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How Prime Video’s ‘Burn Bar’ is changing the way we watch NASCAR |

NASCAR fans have grown accustomed to seeing speed, throttle and braking on broadcasts for years. There has been one measurement, though, that has eluded networks and viewers for years. Until now. Viewers of the Prime Video races have been able to see fuel usage with the introduction of the Burn Bar. Race teams have measured […]

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NASCAR fans have grown accustomed to seeing speed, throttle and braking on broadcasts for years. There has been one measurement, though, that has eluded networks and viewers for years.

Until now.

Viewers of the Prime Video races have been able to see fuel usage with the introduction of the Burn Bar. Race teams have measured burn rates and fuel levels down to the last ounce for years, but the methodology has been kept secret for competitive reasons.

Prime Video, though, developed an AI tool using car data available to broadcasters and teams that can measure miles per gallon. The Burn Bar made a brief appearance during Prime’s first broadcast, the Coca-Cola 600 on May 25. It has been used more frequently the past two weeks and will be deployed again on Sunday during the race in Mexico City.

NASCAR on Prime analyst Steve Letarte, a former crew chief for Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr., contributed to the development of the Burn Bar and sees it as the first step in taking race analysis to a new level.

“It’s the first true tool that is taking information off the car, making calculations and then displaying to the fan a calculation or measurement that is being used in the garage. And it does affect the team,” he said. “There’s not a sensor on the car giving us miles per gallon. It’s a mathematical calculation of other cars performances.”

The AI model analyzes thousands of performance data per second, including a range of in-car telemetry signals, RPMs, throttle and optical tracking of each car’s position. The model then evaluates each driver’s fuel consumption and efficiency throughout the race.

Letarte worked with Prime Video “Thursday Night Football Prime Vision” analyst Sam Schwartzstein and Amazon Web Services during the process. They came up with four methodologies that were tested during the first part of the season, which was broadcast by Fox. Schwartzstein and Letarte would then get the data from teams after races to see how close they were until they picked one that worked the best.

The Burn Bar received its toughest test during last week’s race at Michigan as the final 48 laps were run without a caution flag. Most teams made their final pit stops with 50 laps to go, meaning teams were going to be down to the end of their fuel runs at the checkered flag.

“We projected William Byron to run out, which he did, and then we were on the razor’s edge for Denny Hamlin. And then watching the truck push him back into victory lane at the end, knowing he was as close as we thought he was. What a cool way to see this feature come to life and elevate NASCAR broadcasts,” Schwartzstein said.

Alex Strand, Prime Video’s senior coordinating producer for live sports, also sees the Burn Bar as the first tool of many that Amazon and Prime Video can develop for its coverage. Prime Video is in the first year of a seven-year agreement to carry five races per season.

“It’s really cool to live in a world where it shows us that anything is possible. We’re starting with something that we’re really excited about, but it’s setting us down a path that will open up new doors for us,” he said. “I think that’s what we’re really excited about is to say, ‘OK, we’ve had success in Year 1 on a feature that’s resonated with fans right out of the gate.’ It raises the table for our offseason.”

After Sunday’s race in Mexico City, Prime Video’s coverage for this season wraps up with the race at Pocono on June 22.


AP NASCAR: https://apnews.com/hub/nascar-racing

Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.



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Porsche pair seizes IMSA points lead after gritty fourth at Watkins Glen

Photo credit: Porsche Porsche Penske Motorsport endured a mixed Six Hours of Watkins Glen, salvaging fourth place with the No. 6 Porsche 963 while the sister No. 7 entry crashed out. The result was enough to move Matt Campbell and Mathieu Jaminet to the top of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship standings, leap-frogging team-mates Felipe […]

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Photo credit: Porsche

Photo credit: Porsche

Porsche Penske Motorsport endured a mixed Six Hours of Watkins Glen, salvaging fourth place with the No. 6 Porsche 963 while the sister No. 7 entry crashed out. The result was enough to move Matt Campbell and Mathieu Jaminet to the top of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship standings, leap-frogging team-mates Felipe Nasr and Nick Tandy despite the latter’s retirement.

Rain at the start played to Porsche’s strengths, allowing Nasr to charge from 10th to the lead within five laps. Once the track dried and temperatures climbed to 90°F, however, the 963s slipped back behind Cadillac and BMW rivals. Campbell and Jaminet held steady to secure fourth, but with 80 minutes remaining Tandy lost control in Turn 1 and hit the barriers at 25 g. The Briton walked away unhurt, though the No. 7’s title lead evaporated.

