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Adam Stern reports that NASCAR is in “advanced discussions” with Netflix to stream the Playoff docu-series on the platform. This is obviously huge for NASCAR with Netflix having 200 Million+ subscribers according to Stern, which puts NASCAR in front of a large and new audience. With all of this in mind, there are a few things that we want to see from this NASCAR Netflix series.
One of the things people complain about with NASCAR today is that the drivers are unable to be in the public eye as much as they were years ago. Well, this is an opportunity to do that, and these drivers should take advantage. The drivers are arguably the best asset that NASCAR has to promote aside from the cars and races themselves.
The drivers need to be open and the series needs to depict them as superheroes. These are guys strapping into 670-horsepower stock cars doing things that many can only dream of. That has to be the focus of the drivers particularly during the races.
Something that cannot be done with this series is assuming that everyone who watches the series knows everything about NASCAR. The series has to be able to explain what needs to be explained in order for someone to follow properly. The key is to make sure that the show is not too bogged down in NASCAR plot exposition (No, I am not saying NASCAR is staged).
This allows new fans to gain an understanding of the sport. Rather than getting a rose-tinted view of the sport, they get exactly what they are watching. That may allow new fans to stay longer after they watch the docu-series because they know what is going on.
This documentary series needs to show NASCAR as what it is, intense, dangerous, and entertaining. However, that cannot portray these drivers only as how they are in the race car. There also needs to be an ability to show the drivers who they are outside of the car.
Show NASCAR for what it is, but also show the drivers for who they are. Do not tie the drivers up too much by being ultra-intense or stoic. Instead, let them be themselves a bit to allow for some relatability for those watching.
NASCAR moving their docu-series to Netflix is huge for the sport. Maybe it does not bring in the same fanbase that Drive to Survive did for F1, but it does put NASCAR in front of some new fans. Who knows how many will watch this series now?
