Former ESPN Reporter Under Fire For Criticizing NASCAR Broadcaster Leigh Diffey’s Australian Accent: “Guess I’m Xenophobic”

Not gonna tolerate Leigh Diffey slander around here.

NASCAR was in Iowa yesterday for the Iowa Corn 350 Powered by Ethanol (yes, that was the race’s actual name), and William Byron managed to save enough fuel to make it to the end and collect his second win of the season.

It was also the first race of the season for NBC, which will broadcast the remainder of the 2025 Cup Series season on its family of networks with broadcasters Leigh Diffey, Steve Letarte and Jeff Burton in the booth.

For the past few years, NBC has been regarded as the superior network when it comes to NASCAR broadcasts (although Amazon Prime, which is new this year, may have set the new standard), and most fans were excited to finally get to the NBC portion of the schedule, which will include the entire playoffs.

But apparently, some people weren’t excited to have Leigh Diffey back in the booth.

Diffey is a veteran motorsports commentator, originally in his home country of Australia before joining the Speed Channel way back in 2003 and serving as the voice of Formula One and IndyCar on NBC since 2013. He had also lent his talents to NASCAR over the years, filling in for races here and there and providing extended coverage on the network’s various channels and shows.

Last year, it was announced in August that Diffey would join the NASCAR Cup Series booth as play-by-play announcer for the remainder of the season, replacing longtime announcer Rick Allen. And he quickly proved why he’s one of the best in the business and a massive upgrade to NBC’s NASCAR coverage with his energetic, exciting calls and thoughtful analysis.

Diffey returned this year for the entire slate of NASCAR races on NBC, starting yesterday in Iowa. But apparently, not everybody is a fan of the veteran broadcaster…or more accurately, his accent.

Obviously Diffey has an Australian accent, and John Kernan, himself a former NASCAR pit reporter for ESPN, took to social media to blast the analyst:

“I think I’m done with NASCAR. After further review stage racing SUCKS! And I’m sure Leigh Diffey is a great guy but, if I want to hear that accent, I’ll watch Formula 1. Sorry, guess I’m xenophobic.”

I mean, after some of the terrible coverage we’ve seen from other networks, I don’t care what Diffey sounds like as long as he can call a race. He could do it in a Yoda voice for all I care, it’s still miles better than some of the other broadcasters that we’ve had to deal with over the years.

And Kernan was quickly called out for missing the mark:

“What a pathetic viewpoint here. I do agree about stages though, really wish they didn’t throw cautions for them. I’m fine with points being awarded though. But to sh-t on Leigh, man, what a bad take.”

“Yikes, I thought Diffey was great. Called the racing on the track and built excitement. Not liking someone over their accent is about as shallow as it gets. Don’t dive into your own pool John, it’s an inch deep.”

“Leigh is the only announcer that brings any energy at all. Objectively bad take”

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