NASCAR on Fox
NASCAR on Fox | |
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Also known as | Fox NASCAR |
Genre | Auto racing telecasts |
Directed by | Artie Kempner |
Presented by | See "current commentators" section |
Theme music composer | Scott Schreer |
Opening theme |
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Ending theme | Same as opening theme |
Composer | Scott Schreer |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
Production | |
Producer | Michael Hughes |
Production locations |
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Editors |
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Camera setup | Multi-camera |
Running time | Varies, but typically 4.5 hours (ranges from 4 to 5 hours) or until race ends |
Production company | Fox Sports |
Original release | |
Network |
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Release | February 11, 2001 present | –
Related | |
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NASCAR on Fox,also known asFox NASCAR,is the branding used for broadcasts ofNASCARraces produced byFox Sportsand have aired on theFoxtelevision network in the United States since 2001.Speed,a motorsports-focused cable channel owned by Fox, began broadcasting NASCAR-related events in February 2002, with its successorFox Sports 1taking over Fox Sports' cable event coverage rights when that network replaced Speed in August 2013. Throughout its run, Fox's coverage of NASCAR has won thirteenEmmy Awards.[1]
History
[edit]2001–2006 contract
[edit]On November 11, 1999, NASCAR signed a contract that awarded the U.S. television rights to its races to four networks (two that would hold the broadcast television rights and two that would hold thecable televisionrights), split between Fox and sister cable channelFX,andNBCandTBS(whose rights were later assumed byTNT) starting with the 2001 season. Fox and FX would alternate coverage of all races held during the first half of the season, while NBC and TNT would air all races held during the second half.
Beginning in 2001,[2]Fox alternated coverage of the first and most preeminent race of the season, theDaytona 500,with Fox televising the race in odd-numbered years and NBC airing it in even-numbered years through 2006. For balance, the network that did not air the 500 in a given year during the contract would air Daytona's summer night race, thePepsi 400.Valued at $2.4 billion, Fox/FX held the rights to this particular contract for eight years (through 2008) and NBC/TNT having the rights for six years (through 2006).[3]Fox Sports Netcovered the2001Gatorade Twin 125'sat Daytona International Speedway, the only time it ever covered a race. Further on the cable side, in October 2002,Speed Channel– which was owned by the Fox broadcast network's parent subsidiaryFox Entertainment Group– obtained the rights to televise all of the races in theCraftsman Truck Series,a contract it bought out fromESPN.
During the first half of the season, FX served as the primary broadcaster of theBusch Series,airing all but the most prestigious races, which were instead shown on Fox. FX was also home to most of the NASCAR Cup Series night races,The Winston/All-Star Race,and the June race atDover International Speedway.
In those years, if a Fox-scheduled race was rained out on the scheduled race day and rescheduled to resume the following Monday (or Sunday in the case of a Saturday night race), FX would air the race and selected FOX stations would pick it up if syndicators permitted it. (Rained out races now air in their entirety on the network it originally was scheduled for (example: a race scheduled for Fox on Sunday would remain on Fox on the rescheduled day), unlike NBC, which moves its rained out races to other NBCUniversal properties such asCNBC(if on a weekend) orUSA Network.)
2007–2014 contract
[edit]On December 7, 2005, NASCAR signed a new eight-year broadcast deal effective with the 2007 season, and valued at $4.48 billion,[4]with Fox and Speed Channel, which would also share event rights withDisney-ownedABC,ESPN andESPN2,as well as TNT. The rights would be divided as follows:
- Fox became the exclusive broadcaster of the Daytona 500 and also hold the rights to the first thirteen points paying races. In addition, the network carried theSprint Unlimitedand two Truck Series races (the network aired theKroger 250fromMartinsville Speedway,and theOhio 250atMansfield Motorsports Parkin2007,and the Kroger 250 from Martinsville, as well as theSan Bernardino County 200atAuto Club Speedway,in both2008and2009). Fox did not air any races of what is now theCraftsman Truck Seriesfrom2010to2013,with all 25 races instead airing on Speed and laterFox Sports 1.[5]Fox's 2011 coverage ended with theSTP 400atKansas Speedway.
- TNT carried six NASCAR Cup Series races during the month of June and the first half of July, including theCoke Zero 400at Daytona. In 2013, in particular, the network airedPocono Raceway,Michigan International Speedway,Sonoma Raceway,Kentucky Speedway,the Coke Zero 400, andNew Hampshire Motor Speedway.
