Latest news with #BurnBar
Newsweek
13 hours ago
- Automotive
- Newsweek
AI Just Took Over NASCAR – Here's the Burn Bar Tool Everyone's Talking About
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Amazon's Prime Video has developed the Burn Bar for NASCAR race viewers that displays real-time mileage during the race. With the help of an artificial intelligence model, each driver's fuel consumption and efficiency will be showcased after the telemetry data of each car has been analyzed. The Burn Bar is expected to help fans gain a new insight into team strategy, especially in mileage races such as last weekend's race at the Michigan International Speedway, where drivers had to preserve fuel to make it to the end of the race. NASCAR on Prime analyst Steve Letarte, who contributed to the development of the Burn Bar, explained that since the cars don't have a sensor that reports mileage, the AI tool makes mathematical calculations using the data obtained from the cars. He said: Chase Briscoe, driver of the #19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota, and Kyle Busch, driver of the #8 BetMGM Chevrolet, lead the field on a pace lap prior to the NASCAR Cup Series FireKeepers Casino 400... Chase Briscoe, driver of the #19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota, and Kyle Busch, driver of the #8 BetMGM Chevrolet, lead the field on a pace lap prior to the NASCAR Cup Series FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway on June 08, 2025 in Brooklyn, Michigan. More"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. "There's not a sensor on the car giving us miles per gallon. It's a mathematical calculation of other cars performances." Let's take a peek at The Burn Bar, the newest AI-Powered innovation from @PrimeVideo! — Sports on Prime (@SportsonPrime) June 2, 2025 The Burn Bar was featured during the race at Charlotte Motor Speedway last month for a short duration and will appear again this weekend for the race in Mexico. Letarte teamed up with Amazon Web Services and Prime Video analytics expert on Thursday Night Football, Sam Schwartzstein, to develop the Burn Bar. They used four models to analyze fuel consumption and then matched them with the actual data obtained from the teams post-race to shortlist the most accurate method. Schwartzstein revealed that the test they performed at Michigan last weekend proved successful. He said: "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." Prime Video's senior coordinating producer for live sports, Alex Strand, shared his optimism in the path the team had chosen. He added: "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. "I think that's what we're really excited about is to say, 'OK, we've had success in Year 1 on a feature that's resonated with fans right out of the gate.' It raises the table for our offseason."
The Independent
20 hours ago
- Automotive
- The Independent
How Prime Video's 'Burn Bar' is changing the way we watch NASCAR
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 for 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, the Coca-Cola 600 on May 25. It has been used more frequently the past two weeks and will be deployed again 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 and Amazon Web Services 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 that 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 1 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. ___
a day ago
- Automotive
How Prime Video's 'Burn Bar' is changing the way we watch NASCAR
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.
Hamilton Spectator
a day ago
- Automotive
- Hamilton Spectator
How Prime Video's ‘Burn Bar' is changing the way we watch NASCAR
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: Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Washington Post
a day ago
- Automotive
- Washington Post
How Prime Video's 'Burn Bar' is changing the way we watch NASCAR
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.