Customer squads also struggled. JDC-Miller’s No. 85 Porsche 963 took eighth on the road but a pit-lane infraction dropped it to 10th, and Proton Competition’s car retired after a multi-class tangle. In GTD Pro, AO Racing’s fan-favorite “Rexy” 911 GT3 R reached the class lead during the early wet stint but finished sixth after late contact and refuelling woes. Wright Motorsports’ GTD entry came home 13th.

Despite the setbacks, Porsche retains first place in the GTP team and manufacturer tables. The top prototype class is idle until Road America on August 3; LMP2 and the GT fields race next at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park on July 13.





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IMSA star Jordan Taylor to run NASCAR Truck race at Lime Rock

Spire Motorsports has confirmed that they will be partnering with Jordan Taylor for this weekend’s NASCAR Truck Series race at Lime Rock Park. It will be the first time any national division of the sport has raced at the Connecticut road course. “I’m eager to join Spire Motorsports for the LiUNA 150,” said Taylor in a release […]

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Spire Motorsports has confirmed that they will be partnering with Jordan Taylor for this weekend’s NASCAR Truck Series race at Lime Rock Park. It will be the first time any national division of the sport has raced at the Connecticut road course.

“I’m eager to join Spire Motorsports for the LiUNA 150,” said Taylor in a release from the team. “I have spoken with a few members of the team for a few years now, so it’s great things have finally come together. I know it’s going to be tough jumping into the series mid-season, but I know I am joining one of the top teams in the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. Our Gainbridge Chevrolet Silverado will for sure be competitive, I just hope I can adapt to the truck quickly on the short weekend. Lime Rock Park is a track I know really well, but obviously all my experience around there is in much different types of cars, so I’m looking forward to the new challenge.”

The event will also feature Australian Supercars star Cam Waters, which was previously announced, but he certainly won’t be the only ‘ringer’ in the field.  The 34-year-old Taylor will pilot the No. 7 Spire Chevrolet Silverado in his first Truck Series start.

However, he’s not a rookie when it comes to stock car racing. Taylor was an integral part of the Garage 56 NASCAR program that went to Le Mans in 2023, and he also has starts in both the Cup and Xfinity Series.

Taylor filled in for Chase Elliott in the Cup race at COTA two years ago, starting fourth before finishing 24th after getting caught up in the chaos of the race. That year, he also ran two Xfinity races with Kaulig Racing, finishing 27th at Portland and 16th at the Charlotte Roval.

#40 Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing Cadillac V- Series.R: Jordan Taylor, Louis Deletraz

#40 Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing Cadillac V- Series.R: Jordan Taylor, Louis Deletraz

Photo by: Jake Galstad / Lumen via Getty Images

Taylor is a highly experienced road racer, winning back-to-back GTLM titles as an IMSA driver in 2020 and 2021, as well as IMSA prototype titles in 2013 and 2017. He has three wins in the Rolex 24 at Daytona including two overall, a class victory in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Taylor’s many triumphs also include victories in the Sebring 12 Hours, Sahlen Six Hours at Watkins Glen, and Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta.

“Jordan Taylor’s body of work speaks for itself,” said Spire Motorsports co-owner Jeff Dickerson. “His accomplishments at the global level are more than impressive so we’re obviously thrilled to have Jordan drive our No. 7 Gainbridge Chevy Silverado this weekend at Lime Rock Park. This is also a great opportunity to connect with our friends at Wayne Taylor Racing and shine a bit of a spotlight on the TWG Motorsports family. There is no doubt Wayne and Jordan set a very high standard when it comes to road racing and can only help us be better. Expectations are high and, collectively, we’re looking forward to the challenge.”

Spire has used a variety of drivers in its No. 7 truck this year, including Kyle Busch, Carson Hocevar, Corey Day, and Sammy Smith. Both Busch and Hocevar managed to score a win this year while driving the No. 7 truck.

While the Truck Series is at Lime Rock, the NASCAR Cup and Xfinity Series will be racing at Atlanta this weekend. The Cup race will feature a full field of 40 cars for just the third time this year.

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Nick DeGroot

NASCAR Truck

Jordan Taylor

Spire Motorsports

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Watches inspired by the world of motorsports

Blurring the lines between film and real life, IWC Shaffhausen collaborates with Apple’s F1, which depicts Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt), a retired racer who returns to train a new racing prodigy. The Maison is the sponsor of the fictional Apex Grand Prix Team (APXGP), its branding visible on racing suits, helmets and uniforms. Its watches […]

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Blurring the lines between film and real life, IWC Shaffhausen collaborates with Apple’s F1, which depicts Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt), a retired racer who returns to train a new racing prodigy. The Maison is the sponsor of the fictional Apex Grand Prix Team (APXGP), its branding visible on racing suits, helmets and uniforms. Its watches are worn as the official timepiece of the team, including Pitt. The watch his character wears is the basis of a special Ingenieur Automatic 40 with a green, grid patterned dial. A classic stainless steel case and strap reinforces the impression of endurance and reliability, complemented by the lustre of subtle gold appliques.

