How Prime Video's 'Burn Bar' is changing the way we watch NASCAR
Associated Press
NASCAR fans have grown accustomed to seeing speed, throttle and braking on broadcasts for years. There has been one measurement, though, that has eluded networks and viewers for years.
Until now.
Viewers of the Prime Video races have been able to see fuel usage with the introduction of the Burn Bar. Race teams have measured burn rates and fuel levels down to the last ounce for years, but the methodology has been kept secret due to competitive reasons.
Prime Video, though, developed an AI tool using car data available to broadcasters and teams that can measure miles per gallon. The Burn Bar made a brief appearance during Prime's first broadcast of the Coca-Cola 600 on May 25. It has been used more frequently the past two weeks and will again be deployed on Sunday during the race in Mexico City.
NASCAR on Prime analyst Steve Letarte, a former crew chief for Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr., contributed to the development of the Burn Bar and sees it as the first step in taking race analysis to a new level.
'It's the first true tool that is taking information off the car, making calculations and then displaying to the fan a calculation or measurement that is being used in the garage. And it does affect the team,' he said. 'There's not a sensor on the car giving us miles per gallon. It's a mathematical calculation of other cars performances.'
The AI model analyzes thousands of performance data per second, including a range of in-car telemetry signals, RPMs, throttle and optical tracking of each car's position. The model then evaluates each driver's fuel consumption and efficiency throughout the race.
Letarte worked with Prime Video 'Thursday Night Football Prime Vision" analyst Sam Schwartzstein during the process. They came up with four methodologies that were tested during the first part of the season, which was broadcast by Fox. Schwartzstein and Letarte would then get the data from teams after races to see how close they were until they picked one what worked the best.
The Burn Bar received its toughest test during last week's race at Michigan as the final 48 laps were run without a caution flag. Most teams made their final pit stops with 50 laps to go, meaning teams were going to be down to the end of their fuel runs at the checkered flag.
'We projected William Byron to run out, which he did, and then we were on the razor's edge for Denny Hamlin. And then watching the truck push him back into victory lane at the end, knowing he was as close as we thought he was. What a cool way to see this feature come to life and elevate NASCAR broadcasts,' Schwartzstein said.
Alex Strand, Prime Video's senior coordinating producer for live sports, also sees the Burn Bar as the first tool of many that Amazon and Prime Video can develop for its coverage. Prime Video is in the first year of a seven-year agreement to carry five races per season.
'It's really cool to live in a world where it shows us that anything is possible. We're starting with something that we're really excited about, but it's setting us down a path that will open up new doors for us,' he said. 'I think that's what we're really excited about is to say, 'OK, we've had success in year one on a feature that's resonated with fans right out of the gate.' It raises the table for our offseason.'
After Sunday's race in Mexico City, Prime Video's coverage for this season wraps up with the race at Pocono on June 22.
___
AP NASCAR: https://apnews.com/hub/nascar-racing
recommended
in this topic
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
NASCAR results: Full finishing order of Cup Series race in Mexico City
For the second time in his NASCAR Cup Series career, Shane van Gisbergen is a winner. He started from the pole Sunday and claimed the first-ever Cup race in Mexico City at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. The 36-year-old is known as a road-course specialist. His first victory came in his debut — the 2023 Chicago Street Race. Advertisement SVG's margin was huge, too. No other driver finished within 16 seconds of him. Christopher Bell and Chase Elliott also notched top-three finishes. Let's check out the full finishing order. NASCAR standings: Results from Cup Series race in Mexico City today Shane van Gisbergen, No. 88 Christopher Bell, No. 20 Chase Elliott, No. 9 Alex Bowman, No. 48 Michael McDowell, No. 71 John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 Chase Briscoe, No. 19 Cole Custer, No. 41 William Byron, No. 24 Chris Buescher, No. 17 Ty Gibbs, No. 54 Bubba Wallace, No. 23 AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Ryan Preece, No. 60 Ross Chastain, No. 1 Erik Jones, No. 43 Austin Cindric, No. 2 Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Tyler Reddick, No. 45 Joey Logano, No. 22 Todd Gilliland, No. 34 Ryan Truex, No. 11 Justin Haley, No. 7 Brad Keselowski, No. 6 Josh Berry, No. 21 Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Austin Dillon, No. 3 Riley Herbst, No. 35 Noah Gragson, No. 4 Cody Ware, No. 51 Katherine Legge, No. 78 Ty Dillon, No. 10 Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Zane Smith, No. 38 Kyle Larson, No. 5 Kyle Busch, No. 8 (This story was updated to add a gallery.) This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: NASCAR today: Results, winner of Cup Series race at Mexico City
Hamilton Spectator
an hour ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Deutsche Aircraft Unveils New Garmin G5000® PRIME Flight Deck for the D328eco® at Paris Air Show
