A huge success for Amazon Prime Video as it aired the first ever NASCAR race it has aired: the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte. It was the first time a NASCAR event would be streamed exclusively on a digital platform. Regardless of streaming access concerns, the overall response was very positive.
A team of well-balanced announcers and studio host were featured in the broadcast. Veteran voices Steve Letarte and Dale Earnhardt Jr. joined Adam Alexander in commentary. Longtime fans were comfortable with the race and its chemistry.
Pre-race and post-race coverage was provided by Danielle Trotta in the studio. Also joining Sunday’s field was Carl Edwards, who made an unexpected return after retiring from racing, and Corey LaJoie, a Cup Series driver. New to the team, the crew worked smoothly. It was so natural, and I think it was because of how long they’ve been doing it with each other, or at least viewers said so, as they kept praising how natural the team feels as if they’ve been doing this for so long.
Streaming-Only Race Pays Off
However, many fans weren’t sure whether they should have to use Amazon Prime to watch the race. But it was a subscription, some were unhappy about that. Others didn’t like being forced to drop the possibility of later viewing of the race. Though the start was badly botched, the broadcast of the race impressed most viewers with its quality overall.
Amazon’s production was a sharp business. The graphics were modern and informative, the sound quality was clear, and the camera work was smooth. There was a Spillage all over social media. The race was respected, given an energy and attention to detail which fans loved.
Fan Reactions Were Strong
But NASCAR fans weren’t far behind in taking to X (formerly Twitter) to share their praise. The presentation blew many away. Amazon Prime killed the Coke 600 broadcast, one user wrote. ‘You don’t even see a broadcast like this one since the early 2000s.’”
“They treated NASCAR with dignity and quality,” said another fan. “From here on out, they can cover every Cup race as far as I’m concerned,” he said.
They even earned praise for their in-car audio and post-race coverage as well. Racing fans said Amazon also gave them a full post-race show, which they felt had been lacking from the other networks.
A Few Critical Voices
Feedback wasn’t all positive. Some long-time viewers were not pleased with the flip to streaming. A couple of people were upset they couldn’t watch the race without a Prime subscription, or they were criticizing the announcers. This change left some fans behind, and some older fans.
Fans also complained they couldn’t record the race to watch later. This made it difficult to keep up if you work weekends. ‘Now I can’t,’ one viewer said, noting that they work weekends and rely on recording the races. Goodbye, NASCAR.”
Looking Ahead
With only a few complaints, most fans weren’t nearly as taken aback with Amazon’s broadcast as maybe they would have been a decade earlier, given that the service was a huge step forward for the sport that had always ended the day plastered in cheap paint as bleachers while fundamentally unstable old people drove around in circle.
