Netflix today revealed plans for a Bubba Wallace docuseries, following NASCAR’s only Black driver as he competes throughout the 2021 season, his first with 23XI Racing and new team owners Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin.
https://twitter.com/strongblacklead/status/1385292747985211393
Wallace himself tweeted after the news was released, saying he’s looking forward to both making it and sharing it:
https://twitter.com/BubbaWallace/status/1385300620303867909
Deadline has more details on the series, which remains untitled and without a release date:
The untitled series, from 300 Studios and Boardwalk Pictures and directed and produced by Erik Parker, will take viewers behind the 2021 NASCAR season through Wallace’s eyes. The Netflix series will explore Wallace, Jordan and Hamlin’s newly-formed 23XI Racing squad, and NASCAR’s efforts to advocate for inclusion and equality in racing and beyond.
Executive producers for the docuseries are Kevin Liles, Nolan Baynes, and Kelly G. Griffin for 300 Studios; Andrew Fried, Dane Lillegard, Jordan Wynn, and Sarina Roma for Boardwalk Pictures; Matt Summers, Tim Clark, and Tally Hair for NASCAR. Rob Ford serves as co-executive producer.
Netflix is also home to F1: Drive to Survive, which is not only an excellent racing docuseries but one of the best behind-the-scenes sports documentaries in general. The Bubba Wallace series will obviously have a focus on just one driver, but Wallace is a compelling figure and his role in the sport makes him very well-suited as the center for a show like this.
Presumably it will be out sometime this winter; the NASCAR season wraps up on November 7th, so a release ahead of the February start of the 2022 season seems likely.
[Deadline]
About Jay Rigdon
Jay is a columnist at Awful Announcing. He is not a strong swimmer. He is probably talking to a dog in a silly voice at this very moment.