FOX Sports pit reporter Josh Sims with Carson Hocevar prior to the Truck race at Sonoma. (Photo: Luis Torres | The Podium Finish)
Anticipation is one word to describe the build up to Sunday’s Daytona 500 due to a plethora of storylines.
Whether it’s the amount of drivers who are still looking to finally win “The Great American Race” or those simply must make the 40-car field, stories won’t be lacking.
One of those journalists who will anticipate those angles is FOX Sports’ Josh Sims as he will make his NASCAR Cup Series pit reporting debut at Daytona.
Sims joins Jamie Little and Regan Smith as the pit reporting trio who will tell many of those headlines this weekend at Daytona.
For Sims, a reporter in select Cup races, it will be an exciting time in his career as the sport continues to evolve with this season marking the 75th anniversary of NASCAR.
“It’s an awesome opportunity. The most important thing is just to thank the team for giving me that opportunity to be able to move up and do more,” Sims told The Podium Finish in Los Angeles. “It’s weird and cool to kind of grow with the sport. I mean, you look at the drivers that moved up through the series and you look at my role now when I’m kind of being able to move up as well.
“The best part is being a part of it and telling the stories. At the end of the day, that’s what I’m gonna do is tell the stories and make sure that the people at home get the information, but also have as much fun as possible watching the races.”
After spending six years with FOX’s Charlotte affiliate WJZY, Sims was promoted to the main network in July 2021.
So far, Sims has been a pit reporter in both the Craftsman Truck Series and ARCA. Little did he realize that it was just the beginning of greater opportunities that will come in fruition this year.
Cup pit reporting won’t be the only thing Sims will be doing.
He will be a full-time pit reporter for FOX’s segment of the Xfinity Series schedule while continuing to be a part of NASCAR Raceday and Race Hub, programs that he co-hosts.
In just a short time period, the impact Sims has made is apparent with him explaining the entire FOX crew have been mentors to him.
“I can’t say enough about everybody. The pit recording side, Regan and Jamie, have been very instrumental in helping me on that side. When it comes to the group, Shannon (Spake) was great, Adam (Alexander) and Kaitlyn Vincie has been great helping.
“Everybody really has a hand in helping me get to where I am. Bob Pockrass knows all and he’s a guy I lean on as well. I can say the whole team has really been instrumental.”
The FOX NASCAR crew during a press conference leading up to the Busch Light Clash at The Coliseum. (Photo: Luis Torres | The Podium Finish)
By having a solid core of people to learn from, providing stories is crucial on any given race weekend especially with an event like the Daytona 500, a race with a lot at stake for racers.
Among those racers who will feel the pressure include seven-time Cup champion and two-time 500 winner Jimmie Johnson, one of the six non-chartered drivers who must make the field.
Sims explained compelling stories is the biggest task for a pit reporter to deliver.
“It’s like everyone wants to hear the stories because there’s so many drivers throughout the field that you want to know what’s going on with them,” said Sims. “What the update is with them? Did they make the show? We all make sure we collaborate so we can get all the stories out there and you want to make sure that everyone is up to date with what’s happening.
“You make sure you’re going talk to the drivers, talking to the crews, you’re watching what’s happening during practice and qualifying and keeping up with everything. You do your best to get the stories out there and you watch the stories play out during the weekend and you hope that everybody collaboratively together. Not just on pit road, but in the booth can get all the info out there and make it for a great show on a great Daytona 500.”
The addition of Sims to FOX NASCAR’s team highlights the ongoing increase in representation that has gone beyond the brave men and women behind the wheel.
Last season, Jamie Little became the play-by-play announcer for FOX’s ARCA telecast. FOX, through FS1, telecasted the long-awaited maiden win of Mexico’s Daniel Suarez.
This year, FOX intends to cover the continuing rise of both Bubba Wallace and Rajah Caruth.
All of those key examples Sims used in response of the sport’s diverse group coincide with this season’s diamond campaign. When younger racers or talents aspire to become a part of stock car racing, they can look at each case to pursue their passions in racing in different capacities.
“Representation matters, right? You are trying to get the sport to bring in new audiences. The more they see people that look like them, the more they want to be a part of the sport,” said Sims. “Whether it’s getting into racing, whether it’s getting behind the scenes and racing and working for a team or whether it’s doing the broadcast side of things.
“When you have people like a Jamie Little in the booth, you have someone like me on pit road, when you have someone like Daniel and Bubba winning races, Rajah coming up through the ranks. All that stuff is important so that little boys and girls that look like them can be like, ‘Because he’s doing it, I can too!’ And that’s pretty good.”
Live coverage of Daytona 500 qualifying begins Wednesday 8 p.m. ET on FS1. The Bluegreen Vacations Duels kicks off at 7 p.m. ET, also on FS1.
Finally, race coverage of the 65th Daytona 500 begins Sunday at 2:30 p.m. on FOX.
