When NASCAR signed a groundbreaking $7.7 billion broadcast deal set to reshape how fans watch the sport, expectations soared. The new agreement brought in longtime partners FOX and NBC, but also introduced newcomers Amazon Prime Video and TNT Sports to the rotation. While Prime Video’s five-race stretch sparked both praise and controversy, TNT’s highly anticipated return with the 2025 Chicago Street Race was supposed to continue pushing NASCAR forward.
Instead, it hit a pothole.
From delayed replays to baffling production decisions, TNT’s first NASCAR broadcast since 2014 was met with immediate backlash—and a flood of comparisons to Prime’s sleeker, more modern presentation.
Key Highlights
TNT’s NASCAR return in Chicago frustrated fans with poor replay timing, technical glitches, and untimely commercials.
Viewers missed key race moments, including Bowman spinning Bubba Wallace.
Amazon Prime’s earlier five-race stretch set a higher production bar with crisp visuals, fewer ads, and engaging commentary.
Fans called for better post-race coverage and more driver interviews—not more studio talk.
TNT has four more races to turn things around, but trust is already shaken.
A Rough Start for TNT
TNT re-entered NASCAR’s broadcast landscape at one of the season’s most chaotic tracks—the Chicago Street Course. But rather than celebrating a successful comeback, fans were left venting their frustration.
“This has been a tough two weeks compared to Amazon,” one viewer posted. “I have never seen a scoring pylon so far off and so delayed.” Another added,
“How tf did they miss Bowman spinning Bubba?!?!” – NASCAR fan reaction
From the jump, TNT’s production team, which reportedly included some returning members from their 2014 stint, felt overwhelmed by the pace of the race. Fans noted moments of on-track contact and spins that were either missed entirely or shown far too late.
“It was frustrating. You could see guys bouncing off each other or someone spinning in the back of the shot, and then we would never get a replay.” – NASCAR fan reaction
TNT also came under fire for the post-race format, which leaned heavily on in-studio commentary and light on driver interviews—a reversal of what fans had praised during Prime’s stretch.
Amazon Prime Set a New Bar
Before TNT’s return, Amazon Prime Video held exclusive rights to five high-profile races, beginning with the Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day weekend and ending at Pocono on June 23. While not without its detractors—particularly among older viewers who struggled with streaming platforms—Prime’s presentation drew wide acclaim for its polish, broadcast team, and modern features.
The Ratings Report Card
Coca-Cola 600 (May 25): 1.86 million viewers despite rain delays—first time the race aired exclusively via streaming
Nashville (June 2): 1.91 million, a modest improvement
Michigan (June 9): 1.77 million—lowest-rated race of the 2025 season
Mexico City (June 16): 2.1 million—highest-rated of the five, beat F1 and IndyCar
Pocono (June 23): 1.869 million—down from 2.391 million on USA Network in 2024
Though Prime wasn’t perfect, fans were vocal about their appreciation:
“GIVE PRIME THE FULL SEASON!”
“THANK YOU FOR THE BEST 5 WEEKS OF THE SEASON.”
“Y’ALL HAVE BROUGHT BACK THE FEEL OF ‘90S NASCAR, AND THAT’S A GOOD THING!” – NASCAR fans reaction
Even Carl Edwards’ brief run in the studio booth drew emotional farewells from fans—something TNT struggled to replicate in its first outing.
Where TNT Came Up Short
Prime raised the bar—and TNT stumbled trying to clear it.
One of the most common complaints was about missed coverage of pivotal race moments. The broadcast failed to immediately show the clash between Bubba Wallace and Alex Bowman, delaying the replay by more than a full lap.
Another viewer shared:
“Going to commercial while showing SVG’s burnout was the final nail in the coffin on top of everything else.” – a nascar fan
That sentiment hit hard. Shane van Gisbergen, the street-course ace, had just won a race on one of the sport’s most unique tracks. Yet the broadcast cut to commercial just as fans expected to watch his celebratory burnout.
The post-race show also drew heat for being too studio-driven. Fans wanted raw emotion, driver reactions, and interviews—not prolonged analysis from broadcasters. “They need to alter the formula for the post-race show,” one fan wrote. “Too much commentators talking and not enough driver interviews.”
The Bigger Picture: What This Means for NASCAR
NASCAR is entering uncharted waters with its media partnerships. In addition to FOX and NBC, the league now splits race coverage between TNT and Prime Video. That means fans need to juggle platforms and adapt to different presentation styles—something that can enhance or diminish the viewing experience.
For Prime, the experiment seemed to work. The Mexico City race drew the sport’s youngest audience since 2017, showing promise for growth.
But for TNT, the road ahead is steeper. With four races left in their portion of the deal, they have little time to adjust and earn back goodwill.
And fans aren’t just frustrated—they’re watching closely. As one post summed it up:
“It was the best of times (Amazon), it was the worst of times (TNT/FOX).” – NASCAR fan reaction
News in Brief: TNT’s Chicago Debut Misses the Mark
The 2025 NASCAR season is as much a story about what happens off the track as on it. With billions of dollars at stake, and fans’ attention spans stretched across multiple platforms, every network must bring their best.
TNT’s Chicago debut missed that mark.
Now, all eyes turn to the next four races under TNT’s coverage—and whether they can recover from a sloppy restart, or if Amazon’s five-race run will continue to be the gold standard for NASCAR’s evolving media future.
ALSO READ: TNT Returns to NASCAR Under 7.7 Billion Dollar Deal With Million Dollar Bracket
