Fury has erupted amongst NASCAR fans who believe they have been shortchanged by FOX Sports’ apparent disregard for the quality of racing coverage. The recent 2025 AmBetter Health 400 event at Atlanta Motor Speedway has been described as the worst in recent history, with FOX Sports shouldering the blame for numerous technical hitches and an overabundance of commercial breaks. These issues did not go unnoticed, leading to fans missing out on vital racing moments and stirring up frustration amongst the dedicated fanbase.
This is not the first time FOX Sports has come under fire for its subpar coverage. The season-opening Daytona 500 was equally marred by broadcasting hiccups. As the official broadcaster of NASCAR, the media conglomerate seems to continually disappoint its audience with its lackluster performance.
In a contrasting picture, FOX’s coverage of the inaugural season of IndyCar has been lauded for its high standards. The disparity between the two has not escaped the notice of NASCAR fans who took to social media to express their discontent, calling out the American broadcaster for its apparent double standards.
FOX Sports’ handling of ‘The Great American Race’ has been particularly criticized. Fans were left disappointed when pivotal moments, such as the much-anticipated Air Force Thunderbirds flyover, were missed due to commercial breaks. Other significant events, including several crashes, were only aired as replays long after they had occurred. The outdated production choices, such as irrelevant pre-recorded clips, have also come under criticism.
Technical issues have further aggravated fans, with audio and video being out of sync during the Atlanta Motor Speedway event. This led to a disconnect between the visuals and the commentary, leaving fans baffled. The coverage missed at least three caution flags, causing confusion about the unfolding events on the track. These shortcomings are surprising given NASCAR’s multi-billion dollar media rights deal that kicked off this year.
IndyCar, on the other hand, appears to be on the receiving end of FOX’s best efforts. Ever since the announcement that the full 17-race season of IndyCar will be broadcasted on its network, FOX has left no stone unturned to provide high-quality coverage. Attention to detail is evident in everything from the high-quality ads to the updated interface used during the IndyCar and IndyCar NXT practice on the streets of St. Petersburg.
The difference in FOX’s approach towards the two racing series is glaring. IndyCar’s coverage features a clear clock, top five drivers with their headshots, car numbers, and last names. Even the color-coding matches the team and sponsors’ color schemes. On the other hand, NASCAR’s format has remained stagnant, recycling the same old format.
The discontent amongst fans is palpable, and FOX Sports has been subjected to a barrage of criticism. The broadcasting mishaps during the opening two races of the season have left fans disgruntled ahead of the 2025 EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas.
The undercurrent of dissatisfaction is summed up succinctly by a fan who wrote, “Shows where the priority is I guess.” Even though IMS Productions runs the broadcast while FOX acts as a distributor for IndyCar, the difference in quality is highly noticeable. Another fan noted, “NASCAR got played bro.”
As NASCAR heads to its first points-paying race this year at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodríguez, questions about FOX’s commitment to quality are growing louder. Some fans have taken to humor to express their disappointment, with one user quipping, “NASCAR looks like they’re already in Mexico,” suggesting that a lack of infrastructure might be the root cause of FOX’s blunders.
FOX Sports seems to be pulling out all the stops for the 2025 IndyCar season, determined to make a mark with its coverage of the open-wheel format for the first time in its history. In contrast, the media corporation will only broadcast 12 NASCAR races in 2025, two fewer than its rival, NBC.
A fan’s comment perhaps encapsulates the sentiment best, “The difference is giving a s— about the product, and not treating it like a clown show.” At this point, it appears FOX Sports has some major course correction to do if it wishes to salvage its standing amongst NASCAR fans.