INDIANAPOLIS — NASCAR fans are rallying on social media, urging Fox Sports to broadcast Friday’s ARCA Menards Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series doubleheader at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park (IRP) from the track rather than the network’s Charlotte studios. The LiUNA! 150 presented by Dutch Boy, airing at 5:30 p.m. EDT on FS1, and the TSport 200 at 8 p.m. EDT have sparked a wave of fan outcry for on-site coverage, with many claiming remote broadcasts by announcers like Jamie Little and Michael Waltrip miss critical on-track action from the Charlotte bunker.
Fans have taken to X, voicing frustration over Fox Sports’ reliance on the Charlotte studio for lower-tier series.
User @NASCARFanatic24 posted, “Fox needs to get Jamie Little and Michael Waltrip out of Charlotte and to IRP! They’re missing half the battles on their monitors.” Another fan, @SpeedwaySteve, echoed the sentiment, writing, “Remote broadcasts are killing the vibe. You can’t feel the energy of IRP from a studio 500 miles away.”
The push for trackside coverage stems from fans’ belief that studio-based announcers, limited to monitor feeds, struggle to capture the intensity of short-track racing, where split-second moves define the action, no matter how good Little or Waltrip might be with their craft.
The doubleheader at IRP, a 0.686-mile oval known for tight racing, features the ARCA Menards Series’ 150-lap race and the Truck Series’ 200-lap event. Fans argue that on-site broadcasters like Little, who calls both races, and Waltrip, a two-time Daytona 500 champion, would better convey the chaos of restarts and door-to-door battles.
“When they’re not at the track, they miss the little things—the spotter chatter, the crowd roar, the tension in the pits,” said @RacingMom88 on X. Fox Sports’ decision to broadcast from Charlotte, a cost-saving measure, has drawn criticism for diluting the viewer experience, especially for series like ARCA and Trucks, which rely on passionate fanbases.
Fox is catching heat during every Truck broadcast for their remote broadcasting decisions.
The broadcast network has its anchors report from the Charlotte bunker when the Cup Series is not on its main network.
Fox Sports’ 2025 lineup includes Little sharing Truck Series play-by-play duties with Harvick and Waltrip, while pit reporters Josh Sims, Regan Smith, and Amanda Busick are trackside. The network’s history of remote broadcasting, particularly for Truck Series races, has fueled fan discontent. A 2024 article on motorcyclesports.net noted fans’ frustration, with one stating, “Are they going to be locked in a broom closet in Charlotte again? Or is Fox going to actually spend a few bucks to send them to the track?”
Tonight’s races mark a critical point in the season. The ARCA event could see points leader Isaac Kitzmiller clinch a strong position, while the Truck Series race kicks off the playoffs’ Round of 10. Fans argue that on-site coverage would elevate these high-stakes moments. As @TracksideTina posted, “IRP deserves better than a studio feed. Send the crew to the track, Fox!” With the green flag looming, fans hope their voices push Fox Sports to prioritize trackside broadcasts, ensuring the heart of short-track racing shines through.
NASCAR has drawn a lot of criticism on the internet this week from fans for their decision making. Hopefully IRP goes smoothly with a quality broadcast.
Bubba Wallace’s spotter makes hilarious joke.
