Prime Video reveals NASCAR Cup Series coverage plans, one-ups FOX with new format

Ahead of the Coca-Cola 600 this week, Amazon’s Prime Video has released the coverage plan for the NASCAR Cup Series. Stock car racing is going to the streaming giant this week. That could mean an improved broadcast for fans sitting at home. Majorly improved.

Folks have gripes about how FOX covers NASCAR. With FOX taking IndyCar coverage from NBC this year as well, it has led to a few contradictions and more complaints from NASCAR fans. On top of that, commercials seem to be the bane of every fan’s existence.

The worst part of watching a race at home is when a caution happens during commercials. FOX used side-by-side commercials this year during green flag runs on the main FOX channel. However, most races, which appeared on FS1, had full-screen commercials under green.

Today, Prime Video announced the NASCAR coverage plan. It includes a few things fans are going to really appreciate.

NASCAR on Prime Video promising to deliver on action

• Double-Box Commercials
  • NASCAR on Prime Video will utilize a “double-box” commercial format during green flag racing. Fans won’t have to worry about the big one happening while under commercial.
• Key Moments and Rapid Recap
  • As they have done with Thursday Night Football, NASCAR on Prime Video has highlights embedded in the broadcast. Fans will be able to see “key moments” on-demand to rewatch or catch up on the action. Moments will be added throughout the race.
  • If you aren’t able to catch the start of the race, don’t worry. Prime Video will have a “Rapid Recap” that can be selected. Fans will then be shown highlights and stats, a full recap of what they have missed, in two minutes or less. Then, back to watching the action live.
• Equipment and technology
  • NASCAR on Prime Video boasts 70+ cameras for each of the five races this summer. That will include in-car and POV cameras with audio. A drone will be used to catch other on-track action.
  • Prime Video hopes to deliver a synced-up, 1080p broadcast with “ultra-low-latency” to ensure fans don’t miss a thing. Hopefully, no buffering.

That should be enough to make NASCAR fans very excited about Prime Video. I mean, that and the fact that we will have Dale Earnhardt Jr. back in the booth. Prime Video has even released a special theme song for these five races, a reimagined “Up Around the Bend” by John Fogerty and Eric Church.

For fans who feel like the traditional broadcast partners have gotten complacent, this will hopefully be a breath of fresh air. Let’s see if Prime Video can do for the Cup Series what The CW has done for the Xfinity Series.