Editing Leigh Diffey (section)

=== Motorsports ===

==== Formula One and IndyCar ====
In November 2012, [[NBC Sports]] announced that Diffey would join its network to become the play-by-play announcer for its broadcasts of both [[Formula One]] and [[IndyCar Series|IndyCar]] events starting in 2013.<ref name="NBC Bio">{{cite web|url=http://nbcsportsgrouppressbox.com/bio/leigh-diffey/|title=Leigh Diffey: Formula One and IndyCar Play-by-Play Announcer|work=NBC Sports|access-date=20 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180221031724/http://nbcsportsgrouppressbox.com/bio/leigh-diffey/|archive-date=21 February 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/1126667/aussie-scores-big-break-stateside/|title=Aussie scores big break Stateside|last=McKay|first=Peter|work=[[The Newcastle Herald]]|publisher=[[Fairfax Media]]|date=16 November 2012|access-date=29 November 2017}}</ref> Diffey called the day of the announcement "one of the best days of my life. People have been so complimentary."<ref name="Bio"/> The announcement named [[David Hobbs (racing driver)|David Hobbs]] and [[Steve Matchett]] as the analysts who would work alongside him for the Formula One broadcasts.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2013/03/11/Media/NBC-F1.aspx|title=Race is on: NBC makes big F1 push|last=Mickle|first=Tripp|work=[[Sports Business Daily]]|publisher=American City Business Journals|date=11 March 2013|access-date=7 August 2017}}</ref> In December 2015, Diffey, Hobbs and Matchett were given an Honorable Mention in a list of Best Broadcast Teams of the year published on the ''[[Sports Illustrated]]'' website SI.com.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Deitsch|first=Richard|author-link=Richard Deitsch|url=https://www.si.com/more-sports/2015/12/21/si-sports-media-awards-2015|title=Media Persons of the Year|magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]|date=22 December 2015|access-date=23 December 2015}}</ref>

On two occasions, Diffey covered both series on the same day. On 23 August 2015, he called the [[2015 Belgian Grand Prix|Belgian Grand Prix]] from NBC's base in Stamford, Connecticut, before he and Matchett traveled to [[Pocono Raceway]] for the [[2015 ABC Supply 500|ABC Supply 500]].<ref name="DoingTheDouble">{{cite web|url=http://motorsports.nbcsports.com/2015/08/20/nbcs-leigh-diffey-prepared-focused-thankful-ahead-of-f1indycar-sunday-double-broadcast/|title=NBC's Leigh Diffey prepared, focused, thankful ahead of F1/IndyCar Sunday double broadcast|work=[[NBC Sports]]|last=DiZinno|first=Tony|date=20 August 2015|access-date=20 November 2017}}</ref> Likewise, on 3 September 2017, Diffey called the [[2017 Italian Grand Prix|Italian Grand Prix]] in Connecticut and then traveled to [[Watkins Glen International]] for the [[2017 IndyCar Grand Prix at The Glen|IndyCar Grand Prix at The Glen]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://motorsports.nbcsports.com/2017/09/02/second-diffey-doubleheader-to-kick-off-nbcsn-racing-tripleheader/|title=Second 'Diffey doubleheader' to kick off NBCSN racing tripleheader|work=[[NBC Sports]]|last=DiZinno|first=Tony|date=2 September 2017|access-date=20 November 2017}}</ref> Diffey's open-wheel focus shifted solely to IndyCar in 2018 when the US Formula One television rights were transferred to [[ESPN]] and they chose to take commentary from [[Sky Sports]] insteading of making their own.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/espn-f1-rights-tv-nbc-961233/|title=ESPN replaces NBC as F1 broadcaster in the US|work=Motorsport.com|publisher=Motorsport Network|last=Elizalde|first=Pablo|date=4 October 2017|access-date=29 November 2017}}</ref>