Le Bourget, Paris, June 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — At the Paris Air Show 2025, Deutsche Aircraft unveiled the New Garmin G5000® PRIME Flight Deck for the D28eco at Paris Air Show: the integration of Garmin's G5000 PRIME integrated flight deck into the next-generation 40-seater D328eco regional turboprop. This announcement marks a significant advancement in regional aviation, combining proven avionics expertise with a sustainable aircraft platform. Building on Garmin's legacy of delivering over 30,000 flight decks worldwide, the G5000 PRIME brings a modern, touchscreen-based cockpit environment to the D328eco, delivering unmatched pilot-centric design, advanced automation, and global airspace compliance. Tailored for Part 25 transport aircraft and Part 121 operations, the G5000 PRIME will be a key enabler of the D328eco's mission to redefine regional air travel with efficiency, operational flexibility, and environmental responsibility. 'The D328eco is designed to lead the next era of regional aviation,' stated Nico Neumann, Co-CEO of Deutsche Aircraft. 'By integrating Garmin's enhanced G5000 PRIME, we are equipping our aircraft with a future-ready flight deck that enhances performance, offers unmatched reliability, and ensures operational flexibility to meet the diverse needs of regional air travel.' 'The G5000 PRIME offers a scalable, intuitive, and connected cockpit solution that provides Part 25 transport pilots increased functionality designed to simplify operations and maximize situational awareness,' said Carl Wolf, Vice President, Aviation Sales, Marketing, Programs and Support at Garmin. 'We are excited to continue our relationship with Deutsche Aircraft and launch G5000 PRIME into the regional aircraft market on the advanced D328eco.' Next-Generation Flight Deck for a Next-Generation Aircraft The G5000 PRIME's crew-centric design and open architecture allows for rapid adaptation to evolving technologies and mission needs. Key capabilities include: As the D328eco programme advances, the G5000 PRIME will play a pivotal role in delivering a digitally connected, pilot-friendly, and sustainability-focused flight experience. Marking a significant milestone, Deutsche Aircraft has transitioned from the development phase to industrialisation—underscored by the unveiling of its first test aircraft, TAC 1 at the end of May 2025. This achievement highlights the programme's strong momentum toward entry into service in Q4 2027. Attachments
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Alex Bowman grits through pain to finish fourth in Mexico
MEXICO CITY — Alex Bowman winced as he lowered his body into a seat in the drivers meeting Sunday, the pain in his right lower back and leg a result of his high-speed head-on crash the previous week in Michigan. He said on Saturday that it was painful sitting in his car. Just sitting in a regular padded folding chair Sunday proved as difficult. Advertisement Yet, here he was about to run 100 laps around the 15-turn, 2.42-mile Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez course from the 29th starting spot. HIs journey lasted 3 hours and 14 minutes. When it ended, he had finished fourth. "Running well probably made it easier than it could have been,' Bowman told Prime after the race. 'Just proud of the whole team. I put us behind this week. In full transparency, I couldn't walk on Wednesday, so I missed all my sim stuff, all my meetings. Just trying to get back going. 'I had a lot of help from a lot of people to fix whatever the hell was going on, and thankfully enough, I was able to run all the laps this weekend.' Mexico NASCAR photo (5).jpg Shane van Gisbergen wins NASCAR Mexico City Cup inaugural race by over 16 seconds Advertisement The Trackhouse Racing driver qualifies for the 2025 playoffs with his second career victory. Crew chief Blake Harris marveled at what Bowman accomplished. 'To be honest, we didn't know … Wednesday night for sure that he was going to be on the plane with us Thursday,' Harris said. 'I thought his recovery was going well and Wednesday me and another guy had to basically carry him because he got to a point where he almost couldn't walk. 'It's tough for me because I look at Michigan, it doesn't matter what happens with our team, I feel responsible for it. In my opinion … if the car is more comfortable at Michigan, we're not in the 20s (in the running order) and we don't get crashed.' NASCAR Mexico NASCAR won't commit to returning to Mexico in 2026 but 'very hopeful' to be back Advertisement NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps told drivers before the race: 'Together, we are doing something that will be remembered in the history of our great sport.' Bowman said he spent most of his time in Mexico in his hotel bed recovering. His team had Anthony Alfredo on standby to relieve Bowman. Alfredo wasn't needed. Bowman fought through the injury for just his third top-10 finish in the last 10 races. A key moment in the race came when Harris pitted Bowman on Lap 62 from sixth place. Bowman was the second car to come to pit road at the start of that green-flag cycle. Christopher Bell, who went on to finish second started the cycle a lap earlier. NASCAR: Wurth 400 presented by LIQUI MOLY Ricky Stenhouse Jr. upset with Carson Hocevar, vows action when 'we get back to the States' Advertisement Ricky Stenhouse Jr.'s comments were caught by Carson Hocevar's in-car camera after the race. Harris said that strategy started with Bowman's pit stop on Lap 17. The pit crew took off the wet-weather tires and put on slicks (meant for dry conditions). Harris admits that they probably put the slicks on too early but the stop came at their last chance to pit before the end of the stage at Lap 20 since there are no pit stops allowed in the last two laps of either the first or second stage. There was a benefit to the move. 'That gave us the first jump to track position,' Harris said. 'Then at that point, we knew a lot of guys thought a bunch of rain was coming, so we knew a lot of guys would pit and we stayed out. They pitted before (the end of) stage two, thinking they could go to the rain. We thought the rain was going to be like right at the time we were out of fuel. Advertisement 'We started to get some of those sprinkles right as we were starting to run out of fuel.' NASCAR Mexico (4).jpg What drivers said at Mexico City after Cup race won by Shane van Gisbergen The Trackhouse Racing driver turned in a dominant performance for his second career Cup victory. That's why Bowman pitted at Lap 62. When a caution came out for Carson Hocevar's stalled car at Lap 66, only part of the field had pitted. Those that had, moved to the front of the field. Those that had not — including leader Ty Gibbs — restarted deeper in the field after their pit stop. Bowman restarted third and went on to score a top-five finish. 'It feels good to get this No. 48 Ally Chevrolet team a run that they deserve,' Bowman said. 'We've had a lot of fast race cars and just had days that haven't gone our way. We've had issues and there's been times that I've crashed the car, so to get them a good run after everything this week and how hard they've had to work is great.'
