Rusty Weiss
During practice sessions for the Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway on Saturday, longtime NASCAR broadcaster Mike Joy sparked controversy with a pointed on-air comment about DEI. Joy had been discussing driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr.’s No. 47 Chevrolet Camaro when he dropped the awkward but super-based joke.
Sponsored by Jack Link’s Jerky, the car featured a bold “Non-Vegan” message on its door panel as part of its tongue-in-cheek “Meat Mobile” theme celebrating the brand’s products.
Joy, calling the action for the broadcast on Prime Video, chuckled at the livery and quipped, “Non-vegan. I think that’s pretty funny.”
He followed that up with, “We live in a sport where DEI has nothing to do with diversity and equity. DEI is Dale Earnhardt Incorporated.”
"We live in a sport where DEI has nothing to do with diversity and equity. DEI is Dale Earnhardt Inc."
— Whiskey Riff (@WhiskeyRiff) March 21, 2026
Never change, Mike Joy.pic.twitter.com/VWn8RQU8qT
Mike Joy Reminds Everyone: DEI Stands for Dale Earnhardt in NASCAR
The remark referenced the classic racing team Dale Earnhardt Inc. (DEI), founded by the legendary Dale Earnhardt and long synonymous with NASCAR’s hard-charging, traditional roots.
You know, the exact opposite of modern corporate beta leaders and their use of racist DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiatives.
Was it the best joke ever? No. Was it nice to hear somebody joke about something that should be the object of derision? Absolutely. Plus the fact that he automatically thought of DEI when discussing vegans.
It was a semi-clever, nostalgic nod to the sport’s heritage amid ongoing cultural debates over DEI policies in professional leagues. It counters the silliness of the NFL’s “end racism” endzones and the NBA’s BLM pandering.
READ MORE:
The incident highlights NASCAR’s ongoing navigation of broader societal issues. Even as the series emphasizes its blue-collar, freedom-loving, pro-America fan base.
They’ve clearly been embracing a so-called “redneck” rebrand as part of their strategy to reclaim their traditional Southern and working-class identity. To many, it is a welcome return to the sport’s roots.
Veteran NASCAR driver Ken Schrader lauded the effort, saying the pro-America roots are “what started our sport.”
“It’s that kind of stuff, and I say that, not always. But it’s always been. It’s been a big part of it, so yeah. You gotta do something,” Schrader said. “You gotta create some excitement. More power to them for going back to grassroots to create some excitement.”
“I like it.”
Joy is a legendary broadcaster with over 55 years in motorsports, starting as a public address announcer in 1970. He progressed through roles at MRN Radio, pioneering live TV coverage on ESPN and TNN, serving as a pit reporter and lead announcer for CBS, and serving as the longtime play-by-play voice for Fox Sports’ NASCAR coverage since 2001. At Fox, he has called every Cup race and a record 45+ Daytona 500s.