Again in November 2023, when NASCAR and FOX signed a seven-year media rights settlement, followers anticipated thorough protection of the races. However fast-forward to Could 2026, and people expectations could not have been absolutely met. So one can solely think about the frustration amongst followers and drivers once they all of a sudden realized key data was by no means proven in the course of the broadcast at The Glen. Reflecting on the identical now’s .
As soon as the 100 laps at Watkins Glen got here to an in depth, social media erupted over Cody Ware’s crash. Because it turned out, Ware suffered a nasty crash in the course of the ultimate levels of the race, whereas Josh Berry drove away with harm to his personal automobile. But the incident was by no means proven on the tv broadcast. So who must be held accountable? Hamlin appears to have a no-nonsense reply.
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“NASCAR has to get higher with that. Like, I’ve seen their management middle at their manufacturing studio,” . “There’s completely no excuse to not, , have cameras pointing in each course of this racetrack. For you to not see Cody Ware destroyed in that ultimate nook. Holy cow, man.
“That’s why they should say one thing about that. Not simply, ‘Oh, we’ll take a look at it.’ Nicely, we’re all the time trying to enhance. Like, we’re, , that’s previous information. Take some accountability for this one. This isn’t acceptable. Is TV going as NASCAR goes, or are the 2 events working independently? Might TV have proven that Cody wreck, after which we see, like, ‘Oh, they didn’t throw warning for that.’ Like, that’s not a very good look.”
NASCAR claims that its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Charlotte is the hub for race management and broadcasting operations. This manufacturing facility, which value practically $60 million to construct, is supplied with sufficient cameras to watch the security and broadcast of the race. Not solely that, however the manufacturing facility can also be revered sufficient to earn the belief of different sports activities.
TALLADEGA, AL – APRIL 26: Denny Hamlin 11 Joe Gibbs Racing King s Hawaiian UBE Coconut Rolls Toyota appears to be like on previous to the operating of the NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Collection Jack Hyperlinks 500 on April 26, 2026, at Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega AL. Picture by Jeffrey Vest/Icon Sportswire AUTO: APR 26 NASCAR Cup Collection Jack Hyperlinks 500 EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon2604262724
As a facility that produces practically 600 stay occasions per yr, it feels moderately diabolical that each FOX and NASCAR had no concept what was happening as Ware was driving his limping automobile round for the remainder of the laps after pitting a number of instances with a purpose to return to motion. Given how issues are presupposed to function there, NASCAR officers ought to have instantly flagged the incident, and FOX Sports activities ought to have redirected its cameras to the wreck.
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The No. 11 driver additional defined that NASCAR operates with roughly 16 to 24 screens, every monitored by officers monitoring each motion across the racetrack. The sanctioning physique additionally maintains stay digital camera feeds at each venue to keep away from any gaps in protection, with officers consistently looking ahead to incidents that would flip into harmful hazards, making yesterday’s blunder completely avoidable.
And this was not a singular incident. By the top of the race, there was an incident between Josh Berry and Carson Hocevar, inflicting main disagreement between the drivers. Followers had no concept what occurred and have been left scouring social media for onboard footage. So, it’s comprehensible that .
Moreover, the crash was moderately vital on this state of affairs. Offered the warning got here out when Ware wrecked, the race would have performed out very in another way. There would have been one other warning, one other set of pit stops, and a minimum of yet another restart. However because it stayed inexperienced, we noticed SVG win by 7 seconds.
So, it appears moderately ironic that the FOX Sports activities broadcast was in a position to seize a stray tent blowing away within the wind, but by some means missed Cody Ware’s crash. The extra urgent difficulty, nevertheless, is that no warning flags have been thrown afterward. It’s a debate NASCAR followers are passionately engaged in, however with out an official broadcast angle, the state of affairs turns into muddy and complicated.
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Now, . Final yr on the Chicago Avenue Race, Ware crashed laborious right into a tire barrier. And provided that he was buried deep within the barrier and couldn’t get going once more, NASCAR waited to throw the warning, which drew heavy criticism from followers.
WATKINS GLEN, NY – MAY 09: Cody Ware 51 Rick Ware Racing Jacob Building Chevrolet exits the bus cease in the course of the NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Collection Go Bowling on the Glen qualifying on Could 9, 2026, at Watkins Glen Worldwide in Watkins Glen, NY. Picture by Orry Perce/Icon Sportswire AUTO: MAY 09 NASCAR Cup Collection Go Bowling on the Glen EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon2605091830
Nevertheless, in the case of Hamlin, he doesn’t seem to have a lot confidence in NASCAR’s judgment on the matter. After carefully reviewing the footage, Hamlin was clearly annoyed.
Denny Hamlin revisits previous ghosts at Watkins Glen
Taking a jab at Mike Forde, Hamlin stated:
“All proper. I don’t know. Nicely, I’m positive they’ll—Mike Ford will give you some assertion on it.”
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Even the commentators have been baffled that Ware’s crash didn’t set off a warning. They initially anticipated yellow flags to return out, solely to rapidly reverse course and say no motion could be taken.
For the Joe Gibbs Racing driver, the state of affairs was like a scalpel reopening previous wounds. He as soon as misplaced a championship due to an premature warning, alongside along with his solely probability to say goodbye to his father as a championship-winning NASCAR driver. Not solely that, however in the course of the 2026 season, Hamlin once more got here up quick towards Tyler Reddick at Kansas following an additional time restart.
So, in his eyes, it was moderately disrespectful that NASCAR would select to not take any motion on this case and permit SVG to have a free run to the end line.
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