▁Joy , ▁the ▁oldest ▁of ▁their ▁four ▁children . ▁He ▁was ▁raised ▁in ▁W inds or , ▁Connecticut , ▁and ▁graduated ▁from ▁West ▁Hart ford , ▁Connecticut ' s ▁Con ard ▁High ▁School . ▁His ▁career ▁began ▁as ▁a ▁public ▁address ▁announ cer ▁at ▁R ivers ide ▁Park ▁Speed way ▁in ▁Ag aw am , ▁Mass ., ▁in ▁ 1 9 7 0 ▁while ▁att ending ▁the ▁University ▁of ▁Hart ford ▁and ▁later ▁Em erson ▁College . ▁▁ ▁He ▁added ▁Thompson ▁Speed way ▁in ▁ 1 9 7 2 ▁and ▁in ▁ 1 9 7 5 ▁began ▁working ▁at ▁Staff ord ▁Motor ▁Speed way ▁in ▁Connecticut , ▁joining ▁Jack ▁Ar ute , ▁Jr ., ▁the ▁son ▁of ▁the ▁track ▁owner , ▁establish ing ▁the ▁track ▁as ▁a ▁hot bed ▁for ▁announ cers . ▁Ann oun cing ▁five ▁night s ▁per ▁week , ▁he ▁was ▁noticed ▁by ▁Motor ▁Racing ▁Network ▁( MR N ) ▁co - found er ▁Ken ▁S quier . ▁MR N ▁h ired ▁him ▁as ▁a ▁fre el ancer ▁in ▁ 1 9 7 5 , ▁then ▁full - time ▁in ▁late ▁ 1 9 7 8 , ▁working ▁week days ▁in ▁market ing ▁for ▁Day ton a ▁International ▁Speed way . ▁He ▁rose ▁to ▁co - anchor , ▁general ▁manager ▁and ▁executive ▁producer ▁of ▁MR N ▁in ▁January ▁ 1 9 8 0 . ▁In ▁ 1 9 8 1 , ▁he ▁was ▁the ▁lead ▁broad c aster ▁for ▁ESP N ' s ▁first ▁live ▁NAS C AR ▁tele cast