- ESPN and ABC(through theESPN on ABCarrangement) carried the final seventeen NASCAR Cup Series races from the Brickyard 400 through the end of the season, with theCup Series Chase for the Championshipraces airing on ABC (until 2010, when ESPN took over most of the coverage, leaving ABC with the last 3 Saturday night races in their broadcasting period). The entire Nationwide season was aired primarily on ESPN2 and ESPN, with selected races on ABC, NASCAR returned toESPNairing the first six races including Daytona, Atlanta, Las Vegas, andESPN2carrying Phoenix to Michigan.
- Speed/Fox Sports 1 carried theBudweiser Duelraces and theSprint All-Star Race,as well as the entire Camping World Truck Series season, except for the 2 races carried each year by Fox from 2007 to 2009. After the 2009 season, all the Truck races aired on Speed/FS1 – with the exception of the 2014 Talladega race, which aired on Fox.
2015–2024 contract
[edit]In October 2012, NASCAR extended its contract with Fox Sports through 2022, which allowed Fox the online streaming rights for its event telecasts; the Fox Sports contract also retains coverage of the first 13 races of the NASCAR Cup Series and exclusive coverage of the Daytona 500.[6]On August 1, 2013, Fox Sports extended its contract by two additional years through 2024, due to NASCAR's contract with NBC Sports running through that same time, and acquired the rights to the first 16 races of the NASCAR Cup Series season, as well as the first 14 Xfinity (formerly Nationwide) Series events.[7]As a result, Fox will broadcast the races it already covers, as well as all of the events held in June, which include the events at Pocono and Michigan with coverage ending with theToyota/Save Mart 350at Sonoma. Fox had previously held rights to these three races under its initial 2001–06 contract.
Under the deal:
- Fox broadcasts the first nine points races and two other races, theCoca-Cola 600(totaling 11 races over the air), including theDaytona 500andBusch Clash,Fox Sports 1 carries several other events, including theBluegreen Vacations Duel,theAll-Star Raceand all other points races in the first half of the season that do not air on Fox (six races, four straight races after Fox's first nine races, then a break for the Coca-Cola 600, then two more race after that), plus the first half of the Xfinity Series season, with the exception of the more prestigious races, which aired on Fox from 2015 to 2018 and will be shown there in 2020–2024. They were aired on FS1 exclusively in 2012-2014 and 2019.
- The Craftsman Truck Series remains exclusively on FS1, with 1-3 races airing on Fox.
- Starting in 2013, Spanish-language networkFox Deportesairs select NASCAR Cup races either live or delayed.[8]
2025–2031 contract
[edit]In November 2023, Fox extended its contract through 2031. Fox will significantly decrease the amount of races aired compared to the previous contract.[9]
Under the deal:[10]
- Fox Sports will air the first 14 races of the NASCAR Cup Series season, with five races on Fox and nine on FS1. Fox Sports will only air practice and qualifying for theDaytona 500,Busch Light Clash at The Coliseum,andNASCAR All-Star Race.
- Fox Sports will air every race from the Truck Series.
Commentators
[edit]Pre-Race
[edit]From 2001 to 2018, Fox used a portable studio called theHollywood Hotelfor pre-race coverage. For the 2001 to 2007 races held atDaytona International Speedway,the building next to Gatorade Victory Lane was used instead.
If the race is delayed to a Monday, the Hollywood Hotel studio was usually not used, with the exception of the2012 Daytona 500,which was delayed by one day. This was because Myers also hosted a talk-show forFox Sports Radio,resulting in him having to return toLos Angelesto begin the following week's shows.John Robertsfilled in for Myers for this particular race, and had also filled in for Myers the previous week for the Budweiser Shootout as Myers was on bereavement leave.
However, if a Saturday night race is rained out to Sunday then the studio will be in use for the delayed coverage. Prior to 2015, if the hotel was no longer available,Jeff Hammondcould be shifted to substitute for a pit reporter or analyst if necessary. For instance, Hammond did this in 2002 for theDodge/Save Mart 350atSonoma Racewayto replaceSteve Byrnes,as Byrnes was unable to make it due to the birth of his son Bryson. During the2004Dodge/Save Mart 350,the studio was not used and Myers and Hammond were located on the hillside on outdoor chairs; no explanation was given for this.
