NASCAR fans were disappointed by the number of breaks in the action on Sunday as they watched the 65th running of the Daytona 500 from the convenience of their own homes. What could possibly go wrong during the Daytona 500? Not The Big One the wreck that appears to consume the entire field of motorists.
I'm getting pissed off by these race breaks interrupting my commercials #DAYTONA500
— Chevy84 (@chevychevelle48) February 19, 2023
The uproar was so intense that it caused the hashtag “Commercial 500” to trend on Twitter throughout the competition. NASCAR fans who are watching on television missed the crashes due to a commercial break from Fox Sports.
Prediction for the end of the race. “We’re coming down to the white flag, who’s going to take it home?” “WHOPPER WHOPPER WHOPPER”#DAYTONA500 #Commercial500
— Jason (@jcm765) February 19, 2023
Ok the commercials are insane. I know this is our Super Bowl but the Super Bowl is better than this. #Daytona500
— Poorly Aged NASCAR Tweets (@AgedNascar) February 19, 2023
On social media, some people expressed their annoyance with the frequent breaks, but others found amusement in the situation and made fun of it. Once the FOX coverage cut to a commercial amid a crash on the 118th lap of Stage 2 later in the race, NASCAR fans continued to express their displeasure.
I can’t even pretend to be surprised.#Daytona500
Oh sorry, #Commercial500 pic.twitter.com/2AKidCFbfT
— jordy. (@twitchynitch) February 19, 2023
In order to determine whether or not each commercial featured the activity in a picture-in-picture box, journalist Justin Melillo took note of the commercial breaks. At last tally, there have been 20 commercial breaks, although only five of them included side-by-side coverage of the actual race.
Lap 165 – Commercial #20
5th Side-by-Side#NASCAR #NASCAR75 #DAYTONA500 #Commercial500
— Justin Melillo (@justinmelillo) February 19, 2023
On the broadcast, commentator Mike Joy even made a joke that was a further slap in the face to NASCAR fans: Should we dare attempt FOX side-by-side once more? Dare we? before finishing with a charming smile.
Any major sport must generate advertising income, so it makes sense that NASCAR would seek to maximize its earnings during its signature event. Yet, after today, they appear to have enraged and offended a sizable portion of the fan base, who are unlikely to forget their unpleasant Sunday experience.
Crashes that NASCAR fans missed due to Fox commercial breaks
Tyler Reddick was shoved by Kevin Harvick on Turn 4 just as Fox switched from displaying the race to a commercial while it was still in progress. This caused a chain reaction involving roughly 10 cars. The issue is that viewers of the wreck on television missed it since the instant it happened, visuals filled the screen.
I know we all say this (multiple times) every year but FOX is actively sabotaging their own broadcasts. This is the most aggravating Daytona 500 I've watched in a long time
Two laps, commercials, two laps, commercials. Something finally happened? We'll show you in five minutes
— Cody Ficker 🏳️🌈🏁 (@ApocApollo) February 19, 2023
I'll do you one better: Fox presents the Commercial 500 with limited Daytona interruption. https://t.co/TdAqPM4Yz1
— Ben Schneider (@bcschneider53) February 19, 2023
Among the drivers involved in the crash were Ross Chastain, Kyle Larson, Erik Jones, Chase Elliott, Ryan Blaney, and Daniel Suarez. However, this is what Fox viewers saw. Chastain made a comeback to win the stage. More could be said about their visual experience than some furious viewers could.
FOX just got out of a commercial … then goes to side by side commercial … as the wreck happens. Awful coverage today by FOX #NASCAR https://t.co/UkkfV1qdam
— Brett Winningham (@NASCAR_BRETT) February 19, 2023
hoping the next major item on the 500 happens without any commercials.