NASCAR Full Speed docuseries switches to Prime Video with single-event focus

I can’t blame NASCAR for trying to do its own Drive to Survive given how disproportionately well that worked for Formula 1, but this move shows that they’re finally having some production ideas of their own.

First of all, the idea of bedding in with Prime Video makes obvious sense given how well their run of Cup race broadcasts went last year, and I dare say that if Formula 1 can get away with bundling U.S. race broadcasts with Apple services, bundling NASCAR with Amazon Prime seems like an even better idea.

But moreover, NASCAR just doesn’t have the same juice for a dramatic year-long documentary as Formula 1 does: There are too many drivers and teams, and those don’t have enough global celebrity star power pressure on them to make for off-track jeopardy, which is what DtS fans are really watching for. As followers of Formula 1 racing knows, the actual motorsports part barely even factors into that show, and the race events are basically just montages in it. NASCAR is all about the races, and that made a DtS-style silly season show rather boring.

This idea of focusing on the Daytona 500 will not only make for a better show that is more worth watching alongside a racing season — rather than instead of one, as much DtS watching seems to be done — it will do exactly what NASCAR needs to do as a sport and raise the profile of the races themselves as the centerpiece. Hopefully they’re thinking about this in terms of which race to focus on next, rather than just what happens in the same setting year after year.