NASCAR's RISING Documentary Series to Premiere on YouTube

NASCAR has teamed up with Words + Pictures to debut RISING, a five-episode documentary series about the lives of three young drivers, offering a raw look at their journeys both on and off the track. Premiering November 17-21, 2025, on NASCAR’s YouTube channel, the series will spotlight Carson Hocevar, Jesse Love, and Rajah Caruth.

This new collaboration between NASCAR and Emmy-winning studio Words + Pictures aims to bring viewers behind the scenes of the fast-paced and competitive world of NASCAR. RISING will follow the personal and professional lives of three emerging drivers—Hocevar, Love, and Caruth—throughout a pivotal season in their careers. The documentary showcases not only their performances on the racetrack but also the sacrifices and struggles they face in pursuit of their dreams.

The series will be made available for free on YouTube, leveraging the platform’s global reach and large fanbase. Each of the five episodes will explore the pressures and aspirations of the young drivers, offering a deeper look at their vulnerabilities, ambition, and determination. According to NASCAR’s SVP of Content, John Dahl, RISING is a series that anyone who has experienced the challenges of chasing a dream can relate to.

With RISING, NASCAR continues its focus on storytelling that resonates with broader audiences. The documentary series is part of the sport’s ongoing effort to grow its digital presence and engage fans through a variety of content formats. By releasing the series on YouTube, NASCAR ensures easy access for fans worldwide, while also paving the way for more diverse programming that appeals to younger, digital-native audiences.

1. A Glimpse into the Next Generation of NASCAR

The five-part documentary centers on three rising stars in NASCAR: Carson Hocevar, Jesse Love, and Rajah Caruth. Each driver brings their own unique story and challenges to the series, representing the future of NASCAR’s top tiers of racing. Hocevar, at 22, competes in the NASCAR Cup Series, while Love, at 20, races in the Xfinity Series, and Caruth, 23, competes in the Craftsman Truck Series. This season marks a crucial point in their careers as they strive to establish themselves as top-tier drivers. For all three, the stakes are high, and RISING will capture the intensity and sacrifice involved in reaching the highest levels of the sport. The documentary will dive deep into their personal lives, revealing how their ambitions shape not only their careers but also their relationships with family, friends, and supporters. The series also provides insight into the pressures of being young athletes in a high-stakes, fast-paced sport. As they navigate the demanding nature of NASCAR, viewers will see the balance these drivers must maintain between their on-track success and their off-track lives. RISING portrays these young men as more than competitors—they are sons, friends, and dreamers fighting to carve out a place in a highly competitive field. In addition to showcasing the athletes’ journey, the documentary explores the intense emotional and physical toll of pursuing greatness. It delves into the moments of doubt, sacrifice, and resilience, offering an honest and unfiltered view of what it takes to make it in one of the most demanding sports in the world.

2. YouTube Premiere and Digital Strategy

The decision to debut RISING on YouTube reflects NASCAR’s commitment to reaching new audiences, particularly digital-native fans who are accustomed to streaming content online. With over 2.5 billion active users globally, YouTube is the perfect platform to showcase the series, ensuring that it reaches a wide and diverse audience. For NASCAR, this partnership with Words + Pictures is an opportunity to expand its digital footprint and increase engagement with younger viewers. By offering the series for free on YouTube, NASCAR taps into a platform that is already home to a passionate and engaged fanbase. This move aligns with the sport’s broader content strategy to reach fans where they are, through innovative, accessible, and compelling storytelling. In addition to the YouTube release, RISING will also air on FS1 in December with a special five-week programming schedule. This will provide an additional avenue for fans to experience the series, leading up to the 2026 DAYTONA 500. With its multi-platform approach, NASCAR ensures that RISING reaches fans both digitally and through traditional broadcast channels, enhancing its accessibility and visibility. The premiere of RISING marks a significant step in NASCAR’s ongoing efforts to expand its media presence and connect with a global audience. By focusing on the personal journeys of its young drivers, the series also highlights the human element of the sport, deepening fans’ emotional connection to NASCAR.

3. A Commitment to Authentic Storytelling

RISING represents a commitment to authentic, talent-driven storytelling. The documentary is produced by NASCAR Studios and Words + Pictures, known for their work on successful projects like The Last Dance and 30 For 30. Executive producers Tim Clark, John Dahl, and Tally Hair from NASCAR Studios, along with Aaron Cohen from Words + Pictures, aim to create a raw and unfiltered look at the lives of the drivers. Aaron Cohen, Chief Creative Officer at Words + Pictures, emphasized that RISING would strip away the typical racing façade to reveal the personal side of the drivers. “We wanted to let viewers meet these young men as people first,” Cohen said. “They’re competitors, but also sons, friends, and dreamers.” This approach ensures that the series resonates with fans on a deeper level, connecting the audience with the drivers as individuals. The documentary’s production takes viewers to various race circuits and personal settings, blending the speed and thrill of NASCAR with the human stories that shape the sport’s future. By offering this kind of insight, RISING provides a compelling narrative about perseverance, passion, and the pursuit of success in a highly competitive environment. Through this series, NASCAR continues to push the boundaries of traditional sports documentaries, focusing on the personal journeys of its drivers in ways that go beyond the typical coverage of races and performances.