The CW Network responded after fans expressed outrage when its Atlanta affiliate cut away from the thrilling conclusion of the GOVX 200 NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Phoenix Raceway to air a baseball commercial.
In a dramatic finish, Aric Almirola aggressively pushed Alex Bowman into the wall as they crossed the finish line. Almirola secured the win by just 0.045 seconds, marking the second-closest finish in Phoenix Raceway history.
While most fans saw the intense race, those watching on Peachtree TV in Atlanta missed the final moments when the broadcast abruptly switched to a commercial for a Red Sox vs. Braves game. This sudden change frustrated viewers.
Rather than resuming the race footage after the commercial, the local station never returned to the race, further angering fans.
The CW Network acknowledged the mistake in a statement shared by Sports Business Journal’s Adam Stern on X. The network stated that it understands its affiliates are still adjusting to NASCAR programming and confirmed that the Atlanta affiliate recognized its error.
CW assured fans that such incidents would not happen again and pledged to work with affiliates to ensure proper race coverage.
As for the Phoenix race itself, Almirola’s last-lap move sparked debate, as he damaged Bowman’s car in the process of securing victory.
However, Almirola defended his aggressive approach, explaining that he was simply focused on winning and did not believe his actions were excessively harsh. He described it as a close battle to the finish line.
Bowman, however, expressed frustration with Almirola’s driving, saying he wished Almirola had left him a lane at the exit. He acknowledged that Almirola had the faster car but was disappointed that the move left his car heavily damaged.
Despite the setback, Bowman praised his HendrickCars.com team and his crew chief, Adam, for their strong performance.
