NASCAR is pretty serious about attracting new audiences and sports fans to the sport. This was evident by their efforts to host the Clash at the L.A. Coliseum, followed by a street race in Chicago. As if this weren’t enough, the sanctioning body announced that they would travel to Mexico City for an international points-paying race. They meant business and are doing everything in their power to spread the word about stock car racing. However, there’s a different strategy in play as well, one that relies on streaming giants like Netflix in reaching out to the younger fan base.

Last year, NASCAR collaborated with Netflix on a five-episode docu-series, Full Speed. NASCAR attempted to follow in the footsteps of Formula 1’s success with its Drive to Survive. Well, it was an instant hit, leaving fans wanting more. Five episodes focusing on the playoffs weren’t enough content for them, and yes, NASCAR listened and promised a season 2 for Full Speed. This is where things get interesting as the sanctoning body isn’t just promoting its product, rather they are promoting the real personalities – their drivers out in the front. Chase Briscoe from Joe Gibbs Racing was leading the charge for promoting Full-Speed’s second season in a surprising collaboration with a successful web series, Tires.

Briscoe and comedian Shane Gillis collaborated on a humorous promotion earlier this week that went viral on social media. Gillis’s presence with the Joe Gibbs Racing driver blurred the boundaries between racing, comedy, and pure entertainment, especially after the excitement around his new Netflix series Tires. And the NASCAR community is embracing the crazy wholeheartedly, based on the reaction of the fans. Only recently, the JGR driver made his appearance at the WWE Monday Night RAW event, and it seems like he’s back in action once again, putting NASCAR in the spotlight.

“Tires x Full Speed: the collab we’ve all been waiting for 🤝Tires S2 premieres June 5, Full Speed S2 premieres May 7, only on Netflix.” Netflixisajoke shared this post on Instagram in collaboration with NASCAR. It has to be noted that NASCAR has launched a driver-centric marketing program, which will have financial incentives. The total pool for these incentives is expected to be between $10 million and $20 million annually. Out of this budget, the series will pay drivers anywhere from tens of thousands of dollars up to around $1millon, depending on their promotional efforts

Incentivizing the program has even brought the likes of Chase Elliott into the fold. We also saw him make a visit south of the border in Mexico alongside Daniel Suarez, Ryan Blaney and Christopher Bell. However, this latest crossover by NASCAR linking with the comedy series has led to some hilarious reactions by the NASCAR fans.

Fans didn’t expect Chase Briscoe to feature alongside Shane Gillis

One fan captured the moment perfectly in the Instagram comments, declaring: “Family Guy in real life, this ain’t no cartoon.” Furthermore, the comparison wasn’t random. Gillis was the ideal comic counterpoint to Briscoe’s easygoing, everyman manner because of his loud, lively comedy, which reflected the exaggerated energy sometimes found in animated sitcoms.

Another fan leaned into the absurdity with a NASCAR twist, posting, “Valley Forge Automotive needs to sponsor a car.” Gillis plays a worker at a failing auto repair shop in Tires, a concept that appeals to the automobile industry. The show’s automotive setting naturally encourages such associations, even if there is no proof that NASCAR fans have expressly imagined the fictional “Valley Forge Automotive Center” as a real stock car sponsor. ​This crossover appeal demonstrates how comedy themes may connect with NASCAR fans, resulting in creative scenarios and fan-generated content that unite the two worlds. We have seen NASCAR partner will Simpsons to promote the Daytona 500 in 2016 and 2017.

“Season 2 of Tires better be more than 6 episodes long.” A user posted. Surpsingly, both Full Speed and Tires have received backlash on a similar front, which is not providing the viewers with enough content. Tires proved an unexpected smash among working-class viewers, including many NASCAR fans, when it debuted on Netflix in May 2024. Many, however, were left wanting more because there were only six episodes available. Sensing the momentum, Netflix began filming Season 2 before Season 1 even came out, but it’s obvious that viewers anticipate an even greater rollout this time.

On the other hand, a few fans were having a hard time for the release of both Tires and Full-Speed season 2 release. “Can’t come soon enough 🙌🙌.” This is an indicator and through streaming gaints, NASCAR is able to create the buzz and excitement they need for their sport. With multiple storylines and personalities, the new season is expected to be a blockbuster hit.

Some NASCAR-pop culture crossovers can come across as fabricated, but this one hit a unique, natural chord. Briscoe’s everyman persona and small-town Indiana upbringing make him a perfect fit for Gillis’ gritty humor. Not only did their coupling make sense, but it also demonstrated how well-positioned NASCAR’s up-and-coming talent is to reach larger audiences.