Nowadays, that booming sound you hear isn’t just the cars on the track; it’s the multi-million dollar contracts fueling the future of NASCAR broadcasting. In 2025, the sport stepped into a complex, 7-year $7.7 billion media rights deal with 4 distinct partners: FOX, NBC, Amazon Prime Video, and Warner Bros. Discovery, with a staggering 40% increase in annual value that cemented NASCAR’s place in the premier tier of American sports media. This deal, which divided the 38-race Cup Series schedule among these partners, was meant to modernize the sport by integrating streaming services like Prime Video and Max. The quality of coverage, however, often hinges on what happens in the crucial, chaotic minutes following the checkered flag.

The post-race interview broadcast is arguably the most critical piece of real estate after the final burnout, serving as the bridge between high-speed drama and human emotion. For instance, NBC aptly showed the emotional interview of Denny Hamlin at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, after winning his milestone 60th career Cup Series win. While NBC’s main network is reserved for a select handful of high-profile events, USA Network has been the linear home for the majority of the NBCUniversal-covered races. This placement, sometimes referred to as the lesser channel compared to the main NBC broadcast, has, perhaps unintentionally, provided the broadcast team with the freedom to dramatically rethink its post-race approach.

This strategic allocation to the USA Network has paid dividends in terms of viewer experience, leading to fans writing on Reddit, “Gotta give props to USA Network for the extended post race each week. Obviously if helps being on the lesser channel over main NBC, but they really get in a ton of interviews and recap quite a bit. Huge difference from early in the year when they barely get the burnout in and rush the on track interview. Good job guys!” The USA Network has consistently demonstrated a commitment to interviewing a far wider range of drivers, often talking to the top-5 finishers.

This stems from the earlier disappointment of fans with the broadcasting companies throughout the year. FOX Sports, which covered the first third of the season, drew familiar and widespread disgust for an unwatchable experience characterized by excessive commercial breaks that frequently miss crucial on-track action. Similarly, TNT, debuting with its mid-season package, received mixed reviews, with some viewers noting a clear downgrade from the brief coverage by Amazon Prime Video.

The increasing voice of fans has become an increasingly significant factor in driving production changes. The success of USA Network’s post-race strategy proves that prioritizing content depth and driver engagement over a rigid, pre-set broadcast window resonates deeply with the core audience.

Fans celebrate more access to drivers after each race

USA Network’s approach was highlighted by one fan as, “Novel concept to talk to the top 5 drivers if not the top 10. Bravo NBC/USA.” Fans have lauded the network’s efforts to provide in-depth insights into the performance of drivers finishing in the top-5, a departure from the more limited coverage seen in previous seasons.

On the other hand, one fan explained, “I’d say that it shouldn’t be possible for FOX to run back the same pile of slop they’ve been giving us after what Amazon and NBC have offered, but, you know.” This sentiment reflects widespread dissatisfaction among viewers regarding Fox’s broadcast quality. For instance, during the 2025 Indianapolis 500, Fox faced backlash for cutting away from the finish line to cover a crash that had no impact on the race outcome, missing the moment when Alex Palou crossed the finish line. These ongoing issues have prompted calls for improvements in Fox’s NASCAR broadcast approach.

Others added to praising NBC’s coverage, saying, “Post race is something NBC has always done pretty well. Even when they put it on Peacock or the NBC sports app. They were the first network to shift their TV window to favor post-race over pre-race.” This approach allows viewers to hear directly from drivers, providing insights into their performances and emotions following the race. After the South Point 400 at LVMS, NBC’s extended coverage allowed fans to get a deeper understanding of the race’s dynamics.

Another fan pointed out, “Also the post race segment by Letarte Burton & Diffy is just amazing, Letarte always sheds some great wisdom and Diffy just lights up the room every time he talks.” As a former Cup Series crew chief of legends like Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr., Steve Letarte’s great wisdom often manifests in technical and strategic breakdowns, such as his detailed analysis of the impact of race strategy on track position at unique venues like Pocono Raceway, where he won three times as a crew chief. In contrast, Leigh Diffey’s enthusiastic play-by-play, which Letarte once noted as having ‘poetic and colorful’ calls that make for a bigger moment than the moment itself already is, perfectly complements their expertise.

With expert analysis, engaging personalities, and in-depth interviews, USA Network has clearly raised the bar for NASCAR broadcasting, especially as the Championship 4 race approaches.