hEo17J89xs
— nascarcasm (@nascarcasm) April 24, 2022
Dale Earnhardt Jr. is the best analyst commentator in NASCAR and nobody comes close to him
— Millad Radman (@RealRadman) April 24, 2022
Can we just have @DaleJr in the booth all year?
— Matt Owens (@bearindownonya) April 24, 2022
Dale Jr. Is definitely helping Clint become a better broadcaster today. Dale and Clint have both been very insightful and talk about things that many don’t know. #NASCAR #Talladega
— The Inside Line (@INSIDEINSIDE19) April 24, 2022
@DaleJr in the @NASCARONFOX booth at Talladega makes this race more entertaining to watch. #JustSaying
— Andrew Walker (@AndrewW2027) April 24, 2022
I like having Bowyer and Dale Jr in the booth together. #NASCAR
— 🏁 Allen Bedgood 🇺🇸 (@RacingBedgood) April 24, 2022
Fox needs @DaleJr in the booth for next years Daytona 500. He’s so good working with Mike Joy
— Pete Cohen (@petecoh) April 24, 2022
LOVE that my 3 favorites are in the booth today! 🏁❤️🚗💨 @mikejoy500 @DaleJr @ClintBowyer #NASCAR
— kathyfannon (@kathyfannon) April 24, 2022
Great idea for a #NASCAR app to watch races. No networks my brothers @DaleJr @ClintBowyer on every race. I’d pay for that.
— Rodney Rodriguez (@therodneyr) April 24, 2022
Dale Jr.’s passion for stock car racing and its history is a joy to see on TV. You can tell he really, truly loves what he’s doing and isn’t in it for just a paycheck.
— Hank Lee (@hanklee89) April 24, 2022
Earnhardt Jr. won’t be joining FOX full-time–at least not yet. But one wonders if the network could look to poach him down the road or at least try to get him on for more guest appearances, depending on what his NBC contract will allow.
“I’m really looking forward to having some fun with Mike, Clint and Larry (McReynolds) and the rest of the team,” Earnhardt said when the news of him joining the broadcast was announced. “Calling a race from Talladega is an incredibly fun experience. You absolutely have to be on your toes at all times … it doesn’t take much for all hell to break loose.”
You can catch the rest of the GEICO 500 on FOX.
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