NASCAR Community Gives Up on FOX as Fans Expose “Horrible” Broadcasting Tactics in COTA

NASCAR, FOX, and failures: This has been a major topic of discussion in recent years. For instance, remember the NASCAR Cup Series race at Gateway in June 2024? Fans were less than impressed with the broadcasting. As Ryan Blaney and Christopher Bell were battling it out, viewers were hyped up, but that’s when Fox cut to a double box shot and later, a shot showcasing a Blaney fan and a Bell fan sitting next to each other. This left many questioning why the broadcast would cut out such a crucial battle between the drivers.

Post-race mistakes included wrong names on the ticker, which left fans even more confused. Bad broadcasting, plus the fact that NASCAR has experienced a decline in viewership over recent years. In 2024, the regular season saw a modest one percent increase year-over-year, averaging 3.13 million viewers. The 2025 Daytona 500 attracted an average of 6.76 million viewers, while the subsequent Ambetter Health race drew 4.586 million. These numbers indicate a need for strategies to boost audience engagement.

To address this, NASCAR implemented several initiatives. A significant move was the introduction of a $7.7 billion media-rights deal spanning from 2025 to 2031. This agreement brings in new broadcasting partners, including Amazon Prime Video, TNT Sports, and The CW, alongside incumbents Fox and NBC. The aim was to diversify coverage and reach a broader audience.

However, FOX Sports’ latest broadcast decisions have left many fans frustrated. Reddit users have accused the network of using AI-generated elements in its pre-race and in-race graphics. One of the biggest talking points was the “Drivers off to slow starts” graphic at COTA, featuring what appeared to be an AI-generated NASCAR car. The visuals felt unnatural, prompting speculation about the network’s reliance on artificial intelligence.

Fans also noted that mid-race graphics had an automated, robotic feel. Certain overlays lacked the polished human touch typically associated with high-quality sports broadcasting. Given that FOX has not publicly addressed these suspicions, the issue continues to grow. Some fans believe AI is being used to cut costs, which could impact the quality of NASCAR coverage.

However, in case these speculations turn out to be true, how surprising is it? Back in December 2024, Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR’s Chief Operating Officer, revealed that they could use Artificial Intelligence to improve the sport. “There’s so much data and technology out there that you can now throw into a model, I think it’s going to be very helpful in looking at some predictive analysis of where the sport can go in the future and then there’s the whole business side of things too.”

So, it could be possible that Fox took a page from NASCAR’s book and dabbled with using AI.

Despite NASCAR and FOX making efforts to improve the broadcast experience, these AI concerns have only added to the frustration. The 2025 season has already been met with controversy, from inconsistent last-lap caution calls and ever-changing track limit rules to questionable broadcast tactics. With fan dissatisfaction growing, will FOX address the issue or continue to let speculation run wild?

NASCAR fans are not happy with FOX for allegedly AI-generated graphics

Christopher Bell battled numerous other drivers in the closing laps of the NASCAR Cup Series EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas. It was his second consecutive victory as he held off William Byron by 0.433 seconds. While the race was interesting (Bell’s first victory at the Texas road course), viewers watching it from the comfort of their homes were unhappy with the broadcasting issues; especially AI-related ones. Fans stated:

• “Why pay a guy for art when you have the robot hallucination machine.”
• “Such a weird choice considering they already have access to any image of a Cup car they could ever want, and accurate 3D models they could do renders of.”

Bell was, of course, happy with the outcome of the race. “Whenever Kyle was leading, I was just trying to be so cautious,” said the winner. “Obviously, we know what happened last year. I didn’t want that to happen. I wanted to pass him clean. He was just doing such a good job at running his race, and he could get off the corners just good enough that I couldn’t get inside of him.”

“But there I started peeking a nose, and he bobbled and allowed me to get out front. Whenever I did, I’m, like, ‘OK, just don’t beat yourself.’ Those were about the five or six sloppiest laps I’ve ever run.”

But viewers watching the race from their homes were distracted by the on-screen graphics. They wrote on social media:

• “Oof. looks horrible.”
• “This probably took more effort given how many stock images of NASCAR cars exist.”

The AI-generated NASCAR car shown in the COTA broadcast did not resemble any real Cup Series vehicle. The tire lettering and stickers on the car looked AI-generated. In the end, it will be interesting to see if Fox decides to comment on this.

• “It’s frustrating because of the laziness and the stolen artwork that was used as the base, but also because it is literally one of the cheapest aspects of the entire production.”

Graphics are a minor expense compared to race coverage, commentary teams, and on-track footage. Cutting corners in this area suggests cost-cutting at the expense of quality, raising concerns about FOX’s priorities in NASCAR broadcasting. Do you think NASCAR is stepping in the wrong direction with AI usage? Let us know in the comments!