In2011,Pizza Hutbecame the presenting sponsor of the pre-race show. In addition, the first segment of the telecast was moved from the hotel to a tented facility either trackside or in the infield, depending on the venue. The idea was to build a crowd around the production of the segment; this has similarities toFox's own NFL pregame showin2006,as well as theCollege GameDayfootballandbasketballshows on ESPN.
In2012,John Robertsfilled in for Chris Myers as host for theBudweiser Shootoutand theDaytona 500,as Myers was on bereavement leave following his son's death in a motorcycle accident. For the2014 Sprint Unlimited,Michael Waltripfilled in for Darrell, who was undergoing gallbladder surgery; for Daytona 500 Practice and Pole Qualifying, the position was filled byPhil Parsons.Darrell Waltripreturned for the Budweiser Duels. In 2016,Jeff Gordonreplaced McReynolds in the booth while McReynolds was reassigned as the rules and technical analyst, replacingAndy Petree.
In 2017,Dale Earnhardt Jr.joined the Fox booth as a guest color commentator for theClashafter deciding not to compete in the race as a driver.[11]He would become a permanent color commentator forNBCin 2018 after he retired from driving full-time. With NBC's permission, Jr. returned to Fox as a guest color commentator for theGEICO 500at Talladega in April 2022.
On June 10, 2017, the Xfinity Series race atPocono Racewaywas presented by current drivers in the Cup Series, the first time that a national sporting event was covered by currently active athletes. The presenters provided coverage from all three perspectives during the race (Hollywood Hotel studio, lap-by-lap commentary and pit road coverage). The driver commentators wereKevin Harvick(lap-by-lap),Joey Logano,Clint Bowyer(color analysts),Erik Jones,Ryan Blaney,Ricky Stenhouse Jr.(pit road),Danica PatrickandDenny Hamlin(Hollywood Hotel).[12]
On April 28, 2018, theSparks Energy 300,the Xfinity race atTalladega Superspeedway,was an all-drivers broadcast, the second time that a national sporting event was covered entirely by active athletes, the first being the aforementioned Pocono race. The presenters provided coverage from all three perspectives during the race (Hollywood Hotel studio, lap-by-lap commentary and pit road coverage). The booth team of Harvick, Logano and Bowyer was retained, whileRicky Stenhouse Jr.was moved to the Hollywood Hotel alongsideBrad Keselowski,withBubba Wallacereplacing Stenhouse as a pit road reporter.
The studio was retired following the 2018 season due to the Charlotte studios getting redone in order to host more shows. In 2019, Fox often cut to the Charlotte studio during the race and talked to Jamie McMurray, who was new to theNASCAR on Foxteam; also in 2019, Shannon Spake replaced Chris Myers as host due to Myers being moved to Fox'sPremier Boxing Championscoverage, although Myers appeared on site for the Daytona 500, while Adam Alexander served as on site host for the rest of the season.
On May 25, 2019, theAlsco 300,the Xfinity race atCharlotte Motor Speedway,was an all-drivers broadcast, the third time that a national sporting event was covered entirely by active athletes, the first being the aforementioned Pocono race. The presenters provided coverage from all three perspectives during the race (Hollywood Hotel studio, lap-by-lap commentary and pit road coverage). The booth team of Harvick, Logano and Bowyer was retained,Erik Jones,Ryan Blaney,Bubba Wallace(pit road) was also retained.Brad Keselowski,Ricky Stenhouse Jr.,andChad Knaushosted from the Charlotte studios.
In 2020, due to theCOVID-19 pandemicafter the fourth race of the season Fox started using their Charlotte Studio to the maximum extent possible to avoid travel, ensure social distancing, and limit the number of staff onsite at races. The only on-air talent onsite was at most two pit reporters per race, all other talent was stationed at the Fox Studios in Charlotte.
In 2021, Myers returned to hosting the at-track portions of pre-race alongsideJeff GordonandClint Bowyer.Spake, McReynolds, and McMurrary host pre-race coverage from the Charlotte studios.
After the 2021 season, Gordon left Fox to work forHendrick Motorsportsfull-time as the team's Vice Chairman. (He had previously worked with the team during the second half of the Cup Series season when NBC was broadcasting the races, after spending his entire full-time career with them).[13]Fox did not replace him with one permanent color commentator and instead filled his spot with rotating guest commentators as they do in the Xfinity, Truck and ARCA Series. Retired Cup Series driverTony Stewartwas the first guest color commentator and was in the booth for the Clash, the Daytona 500 and the race at COTA.
