Latest news with #StevePhelps
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Amazon Prime Video Redefines NASCAR Broadcasts with a Bold New Era of Streaming and Innovation
Amazon Prime Video has officially taken the wheel in NASCAR's latest media revolution, and it's not just about where fans watch races, but how they experience them. As part of NASCAR's new seven-year media rights deal kicking off in 2025, Amazon secured exclusive streaming rights to five mid-season Cup Series races annually. That alone is a landmark shift. But when Prime Video debuted with the Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day weekend, the first-ever points-paying Cup race aired solely on a streaming platform, it was clear this was more than just a broadcasting contract. It's the beginning of NASCAR's streaming era. Amazon's Broader Sports Play Prime Video's entry into NASCAR builds on Amazon's broader push into live sports. The tech giant already owns rights to the NFL's 'Thursday Night Football', Premier League soccer, and WNBA matchups. NASCAR represents the latest step in a long-term plan to draw cord-cutting fans and modernize the live sports experience. Advertisement For NASCAR, partnering with Amazon helps diversify its reach. As NASCAR President Steve Phelps said, the league aimed to 'secure long-term stability with an optimized mix of distribution platforms.' Amazon offers access to a younger, more tech-forward audience, and early numbers suggest it's working. Streaming Debut Delivers Younger, Engaged Viewers Amazon's first Cup race drew a peak of 2.92 million viewers, including 800,000 in the key 18–49 demographic—more than any NASCAR cable race in the last three years. While overall viewership lagged behind last year's traditional Fox broadcast, the younger median age and digital engagement signal growth potential. And for fans, the change wasn't just about the platform, it was about the product. Amazon eliminated full-screen commercials during green-flag racing, replacing them with picture-in-picture ads. It's a long-overdue fix to one of NASCAR's most frustrating TV traditions. Advertisement Related: NASCAR schedule 2025 Game-Changing Features: No Missed Moments, More Control Prime's fan-first approach includes innovations like 'Key Moments,' letting viewers rewind major highlights on demand, and 'Rapid Recap,' which delivers a condensed video summary for fans who join mid-race. These tools are built for modern sports viewers used to TikTok speed and DVR control. In addition, Amazon is using Amazon Web Services (AWS) to layer in real-time stats and predictive insights, similar to what AWS already powers for Formula 1. From tire wear to pit strategy, expect smarter analysis baked into the coverage. Advertisement There's also a seamless e-commerce tie-in, allowing fans to 'Shop the Race' and buy team gear in real time. It's an extension of Amazon's retail empire, but also a clever way to let passion turn into purchase with a single click. A Broadcast Team Built for Credibility Fans tuning in to Prime Video's NASCAR coverage were met by a familiar voice: Dale Earnhardt Jr., alongside longtime crew chief Steve Letarte and seasoned broadcaster Adam Alexander. The team brings deep credibility and experience, and unlike some networks, Amazon sends its entire crew on-site to every race, enhancing authenticity and access. Supporting them are pit reporters Marty Snider, Kim Coon, and Trevor Bayne, while Danielle Trotta, Carl Edwards, and Corey LaJoie lead pre- and post-race coverage. The Coca-Cola 600 post-race show ran over an hour, something rarely seen on traditional TV. Challenges Ahead for NASCAR and Fans Still, not everyone is sold. While Amazon partnered with DirecTV to stream races in bars and restaurants, some rural or older fans have struggled to adapt. Internet access, tech familiarity, and subscription fatigue are all real hurdles. Advertisement But team owners and sponsors are bullish. As 23XI Racing President Steve Lauletta said, 'This is a positive move to reach consumers where they are.' The marketing upside, especially for sponsors eager to tap Amazon's platform, is hard to ignore. Related: Prime Video Review 2025 – What to Know Before Subscribing The Future of NASCAR Broadcasting Ultimately, NASCAR's partnership with Amazon feels like a test case for the future of all live sports. It's not just about streaming, it's about flexibility, data, and personalization. If successful, this hybrid model of streaming and traditional TV could become the new norm across major leagues. Advertisement For fans, the tradeoff is clear: a slightly different way to watch in exchange for deeper, richer coverage that's focused more on the racing, and less on missing it. If Amazon continues listening to the fanbase and delivering a product built around access, engagement, and innovation, NASCAR may have found a long-term pit partner for the digital age. Related Headlines
The Drive
3 days ago
- Automotive
- The Drive
Ram Could Return to NASCAR With YouTube Celebrity Cleetus McFarland: Report
