FOX Sports has been at the center of backlash from NASCAR fans for quite some time now. From cutting to advertisements during lead changes or missing overtakes entirely. NASCAR’s $7.7 billion media rights deal is in effect this season and will see FOX move away as the primary broadcaster once Amazon Prime takes over for select races, starting with the Coca-Cola 600. However, after the broadcasting during the Bristol race, fans seem to want that change as soon as possible!

Crucial lead changes and dramatic moments were cut off by badly timed commercial breaks and awkward split-screens. Viewers reached a boiling point when race battles vanished into ad-land. Now, frustrated fans and insiders are dragging FOX’s race coverage, questioning why a network with millions invested in the sport can’t seem to get it right. And if social media is any proof, patience has officially run out.

FOX’s broadcast blunders​ continue

NASCAR’s television ratings have been on a not-so-good trajectory. Well, there was just a 1% increase in average viewership in 2024 compared to the 2023 season. But why? This can be attributed to several factors. For example, the retirement of iconic drivers in the late 2010s and early 2020s, like Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jeff Gordon, frequent rule changes, and the shifting preferences of younger audiences toward streaming platforms and social media highlights instead of watching the whole race.

However, another contributing factor to this decline is the quality of race broadcasts, particularly on the FOX Sports app and the FS1 and FS2 channels. The 2025 Bristol race exemplified these issues. Fans are expressing frustration over poorly timed commercial breaks and a lack of real-time information during crucial moments of the race. A recurring theme now with FOX, isn’t it?

NASCAR Insider, Eric Estepp, voiced his displeasure on social media. He sarcastically stated, “I f—- LOVE going to commercial during pit stops and then having to watch all the action on REPLAY. Oh, and FS1 hasn’t shown us who pitted and who hasn’t yet.” A fan responded, “Damn FOX really messed up if Eric is swearing,” to which Estepp replied, “I’m just so tired of it. The lack of info, the delayed (or missing) replays, the full-screen ads, the sluggish tone…”

In a race where there were just 4 lead changes among four drivers, Alex Bowman, Ryan Blaney, race-winner Kyle Larson, and Carson Hocevar, pit stops were a crucial aspect of determining the race. However, FOX managed to cut to advertisements during a pit-cycle even before telling fans who was pitting! This sent the community fuming, with one fan writing on X, “Why even pay millions and millions of dollars to broadcast the sport if you’re going to put out a product like this??” This sentiment resonates deeply, especially considering NASCAR’s recent seven-year media rights agreements, which include partnerships with FOX, NBC, Amazon, and Warner Bros. Discovery. These deals are valued at an average of $1.1 billion annually. But, the broadcast quality? Not up to the mark.

Estepp’s comments reflect a broader sentiment among NASCAR fans, who are increasingly dissatisfied with the current state of race broadcasts. The combination of declining viewership and fan frustration over broadcast quality suggests that NASCAR and its broadcasting partners need to reevaluate their approach to engaging audiences.

And yet, despite dwindling viewership and rising complaints, NASCAR still manages to wrangle multi-billion-dollar media deals from networks. How? Live sports remain the undisputed king of ad sales. While scripted shows might grab bigger audiences, ad executives know viewers will fast-forward or pay no attention through those commercial breaks. You can’t skip ads during live racing, and you can’t take your eyes off them in anticipation of the race turning back on. That uninterrupted exposure keeps the dollars flooding in.

However, while the networks cash in, it’s the fans who feel short-changed. Frustration boiled over during the Bristol race as viewers took to social media to vent. The anger wasn’t isolated either. It was loud, widespread, and relentless. Fans roasted FOX with memes, rants, and brutal honesty.

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Broadcast blunders ignite NASCAR community backlash…again

NASCAR fans have reached a tipping point with FOX’s race coverage. One viewer expressed their frustration, stating, “FOX needs to be called out by the ones with voices. They consistently miss things on track, or go to horribly timed commercials.” Well, prominent voices within the NASCAR community have also voiced their concerns on the issue.

Denny Hamlin, a couple of years ago, highlighted issues with FOX’s coverage, noting instances where the broadcast would miss critical on-track battles. He remarked, “You see the second-place guy working over the first-place guy… and they cut to like side-by-side for 12th.” Such production choices have left fans feeling disconnected from the live action.” He again let his frustrations be known earlier this year, after FOX had audio issues during the Darlington race.

The frustration isn’t limited to missed action. Fans have pointed out the lack of engaging commentary during races. One fan noted, “The thing that gets me is that there’s 36+ cars on track every week, and they somehow can’t figure out what to talk about after 15 laps into a run.” The Bristol broadcast booth featured veterans Mike Joy, Clint Bowyer, and Kevin Harvick. While Joy’s experience anchors the coverage, fans feel that Bowyer’s humor and Harvick’s fresh insights sometimes can’t overcome the broadcast’s sluggish pacing. Viewers pointed out long stretches of silence or aimless banter, especially deep into green-flag runs when on-track stories go untold.

Some viewers have even questioned the intent behind the broadcast decisions. A particularly disheartened fan commented, “I do believe they do it on purpose for some reason. Someone makes a conscious decision to do this regularly. Short of just pure spite for viewers, I don’t know why tho.” Such sentiments reflect a deep-seated mistrust and dissatisfaction with the current state of NASCAR broadcasts.​

One fan succinctly summed up his experience: “So glad we are almost done with them, it’s simply unacceptable.” As the 2025 season progresses, with new broadcasting partners entering the fray, fans are hopeful for a revitalized viewing experience. However, the recent backlash serves as a stark reminder that networks must prioritize quality coverage to retain and grow their audience.

The ball is now in the broadcasters’ court to address these concerns and deliver the high-caliber coverage that NASCAR fans deserve. Do you think FOX will improve their coverage before the switch to Amazon Prime next month? Let us know in the comments!