The inclusion of certain clips in an anniversary video can generate significant debate, as exemplified by Fox Sports’ “25 Years of NASCAR on Fox” video shown during Daytona 500 pre-race coverage. Viewers expressed their discontent regarding the use of footage from Dale Earnhardt’s fatal crash in 2001:
why does this video include Dale Earnhardt’s fatal crash? https://t.co/BYEMprb1bV
— Nick Bromberg (@NickBromberg) February 16, 2025
They put Dale’s fatal crash in a season kickoff hype video. https://t.co/BSRu5xcB40 pic.twitter.com/l8EzZu0uGz
— Brennan Somers (@Brennan_Somers) February 16, 2025
Nah, we are not here for using Dale’s crash for promos https://t.co/8iVZl6YFuf
— Sarah Davis 🤫 Bubba fan // 23XI stan (@sarahdavisagain) February 16, 2025
Out of all the shots you could’ve used for this lap… this one probably wasn’t the smartest to use. https://t.co/fzBGIj6aNj pic.twitter.com/U2ECDrXJdj
— D O N D E R (@DonderLeNasHawk) February 16, 2025
Here’s a take. Earnhardt’s fatal 2001 crash and Newman’s near-fatal 2020 crash should never be used for a positive ad. Ever. #NASCAR https://t.co/7T17qI7XAx
— Alex Peterson (@Xitmnt85) February 16, 2025
The 2001 crash warrants a discussion in the context of Fox’s 25th NASCAR anniversary, especially given the challenges it posed for their new broadcast team. Addressing the crash is important; Dale Earnhardt Jr. even recently offered a reflective commentary on his father’s passing and its impact on his relationship with Daytona. Had the video focused more on the crash and its implications for the sport, reactions might have been different, despite ongoing disagreements about the display of such specific footage. However, Fox’s decision to feature it as a fleeting shot in what felt like a promotional video led to considerable backlash.
This was not the only concern viewers had regarding the video; although it was framed as a retrospective on “25 years of NASCAR on Fox,” it included two well-known clips from other networks: NBC coverage of George W. Bush at the 2004 Daytona 500 and ESPN footage of the 2012 fight between Jeff Gordon and Clint Bowyer in Phoenix. While the presence of these clips was also puzzling, they received far less criticism than the utilization of the Earnhardt crash footage.