==== NASCAR ====
Diffey was one of several recurring co-hosts of ''[[NASCAR America]]'', a weekday [[NBCSN]] program dedicated to NASCAR.<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://www.nascar.com/en_us/news-media/articles/2014/2/11/nascar-nbc-sports-new-daily-show-after-daytona-500.html|title= NBCSN to Launch ''NASCAR America'' Feb. 24|work=NASCAR.com|publisher=NASCAR Media Group, LLC|author=NBC Sports news release|date=11 February 2014|access-date=21 November 2017}}</ref> While he had covered NASCAR practice and qualifying sessions with Speed,<ref name="SpeedCafe Leigh"/> it was not until his tenure with NBC that he made his NASCAR debut as a play-by-play announcer for a race, covering the [[NASCAR Xfinity Series|Xfinity Series]] (NXS) at [[Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course]] on 15 August 2015.<ref name="DoingTheDouble"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwtv/article/NBCSN-to-Air-NASCAR-Double-Feature-This-Weekend-20150812|title=NBCSN to Air NASCAR Double-Feature This Weekend|website=Broadway World|date=12 August 2015|access-date=15 August 2015}}</ref> After calling the race, Diffey spoke of the experience as "a thrill...I've been a NASCAR fan and dabbled in it, and for that to be my first race was something else."<ref name="DoingTheDouble"/> He also commentated the Richmond,<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://nbcsportsgrouppressbox.com/2015/09/09/nbcsn-presents-the-last-race-to-make-the-chase-this-weekend-in-primetime-from-richmond-international-raceway/|title=NBCSN Presents "The Last Race to Make the Chase" this Weekend in Primetime from Richmond International Raceway|work=NBC Sports|date=9 September 2015|access-date=16 September 2015}}</ref> Dover,<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://nbcsportsgrouppressbox.com/2015/10/02/nbc-sports-groups-press-pass-what-to-watch-october-2-4-2015/|title=NBC Sports Group's Press Pass – What to Watch October 2-4, 2015|work=NBC Sports|date=2 October 2015|access-date=29 November 2017}}</ref> and Kansas NXS races.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jayski.com/news/nxs/2015/story/_/page/2015nxs-30kansas|title=Kansas Lottery 300 (Television Coverage)|work=[[Jayski's Silly Season Site]]|publisher=ESPN Internet Ventures|access-date=29 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160623115854/http://www.jayski.com/news/nxs/2015/story/_/page/2015nxs-30kansas|archive-date=23 June 2016}}</ref>

Diffey made his [[Sprint Cup Series]] broadcasting debut alongside [[Dale Jarrett]] at [[Homestead-Miami Speedway]] in 2015, leading NBCSN's "Hot Pass" coverage of NASCAR's championship race, which focused solely on the four drivers still eligible for the series championship.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.motorsport.com/nascar-cup/news/nbc-nbcsn-to-offer-dual-coverage-of-sprint-cup-finale/|title=NBC/NBCSN to offer dual coverage of Sprint Cup finale|agency=NBC Sports Group|work=Motorsport.com|publisher=Motorsport Network|date=19 November 2015|access-date=19 November 2017}}</ref> Diffey reprised this role with [[Parker Kligerman]] in the 2016 Homestead race,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nascar.nbcsports.com/tag/nascar-hot-pass/|title=NBCSN's 'Hot Pass' to offer additional coverage of Ford EcoBoost 400 Sunday|last=Bonkowski|first=Jerry|work=NBC Sports|date=15 November 2016|access-date=18 November 2017}}</ref> and again with Jarrett in 2017,<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://nbcsportsgrouppressbox.com/2017/11/15/nbcsn-to-present-hot-pass-coverage-this-sunday-as-complement-to-nbcs-presentation-of-2017-monster-energy-nascar-cup-series-championship/|title=NBCSN to Present Hot Pass Coverage This Sunday, as Complement to NBC's Presentation of 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship|work=NBC Sports|date=15 November 2017|access-date=18 November 2017}}</ref> 2018,<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://nbcsportsgrouppressbox.com/2018/11/13/nbcsns-nascar-hot-pass-presents-spotlight-simulcast-coverage-of-the-2018-monster-energy-nascar-cup-series-championship-four-contenders/|title=NBCSN's NASCAR Hot Pass Presents Spotlight Simulcast Coverage of the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship Four Contenders|work=NBC Sports|date=13 November 2018|access-date=15 November 2018}}</ref> and 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nascar.nbcsports.com/2019/11/11/nbc-to-again-have-multi-network-coverage-of-cup-championship-race/|title=NBC to again have multi-network coverage of Cup championship race|last=Bonkowski|first=Jerry|publisher=NBC Sports|date=11 November 2019|access-date=6 January 2020}}</ref>

In August 2017, Diffey served as the lead announcer for ''[[NASCAR on NBC]]''{{'}}s primary coverage of the renamed [[Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series|Monster Energy Cup Series]] for two races (the [[2017 I Love New York 355 at The Glen|I Love New York 355 at The Glen]] and the [[2017 Pure Michigan 400|Pure Michigan 400]]), filling in for regular announcer [[Rick Allen (sportscaster)|Rick Allen]] who was working in London with NBC's coverage of the [[2017 IAAF World Championships]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.speedcafe.com/2017/08/04/diffey-call-maiden-nascar-cup-race/|title=Diffey to call maiden NASCAR Cup race|work=Speedcafe.com|last=Howard|first=Tom|date=4 August 2017|access-date=7 August 2017}}</ref>

