NASCAR broadcast goes out, cuts to the studio after TV compound loses power during Enjoy Illinois 300

In the middle of Stage 2, the NASCAR Enjoy Illinois 300 broadcast on FS1 cut out and left race fans in the dark. Fox had to shoot the broadcast up to the booth and do some commentary in the meantime. The race was under caution after Carson Hocevar’s brake rotor blew up.

Whatever happened in St. Louis, it wasn’t good for Fox and the broadcasters. The track is hot today and there are a lot of issues that NASCAR has had to deal with. Apparently, power was lost to the entire media compound and led to the blackout.

World Wide Technology Raceway is just having a fit with issues this Sunday. Between the heat, the lightning delay, and now this, it has been a wild one.

Power may have been lost in the TV compound at @WWTRaceway

— Jim Utter (@jim_utter) June 4, 2023

Just for those that want to blame Fox, don’t worry, it isn’t their fault. That entire NASCAR broadcast compound lost power and even MRN was unable to broadcast. This was a full-on blackout for thankfully, just a few minutes.

not a FOX issue. an entire broadcast compound issue. lost power over there. MRN isn’t working either

— Daylon Barr (@BarrVisuals) June 4, 2023

One moment, NASCAR fans were watching the caution as Hocevar’s team tried to fix his car. Then, everything cut out and went to commercial. Thankfully, the Fox booth was ready to entertain fans in the meantime and it didn’t take long to get the broadcast back up and running. That doesn’t mean that fans weren’t worried about it.

NASCAR broadcast goes out, fans left with questions

This race has been through its fair share of issues. When the race went green, it looked like it was going to be a normal start. Then, Tyler Reddick spun out. And Corey LaJoie hit the kill switch on his car by accident. It was bizarre for it to all happen on Lap 2 of the race.

Soon after those drivers brought out the caution flag, the red flag came out for lightning. Due to the lightning in the area, this race was just 6 laps into 240 when it took a 1.5-hour break. By the time it was green again, it felt like we should have been in the final laps of the race, but it was just getting started.

But nothing is worse than the broadcast cutting out. Fans were left wondering what in the world happened.

Now Fox's feed is dead. This is a wet fart of a race. #NASCAR #NASCAR75

— Brandon Braswell (@RancheroGT1973) June 4, 2023

No matter how close you were paying attention to the race before when that broadcast cuts out all of a sudden you notice. You could be asleep and as soon as your TV cuts off you are wide awake going “What the hell?!”

That’s how fans reacted when the NASCAR broadcast cut out.

@foxsports Looks like the video feed from St. Louis is down, can someone keep us updated via twitter?

— John Case (@BigFanOfNascar) June 4, 2023

Good thing is, no one missed anything. Hocevar put the race under caution and it was under caution when the broadcast returned. No harm no foul, right? Now just make sure this doesn’t happen with 10 laps to go or we might have a riot on our hands.