NASCAR President Steve Phelps reveals "$50 million investment" to enhance fans' connectivity at racetracks

NASCAR president Steve Phelps has revealed a $50 million investment to provide fans with an internet connection on track. However, the investment only covers 12 racetracks so far, with Phelps saying this type of service is expensive.

This is part of the league's initiative to enhance the fan experience during race weekends. With an internet connection, race attendees would be able to share on-track action on social media, which should help the sport reach more audiences.

Per Kyle Dalton's X (formerly Twitter) post, Steve Phelps discussed the internet connection investment with NASCAR insider Brad Gilie.

"Each of our facilities is hardwired with high-speed opportunities for internet and other opportunities to take robust things that happen on the racetrack, and make sure that race fans are able to share those out in the world." [0:27]

Aside from sharing track moments on social media, Phelps believes the program could help fans not miss anything, be it a phone call or a text. However, the NASCAR chief is well aware that providing an internet connection is a hefty investment.

"But it's expensive. We spent $50 million at our 12 racetracks [for] permanent fiber so there would be strong connectivity." [1:16]

Phelps concluded:

"We've got to keep up with what is happening there and make sure we are investing into the things that make for a more compelling experience." [1:40]

Considering NASCAR has provided an internet connection to 12 racetracks only, the league would need to dish out another $50 million or more to be able to cover all tracks.

For the 2025 season, the drivers will race on 27 different tracks, though the Charlotte Roval and Charlotte Motor Speedway are counted separately. The list also includes the non-US-based racetrack at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City.

The season will kick off at Daytona International Speedway for the "Great American Race" scheduled for February 16 next year.

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NASCAR driver Conor Zilisch's thoughts on the fan experience in F1

Connor Zilisch once shared his experience attending an F1 race in 2020. Zilisch said that F1 made the stock car racing league look like a county fair considering the amount of money the former racing series spends to enhance the fan experience.

In an interview with Autoweek.com, the 18-year-old driver stated:

"I went to a F1 race in 2020, and that made us [NASCAR] look like we were going to the county fair, almost. It was crazy how much money goes into every event in F1."

Connor Zilisch, who is bound to be a full-time driver for JR Motorsports in the Xfinity Series next year, pointed out the hospitality in F1, which enhanced his experience during his visit.

"I don’t think it’s really possible to do that for us just because … NASCAR isn’t F1. But a lot of the hospitality stuff that they do, making it truly a fan experience, giving the people that are willing to spend that kind of money to come to the races and have that kind of experience, giving them somewhere to go would definitely be helpful," Zilisch added.

Connor Zilisch won his debut Xfinity Series race at Watkins Glen - Source: Imagn

Aside from the internet connection investment, NASCAR signed a $7.7 billion media rights deal over seven years starting in 2025.

Hopefully, the organization's new investments could improve the fan experience during race weekends.