If you were frustrated trying to find the practice and qualifying sessions for the NASCAR Cup Series today, you’re not alone—Kevin Harvick shared the same sentiment. After a two-week break, many fans had to search through the NBC Sports App just to catch the action.
Today, NASCAR allotted teams 45 minutes of practice time. This was partly due to the use of “Option” tires this weekend at Richmond, a softer compound designed to generate more speed in short runs. However, finding coverage of this session proved challenging for viewers. Kevin Harvick revealed that it took him 20 minutes to locate the practice session on the NBC Sports App.
Harvick expressed his frustration on social media, stating, “Two weeks off and it took me 20 minutes to find qualifying. Don’t blame the drivers when no one’s watching because it’s buried on an app.” The now-retired Harvick, known as “The Closer,” is not shy about voicing his opinions, and this instance was no different. Even during his racing days, he was outspoken and didn’t hesitate to share his thoughts.
Harvick’s frustration is understandable. The NASCAR Cup Series is the pinnacle of motorsports in North America, and after a two-week hiatus, fans should be able to easily find and enjoy the return of the series. Placing the 45-minute practice and qualifying session on an app, rather than making it more accessible, seems like a missed opportunity to engage fans.
Given that NASCAR will be moving more content to streaming platforms next year, this issue could become more prevalent. For fans who struggled to find today’s session, this raises concerns about how easily they will be able to access races and other events in the future as the sport increasingly shifts towards digital platforms.
