As the playoffs wait around the corner, another silver screen project is underway. The tensions that played out exactly one year back on NASCAR’s Cup racetracks reached a global audience. ‘NASCAR: Full Speed‘ was filmed that time on a $5 million budget, on and off the racetrack, for a fresh perspective. Now the filmmakers are back to cover the Darlington race, right before the playoffs. But teams have also swung around with conditions.

We are nearing the end of the season—and still, there is no sign of a solid charter agreement. With racers’ futures at stake and their teams battling with expenses, acting in a documentary is the last thing on their mind. So they restricted personal access in exchange for a concrete promise.

Need over Wants for NASCAR drivers

The sport’s first behind-the-scenes docuseries was released on Netflix in January, just a few days before the Busch Light Clash race. It was instantly popular, as fans got a glimpse into their favorite drivers’ struggles for the playoffs. However, this time, those struggles have taken a higher notch, as the 2016 charter deal is set to expire. The potential impact is already visible, as Stewart-Haas Racing, a 69-time Cup-winning team, is wrapping up operations due to financial blockages soon. So directors are shooting the second season of ‘NASCAR: Full Speed’ but with difficulty.

As the movie cameras rolled into Darlington Raceway, race teams laid down conditions for being on them. If their charter demands are not met, they will retrieve their rights to be filmed. NASCAR journalist Adam Stern updated the situation on X. “@NASCAR’s Productions unit has been filming with some drivers on the playoff bubble at Darlington for the second @Netflix documentary, as several teams agreed to give access on the condition that they can revoke their grant of rights if a charter deal isn’t reached, per sources.”

Ever since NASCAR signed a $7.7 billion media rights deal last November, charter demands have grown more intense. The sides largely agree on the financial split of the TV money in the new deal. However, the sanctioning body is still trying to sort out governance and revenue opportunity demands. Moreover, the teams’ ardent wish to make the charters permanent is yet to see the light of day. So they are taking a stand regarding the situation, even if it means restricting another docuseries from releasing.

Yet NASCAR is working on a revamped 2025 season. As if the changed schedule was not enough, internal executive roles have also been shuffled.

Crucial changes are underway

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Although almost three months of jam-packed racing action are left for 2023, NASCAR has already embarked upon 2025 plans. Most importantly, the addition of new race tracks: New Mexico will host a Cup Series points-paying race for the first time, and Rockingham Speedway will return for Xfinity and Craftsman Truck. And the sanctioning body is shifting around its key internal personnel, which demonstrates that NASCAR is willing to make major changes before a charter deal is struck.

President Steve Phelps will take on greater responsibilities and focus on the sport’s “strategic vision and global expansion of NASCAR-owned racing properties.” 

Ben Kennedy, a former racer himself and heir apparent to CEO Jim France, will become the EVP and chief venue and racing innovations officer. Being the 32-year-old son of Lesa France Kennedy, he holds out immense hope. Especially because Kennedy is seen as one of the driving forces to lead many of NASCAR’s major shifts over the last few years, including diversifying the schedule. Other executive role shifts include officials like Tim Clark, Eric Ryan, and Nick Rend.

NASCAR is evidently working towards a more agreeable future in the sport. However, as nothing is certain yet, race teams will keep protesting through other means.