Mike Joy stands as one of the most influential media voices in NASCAR history. The 76-year-old has been part of the live broadcast crew for an astounding 45 Daytona 500s for three different networks: MRN, CBS, and Fox.
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Today, Joy remains the lead play-by-play voice for Fox’s NASCAR coverage, working alongside Clint Bowyer and Kevin Harvick. And despite advancing years and a changing tech and media landscape, few broadcasters can make a stock car race feel as vivid and engaging as Joy does.
Joy’s gift for storytelling and timing is a major reason fans feel connected to the action. It’s a skill he traces back to learning from one of the true pioneers of motorsports broadcasting: Ken Squier.
In a 2024 interview, Joy explained that the late Squier was the single most influential figure in shaping his career. That mentorship began at Riverside Park in Massachusetts, long before Joy became a familiar voice to millions. At the time, Joy was working as a tire installer for a Firestone dealer when he was given the chance to work alongside Squier at the track.
“He was always giving help and advice and never hesitated to recommend me for opportunities as they came about at MRN and later at CBS, and with TBS, TNN, and so on. He was a great mentor,” said Joy.
That marked the beginning of a relationship that would define Joy’s professional life. Squier took him under his wing and helped mold the broadcaster and storyteller fans know today.
Joy knew early on that he could never be as good as Squier. But he had been taught to become the best version of himself, and that’s what he ended up doing.
“I learned real early on that I was never going to be Ken Squier. He was just a fantastic wordsmith and painted unbelievable word pictures. But he taught me that I could be the best of me and gave me a lot of advice on how to go about that,” Joy said of Squier’s unparalleled magic.
Joy even mentioned that he owed his entire career to Squier. He looked back and reminisced about the chance he got to go from working alongside him to succeeding him at networks like CBS and Fox. And it is not just Joy who has a lot to thank Squier for.
“Dave Moody, Bob Varsha, Dave Despain, David Hobbs, Ned Jarrett—we all owe Ken for our careers and the opportunities to succeed,” added Joy.
Squier’s influence on NASCAR cannot be understated. He was the one who coined the term “The Great American Race” for the Daytona 500. He also played a big part in televising the event. He lived in Stowe, Vermont, until his death in November 2023 at the age of 88.
