'Race for the Championship' Fires on All Cylinders
USA’s new docudrama airs weekly beginning this Thursday. Here’s what to expect and how to watch it on Sling TV.
For years, NASCAR fans have been clamoring for an authentic look at the athletes that make up the NASCAR Cup Series. Race for the Championship is the answer.
USA’s new series goes behind-the-scenes to give viewers a personal look at NASCAR’s top drivers as they prepare for the 2022 Cup Series season. Defending champion Kyle Larson, 2018 champion Joey Logano, and 2016 Xfinity Series champion Daniel Suárez are profiled in the first episode. The show dives deep into each of the driver’s personal lives, looks back at how they got into racing, and teases what the upcoming season holds for each of their teams.
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Perhaps inspired by the success of Drive to Survive – Netflix’s hit docudrama about F1 superstars – Race for the Championship is the exact opposite of recent attempts by NASCAR to crossover into the entertainment realm, and that’s a good thing. Netflix’s 2021 sitcom The Crew, starring comedian Kevin James as a crew chief in the NASCAR garage, received negative reviews and was canceled after one season. Austin Dillon’s Life in the Fast Lane, which stars the Daytona 500 winner, appeals more to reality TV fans than NASCAR diehards. Considering most people know modern NASCAR from Talladega Nights or South Park, the sport would benefit massively if it distanced itself from the stereotypes that continue to plague its lackluster public perception.
For the hardcore racing fan: Race for the Championship won’t disapoint. The fly-on-the-wall filming style doesn’t feel intrusive and more importantly, drivers are willing to open up about their lives. In the first episode, focusing on Joey Logano as he tries to balance the impending birth of his third child while racing across the country at the LA Coliseum creates good, authentic drama.
For the casual viewer: You’ll need to have working knowledge of NASCAR to fully grasp everything, but Race for the Championship is still a treat. The behind-the-scenes footage, especially the drone tour of the Hendrick Motorsports campus in Episode 1, is award-worthy and should satisfy any viewer who is looking to learn more about the sport.
Race for the Championship airs Thursday nights at 10pm ET on USA, and you can watch the remaining 10 NASCAR Cup Series playoff races on NBC and USA through November. To catch all the action on Sling TV, use the link below to sign up for Sling Blue.