Richard Petty takes shot at FOX NASCAR coverage during appearance in booth at Darlington

Richard Petty made an appearance on the FS1 broadcast of Sunday’s Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway. It was throwback weekend, so what better way for FOX Sports to honor the history of the sport than inviting “The King” to the booth alongside his son Kyle Petty.

The seven-time Cup Series champion told stories about his time racing at Darlington. But as Mike Joy, Kevin Harvick and Clint Bowyer were saying goodbye on-air, Petty took a subtle jab at the network’s coverage of races.

NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty visited the @NASCARONFOX booth during Sunday's broadcast at @TooToughToTame and said what fans have been saying about the coverage for years. pic.twitter.com/necXO7HT2t

— Kyle Dalton (@kdsportswriter) April 6, 2025

“Thank you. It’s been interesting watching y’all try to operate up here,” Petty said, via Kyle Dalton of Athlon Sports.

Petty made the comment in a joking manner, and it drew some laughs from the three-man booth of Joy, Harvick and Bowyer. Joy said he took it as a compliment compared to what Petty said last year in the booth.

“I’ll take that as a compliment because last year on leaving you said, ‘I don’t know what race you guys are watching,” Joy responded.

Richard Petty, Mike Joy share exchange about NASCAR on FOX coverage

Joy’s comment prompted more criticism from the 87-year-old Petty. He went after the network for not showing more of the racing taking place in the middle of the field.

“The big deal is, when I’m sitting here and see what I see on the TV and the race is really back about 15th or 20th,” Petty said. “Them guys, they drive their fanny off every lap. I mean, they’re really racing back there, but you know, if you’re here you can see that. You can’t see it on TV.”

Joy countered Petty’s critique: “We try to get back there as much as we can… but you’re right, if you wanna see it all, come buy a ticket.”

A portion of NASCAR fans have long vocalized their displeasure with FOX‘s on-air coverage. For many fans upset with the overall coverage, Petty’s words hit the mark.

It’s one thing for fans to say it. It’s another for perhaps the greatest driver in the history of the sport to say it — on FOX‘s own broadcast, at that.