Current commentators
[edit]NOTE:This is Fox's Cup Series commentator lineup for 2024.[14]
Cup Series
[edit]Booth announcers
- Mike Joy(play-by-play)
- Clint Bowyer(color commentator)
- Kevin Harvick(color commentator)
Race Strategy, Technical and Rules analyst
Pit reporters
- Jamie Little
- Regan Smith
- Josh Sims
Pre-race show (at track)
- Chris Myers(host)
- Clint Bowyer(analyst)
- Kevin Harvick(analyst)
- Michael Waltrip(gridwalk)
Xfinity Series
[edit]NOTE:This is Fox's 2024 Xfinity & Truck and ARCA commentator lineup for 2024.
- Adam Alexander– play-by-play announcer
- Jamie Little– fill in play by play announcer
- Joey Logano- play by play announcer (Charlotte)
- Michael Waltrip– color commentator (Qualifying only, Daytona)
- Jamie McMurray– color commentator
- Trevor Bayne- color commentator
- Andy Petree- color commentator
- Rotation of guest color commentators(see full list below)
- Joey Logano(Atlanta, Las Vegas, Phoenix, COTA, Richmond, Texas, Dover, Darlington, and Sonoma)
- Brad Keselowski(Atlanta, Richmond, Darlington)
- Austin Cindric(Las Vegas, Martinsville)
- Ryan Blaney(Martinsville, Talladega, Dover, Charlotte)
- Daniel Suarez(Phoenix, COTA, Talladega, and Sonoma)
- Ross Chastain(Texas)
- Erik Jones(Charlotte)
Craftsman Truck Series
[edit]- Adam Alexander– rotating lap-by-lap announcer
- Jamie Little– rotating lap-by-lap announcer
- Michael Waltrip– color commentator
- Phil Parsons– color commentator
- Joey Logano- color commentator (Gateway)
ARCA Menards Series
[edit]- Jamie Little– play-by-play announcer
- Brent Stover– fill-in play-by-play announcer
- Eric Brennan– fill-in play-by-play announcer
- Phil Parsons– color commentator
- Trevor Bayne– color commentator
- Rotation of guest color commentators(select races, see full list below)
- Austin Cindric(Daytona and Dover)
- TBA (all other races)
For Xfinity, Truck and ARCA broadcasts, the guest color commentator will usually be an active Cup Series driver, if not a crew chief. In 2022 and 2023, they also did this for the Cup Series to replaceJeff GordonuntilKevin Harvickstarted as a permanent color commentator in 2024. The guest color commentators for the Cup Series have been retired Cup Series drivers and crew chiefs.
Pit reporters
[edit]- Jamie Little(all Cup races)
- Regan Smith(all Cup races and select Xfinity and Truck races)
- Jamie Howe(Select Truck and select ARCA races)
- Josh Sims (select Truck and Select Cup races)
- Heather DeBeaux (ARCA and select truck races)
- Amanda Busick(select Truck races)
- Larry McReynolds(Clash at the Coliseum and Duels at Daytona)
- Michael Waltrip(Daytona 500 only)
- Mamba Smith (select ARCA races)
Pre and post-race show
[edit]- Chris Myers– on-site host (Cup Series)
- Michael Waltrip– on-site analyst (Cup Series)
- Shannon Spake– studio host (Cup and Xfinity Series)
- Larry McReynolds– studio analyst (all Cup and Xfinity Series races and select Truck Series races)
- Jamie McMurray– on-site analyst (Cup Series)
- Bobby Labonte– studio analyst (Cup Series)
- Kaitlyn Vincie– studio host (Truck Series)
- Trevor Bayne– studio analyst (Cup, Xfinity and Trucks)
- Todd Bodine– studio analyst (Truck Series races)
Former commentators
[edit]SeeList of NASCAR on Fox broadcasters#Former commentators
Theme music
[edit]The original theme music[15]forNASCAR on Foxbroadcasts was in the same style as other Fox Sports properties (such as for NFL andMajor League Baseballcoverage) and was originally used from 2001 to 2008. In 2008, Fox introduced a new theme for its NASCAR telecasts titledNASCAR Love,[16]performed by country singerToby Lightman(an instrumental version was used for the opening segment).
