When sports fans discuss commercials, it’s often to criticize their frequency during sporting events. However, Fox’s coverage of the Daytona 500 on Sunday was a different story. NASCAR’s season opener, overshadowed by inclement weather, faced a lengthy rain delay following a notable appearance by President Trump, resulting in only a few laps being completed.
This delay ultimately pushed the Daytona 500 into Fox’s primetime slot, culminating in an exciting finish characterized by late crashes and classic super-speedway racing drama. William Byron claimed victory, securing his second consecutive Daytona 500 title by avoiding the wrecks of leaders Denny Hamlin and Austin Cindric.
The debate among NASCAR fans regarding whether the outcome was determined more by luck or skill is ongoing, particularly given Byron’s timely positioning. However, one clear point of consensus is the significant enhancement in Fox’s race coverage, especially regarding the reduction of full-screen commercial breaks. Full-screen ads were reduced by nearly two-thirds in comparison to the 2025 race, with an overall commercial reduction of four minutes.
Per @Jayski, NASCAR on FOX had just 18 minutes of full-screen ads this year in the Daytona 500, compared to 46 mins last year.
In all, this year had four fewer minutes of commercials than last year (53 mins vs 57). #NASCAR #Daytona500
— Jonathan Fjeld (@Jonathan_Fjeld) February 17, 2025
Fox opted to utilize a side-by-side advertising technique, allowing viewers to watch the live race action while commercials played in a split-screen format. This approach aligns with strategies seen in golf broadcasts and has occasionally appeared in NFL games during timeouts. Moreover, as noted by Sports Business Journal, this new commercial strategy coincides with a fresh rights deal alongside the presence of commercial-free Formula 1 races on ESPN. This shift comes in response to audience demand, particularly since the advent of ad-free F1 broadcasts in 2018, with pressure mounting on broadcasters to reduce ad loads. NBC Sports had already tested a similar format during playoff races last year.
This move is significant, as many NASCAR fans in the U.S. have been urging broadcasters to mitigate ad loads since ESPN began airing rival F1 races without commercials. While Fox implemented side-by-side advertising throughout the Daytona 500, many viewers expressed satisfaction, appreciating that they didn’t miss any racing action—a stark contrast to previous years when full-screen ads sometimes interrupted live action.
In further positive news for NASCAR enthusiasts, Fox plans to apply a similar commercial strategy in upcoming races on their broadcast network this season. While FS1 races will feature more side-by-side ads, they will still include more full-screen ads compared to those on the primary Fox channel.
Launching a new rights deal involving Fox, Amazon, TNT, and NBC for Cup races comes with its challenges, as NASCAR has its work cut out to inform fans about race airtimes. Starting this new television phase with fewer commercials and increased action is a promising way to engage viewers.
