NASCAR fans slam FOX broadcast for commercial break with 10 laps to go at Talladega

With 10 laps remaining in Sunday’s Jack Link’s 500 at Talladega Superspeedway, FOX made a questionable decision. The network cut to commercial for the final time as the action was at its most intense with the checkered flag near.

That decision did not go over well with NASCAR fans. Many took to social media to voice their displeasure.

“This is why people talk trash about FOX,” one fan wrote on X. “We are 6 to go at Talladega and are side by side with commercials… unreal lack of awareness about how to showcase the product.”

This was a big one for NASCAR. The Cup Series made its return to FOX after a stretch of races being broadcasted on FS1. Fans were excited to see how the final 15 laps would unfold. But a majority of those laps were accompanied by a side-by-side commercial.

“@NASCARONFOX plan on showing any of the god damn race today or just all side by side? Jesus fu*king Christ, absolute fu*king sham,” another fan tweeted. “Commercials from 15 to go til 11 to go and BACK to commercial with 9 to go until 5 to go? Complete clown show. I won’t be watching anyone FOX race.”

Austin Cindric edges Ryan Preece to win in intense photo-finish at Talladega

FOX came out of commercial with five laps to go. In those final five laps, drivers jostled for position. Fans were treated to a photo-finish in which Austin Cindric edged out Ryan Preece by 0.022-seconds to score his third career Cup victory. Cindric snapped a 30-race winless streak and clinched a spot in the playoffs for the second consecutive season.

It was THAT close! 📸 pic.twitter.com/MGULS6Ejx0

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) April 27, 2025

“We talk about it in every single one of those meetings why we haven’t won one of these races,” Cindric said after the race. “Just really proud of the effort.”