NASCAR shifted the start of its Pocono race two hours earlier, a move made possible by Prime Video’s willingness to adjust the schedule.
A Calculated Timing Shift
The earlier slot kept the event out of the rain window that had threatened to halt the action, allowing the entire race to unfold without interruption.
Both former driver‑turned‑analyst Steve Letarte and veteran commentator Kyle Petty weighed in on the change during the latest episode of Inside the Race, noting that the adjustment benefitted fans who no longer had to linger for only a fragment of the competition.
Petty pointed out that many spectators traditionally spend hours waiting to see just a portion of a race, and the new timing eliminated that frustration.
Letarte added that the flexibility demonstrated by Amazon’s streaming platform not only protected the competitors’ momentum but also gave the audience a full, uninterrupted experience.
The show will broadcast live from San Diego this Sunday, with Senior NASCAR Editor Matt Weaver joining the discussion, and viewers can catch the replay on Motorsport.com after Prime’s final 2026 broadcast.
Despite the logistical win, the race’s television ratings slipped 11% compared with the previous year, suggesting that the scheduling tweak did not fully translate into higher viewership.