The latest car news, reviews, and features. Every few months, the NASCAR rumor mill churns up some hearsay claiming that Dodge and/or Ram is returning to stock car racing. Said rumors occasionally gain real traction when someone important comments on them, like NASCAR President Steve Phelps did a few years back. Now, there's another piece of potential news claiming Ram could soon re-enter the Craftsman Truck Series with hugely popular YouTuber Cleetus McFarland behind the wheel. Here's why it might be legit. The report comes from Adam Stern at Sports Business Journal , who is especially well-sourced when it comes to NASCAR. He published the story on Sunday claiming that McFarland, whose real name is Garrett Mitchell, could be a key piece of the puzzle for Ram's NASCAR efforts come 2026. Stern cites 'four people familiar with the matter and a document seen by SBJ ' as his sources, and beyond that, the move would make a good deal of sense. Ram is a lot like Dodge in the sense that manly marketing is everything to its brand image. Whether it's talking about 'premature electrification' in high-value Super Bowl ads or playing up the ever-ballooning machismo of truck ownership, its reputation is strong—for better and for worse. It wouldn't be surprising to see Ram snag Mitchell, whose 4.4 million subscribers on YouTube triple NASCAR's own viewership on that platform. Plus, he appeals to the core demographic of horsepower-hungry 20- and 30-somethings that really kinda like the idea of burnouts and Baja trucks alike. Not only that, but Mitchell has some legit stock car racing experience. (Keyword: some .) As Stern and SBJ point out, Mitchell has made three ARCA starts so far with a pair of top-10 finishes to his credit. NASCAR made the most of that media opportunity last Sunday at Charlotte, where it dedicated a live stream to Mitchell's in-car feed while also blasting out his post-race interview on every social channel it has. Neither Mitchell nor NASCAR is a dummy when it comes to this. Still, it could be risky for Stellantis, Ram's parent company, to bet so much on a relatively new driver. It's in the middle of a CEO change as we speak, and you don't need me to tell you that isn't a sign of a thriving business. The claim that Ram is seriously considering a NASCAR return isn't unique to SBJ 's latest story. Instead, a supposedly leaked dealer memo sparked a fresh batch of headlines saying as much back in March. Importantly, there hasn't been any news since then saying those plans are off, and the idea that a new celebrity driver could lead the way seems to add credibility to it all. Either way, nothing has been officially announced yet, so we'll just have to see what comes of this. I'll be poking around in the meantime. Got a tip or question for the author? Contact them directly: caleb@
The Drive
05-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Drive
A Warehouse Complex Is Erasing NASCAR's Auto Club Speedway Turn by Turn
We have an update on the ongoing saga of the now-defunct Auto Club Speedway near Fontana, California. While there has been no outward progress on the site's potential redevelopment as a new motorsports venue, activity at the property has nonetheless continued in the interim. The good news is that the demolition appears to have paused since we last checked in; the bad news is that the damage is done. While the teardown may have halted, activity at the site certainly hasn't. Turns 1 and 2 (and the parking lots nearest them) have been replaced by two massive warehouses—one of which sits mere feet from the remains of the speedway's front stretch, looking eerily out of place next to the paddock garages and grandstands, which remain untouched to this day. That's deliberate, or at least it was. When Auto Club Speedway first shut down, NASCAR had grand plans to revive the venue for short-track racing, lessening the maintenance burden and reducing the facility's reliance on big-ticket races to pay the bills. Those plans have since stalled, as NASCAR says it has to prioritize other sites that need more immediate attention. NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps says he still wants to build a short track on the property because, as he put it, there's simply no room left for anything bigger. Plans for the Auto Club Speedway site. Building 1 and Building 2 now stand in place of Turns 1 and 2. CBRE In the meantime, the site has in some ways simply regressed to a previous form. California Speedway was itself built on an old industrial site—the former home of Kaiser Steel, which survives in a roundabout way as California Steel Industries. CSI still has operations on the site; its offices are in the southeast corner of the property, visible to the right of the two warehouses in the post below. What will be Auto Club Speedway's fate? At this point, it's really anybody's guess. LA motorsports fans would no doubt love to have access to another nearby venue (especially given the likelihood of price hikes at Willow Springs, which was itself recently sold), but given the limited space and dubious state of the project, we'd advise them not to hold their collective breath. Got tips? Send 'em to tips@ Byron is one of those weird car people who has never owned an automatic transmission. Born in the DMV but Midwestern at heart, he lives outside of Detroit with his wife, two cats, a Miata, a Wrangler, and a Blackwing.
