NASCAR fans have long enjoyed broadcasts packed with speed, throttle, and braking, yet one critical measurement has remained elusive: fuel usage. Prime Video has changed this with the introduction of the Burn Bar, marking a significant advancement in how viewers access race data.

This innovative tool enables Prime Video viewers to see fuel usage data during races by calculating miles per gallon, utilizing car data that has been available to teams and broadcasters but largely undisclosed for competitive reasons. The Burn Bar made its debut during Prime Video's broadcast of the Coca-Cola 600 on May 25 and has been used more frequently in subsequent races, including the upcoming race in Mexico City.

Steve Letarte, a former crew chief for notable NASCAR drivers such as Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr., is a NASCAR on Prime analyst who played a critical role in the Burn Bar's development. He emphasizes that this technology represents a vital step toward enhanced race analysis. "It’s the first true tool that is taking information off the car, making calculations, and then displaying to the fan a calculation or measurement that is being used in the garage," Letarte stated, emphasizing its real-world implications for race teams.

The Burn Bar operates by analyzing thousands of data points per second, including telemetry signals from the car, RPM readings, throttle positions, and even optical tracking of each vehicle's position on the track. This AI model assesses drivers' fuel consumption and efficiency throughout the race, offering insights into performance that were previously confidential.

Letarte collaborated with Sam Schwartzstein, an analyst from Prime Video’s "Thursday Night Football Prime Vision," to establish the methodology behind the Burn Bar. They tested various approaches during the season’s early broadcasts and refined the model based on subsequent race data provided by the teams. This iterative process ensured that the final methodology chosen was the most accurate.

The Burn Bar faced its most rigorous examination during a recent race at Michigan, where the last 48 laps were completed without a caution flag. Most teams had made their pit stops approximately 50 laps earlier, intensifying the challenge of managing fuel levels until the race's end. The AI tool's predictions proved accurate, as William Byron notably ran out of fuel, while Denny Hamlin's performance closely mirrored the calculations made by the Burn Bar.

Alex Strand, Prime Video’s senior coordinating producer for live sports, views the Burn Bar as merely the first of many innovative tools that can be introduced to enhance future broadcasts. The partnership between Prime Video and NASCAR began this season and comprises a seven-year agreement covering five races annually. Strand expressed excitement about the potential for further technological advancements and the positive reception of the Burn Bar, stating, "It raises the table for our offseason."

Following the upcoming race in Mexico City, Prime Video's NASCAR coverage for this season will conclude with the race at Pocono on June 22.