NASCAR: Fox Sports 1 robs fans of Todd Gilliland’s first Truck win
By Asher Fair
Many fans did not get to see Todd Gilliland secure his first NASCAR Truck Series victory, as Fox Sports 1’s live broadcast cut out the race’s final two laps.
There’s a saying that goes, “If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?”
Today, NASCAR fans were left wondering the same thing, but in racing form.
“If a Truck Series driver wins his first race and no one watches it, did he actually win?”
More from Camping World Truck Series
- NASCAR: New team confirmed for Kyle Busch for 2024
- NASCAR: Replacement confirmed for driver released before Talladega
- NASCAR team releases driver with three races left
- NASCAR Truck Series: Spencer Boyd speaks on Montucky, Bristol tradition
- NASCAR title-winning team shutting down after 2023
That is the question fans were left asking after Fox Sports 1’s live broadcast of the final restart of Saturday afternoon’s NASCAR Hall of Fame 200 cut off to a stagnant “FS1 NASCAR” screen.
There was still audio coverage to confirm the race results, but no picture — which is what fans who don’t attend the races but still watch them live (supposedly) pay for.
It was Kyle Busch Motorsports’ Todd Gilliland, who has dealt with several bouts of missed fortune and heartbreak that have left him winless up until this point, who held of Niece Motorsports’ Ross Chastain to secure the first victory of his Truck Series career.
It’s a darn shame no one saw it happen, because it’s been a long time coming.
Fans not at the race got to watch (some of) the burnout after the network quickly switched to the Oklahoma State Cowboys at #23 Iowa State Cyclones college football game.
Yes, technical glitches happen, and NASCAR on FOX posted a video of the end of the race so fans could actually see what happened. But they have yet to mention the technical glitch that robbed fans of the live finish.
Retweet to congratulate @ToddGilliland_ on his first @NASCAR_Trucks WIN at Martinsville!!! pic.twitter.com/M1jNDSxC8W
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) October 26, 2019
They also added the following, because clearly a college football game that means nothing from a national championship/playoff standpoint means more from a live broadcasting perspective.
That first-win feeling! @AlanCavanna talks with @ToddGilliland_ after his Martinsville victory. pic.twitter.com/4VKHFKFf7s
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) October 26, 2019
Checking in with @RossChastain and @StewartFriesen after the Martinsville finish. pic.twitter.com/kcZ4GWJyvX
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) October 26, 2019
Next. Top 10 NASCAR drivers of all-time. dark
But as for live coverage, forget about it. As long as college football is around on the same network or networks as NASCAR, don’t expect NASCAR to get 100% commitment from anybody. That’s just the way it is, and let’s just be grateful when we don’t have these issues to deal with.