Krista Voda facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Krista Voda
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Voda at the 2011 Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte
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| Born | May 31, 1974 Clinton, Iowa, U.S.
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| Other names | Krista Kelley |
| Alma mater | University of Northern Iowa |
| Occupation | TV announcer, sports reporter |
| Years active | 2003–present |
| Known for | NASCAR on NBC host |
| Spouse(s) |
Phillip Kelley
(m. 2010) |
Krista Voda Kelley, born on May 31, 1974, is an American sports reporter. She is well-known for covering auto racing. Currently, she works as a play-by-play announcer for the ARCA Menards Series on MAVTV.
Before this, Krista worked for NASCAR on Fox and NASCAR on Speed from 2003 to 2014. She hosted pre-race shows for the Truck Series. Starting in 2007, she also became a pit reporter for the NASCAR Cup Series. She even reported for Fox's NFL games sometimes. From 2015 to 2020, she hosted pre and post-race shows for the Cup Series on NBC.
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Krista Voda's Early Life and Education
Krista Voda grew up in Clinton, Iowa. She later attended the University of Northern Iowa. In high school, she was a talented athlete. She played volleyball, basketball, and competed in track and field. Her last name, Voda, means "water" in some Slavic languages.
Krista Voda's Career in Sports Reporting
Krista Voda started her career in NASCAR broadcasting in 2003. She was a co-anchor for Totally NASCAR on Fox Sports Net. She also co-hosted NASCAR Nation on Speed Channel. Before joining FSN, she worked at local TV stations. These stations were in Iowa and Kentucky, including WLEX in Lexington. One of her first jobs was working the night shift at a radio station, KROS AM/FM, in her hometown.
She hosted The Setup, a pre-race show for the Camping World Truck Series. She also hosted Trackside on Fox Sports 1. In 2007, she became a pit reporter for the NASCAR Cup Series on NASCAR on Fox. A pit reporter shares updates from the pit road during a race.
Other Sports Coverage by Krista Voda
Besides NASCAR, Krista Voda has covered many other sports. She reported on college football, including the Cotton Bowl Classic. She also covered the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship. Her work includes the Kentucky Derby, the World Series, and the PGA Championship. She has also reported on the National Football League.
Moving to NBC Sports and Beyond
On October 29, 2014, it was announced that Krista Voda would join NBC Sports. She became the pre- and post-race host for their NASCAR coverage. This also included hosting NASCAR America on NBCSN.
On November 7, 2020, Krista shared news on her Facebook page. She announced that she would not return to NBC after the 2020 NASCAR season. Her position was removed due to financial issues at the network. NBC could not find another role for her at that time.
In 2021, Krista Voda joined MAVTV. She became the host of their show Lucas Oil On the Edge. In 2022, she returned to calling races. She became the play-by-play announcer for MAVTV's ARCA Menards Series races. A play-by-play announcer describes the action as it happens. She replaced Bob Dillner in this role. Krista Voda is the second woman to be a play-by-play announcer in motorsports. Jamie Little was the first, for ARCA races on Fox in 2021.
Krista Voda's Personal Life
Krista Voda lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She married Phillip "PK" Kelley on January 23, 2010.
When she was announced as the play-by-play announcer for the ARCA Menards Series on MAVTV, the press release used her married name, Krista Kelley. However, her social media accounts still use "Krista Voda." It is not yet clear which last name she will use on air.