From the2011 Budweiser Shootoutto 2015, Fox used theNFL on FOXtheme song[17]in NASCAR telecasts. In addition, country superstarDierks Bentleyunveiled a new version of his hit song "Sideways,”with new lyrics referencing NASCAR – which is played during the introduction of the pre-race show.[18]"Sideways" was phased out entirely with the2013 Sprint Unlimitedtelecast, with theFox NFLtheme music being used full-time. In addition, a new CGI introduction sequence, produced byBlur Studio,made its debut.
In 2015, the introduction sequence was eliminated in favor of intros unique to each track.
In 2016, Fox and FS1 (Cup Series only) reintroduced the original theme used between 2001 and 2008.[19]FS1 continues to use their old theme for Xfinity Series and Truck Series.
On-screen graphics
[edit]Fox is known for being the first network to show a scoring banner across the top of the screen with scrolling text during NASCAR telecasts. In previous years when ESPN, CBS, and others owned the broadcasting rights, scoring had been displayed in a box on the top left corner. Fox was also the first network to use the unique font/styling for each car number (such as Dale Earnhardt's number 3, Jeff Gordon's 24, the Petty 43) for their on-screen graphics, as opposed to a generic font (however the banner continued to use just text). Other networks would adopt this innovation and is now commonplace for most American motorsport broadcasts.
From its debut until 2013, Fox initially used a scrollingtickerto display the current running order of drivers and other information (such as intervals and other statistics, shown on an occasionally displayed secondary line), instead of the boxes that were used by previous NASCAR broadcasters. Fox would eventually deploy the banner design across all of its sports properties, while its conventions would be adopted by fellow NASCAR broadcasters, including NBC, TNT, and later ESPN.
For the 2014 season, alongside a new corporate style, Fox replaced the scrolling ticker with a leaderboard-style sidebar occupying the right-side portion of the screen, with one section displaying the top three drivers, and a scrolling section displaying the remainder of the field of drivers. While Fox Sports president Eric Shanks justified the changes, noting that it would allow more of the field to be displayed at once and more frequently than the relatively longer ticker, the leaderboard was criticized by viewers during events leading up to the Daytona 500 (such as the Sprint Unlimited, Daytona 500 qualifying, and theARCA seriesLucas Oil 200) for obstructing too much of the screen.[20]
In response to the criticism, Shanks stated that the layout of the leaderboard would be revised in time for theDaytona 500.[20]The vertical leaderboard was reconfigured into a horizontal version with three columns of 3 drivers each, which could be resized into 2 longer columns of three drivers each to display intervals or other statistics (a version that was later used as the main graphic).
In the 2018 NASCAR season, NASCAR coverage adopted a new flat graphics package previously introduced during the previous NFL season. This package reintroduced a vertical leaderboard, although this time it initially occupied an opaque sidebar spanning the entire left side of the screen. The design was once-again criticized by viewers during events leading up to the Daytona 500, as the opaque sidebar reduced the amount of screen space devoted to race footage to a roughly4:3window, the ticker fell withinoverscanon some televisions, while some camera shots were not correctlyframedto suit the new layout. By the Daytona 500, the graphic had been revised to remove the opaque sidebar, and make the leaderboard slightly translucent.[21][22]
In 2019, during Daytona 500 qualifying, Fox introduced a newaugmented reality"GhostCar,"allowing for a live visualization of a previous driver's qualifying lap (such as the leader or driver on the bubble) to be overlaid into live footage of another driver's qualifying attempt. NBC had introduced the system in 2018, but only during replays. The GhostCar feature was re-introduced later in the season, when NASCAR ended its multi-car qualifying format in favor of the previous single-car format.[23]
In 2022, Fox introduced a revamp of its on-air presentation for NASCAR (as part of a move towards dedicated graphics packages for each of Fox Sports' major properties, rather than a standard look shared by all telecasts), the package was built upon visual elements from the then-currentNFL on Foxbranding, including the use of stylized "comic book" illustrations of drivers.[24][25][26]
Awards
[edit]NASCAR on Foxhas won 13Emmy Awardsfor its coverage, including three for Outstanding Sports Series (2001, 2005, 2007), six for Outstanding Live Event Audio Sound (2002, 2005, 2006, 2011, 2012, 2013), one for Outstanding Graphic Design (2001), five for Outstanding Technical Team Remote (2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007) and one for Promotional Announcement Episodic (2008).[1]
Criticisms
[edit]Turn cam and "Digger"
[edit]After limited usage in 2007, the network introduced the "Gopher Cam" full-time in 2008, a camera angle from the bottom banking of a track's turn. Fox implied that it invented the technology.[27]However, it was quickly brought to light that Terry Lingner of ESPN, along with engineer James Fishman, had developed the technology 15 years earlier under the name "Tread Cam.” However, it should be known that the devices are completely different.
