NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin recently criticized Fox Sports’ race coverage after a major broadcasting error overshadowed Corey Heim‘s historic victory in the Truck Series. The critique, centered on Fox’s confusing graphic displays during the event, has drawn renewed attention to longstanding complaints from both drivers and fans about the network’s handling of motorsport broadcasts. Hamlin, whose comments add weight given his status as a Joe Gibbs Racing veteran, directly addressed the blunder in a passionate episode of his “Actions Detrimental” podcast.
Corey Heim’s Achievement Broadcasted Poorly by Fox Sports
Corey Heim delivered a remarkable performance at the recent Truck Series race, securing the pole position, sweeping both stages, and leading for 124 of the 175 laps. His dominant win tied Greg Biffle’s record nine-win season from 1999, making Heim’s feat significant in the history of NASCAR’s Truck Series. Despite the importance of the moment, many felt that Fox Sports failed to adequately capture and present Heim’s success during the broadcast.
Hamlin, who has notched 59 career victories and is seeking another NASCAR Cup Series championship in his 19th season, follows emerging talents like Heim closely. His disappointment stemmed from Fox’s presentation decisions. On his podcast, Hamlin acknowledged a fan’s concern about the broadcast confusion.
“I’m glad I saw someone on social media bring this up. I saw someone say, ‘I’m confused,’”
Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Driver.
He outlined the core issue: Fox Sports broadcast graphics displayed Heim’s name and others in red, traditionally a color denoting elimination or poor performance, even while Heim was leading the race. This inversion of standard color coding norms left Hamlin— and many viewers— asking questions about the network’s approach to race coverage.
“I turned to TV and on FOX it said, Corey Heim’s name is in red, others’ names are in red. And I’m like, but he’s leading the race, why is he in red? What is going on? …When you have red and green, green is good, red is bad…That’s typical, right? …They had everyone advancing in red and being eliminated in green…I couldn’t make a whole lot of sense of it. Because when I got to the racetrack, there was about 50 laps to go…At the time, there was no live figure.”
Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Driver.
The veteran driver did not hold back in his criticism of Fox’s graphics department.
“I’m not really sure on FOX’s graphics department as a whole. Maybe it’s time to rethink it.”
Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Driver.
Hamlin also pushed for simpler, more consistent use of color to reflect on-track success and elimination, addressing the network’s reliance on what he described as “cartoon characters” for driver representation. He insisted that establishing clear visual cues should take priority over stylized design:
“Let’s just try to keep this uniform to what everything else is. Green is good, red is bad, okay? Eliminated, red. Advancing, green. Let’s just start there. We can work on the cartoon characters later,”
Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Driver.
When his co-host, Jared Allen, suggested that Fox might have displayed a key explaining the graphics, Hamlin dismissed it, indicating he felt such clarification revealed a deeper awareness of the problem.
“I think that would have just made things worse for me. Just simply because I would have said, Now they knew it’s sc—ed up, then they have to clarify.”
Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Driver.
Fox Sports Faces Ongoing Criticism from the NASCAR Community
Fox Sports, which has partnered with NASCAR for over twenty years, frequently finds itself at the center of criticism from both the sport’s fans and participants. The network has previously been called out for technical errors such as blurry scoreboard finishes, missing pivotal race moments, and displaying inaccurate or unclear information during broadcasts. The 2024 season in particular attracted heavy scrutiny, and that backlash has spilled over into the current year as networks like NBC and USA Network cover the Cup Series, while Fox Sports 1 (FS1) maintains responsibility for the Truck Series broadcast.
Notably, prominent figures including Richard Petty and Kevin Harvick have registered their own complaints about Fox Sports’ race coverage. Hamlin’s remarks add to this chorus of frustration, amplifying the pressure on Fox Sports to reevaluate both its technical and editorial approaches, especially concerning graphic presentation and real-time information accuracy.
Recent JGR Team Drama Adds to Weekend’s Tension
While Hamlin’s critique of Fox Sports made headlines, his own race weekend was fraught with controversy. During the Mobil 1 301 race in New Hampshire, Joe Gibbs Racing drivers Denny Hamlin and Christopher Bell became caught behind teammate Ty Gibbs after he blocked their paths late in the event. Repeated contact ensued until Hamlin eventually spun Gibbs into the wall—a move Hamlin insisted was unintentional. This incident drew attention to ongoing issues within Joe Gibbs Racing, specifically surrounding Gibbs’ decision-making and repeated entanglements with teammates, as seen during the 2022 Xfinity championship with Brandon Smith.
Meanwhile, Ryan Blaney won the race, marking his third victory of the season. Blaney took the opportunity to contrast his own approach, highlighting the importance of sportsmanship and fair racing among teammates. He explained that, despite fierce competition with ford/”>Ford teammates Joey Logano and Josh Berry, he avoided aggressive tactics.
“I was never going to lay a bumper to Joey trying to get by him when he was leading.”
Ryan Blaney, NASCAR Driver.
Blaney emphasized,
“I didn’t want to do it that way — teammate or not. I didn’t want to do it that way, especially with a teammate. I’m not going to rough him up. But I fully expect to race hard. That’s what Roger [Penske] expects of us, and that’s what Eddie and Len [Wood] expect with the Wood Brothers. We’re going to go out there and race hard, but we’re going to do it in a fair way.”
Ryan Blaney, NASCAR Driver.
This contrast between Blaney’s team-centric philosophy and the internal friction at Joe Gibbs Racing offered another layer of drama, further energizing discussion across NASCAR circles.
The Broader Impact and Future for NASCAR Broadcasting
Denny Hamlin’s critique brings critical attention to the quality and clarity of NASCAR broadcasts. As fan engagement and viewership are closely tied to broadcast quality, the handling of high-profile events and major achievements, such as Corey Heim’s recent win, take on even greater importance. Fox Sports’ recurring missteps risk alienating both loyal viewers and participants, underscoring an urgent need for improvement.
With Hamlin and other influential figures continuing to speak out, Fox Sports faces mounting calls to overhaul its broadcast graphics, invest in better technology, and reaffirm its commitment to clear, accurate coverage. As the series continues and new stars like Corey Heim rise, the quality of televised NASCAR content remains a crucial issue, shaping the perception of motorsports for established fans and new audiences alike.
Hamlin’s statements not only address a specific broadcasting failure but also highlight lasting frustrations in the NASCAR world. The ball is now in Fox Sports’ court to address these concerns and deliver the clarity and excitement that fans, drivers, and stakeholders expect from one of America’s most passionate sporting communities.
