Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Freight Direct Toyota, and Aric Almirola, driver of the #10 Smithfield Ford, lead the field to the green flag to start the NASCAR Cup Series GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on April 23, 2023 in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)
NASCAR Cup Series Rumors

Rumor: NASCAR & Netflix discussing Playoff docuseries (Update)

Posted by AR1 staff

This rumor is upgraded to ‘fact’ today

Netflix is gearing up for a new sports documentary series that tracks the upcoming NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs and championship race this fall.

  • Filming has begun as drivers fight to secure their spot in the NASCAR Playoffs, which begins Sept. 3 at Darlington Raceway. The series will feature exclusive access to drivers and teams, bringing fans behind the scenes at and away from the track while exploring the physical and mental challenges of competing for a championship at the world’s highest level of stock car racing.
  • The Netflix sports series is set to premiere early 2024.
  • Format: 5×45 minute episodes
  • Production Company: Words + Pictures (Super League: The War for Football, and Countdown: Inspiration 4 Mission to Space) and NASCAR Studios
  • Executive Producers:  Connor Schell and Libby Geist (both behind The Last Dance 30 for 30, OJ: Made in America) and Aaron Cohen of Words + Pictures; Ben Kennedy, Tim Clark, Matt Summers, Tally Hair of NASCAR Studios; Dale Earnhardt Jr. (NASCAR Hall of Famer)
  • Showrunners: Jackie Decker and Tim Mullen
  • This series joins Netflix’s lineup of sports programming, including recent releases like Formula 1: Drive To Survive, Full Swing, Break Point, Untold, Quarterback and upcoming series following athletes in track and field, U.S. women’s soccer and rugby.

— NASCAR —

August 18, 2023 

NASCAR is in advanced discussions with Netflix to have this season’s playoffs aired as a docuseries, according to Sports Business Journal.

Seeing what Netflix did to F1, it could be a notable boost for the racing property. In February, SBJ first reported that NASCAR was planning to hold off on filming a full-season docuseries for 2023 like it had in 2022 when “Race For The Championship” aired on USA Network and, later, Peacock.

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.

The financial terms of the proposed deal could not yet be confirmed, and it was unclear when the show would debut. NASCAR has formerly worked with Netflix: a docuseries on Bubba Wallace’s journey aired on the platform in 2022 and later won a Sports Emmy award. The streamer has more than 200 million subscribers globally.  Sports Business Journal