Nascar has confirmed a docuseries around this season’s post-season will air on Netflix.
Confirmed:
- Five-episode docuseries to air in early 2024
- 45-minute episodes will give behind-the-scenes insights into the Cup Series playoffs
- Filming has already begun, with exclusive access to teams and drivers on the track and at home
- Dale Earnhardt Jr. to executive produce the as-yet-untitled project
Context:
Reports emerged over the weekend that Nascar and Netflix were in advanced discussions over a docuseries, with the stock car racing series opting against a second season of ‘Race for the Championship’. This follows Nascar’s decision to make its full Cup Series archive available online for free, a clear sign of the stock car racing series’ desire to make itself more easily accessible.
In addition to Earnhardt Jr., executive producers will include Ben Kennedy, Tim Clark, Matt Summers and Tally Hair from Nascar Studios. This group will partner with Connor Schell and Libby Geist, who both worked on The Last Dance docuseries on National Basketball Association (NBA) legend Michael Jordan, and Aaron Cohen from Words + Pictures.
Comment:
Consequence:
This represents Nascar first true attempt at a ‘Drive to Survive’ clone. Netflix remains the most popular streaming platform – around 238 million subscribers in the first quarter of 2023 – and has a close association to Formula One through the aforementioned docuseries, so Nascar will be hoping for a similar boost in popularity through its attempt.