"Digger," a CGI-animatedgophercharacter that was voiced byEric Bauza,began as a symbol of the corner camera and was later adopted as an unofficial mascot for Fox's NASCAR coverage. Beginning with the2009 Daytona 500,Digger was extended into a series of shortcartoonsthat aired during the pre-race show,country musicsuperstarKeith Urbanrecorded thetheme songfor these shorts. Storylines revolved around Digger and his life beneath the infield of a fictional racetrack. Other characters include his girlfriend Annie and the track's security chief, Lumpy Wheels (respectively named after the daughter of Fox Sports presidentDavid Hill,and former track promoterHumpy Wheeler). Digger's souvenir trailer at the tracks attracted sizeable crowds of families with young children. However, the cartoon segment drew wide opposition from regular viewers of the broadcasts.
After a NASCAR town hall-style meeting at the end of May 2009, Fox Sports chair David Hill reported receiving an email from a high-ranking NASCAR official whose identity he chose to conceal, stating that Digger could have been the cause of ratings declines for Fox's NASCAR coverage.[28]Hill said "It was because of Digger that people were turning off in droves because they couldn't stand it, I said, I'm so sorry. If I'd known, I never would have created him. I didn't realize how insidious he was. It's the biggest crock of shit I've ever heard."
Among the reasons of criticism is the purpose of the character's usage. Though it was at one time commonplace for networks to create mascots for sports coverage to incorporate an educational and entertaining element into their coverage, which was the case withPeter Puck,Digger was created purely to add entertainment to the broadcast and reach out to a younger audience. Some NASCAR fans accused Fox ofdumbing downandfluffingits coverage in order to gain revenue from Digger merchandise sales.
Despite continuous outrage from the NASCAR fan community, as well as talk from the NASCAR community that the Fan Council was not pleased with the situation, Fox did not announce any plans to drop the usage of the characters, and even had posted pictures of holiday-themed versions of the Digger die-cast in 2009 and 2010. In response to the comments, in 2010, the Digger cartoon was not shown during pre-race shows and Digger appeared less often at the bottom of the screen. Throughout the 2011 season as well as the2012 Budweiser ShootoutandDaytona 500,Digger appeared very sparingly, usually only during commercial bumpers. As of the2012 Subway Fresh Fit 500,all appearances and references to Digger were dropped entirely from Fox's NASCAR broadcasts. However, nods to it occasionally came up (for example, at the Talladega race in 2014, whenCarl Edwardsshowed debris on his firesuit, Mike Joy commented that he hoped that nothing had happened to Digger, to which Darrell Waltrip responded, "Digger's retired" ).
Digger made a cameo appearance in the 200920th Century FoxfilmAlvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel.He also made an appearance in theFox NFL Sundayintroduction during the December 20, 2009 broadcast, in which the Chipmunks also made an appearance (20th Century Fox was then a corporate sister to the Fox network throughNews Corporation,20th Century Fox was sold to theWalt Disney Companyin 2019).
Commercial bias
[edit]In the starting grid for the2001 Budweiser Shootoutat Daytona International Speedway (which used 3D representations of the cars), Fox showed only the logos on the hoods of cars that had paid the network to advertise during the race. For instance, theBudweiserlogo on the No. 8 car ofDale Earnhardt Jr.andThe Home Depotlogo on the No. 20 car ofTony Stewartwere shown, butMiller Liteon the No. 2 car ofRusty Wallacewas not. After outcry from some of the excluded companies, full logo graphics were restored to all cars four days later for theGatorade Twin 125stelecast.
The computer-generated cars used initially on the starting grid and top-five standings when going to commercial break were phased out from main broadcast use, and were discontinued entirely in 2005 with the exception of the Daytona 500 starting grid (which featured the computer generated cars).
