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Ever since the immense success of Netflix’s Drive to Survive Formula 1 docuseries, seemingly every sports league has tried to get in on the action.
We’ve seen it with the PGA Tour Neftlix series, Full Swing, and IndyCar’s 100 Days to Indy on The CW.
Now it seems it’s NASCAR‘s turn to join the fray.
Netflix announced Tuesday that a new series following the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs and championship race will debut in early in 2024. Hall of Fame driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. will co-produce the show alongside the team behind ESPN’s Michael Jordan-themed miniseries, The Last Dance.
The NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs and championship race will be the centerpiece of an upcoming Netflix Sports docuseries premiering in early 2024 that's executive produced by Dale Earnhardt Jr. and the team behind The Last Dance.
— Netflix (@netflix) August 21, 2023
Adam Stern of Sports Business Journal first reported news of the series’ creation provided more details on what could be included.
“Drivers and teams have been informed of the plans and are working with NASCAR on the effort, some of the people familiar with the matter said,” Stern wrote. “The financial terms of the proposed deal could not yet be confirmed, and it was unclear when the show would debut. NASCAR had no on-record comment for this article. NASCAR has previously worked with Netflix: a docu-series on Bubba Wallace’s journey aired on the platform in 2022 and later won a Sports Emmy award.”
Thus far, only the PGA Tour has come close to replicating the success that Formula 1 experienced with its series.
Though NASCAR has slowly but surely grown its popularity among young fans in recent years.
Earnhardt Jr. is also no stranger to this sort of project. He launched a podcast network called Dirty Mo Radio in 2013. The network has grown to include video series’ such as his Roots & Revivals show highlighting old racetracks in small towns.
Netflix did not provide any additional information about the upcoming show. But there was plenty excitement among race fans when they heard the news.
I’ve always said I wanted to be able to watch DTS not knowing everything I know with proper fresh eyes having never watched a nascar race this is my moment https://t.co/IIjzb6NZLl
— Rosie (@hiyaitsro) August 21, 2023
NASCAR been handing out W’s like nothing lately https://t.co/2qMlSXMDPB
— Jett Kraus (@JettMDK) August 21, 2023
As long as it makes the sport look epic like the opening scene of "Days of Thunder," I'm all for it.
Sounds like they have the right people involved, so that's a start. https://t.co/pEeIEoLIFb
— Brock Beard (@LASTCARonBROCK) August 22, 2023
Huge. Great move by nascar. It’s exactly the type of thing they need. https://t.co/5WDoWwZhe3
— Stephen Mallozzi (@DriverMallozz) August 21, 2023