Veteran NASCAR broadcaster Leigh Diffey provides health update with positive message

NASCAR broadcaster Leigh Diffey has provided a major health update over his X handle. The Australian-American play-by-play commentator for NBC Sports had undergone knee surgery in November of last year.

Former IndyCar and Formula 1 broadcaster for NBC, Leigh Diffey made his move to the sport of NASCAR midway through the 2024 season. While there was skepticism initially surrounding Diffey's appointment, the 53-year-old quickly established himself within the NBC booth, winning over fans. The Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona was Diffey's maiden race as a play-by-play announcer.

Notably, Leigh Diffey suffered from a bend in his right leg caused by a past accident. The 53-year-old Brisbane native had revealed this condition on his X account a few weeks earlier.

He underwent knee surgery in November 2024 to address the long-standing issue. Recently, when asked by a fan over X about his health condition, Diffey provided a positive update. He revealed:

"Really well thanks mate. It’s a long, slow and often painful process but at the same time it’s been amazing to see how the body heals after a significant surgery. This is my last weekend off … can’t wait for @SupercrossLIVE and @IMSA to kick the new racing year off 👍"

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Leigh Diffey's broadcasting career over the years

A former teacher, Diffey transitioned to motorsports in 1990 at the age of 19, when he started calling Ipswich Motorcycle Club races at Tivoli Raceway. After working as a teacher for several years, he decided to pursue sports broadcasting full-time in 1995.

His career took a significant turn in 1997 when he became the lead announcer for V8 Supercars. In 2001, he moved to the United States to cover the CART series. In 2013, he joined NBC Sports as the lead play-by-play announcer for Formula One and IndyCar events.

When the U.S. television rights for Formula One shifted to ESPN in 2018, Diffey focused exclusively on IndyCar. In March 2024, NBC announced that Diffey would replace Rick Allen in the NASCAR Cup Series booth, with Allen transitioning to the Xfinity Series. Meanwhile, Kevin Lee stepped into the lead open-wheel commentary role, replacing Diffey.

Beyond motorsports, Diffey has had major success in the broadcasting booth for his coverage of the Olympic Games over the years. He was there during the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and the 2024 Paris Olympics.