In a strategic move to avoid weather disruptions, NASCAR advanced the start time for last weekend’s race at Pocono by two hours—a shift made possible by the operational flexibility of Prime Video.
On the latest episode of Inside the Race, Steve Letarte and Kyle Petty praised the proactive decision, noting that the adjustment ensured the full 400-mile, 160-lap event was completed without a single weather-related delay.
“Bravo to Prime,” said Letarte, a former Daytona 500-winning crew chief. “I know I work for them, but bravo, because I can tell you that about five minutes after we left the post-race stage, the rain arrived. There would have been no racing.”
Petty echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the benefit to the spectators. “There are a million fans you could call right now who have spent five or six hours in the grandstands just to see the second half of a race, wishing the start time had been moved up. I applaud Amazon, NASCAR, and everyone involved. We are fortunate to partner with Amazon during a time when they can make these adjustments. Some networks simply cannot, and while I understand that, having a partner that can pivot for the benefit of the fans and competitors means everyone wins.”
While the decision successfully beat the weather, the schedule change appeared to impact viewership; the race drew 1.66 million viewers, an 11 percent decrease compared to 2025.
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