How Prime Video’s ‘Burn Bar’ Is Changing the Way We Watch NASCAR
Fuel strategy has always been one of the most dramatic—and mysterious—elements of a NASCAR race. Fans could see the speed, throttle, and brake data. But one thing they never had access to? Fuel consumption.
Until now.
Thanks to Prime Video’s new on-screen innovation—the Burn Bar—viewers can finally see in real time just how much fuel each car is using. It’s a game-changing feature that’s pulling back the curtain on one of the sport’s most closely guarded secrets.
What Is the Burn Bar?
Developed by Prime Video using AI and in-car telemetry, the Burn Bar estimates miles per gallon based on a range of performance data—throttle, RPMs, car position, and more. While race teams have always tracked this data privately down to the ounce, they’ve never shared it for competitive reasons. Now, fans get to follow the same kind of strategy calculations that decide who coasts to victory—and who runs out on the final lap.
There’s no fuel sensor on the car. Instead, the AI uses mathematical modeling to create live estimates. NASCAR on Prime analyst and former crew chief Steve Letarte helped develop the tool with Amazon Web Services and Sam Schwartzstein, who also helped create analytics tools for Prime Vision’s Thursday Night Football broadcasts.
“It’s the first real tool that takes data off the car and turns it into something fans can understand—and that teams are actually using,” said Letarte.
Battle-Tested on the Track
The Burn Bar quietly debuted during Prime’s first NASCAR broadcast at the Coca-Cola 600 on May 25. Since then, it’s been showing up more frequently, most recently during the high-stakes race in Michigan.
That race gave the Burn Bar its biggest test yet: 48 laps with no caution flags. Most drivers made their final pit stop with 50 laps to go, meaning every last drop of fuel mattered.
Prime Video analysts projected William Byron would run out—and he did. Denny Hamlin was another close call. After winning the race, his car had to be pushed into victory lane. “What a cool way to see this feature come to life,” said Schwartzstein. “It elevated the whole broadcast.”
More Tools on the Horizon
For Prime Video, the Burn Bar is just the beginning.
“This has opened up the door for more innovation,” said Alex Strand, Prime Video’s senior coordinating producer for live sports. “It shows that anything’s possible. We’re ending Year 1 with a feature that’s already resonated with fans—it raises the bar for what we can build next.”
Prime Video is in the first year of a seven-year deal to air five NASCAR races each season. After Sunday’s race in Mexico City, the final event of the 2025 Prime slate will be at Pocono on June 22.
One thing’s clear: fans are getting closer than ever to the strategy under the hood—and Prime Video’s just getting started.
Source: AP News – How Prime Video’s ‘Burn Bar’ is changing the way we watch NASCAR