Accompanying it are three new Chronographs in its Pilot’s Watches collection, each one themed after the APXGP. Coming in first is the Pilot’s Watch Performance Chronograph 41, sporting an 18-carat 5N gold case with a sapphire case back. Mirroring the dark, sleek silhouette of Joshua Pearce’s (Damson Idris) car, its black lacquered dial and ceramic bezel evoke a measure of striking modernity. Following this are the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph APXGP, which features a 43mm stainless steel case, and its fellow Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 APXGP, with a slightly slimmer 41mm case. The team’s APXGP logo is featured prominently on the rubber straps and on the sapphire back.

In real life, IWC backs the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 team, further emphasised with the Big Pilot’s Watch Shock Absorber XPL Toto Wolff, named so after the team principal. It is designed to not just survive intense pressure at high speed, but power through it. Its bulk metallic glass absorbs any and all outside forces and spreads it evenly, insulating its interior mechanics to maintain uncompromising precision.

See more: IWC Schaffhausen featured in the upcoming Brad Pitt-starring film ‘F1’ by Apple TV



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NASCAR Fans Announce ‘Boycott’ Of Popular Driver

NASCAR Fans Announce ‘Boycott’ Of Popular Driver originally appeared on The Spun. NASCAR fans have announced a “boycott” of a popular driver and his team in the wake of a controversial firing. Advertisement A NASCAR team member has reportedly been fired for his comments on Mexico City. The NASCAR team member was critical of Mexico […]

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NASCAR Fans Announce ‘Boycott’ Of Popular Driver originally appeared on The Spun.

NASCAR fans have announced a “boycott” of a popular driver and his team in the wake of a controversial firing.

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A NASCAR team member has reportedly been fired for his comments on Mexico City. The NASCAR team member was critical of Mexico City, following last weekend’s Cup Series race in the country. The NASCAR team spotter said that he couldn’t wait to get out of Mexico City.

Tab Boyd, a spotter for Ricky Stenhouse Jr.’s team, apparently got scammed outside of his hotel.

“I’m ready to go home, screw this place, people can talk it up all they want…can’t even walk out the front door of the hotel without getting hustled and money snatched…in less than 5 minutes. Good area my (expletive),” he reportedly shared on social media over the weekend.

He was ultimately fired.

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“You know, obviously, that’s an unfortunate deal. The team let Tab Body go this week, and we got Clayton Hughes to come fill in. I’ve never worked with Clayton. You know, obviously, I think the concern for me is trying to get on the same page as quickly as we can knowing that, like you said, the schedule coming up, going to Atlanta next week could be a very important race for our team and trying to get us into the Playoffs and put us in the right position,” Stenhouse Jr. announced last week.

NORTH WILKESBORO, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 20: Austin Cindric, driver of the #2 Keystone Light Ford, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., driver of the #47 Kroger/Coca-Cola Chevrolet, Ryan Blaney, driver of the #12 Menards/Wrangler Ford, and Kevin Harvick, driver of the #29 Busch Light Ford, race during qualifying heat #1 for the NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway on May 20, 2023 in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)Sean Gardner/Getty Images

NORTH WILKESBORO, NORTH CAROLINA – MAY 20: Austin Cindric, driver of the #2 Keystone Light Ford, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., driver of the #47 Kroger/Coca-Cola Chevrolet, Ryan Blaney, driver of the #12 Menards/Wrangler Ford, and Kevin Harvick, driver of the #29 Busch Light Ford, race during qualifying heat #1 for the NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway on May 20, 2023 in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)Sean Gardner/Getty Images

NASCAR fans aren’t happy with the decision, though. Some NASCAR fans have announced that they will be boycotting the Stenhouse team.

“NASCAR and gutless team owners! Why does anyone watch NASCAR?” one fan wrote.

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“This is extremely harsh unless there are some comments I missed,” one fan added.

“The Mexico trip has turned into one unforced error after another by NASCAR virtue police,” one fan added.

“He didn’t even say anything bad…” one fan added.

What you say on social media can always come back to bite you, no matter how valid you think your opinion is.