In 2012, Fox aired "In The Rear View Mirror" segments during the pre-race, showing computer-generated re-enactments of events during the 2012 season (most notablyJuan Pablo Montoya's crash into a jet dryer at theDaytona 500), the intro sequence introduced in 2013 also incorporates CGI cars.
In the late 2010s and early 2020s, FOX was criticized by fans for heavily using crash footage for their ads. For example,Ryan Newman's massive accident from theprevious years' Daytona 500was used in many ads in 2021, and some fans interpreted this as a cash-grab from FOX attempting to make crashes the selling point of the events and not the racing itself.
End of the 2001 Daytona 500 and Dale Earnhardt's death
[edit]The2001 Daytona 500,which was the first NASCAR points race ever telecast by Fox, also brought an unrelated controversy. At the end of that race, Fox concluded coverage shortly afterDale Earnhardt,who was fatally injured in a crash on the last lap of the race, was admitted toHalifax HealthMedical Center inDaytona Beach, Florida.The network provided no updates on his condition at the time of the 5:15 p.m.Eastern Timesign-off (although no information was available at that time), and continued airing regular programming (with theanimated seriesFuturama) at the momentEarnhardt's deathwas confirmed at a press conference held at 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time. NASCAR's other broadcast network partner,NBC,delayed a commercial break during anNBAtelecast andESPN(which aired the Craftsman Truck Series at the time) had coverage of Earnhardt's death and the aftermath that was both earlier and much more extensive.Fox News ChannelandFox Sports Net,however, did break into programming to announce the seven-time champion's passing, with Chris Myers providing reports on FSN programs. It is possible that Fox showed an on-screen crawl on themaster controlfeed duringFuturama.In addition, local affiliates may have chosen to pre-empt the episode, with anchors delivering the news live. However, none of this has ever been verified.
Shortly after the race, Hill explained to theAssociated Pressthat the network had gone over its allotted time – as the result ofan 18-car pileupon the back straightaway on lap 173 that led to the race being red-flagged for lengthy cleanup – and that continuing to cover the story would be too morbid. Producer Neil Goldberg also said Fox Sports staffers were not allowed near the crash scene.[citation needed]
When ESPN presented a tribute feature in remembrance of the ten-year anniversary of Earnhardt's death in 2011, it showed footage of the crash and aftermath, that looked like part of the live telecast. However, it was stamped with "WFTV,”the calls of theCox-ownedABCaffiliate inOrlando, Florida(Orlando and Daytona Beach share the same media market, and ABC's corporate parent The Walt Disney Company owns 80% of ESPN). How footage from Fox's NASCAR coverage got credited to the local affiliate of another network has not been made public, though it was likely that since none of the footage is similar to that of Fox's, the last lap was filmed by WFTV for their ownlocal newscasts,intended originally asB-rollto add "color" to their post-race coverage of the Daytona 500.
Nielsen ratings
[edit]Top 10 races since 2011
[edit]Source:[29]
Rank | Date | Race | Viewers (millions) | TV Rating |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | March 1, 2015 | QuikTrip 500 | 9.5 | 5.6 |
2 | February 23, 2014 | Daytona 500 | 9.3 | 5.6 |
3 | February 18, 2018 | Daytona 500 | 9.3 | 5.3 |
4 | March 4, 2012 | Subway Fresh Fit 500 | 9.2 | 5.6 |
5 | February 17, 2019 | Daytona 500 | 9.2 | 5.3 |
6 | March 3, 2013 | Subway Fresh Fit 500 | 9.1 | 5.3 |
7 | April 17, 2011 | Aaron's 499 | 9.0 | 5.2 |
8 | March 2, 2014 | The Profit on CNBC 500 | 8.8 | 5.3 |
9 | March 11, 2012 | Kobalt Tools 400 | 8.5 | 5.2 |
10 | May 6, 2012 | Aaron's 499 | 8.4 | 5.1 |
Race broadcasts
[edit]2001–2006: Fox and FX
[edit]Cup Series
[edit]- Notes
- ^The 2001 Dura Lube 400 at Rockingham was stopped on Sunday due to rain. It was resumed Monday morning on FX.
- ^The 2002 Samsung/RadioShack 500 at Texas postponed to Monday and broadcast on FX and some Fox affiliates.
- ^The 2006 Golden Corral 500 at Atlanta was moved to FX, as well as some Fox affiliates, due to rain delays.
