What’s Happening

On Wednesday morning, NASCAR and Netflix released the full trailer for the docuseries that will release on January 30th. The docuseries will be 5 episodes in length, and all 5 episodes will release on January 30th.

• The trailer showcased all of the same drivers that NASCAR highlighted in their initial press release. This included Ryan Blaney, William Byron, Denny Hamlin, Ross Chastain, and Tyler Reddick.
• There were a couple of other people shown in the trailer as well that were not previously mentioned, Martin Truex Jr. and Shannon Spake. Both individuals have been involved with the sport in some way since the 2000s. Dale Earnhardt Jr., an executive producer, was shown briefly as well.
• Fans loved the trailer, and they are very excited for this docuseries to come out. Many have been waiting for this for years.

The Primary Audience is New NASCAR Fans

This documentary is the story of modern NASCAR. It’s not the story of NASCAR when it was at its’ peak in the early 2000s and not when Dale Earnhardt or Richard Petty were dominating. The drivers showcased in the trailer are not drivers who have been in the sport for a long time, and NASCAR wants to showcase today’s personalities to a new audience.

Not to mention the word “Playoffs” was said 4 times in a trailer that was less than 2 minutes. The docuseries is about the Playoffs, so, it is not a major surprise. Given how unpopular the Playoffs are amongst many older fans, it’s obvious that NASCAR is trying to reach a new audience.

It seems NASCAR is trying to reintroduce itself to the mainstream. In NASCAR’s peak, everyone seemingly knew who the stars of the sport were, but, times have changed. Now, NASCAR is different, and they have to showcase what the sport is now.

The Drivers Allowed Access to their Lives Off the Track

Much of the trailer focused on drivers off the race track. Ross Chastain was swimming, William Byron apparently has an affinity for Legos, and Tyler Reddick put on a Luigi costume. The significant others of drivers like Ryan Blaney, William Byron, and Tyler Reddick get some screen time as well.

These drivers showcased something many NASCAR fans feel has been missing from the sport, personality. The trailer gave a little bit of insight into what these drivers are live away from the race car, and it showcases what it’s like for significant others to deal with the dangers and pressures drivers face.

There was also some insight into workouts off of the track. This showcases how much of a physical and mental toll it takes to race in NASCAR, and it provides quite the counter-argument to “Race car drivers aren’t athletes”.

NSFW and Unfiltered

The trailer featured an uncensored F-Bomb from Ryan Blaney’s then-girlfriend now fiancee Gianna Tulio. It’s no secret that some NFSW language goes over team radios constantly throughout a NASCAR race. Just listen to one Radioactive segment on NASCAR Race Hub, and that will give you the picture.

This is meant to show what NASCAR is really like. It’s an intense and competitive sport, and that means some colorful language due to frustration is thrown around once in a while.

It’s going to be unfiltered, and it’s going to show what really happens during a NASCAR race. It’s not going to be the filtered, PR-sensitive interviews that drivers give after the race when getting out of their car. It’s going to bring fans as close to the inside of the sport as they can possibly be.

This docuseries has been anticipated for a long time, and it could reach a brand new audience. It seems the docuseries will be unfiltered as well along with giving fans some long-awaited insight into drivers off the track.