While NASCAR fans are upset by the firing, clearly, Ricky Stenhouse Jr.’s team felt that it was the right decision.

It sounds like they’ll have people rooting against them moving forward.

NASCAR Fans Announce ‘Boycott’ Of Popular Driver first appeared on The Spun on Jun 23, 2025

This story was originally reported by The Spun on Jun 23, 2025, where it first appeared.



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Denny Hamlin reacts to NASCAR potentially adding San Diego street course race

Denny Hamlin wouldn’t mind competing in a NASCAR Cup Series street race in San Diego. On the Actions Detrimental podcast, Hamlin reacted to the news of NASCAR adding a San Diego street course race next year. “I don’t hate it,” Denny Hamlin said. “I certainly think that San Diego sounds like a place I’d like […]

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Denny Hamlin wouldn’t mind competing in a NASCAR Cup Series street race in San Diego. On the Actions Detrimental podcast, Hamlin reacted to the news of NASCAR adding a San Diego street course race next year.

“I don’t hate it,” Denny Hamlin said. “I certainly think that San Diego sounds like a place I’d like to go. “I mean, sure, I guess. It seems like they’re really in favor of street races out. So if they’re hellbent on it, then San Diego seems like a destination to do that.”

Last week, Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic reported NASCAR was finalizing a deal to race on a street course in the San Diego area next year. If the deal goes through, NASCAR would return to Southern California after being away for a few years.

A return to the area would be the first points race since Kyle Busch won at Fontana in 2023. The track, which is called Auto Club Speedway, was closed shortly after the race for reconstruction. The last NASCAR race in Southern California was in 2024 when the drivers competed in the Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

NASCAR wants to be back in Southern California

It’s clear NASCAR wants to return to the Southern California area since. Last year, then-NASCAR president Steve Phelps spoke to NBC Sports about potentially having at race at Dodger Stadium, the home of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

“We are committed to the market,” Phelps told NBC Sports in March 2024. “It’s important. What it looks like at this point next year, I don’t know. Was there an exploration with the Dodgers, working with Formula E and creating a potential joint opportunity there? Yeah.

“That should not be a surprise. It’s just due diligence. If something hits, great, and if it doesn’t so be it, but I think we need to continue to push the boundaries, not just from a schedule standpoint. I think we’ve seen that, or fans have seen that and media have seen that. We have a willingness to think differently and it’s working.”



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Josh Shapiro Reveals NASCAR Are Considering Race in Philadelphia

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro revealed that the state is in talks about the arrival of a NASCAR race in Philadelphia. The state government official was at the Pocono Cup Series Race and talked to the media about the state’s sports event coming up. At the event, he announced that Pocono had sold out for the […]

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Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro revealed that the state is in talks about the arrival of a NASCAR race in Philadelphia.

The state government official was at the Pocono Cup Series Race and talked to the media about the state’s sports event coming up.

At the event, he announced that Pocono had sold out for the third straight time on Sunday, selling more than 50,000 tickets to fans.

NASCAR is rumored to have an interest in holding a race at Franklin Field in Philly as one of many potential additions to the schedule.

Governor Josh Shapiro
Governor Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania speaks to the crowd before the game between the La Salle Explorers and the Saint Joseph’s Hawks at John Glaser Arena on March 8, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images

Shapiro didn’t reveal the exact nature of the talks, but he confirmed that there are conversations about adding a second race stop in Pennsylvania.

“There’s some conversations,” Shapiro said at the press event.

“First and foremost, we don’t want to do anything that undermines Pocono. But as Ben (says), the more NASCAR, the better. The more racing, the better.

“The more we can turn people on in communities that haven’t been to Pocono yet, to get excited about racing, and then make that trip to Pocono next year, the better. I want to see more NASCAR, more racing. I also just want to see more sports in general.”

More than a month ago, NASCAR President Steve O’Donnell spoke to the Associated Press about potentially adding a race in Philly.

He made it clear that the race could come down the line, but it is still a way from coming together.

According to O’Donnell, Franklin Field could become an Olympic-sized track like the LA Coliseum.

“When you look at opportunities, one of the places we looked around with the Coliseum was in Philly, Franklin Field. It was one of the only ones that we could put a race track inside of because of the Olympic size track,” O’Donnell said.

“Those are the types of things in a city we’re going to look at because the days of just building a rural track are over.

“If you look at Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, and you look at short track racing, there’s a huge, hardcore short track market with a lot of local fans who love racing in general.”

For NASCAR fans in Pennsylvania, the success of Pocono means its future should be secure and that the track will stay on the schedule for the foreseeable future.



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