Remember when NASCAR broadcasts captured the essence of what made the sport special? When directors knew to follow the most intense battles regardless of position, and commentators conveyed genuine excitement that made viewers feel the rumble of engines through their screens?
That reality feels increasingly distant in 2025, as fans, drivers, and now even NASCAR royalty openly criticize FOX’s coverage that seems determined to show everything except the actual racing. The situation reached a boiling point at Darlington’s throwback weekend, where the irony of missing present-day action during a celebration of NASCAR’s past wasn’t lost on viewers.
What unfolded during the Goodyear 400 broadcast shows a growing disconnect. There was a visible void between what happened on the track and what appeared on screen. While William Byron dominated up front, battles raged throughout the field. The track attendees got to witness these battles in full. But what about the Television viewers?
They only caught glimpses, if they saw anything at all. This pattern has grown worse throughout the 2025 season. Similar criticisms emerged after races at Circuit of the Americas, Atlanta, and even the crown jewel Daytona 500. At Atlanta’s Ambetter Health 400, the network missed at least three caution periods by cutting to advertisements at crucial moments.
The situation became impossible to ignore. Richard Petty himself called out to the broadcast team directly from the booth. “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. The guys 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,” Petty remarked. Mike Joy responded by suggesting fans “come to buy a ticket” if they wanted to see the full race. This only poured gasoline on an already blazing fire of fan discontent.
LAS VEGAS, NV – MARCH 03: Former driver Richard Petty in pit row during practice for the NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Craftsman Truck Series Victoria s Voice Foundation 200 race on March 3, 2023, at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, NV. Photo by Will Lester/Icon Sportswire AUTO: MAR 03 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Victoria s Voice Foundation 200 Icon230303232
What was worse is that there was actually an interesting race mounting. Petty emphasized on this when he said, “It was good for the #11 car, okay? As far as just pure racing (is concerned), it’s hard to say. Okay, because there was a lot of racing going on in the back of the field, not at the front. So if you were judging it, you would say it really was not a really good race.”
It has left fans infuriated, who have taken to Reddit to highlight their anger.
Inside the Mounting Backlash Against FOX’s Coverage
“More HP will help, but like DBC said today… The broadcast needs to be better,” one fan commented on social media, referencing discussions on the popular Door Bumper Clear podcast. “We know Larson is leading and kicking ass… Show us the other battles, show us the field.” This sentiment echoes a common complaint. FOX’s fixation on frontrunners comes at the expense of compelling storylines developing throughout the pack. The same fan nostalgically noted rewatching a 2012 Phoenix race where “Johnson, Kez, and Bowyer (the 3 drivers still in contention) weren’t the only drivers talked about. Every team on track has something they are racing for. Talk about it!”
Specific examples of missed broadcasting opportunities continue to pile up. “The best example of ‘what the f— Fox’ was cutting to Larson crossing the line for stage 2 while the two cars behind were literally beating and banging each other to get the lucky dog,” another fan pointed out. This pattern of missing crucial moments has become predictable. Viewers now anticipate disappointment. FOX similarly missed Chase Elliott’s comeback drive at COTA weeks earlier. They also failed to capture the Air Force Thunderbirds’ flyover before the Daytona 500. This flyover is a hallmark tradition of NASCAR’s biggest race.
Fan frustration has reached critical mass. Some fans are contemplating extreme measures. “Well, if everyone agrees to skip a race or 2 this shit would be sorted quick,” suggested one exasperated viewer. They acknowledged the financial reality that would make such a boycott unlikely: “Yeah, they’d have their $60,000,000 charter revoked by NASCAR. That would greatly exacerbate the issue.” This comment highlights the tension between NASCAR’s $7.7 billion media rights deal and fans’ growing dissatisfaction with the product being delivered.
Perhaps most damning are the reports from those who have experienced races both in person and through broadcast. “Go listen to what they said on DBC. It was a good race apparently tons of action. We just couldn’t see it on TV,” wrote another fan. “I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. It’s like a cancer spreading. We haven’t had good short-track racing in so long everyone has forgotten what it looked like.” This echoes what industry insiders and drivers have noted—the racing itself remains compelling, but FOX’s presentation fails to capture the excitement, potentially damaging perceptions of NASCAR’s on-track product.
As FOX enters the final stretch of its portion of the 2025 NASCAR schedule before handing the reins to other networks, the chorus of criticism continues to grow louder. The question remains whether the broadcaster will acknowledge these concerns and adjust accordingly, or if fans will simply count down the races until FOX’s coverage concludes—a troubling indicator for a sport trying to grow its audience in an increasingly competitive entertainment landscape.
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