NBC Chicago forced to delete tweet after NASCAR fans point out massive photo error

Get the latest BPR news delivered free to your inbox daily. SIGN UP HERE.


An NBC affiliate in Chicago was forced to delete a tweet promoting a NASCAR All-Star race after fans alerted them of a major photo gaffe.

NBC Chicago took to Twitter Wednesday to tout NASCAR’s race at Bristol Motor Speedway later that night, noting that the sport would be hosting the “largest sporting event crowd” since the coronavirus pandemic outbreak. But in its effort to make a visual reference to the crowds in the speedway’s grandstand, the NBC owned-and-operated affiliate used a photo featuring the late Dale Earnhardt Sr.

The image showed Earnhardt in 1999 standing in the foreground of a photo which included the half-empty grandstand.

But the beloved driver for the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing died in 2001 after a wreck during a race at the Daytona International Speedway in Florida.

Fans quickly reacted to the NBC Chicago error, as hundreds of comments flooded the Twitter page.

Earnhardt’s son and NBC Sports analyst, Dale Earnhardt Jr., did not offer any social media comments but Bristol Motor Speedway’s official Twitter account tried to help out.

Wednesday’s race in Bristol, Tennessee was NASCAR’s largest event with actual fans since the pandemic shut down sporting and other gatherings back in March. Approximately 20,000 people were in attendance at the venue which holds over 140,000, according to the Associated Press. Up to 30,000 fans were allowed to attend, with social distance guidelines in effect.

Chase Elliott won the $1 million All-Star race which was moved from Charlotte Motor Speedway.

“Tonight felt like an event again and I felt like we’ve been missing that piece for a couple months,” Elliott said. “It felt good to have NASCAR back. NASCAR is about the fans. I felt like the vibe was back.”

NASCAR’s only black driver, Bubba Wallace, who made headlines for an incident with an alleged noose in his garage stall at Talladega, was reportedly booed upon introduction and cheered after he wrecked out of the race.

A plane flying over the Tennessee track ahead of the race was reportedly pulling a banner of the Confederate flag.

DONATE TO BIZPAC REVIEW

Please help us! If you are fed up with letting radical big tech execs, phony fact-checkers, tyrannical liberals and a lying mainstream media have unprecedented power over your news please consider making a donation to BPR to help us fight them. Now is the time. Truth has never been more critical!

Success! Thank you for donating. Please share BPR content to help combat the lies.
Frieda Powers

Comment

We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.

BPR INSIDER COMMENTS

Scroll down for non-member comments or join our insider conversations by becoming a member. We'd love to have you!

Latest Articles