You can’t escape the docuseries. After Netflix’s immense success with “Formula 1: Drive to Survive,” just about every sport imaginable has decided that what will launch their discipline into the stratosphere of popularity is a compelling documentary. With smaller budgets and fewer resources, these productions have tended to fall short of achieving the same breathless intrigue of DTS — but I have to admit that I’m shocked by the ultimate standout. The minds behind “NASCAR: Full Speed” have created something that I think even F1 will be attempting to replicate in the future.
I recently re-subscribed to Netflix in order to watch the newest season of Drive to Survive, but I was also particularly interested in checking out NASCAR’s spin on the docuseries premise, “Full Speed” — especially how they’d both fare in a direct, back-to-back comparison.
Now, if you’re expecting high glamor and luxurious destinations, you’re obviously not getting that from “Full Speed.” There are no Monte Carlo apartments or collections of high-performance supercars. But “Full Speed” has something that DTS hasn’t ever really been able to pull off: Actually interesting storylines and personalities.
Before I delve into my thoughts on the series, let me explain what it is. While DTS is a 10-episode recap of an entire Formula 1 season, “Full Speed” limits its scope to NASCAR’s Playoffs. Each year, 16 drivers earn a chance to compete for a Championship, and every few races, the lowest-performing drivers are knocked out of contention. If you win a race, you’re guaranteed to move on to the next round. If you perform well enough, you can earn points and move on. That means there are a limited number of drivers to follow, as well as some very clearly defined stakes.
The drivers, though, might be the best part of “Full Speed.”
F1 drivers just aren’t that compelling. Some are kinda funny. Some have fascinating backstories. Some might lean into a bit. However, there are some pretty massive limitations to how interesting they can be, because at the end of the day, these dudes live a pretty insulated life that tends to be dictated by bosses, agents, trainers, and PR firms, and they’ve lived that life since they were kids. It’s kind of tough to develop a distinct personality when you’ve been provided with a very narrow set of activities, interests, and social groups. Still, “Drive to Survive” managed to squeeze some fun tidbits out of a few of its subjects, and that’s what made it a hit with new audiences.
“NASCAR: Full Speed” is different. The show isn’t going to be for everyone, because not everyone enjoys their sporting heroes having more normal-ish lives. There are entire industries dedicated to decoding the goings-on of celebrities for a reason; many of us aren’t as interested in the content of what the Kardashians have to say or how they’ve grown as people so much as we want to see all the glamorous places they go and the gorgeous outfits they wear. We like to get a glimpse into a much fancier world that we’ll never be able to access — and there’s no shame in that!
But there aren’t really many stories, either — at least not the kind that us Normal Folks would relate to. Sure, Denny Hamlin might live in a gorgeous mansion with its own bowling alley, but he’s also melting cookware and fucking up breakfast and making snarky comments about a “peaceful” morning with multiple children and a dog barking. Ryan Blaney might be the third generation of a racing family, but he’s also cuddling with his dog during interviews.
At the same time, you’ve also got drivers like Ross Chastain, who hails from a working-class, watermelon-farming family and serves as one of the anti-heroes of the show. You’ve got Christopher Bell’s wife in tears as he loses his shot at a title. You’ve got William Byron building LEGOS as a way to stop himself from overthinking. You have Tyler Reddick and his fiancée dressing up as Super Mario characters to go trick-or-treating with their son. It can be easy to forget that F1 drivers are “real” people, but “Full Speed” reminds us that these NASCAR competitors still deal with most of the mundane shit the rest of us experience on a daily basis — and it makes the show enjoyable in ways DTS could only dream of.