NASCAR fans have time and again praised Amazon Prime’s broadcast of the races and have drawn comparisons to the longtime broadcaster, FOX Sports. However, veteran FOX Sports commentator Mike Joy has come to the defence of the legacy network.

Amazon Prime, which joined hands with NASCAR last season, has been slowly gaining popularity among fans with its clean and organised broadcast while also giving fans additional post-race entertainment. 

FOX has been NASCAR’s longtime broadcaster, but the network has received significant backlash for missed incidents amid multiple commercial breaks. And fans have repeatedly pointed out these issues.

While talking to John Roberts on Kenny Wallace's YouTube channel, Mike Joy highlighted how FOX has made considerable progress, but hasn't received due credit for the changes they have made.

"This year, FOX was able to work it out with our advertisers that during green flag racing, we would not run full-screen commercials except for the local breaks, which we did not control," said Joy. "The local stations controlled them."

"And there are some sponsors, without getting too into detail, that there are legal requirements for some of that small type at the bottom of the screen that have to be full screen," he added. "Other than that, we can run side-by-side breaks all day, and we do. But we didn't make a big point of it. We didn't get any credit for it. We didn't ask for any credit for it."

However, his comments did not sit right with the NASCAR fans as they shared their opinions on social media. 

NASCAR fans criticise Mike Joy’s defense of FOX Sports

A fan uploaded a clip of the same to their X account (@BlaneyBest) and fans flooded the comment section with their take on the situation.

One fan passionately voted for Prime Video's supremacy, writing:

"Fox clearly doesn't care about NASCAR and it shows how much they pay attention to it. Fox should just back out of their contract and eat the losses. Give Prime Video the first half of the season. Kevin Harvick could probably fit well with Prime Video. You could put the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series on the CW. But if they have both on the same day put the Truck Series on Prime Video."

Another fan criticized Mike Joy, as they wrote,

"Is it time for Mike Joy to retire? This attitude is not what the sport needs."

Yet another fan pointed out that this feels like Joy’s growing frustration over Prime’s growing popularity among the fans. Seconding the sentiment, they wrote:

"Love Mike and always will, but this feels like sour grapes and/or corporate lip service from his higher ups."

A fan also pointed out FOX's controversial broadcast decision at Talladega, writing:

"Fox went to commercial with less then 10 laps to go in a Talladega race. All I need to say."

A fan also pointed out the difference between Prime’s broadcast and FOX Sports.

"Fox makes a mockery of NASCAR.  Amazon treats it like a serious sport," they shared.

Do you agree with Mike Joy’s defence of FOX Sports? Let us know your thoughts in the comments. 

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Written by

Chionia Libania Colaco

Edited by

Yash Kotak