Consistent returns in the aspect of viewership have been an issue for NASCAR this season. The pattern has changed quite a bit since the initial phases of the season. Many factors have contributed to this including injuries and expansion of projects in rather unexplored areas.

NASCAR has been trying hard to increase the viewership of the sport. The return of popular drivers like Chase Elliott from injury serves as an impetus for the recovery of some lost viewers. Over the last decade, viewership and popularity have been on the decline. Yet, with the latest reports of mismanagement from Gateway, fans have voiced their skepticism again.

NASCAR acknowledges technical failure at the Gateway

In a recent official statement, NASCAR has shed light on some hiccups in Illinois. With lightning and firecrackers already playing a part in heating up the fans’ moods, the connectivity failure only made things worse. Already being delayed by a one-and-half hour following weather prohibitions, the fans were on the edge of their seats on Sunday.

“During today’s NASCAR Cup Series race at World Wide Technology Raceway, there was an off-site fiber connectivity failure that briefly interrupted the television and radio broadcasts, as well as impacting internet for teams on pit road. There was not a failure with any track or NASCAR equipment at the facility during today’s event,” announced NASCAR through a tweet.

Pit teams did not have access to SMT telemetry information in addition to the broadcast concerns. The essential technology aids teams in evaluating fuel usage, timing, scoring, and other metrics. Thus, for the race on Sunday, teams had to use traditional techniques. Six laps into the Enjoy Illinois 300, NASCAR raised the red flag, delaying the Cup Series for the second consecutive week due to bad weather. Next week’s weather and TV coverage should be better for NASCAR fans.

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Fans point out the “Technology” issue as the gap widens

The nameplate of World Wide Technology Raceway is under fire from the fans. In yet another incident of a blunder by NASCAR, technical failure has been of the more criticized issues. With the already depreciating trend in viewership set in place, the act of negligence comes as an unnecessary problem. Fans have resorted to various ways of taking it up to NASCAR.

From banter to honest criticism, the comment section experiences massive diversity in opinions. Although some of the fans have moved on already and brushed it off as a one-off incident, many have not. The placement of the word ‘Technology’ in this case has been the topic of much discussion.

“Wait…. This track is “world wide technology” but they had a “Technology” issue?” , “So much for the name “World Wide Technology Raceway” were some of the tweets ridiculing NASCAR for the inconvenience. Some fans have also taken jibes at poor services despite handful charges on the streaming platforms.

“Yes my video feed went out during the race and I couldn’t see anything. The scanners went out too. Sucks when you pay monthly for something like that to not work week.” 

Further continuing the topic of Chase Elliott and decrease in ratings, a fan brings up the age old discussion. Although Chase has been remarkably important to NASCAR, it is only coincidental for the interruption to occur during a race he serves suspension in.

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