CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 20: The FOX Sports logo is placed on a broadcast camera before a regular season game between the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears on December 20, 2025, at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. Photo by Joseph Weiser/Icon Sportswire NFL, American Football Herren, USA DEC 20 Packers at Bears EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon251220074

Apr 28, 2026, 5:06 AM CUT

FOX Sports Issues Explanation Over Ad Interruptions During Key Talladega Moments

Amidst the action at the Jack Links 500, there was yet another moment when FOX Sports' broadcast turned to advertisements. And this time, the broadcaster has an explanation.

According to the Sports Business Journal reporter Adam Stern, the broadcasting company was forced to change its plans. Stern spoke about the same via his X account, which read:

"@FoxSports says that it was forced to change its plans to run no full-screen ads during green-flag racing at Talladega yesterday due to the first stage going without a caution and how that messed with its intended ad load. The company's overall NASCAR plans remain unchanged.”

The post referred to moments when the broadcast cut to full-screen ads. Twice in the second stage they ran full-screen ads.

Interestingly, prior to the 2026 season kicking off, FOX had announced their plans to air via a double-box format. They stuck to the plans in the first nine races of the season, but things took a turn during the race at Talladega.

But this was not the first time FOX has pulled such a move. The network was previously called out by the NASCAR fans for interrupting the race with ads.

Jeff Gluck's Opinion on The Matter

The full-screen ads being aired mid-race have caused a major talking point in the NASCAR world. The Athletic reporter Jeff Gluck gave his opinion about the same.

While talking about the issue on his podcast ‘The Teardown,' Gluck revealed how the exit of Artie Kempner might have caused the broadcasting mess.

“There was a commercial late in the race from 12 to go to five to go, there was commercials all day…I get it was Artie Kempner‘s last day as FOX director, so maybe he was like, ‘ah, what are they going to do? Get mad at me? Bye.’ You finally get to where they’re racing. All day you’re waiting for them to race, they finally race, and they’re like, ‘this is a great time to go to commercial.’” Gluck said.

As of now FOX has made it clear that they intend on using the split screen for the remainder of the season.

Written by

Chionia Libania Colaco

Edited by

Siddharth Shirwadkar