NBC Chicago / iStockphoto
For exhibit #132,792 that artificial intelligence is as much a scourge on as it is a benefit to society, we go to Chicago where the local NBC news recently aired a segment covering a bizarre crash at the Weaber Valley Speedway. Unfortunately, there is no such race track, and the video of the crash was created with AI.
The video of the big dirt track race crash was posted to Weaber Valley Speedway social media channels with the caption, “We are sorry for the Power outtage in the 607 Late Models race Sat nite. The power copany keeps cuttin the lites for a few secs every week to try to indimitate us into payin the bill. All drivers who was in the wreak was given 5$ extra after the race.”
Yes, those misspellings are on purpose. The entire concept is a satire of local dirt track racing. A quick look at “Weaber County Speedway’s” Facebook and Instagram pages and the influence of artificial intelligence and absurdity of the posts becomes more than a little obvious.
“This is A friendly remainder not to Climb on the fence dureing the races. Reason why is cause it blocks the view of people sitting behind u who payed good money to watch the race,” read the caption on one post. “We had to kick this fan out Satuday nite for making it all about himself.”
NBC Chicago couldn’t have done even the slightest bit of investigate work
None of that stopped NBC Chicago from airing the story though. Or from the newscaster parroting the fake report, “We later found out the power company in the area cut the lights to intimidate the track owners into paying their electric bill on time.”
This is way scarier than it is funny. We are so doomed as a society. pic.twitter.com/a4KByK29dr
— SteelHorseLive (@SteelHorseLive) October 23, 2025
The man behind Weaber Valley Speedway
Weaber Valley Speedway page is the creation of a man named Harold Weaver. When reached for comment by The Drive, Weaver had to laugh. “The way he said that with a straight face,” Weaver said about the newscaster.
Weaver also admitted, “I have mixed feelings about it because it’s kind of scary, but it’s funny, but then it’s also scary. I think social media is going to be killed by this.” If we’re lucky that will be the only thing that gets killed by AI.