By Erica Renee Davis
Special for FOX Sports
“Charlotte Motor Speedway is very fast, it’s high, the two ends of the track are slightly different, and it’s temperature sensitive as well. So as the race goes down from night to night, and it cools down, the track will have more grip and therefore more speed.”
“And that’s why it’s the biggest torture test on the circuit.”
Here’s how beloved on-air talent and FOX NASCAR race announcer Mike Joy illustrates the difficulty of Charlotte and its uniqueness, which you should definitely know.
Before the green flag drops each weekend and until the last RVs roll into the lots, it’s Mike Joy’s distinctive voice and unforgettable personality that the NASCAR faithful have adored for the 23 consecutive seasons he’s been in The net. Joy began leading the FOX NASCAR broadcast team in 2001, so to call him an expert is an understatement. He is one of the most important authorities in the sport.
Mike predicts that this weekend’s Coca-Cola 600 race on FOX will be physically daunting. After all, the drivers have to race for 600 miles non-stop.
“It’s endurance. This race will last four hours. You’ve got cars shooting into the corners at over 180 miles per hour and the drivers have to be at their best every lap,” he noted. “Apart from the marathon or perhaps football, there is no other sport that demands the athlete’s so consistently and for such a long time.”
But even with all of these challenges, the towering miles, the track that changes its stripes based on the thermostat, it’s the Speedway’s commitment to celebrating America’s troops that makes this race such a special affair. big
“It’s Memorial Day weekend, our most solemn holiday,” Joy reflected. “Charlotte Motor Speedway does more than any sporting event in America to honor our armed forces who have given their lives in service to our country.
“It’s a theme we’ll carry throughout the entire broadcast. A great show of patriotism like no other in professional sports. You put it all together, and it’s a truly incredible event.”
Speaking of amazing, last season NASCAR turned an extraordinary corner when the new cars came out. From crew chiefs to seasoned analysts, everyone predicted more parity in the sport in 2022 as new cars took center stage. And indeed it was so. However, a year later, the best-funded teams with the best technology available and the best drivers have not dominated as easily as some might have projected.
Joy, who moonlights as a vintage race car driver, admits she is surprised.
“We knew the field was going to go. We had a record number of race winners and we had a lot of good teams performing at a great level. This year, though, some of the top teams have won again. ways, but not all.”
For example, the veteran broadcaster points out that most fans and pundits did not predict William Byron to be the driver with the most wins at this point in the season. And “Kyle Larson,” he laughed, “when he’s not crashing into the wall, he’s winning everything else.”
When Mike takes the stand this weekend, he will be joined by racing royalty Clint Bowyer and Tony Stewart. But in addition to “informing, educating and entertaining,” there’s another important thing Joy wants audiences to appreciate.
“We’re all really good friends, and I really hope that comes out during the broadcast,” she revealed. “And when you have Clint and Tony up there, the entertaining part comes pretty easily.”
Speaking of easy, could this be the weekend you hit $25,000 playing the FOX Bet Super 6 NASCAR Stage 2 contest?
FOX Bet Super 6 is a free contest where you can choose six different results in the NASCAR Stage 2 race with the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway to win by Clint Bowyer $25,000. You just have to download the FOX Bet Super 6 App on your phone or mobile device, make your picks and submit your selections before the race starts this Sunday.
Remember, playing FOX Bet Super 6 is always free, easy and fun. And by the way, really people to win!
But before you jump into your picks, check out Mike Joy’s expert insight below. Let’s dive in!
Where will the pole-sitter finish at the end of the race?
1st-2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th-6th, 7th-8th, 9th+
“The pole sitter will be the top five. The pole position also gives you the first choice of pit box. And the number 1 pit box is usually very useful to get out of the pits quickly. There is an advantage. If you are the leader, you are in the pure air”.
Prediction: 5th
Which driver – Chase Briscoe or Ross Chastain — will they have a better finish at the end of stage 2 and where will they finish?
1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th or more
“I’ll say Chase. Chase Briscoe has gotten better every week. He’s been the best Ford in the All-Star run. I think Ross Chastain will probably dial it back for a few weeks and maybe fly under the radar. Maybe, that’s for good may be.”
Prediction: Chase Briscoe, 9th+
Which driver – Erik Jones or Daniel Suarez — will they have a better finish at the end of stage 2 and where will they finish?
1st-2nd, 3rd-4th, 5th-6th, 7th-8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th+
“Just comparing the performances of the last few weeks, I think Trackhouse has more positive momentum right now. And I think the Legacy Motor Club just hasn’t lived up to their potential the last few weeks. They need a bounce.”
Prediction: Daniel Suárez, 12th
Kyle Larson or William Byron: Who wins more races this year?
The “NASCAR Race Hub” crew goes into overdrive and discusses some hot topics about the season so far.
Which manufacturer, Chevrolet or Ford, will have more cars in the top 10 in Stage 2 and how many will they have?
0-2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10+
“There are more Chevys than any other brand, so they have a numerical advantage. And they’ve been better than the Fords and about the same as the Toyotas.”
Prediction: Chevrolet, 4
Which driver – Martin Truex Jr. or Joey Logano — will they have a better finish at the end of stage 2 and where will they finish?
1st-2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th or more
“You can’t forget the Coca-Cola 600 where Martin Truex led 392 of the 400 laps, including the last lap. Nobody knows how to run up front for most of the race better than Martin.”
Prediction: Martin Truex Jr., 3rd
Which driver – Kyle Busch or Chase Elliott — will he have the best finish at the end of the race and by how many positions?
1-2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10+
“Chase has momentum, he has recent finishes, and the Hendrick organization is really on his game. With Chase coming back from that injury, I think he’s pretty much back to full form. And I don’t think the extra distance in that the race will bother him.”
Prediction: Chase, 8
The best takeaways from All-Star Weekend in North Wilkesboro
The “NASCAR Race Hub” crew discussed their thoughts on All-Star weekend in North Wilkesboro and whether they should keep it up for a long time.
While the brilliant broadcaster praises William Byron and Martin Truex for their recent success, Dan Gurney has his heart set on his favorite NASCAR athlete of all time.
“Dan has the highest winning percentage of any NASCAR driver with 10 or more starts. He was the best track racer in NASCAR. He won Indy Car, he won Trans Am, he won the 24 Hours of Le Mans. , and he won in Formula 1. And he was always my hero.”
Joy recalled how her admiration for the late Gurney turned into kinship.
“He wrote me a note one night and said, ‘I’ve been watching the race and I heard you’re a fan of mine. And I wanted to send you this note before you change your mind.’ But it was all a joke because he had been retired for 30 years. But it led to a very nice friendship.”
While you might not be as lucky as Mike to befriend your hero, your luck could mean a cool $25,000 cash prize.
Download the FOX Bet Super 6 app and submit your picks for the NASCAR Stage 2 competition now. Then be sure to share your picks with us by tagging us @FOXSuper6 i @EricaReneeD and using the hashtag #EricaSuper6 on all social media platforms.
Cheers to a safe Memorial Day weekend!
Download the FOX Super 6 app for a chance to win thousands of dollars on the biggest sporting events every week! Just choose your picks and you could win the grand prize. Download and play today!
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