- ^The 2006 Samsung/RadioShack 500 at Texas was moved to FX, as well as some Fox affiliates, due to rain delays.
Busch Series
[edit]- Notes
- ^The 2002 Kroger 300 at Kentucky was started on Saturday with Byrnes and Waltrip on the call but postponed to Sunday after rain on lap 86. The remainder was tape delayed with Mark Garrow and Chad Little
- ^The 2004 MBNA America 200 at Dover was postponed after lap 28 from Saturday to Monday. Waltrip did not call the Monday resumption.
- ^The 2005 Sharpie Professional 250 at Bristol was postponed to Monday due to rain. The race was aired by some Fox affiliates and FX.
2007–2014: Fox
[edit]From2007to2014,Fox Sports only covered the first 13 races of theCup Series,plus theShootout,along with selectTruck Seriesraces from 2007 to2009.All races aired exclusively onFox.In August 2013,Speedwas rebranded asFox Sports 1.From the start of 2013 on Speed and continuing with branding for NASCAR events on the new channel (theDuels,theAll-Star Race,andTruck Seriesraces) falling under theNASCAR on Foxbanner.
Cup Series
[edit]- Notes
- ^Started on Fox but finished on FS1 due to rain delays.
Truck Series
[edit]2015-2024: Fox/FS1
[edit]Cup Series
[edit]- Notes
- ^The 2015 Food City 500 at Bristol was delayed due to rain and finished on FS1.
Xfinity Series
[edit]- Notes
- ^TheAlsco Uniforms 300at Charlotte was postponed from May 27 to May 29, then delayed until after the postponed2023 Coca-Cola 600and finished on FS2.
Truck Series
[edit]- Notes
- ^The 2016 M&M's 200 at Iowa started on Fox Business due to long running coverage of the U.S. Open
References
[edit]- ^ab"FOX Sports Announces 2010 NASCAR Broadcast Schedule".www.eyeonsportsmedia.com.RetrievedJune 25,2018.
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- ^"NASCAR signs new TV deal".Boston Herald.December 7, 2005. Archived fromthe originalon May 13, 2006.
- ^"Jayski's® Camping World Truck Series Silly Season Site".Jayski.com. Archived fromthe originalon July 12, 2013.RetrievedJune 10,2013.
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- ^"NASCAR announces historic media rights agreements with FOX, NBC, Amazon and Warner Bros. Discovery".NASCAR. November 29, 2023.RetrievedApril 11,2024.
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- ^Wilhelm, Chase (June 23, 2021)."Jeff Gordon named vice chairman of Hendrick Motorsports, will leave FOX after 2021".NASCAR.com.NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.RetrievedJanuary 23,2022.
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- ^NASCAR On Fox Theme (2001-2008)onYouTube
- ^NASCAR LOVE- Toby Lightman, NASCAR ON FOX Theme songonYouTube
- ^NFL on Fox - Theme musiconYouTube
- ^"Dierks Bentley Remakes" Sideways "for NASCAR".Country Music Television.February 4, 2011. Archived fromthe originalon February 9, 2011.RetrievedJanuary 11,2013.
- ^Wilhelm, Chase (February 20, 2016)."NASCAR on FOX has 'new' theme music for 2016 season".RetrievedFebruary 20,2016.
- ^ab"Fox Sports plans to alter new race graphics".NASCAR.com.RetrievedFebruary 22,2014.
- ^"Despite fan criticism, Fox's new NASCAR ticker could work with a few tweaks".Awful Announcing.February 12, 2018.RetrievedMay 14,2019.
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- ^Dachman, Jason (May 8, 2019)."SMT's GhostCar Technology Enables NASCAR To Transition to Single-Car Qualifying".Sports Video Group.RetrievedMay 14,2019.
- ^Kerschbaumer, Ken (November 10, 2021)."College Hoops 2021 Tip-Off: Fox Sports Goes Big for Big East Opening Night; Intros New Graphics Look".Sports Video Group.RetrievedNovember 12,2021.
- ^"NASCAR on Fox to feature new look for 2022 season".NewscastStudio.January 15, 2022.RetrievedJanuary 26,2022.
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- ^"Gopher Cam provides" hole "new TV perspective".Fox Sports.February 14, 2008. Archived fromthe originalon March 12, 2009.RetrievedFebruary 12,2009.
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- ^"NASCAR TV Ratings: Every NASCAR Cup Race Since 2011".