Newsweek
30-04-2025
- Automotive
- Newsweek
NASCAR Commissioner Slams Vile Attacks on Female Driver Katherine Legge
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps has addressed the online threats and hate messages that Katherine Legge has received since taking up a part-time racing role in the Cup Series. The British driver has been open with the extensive threats that she has been receiving, mainly via social media. Addressing these, Phelps made his position and the position of the sport very clear to CNN: "I want to be crystal clear about this, we condemn this behavior. It is unacceptable, this is not appropriate for NASCAR, sports, or the world. "This is a woman who has competed very successfully in all forms of motorsports and we want her here at NASCAR. They can take their opinions and their hate right out of NASCAR, because there's just no place for it." Katherine Legge, driver of the #32 e.l.f. Cosmetics Chevrolet, waves to fans as she walks onstage during driver intros prior to the NASCAR Xfinity Series Ag-Pro 300 at Talladega Superspeedway on April 26, 2025 in... Katherine Legge, driver of the #32 e.l.f. Cosmetics Chevrolet, waves to fans as she walks onstage during driver intros prior to the NASCAR Xfinity Series Ag-Pro 300 at Talladega Superspeedway on April 26, 2025 in Talladega, Alabama. MoreThe 44-year-old has got experience in multiple racing disciples, including IndyCar, Formula E, the NASCAR Xfinity Series, ARCA Menards, and now the NASCAR Cup Series. She holds the record for the fastest qualifying time for a female driver in the Indy 500, which she set in 2023. Legge has also spoken to CNN about the hate that she has received. "Online bullying is getting more toxic, and I think that somebody needs to call it out," she said. "It's shocking to read some of the vile things that people write, there just seems to be this whole online movement where people think that it's OK to say these things that they would never have the courage to say to people in real life; or absolutely shouldn't." She added: "I think it's more prevalent with women in sports, especially with women in male dominated sports, because we stick out more, you know? There is the opinion that we are a gimmick, or we shouldn't be there because we're DEI hires and we haven't earned our spot. "It's just noise. I have a thick skin. It's not worth my time or energy. I can honestly say it doesn't phase me one way or the other, because they are people who I would not ask an opinion of. The people I respect, team members, my bosses, my partners, my family, my friends, and those who have been there and done it, are the voices that I listen to." She added: "It's just mind-blowing to me because I would never do it. I would ever go online and try and bring somebody else down to raise myself up and so I feel sorry for them, I guess, is the best way of putting it."
Newsweek
29-04-2025
- Automotive
- Newsweek
NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps Linked To PGA Tour CEO Role According To Report
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. As per a report by Adam Stern of Sports Business Journal, NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps has been linked to the vacant role of PGA Tour CEO. Phelps took the newly formed role of NASCAR Commissioner last month, after holding the role of NASCAR President since 2018. He commented at the time of the announcement: "I'm honored to take this next step in helping to guide NASCAR, the sport I've loved since my father took me to my first race at 5 years old, continue to grow and welcome new fans, competitors and partners that together create some of the most extraordinary moments in sports. "I cannot thank the France family enough for their unwavering commitment to our fans, their steady leadership, and most importantly, their stewardship of stock-car racing since its inception nearly eight decades ago. "This sport is truly one of the great American business stories and I'm privileged to continue as part of that legacy – and especially its bright future." NASCAR President Steve Phelps attends the Drivers Meeting prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway on April 06, 2025 in Darlington, South Carolina. NASCAR President Steve Phelps attends the Drivers Meeting prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway on April 06, 2025 in Darlington, South this, Stern reports that Phelps is still "considered an active and attractive target" for the PGA Tour role. Stern stated: "The tour's search committee is likely drawn by Phelps' role in re-energizing NASCAR since he took over the stock car racing circuit in 2018, and he holds great respect across the sports business community." However, Stern added that Phelps will still likely stay in NASCAR for "years to come." He continued: "His level of interest in the role could not be immediately established, and he thus could wind up staying at NASCAR for years to come, as he is a hardcore fan of NASCAR and has great passion for the sport." PGA Tour Enterprises has been on the hunt for a new CEO since January 2024. PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan commented in December 2024: "Everything is on the table. "We're bringing new perspectives on to our team to help us realize the incredible opportunities ahead for our sport, including launching a search for a CEO of the PGA Tour. "We can learn so much from across the world of sport and entertainment, and I'm excited to meet candidates for this important new role."