On 13 March 2024, it was reported that Diffey would replace Allen in NBC's NASCAR Cup Series booth shortly after the [[2024 Summer Olympics]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/nascar/2024/03/13/leigh-diffey-nascar-nbc-rick-allen-olympics/72960592007/|title=Who is Leigh Diffey? NBC broadcaster to replace Rick Allen on NASCAR races this summer : Report|last=Organ|first=Mike|work=The Tennessean|date=13 March 2024|access-date=9 August 2024}}</ref> ''[[The Indianapolis Star]]'' reported on 8 August that Diffey's first race would be the [[2024 Coke Zero Sugar 400|Coke Zero Sugar 400]] at [[Daytona International Speedway]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/motor/2024/08/08/after-summer-olympics-leigh-diffey-shift-nbcs-nascar-booth-daytona-done-with-indycar/74710197007/|title=Sources: Leigh Diffey has called his last 2024 IndyCar race, shifts to NASCAR booth|last=Brown|first=Nathan|work=The Indianapolis Star|date=8 August 2024|access-date=9 August 2024}}</ref> Diffey was officially confirmed by NBC on 20 August as the network's new play-by-play voice for the Cup Series.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/nascar/news/leigh-diffey-named-nbc-sports-nascar-cup-series-lead-play-by-play-commentator|title=Leigh Diffey named NBC Sports' NASCAR Cup Series lead play-by-play commentator|publisher=NBC Sports|date=20 August 2024|access-date=20 August 2024}}</ref> Consequently, Kevin Lee filled in for him in the IndyCar booth for the rest of the year.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://racer.com/2024/08/20/nbc-sports-makes-nascar-indycar-commentary-reshuffle/|title=NBC Sports makes NASCAR, IndyCar commentary reshuffle|last=Glendenning|first=Mark|work=Racer|date=20 August 2024|access-date=20 March 2025}}</ref>

==== IMSA ====
Diffey returned to sports car racing in 2019 as the lead announcer for NBC Sports' coverage of IMSA's [[WeatherTech SportsCar Championship]], beginning with the [[2019 24 Hours of Daytona]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://autoweek.com/article/rolex-24-hours/leigh-diffey-aj-allmendinger-calvin-fish-named-nbcs-imsa-broadcast-team|title=Leigh Diffey, A.J. Allmendinger, Calvin Fish named to NBC's IMSA broadcast team|work=Autoweek|publisher=Crain Communications|date=4 January 2019|access-date=12 January 2019}}</ref>

==== Motorcycles ====
Diffey began calling the [[AMA Supercross Championship]] in 2020, working play-by-play for NBC for the series along with [[Ralph Sheheen]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://motorsports.nbcsports.com/2019/12/26/nbc-sports-announces-2020-supercross-coverage-schedule/|title=NBC Sports announces 2020 Supercross coverage schedule|last=Eubanks|first=Michael|publisher=NBC Sports|date=26 December 2019|access-date=4 January 2020}}</ref> 
Diffey took over the lead commentating role replacing Sheheen starting the 2021 season with [[Ricky Carmichael]], Daniel Blair, and Will Christien.
He also served as a studio host for the network's [[Grand Prix motorcycle racing|MotoGP]] and Moto2 coverage.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://motorsports.nbcsports.com/2020/04/12/leigh-diffey-shares-love-of-motorcycles-in-new-video/|title=Leigh Diffey shares love of motorcycles in new video|last=Eubanks|first=Michael|publisher=NBC Sports|date=12 April 2020|access-date=22 November 2020}}</ref>

==== Global Rallycross ====
Diffey served as lead announcer for several events of NBCSN's coverage of [[Red Bull Global Rallycross]] beginning with the opening event from Fort Lauderdale in the [[2015 Global RallyCross Championship|2015 season]].<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://redbullglobalrallycross.com/news/grc-lites/watch-grc-lites-from-fort-lauderdale-on-nbcsn/|title=Watch GRC Lites from Fort Lauderdale on NBCSN|publisher=Red Bull GRC|date=3 June 2015|access-date=29 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201040024/http://redbullglobalrallycross.com/news/grc-lites/watch-grc-lites-from-fort-lauderdale-on-nbcsn/|archive-date=1 December 2017|url-status=usurped}}</ref> He continued to cover the series for the network until the series folded, doing play-by-play for the final round of the [[2017 Global RallyCross Championship|2017 season]] from the Port of Los Angeles on 14 October.<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://nbcsportsgrouppressbox.com/2017/10/12/2017-red-bull-global-rallycross-championship-to-be-decided-on-nbc-this-saturday-at-430-p-m-et/|title=2017 Red Bull Global Rallycross Championship to Be Decided on NBC This Saturday at 4:30 P.M. ET|work=NBC Sports|date=12 October 2017|access-date=29 November 2017}}</ref>

==== Dakar Rally ====
Diffey served as the US announcer for the daily world feed highlight broadcast of the [[Dakar Rally]] on NBCSN.<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://nbcsportsgrouppressbox.com/2017/01/03/nbcsn-to-present-coverage-of-the-2017-dakar-rally-starting-today/|title=NBCSN to Present Coverage of the 2017 Dakar Rally Starting Today|work=NBC Sports|date=3 January 2017|access-date=19 February 2018}}</ref>