NASCAR, AMC teaming up for ‘Succession’ type drama series set in stock car racing world

NASCAR and AMC are teaming up for a new drama series that’s being “fast-tracked” at the network, according to Peter White of Deadline. The project, “Thunder Road,” is set in the world of stock car racing and is one of the first long-form dramatic series to partner with the sanctioning body.

John Fusco, screenwriter for films such as “Young Guns,” “The Highwaymen” and “Thunderheart,” is the creator of Thunder Road. The series is centered around the Whitlock family, and their legacy in stock car racing. Per Deadline, it “features family dynamics, fierce rivalries, and the untold stories behind one of America’s most iconic sports.”

Fusco is exec producing alongside Mark L. Smith, who is behind the movies “Twisters” and “The Revenant,” as well as Cliff Roberts, who exec produced Netflix‘s “Untamed.” Exec producing from NASCAR’s side are Tim Clark and John Dahl with Gladys Cheng serving as producer. Fusco has described the new series as “Succession with stock cars.”

“Thunder Road is about the Whitlock racing dynasty, a family bound by legacy, love, and the weight of their name.” Fusco said. “Set against the high-stakes world of NASCAR and the mythic outlaw roots of a sport born on the whiskey-running backroads of the south, you might call it Succession with stock cars. I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to bring this dramatic, action-packed, uniquely American story to life with AMC and NASCAR.”

New TV series involving NASCAR on the way, Days of Thunder in the works

In addition to Thunder Road, stock car racing is soon to make a comeback to the big screen. Paramount Pictures has confirmed it is working on a “Days of Thunder” sequel. According to a report from Variety, Tom Cruise recently visited the Paramount lot to “congratulate the Skydance team on its takeover and to discuss a return to those franchises and other possible collaborations.” The other franchise in play for another film is “Top Gun,” another classic starring Cruise.

You can likely except several cameos from current drivers in the Days of Thunder sequel. Two-time champion Kyle Larson would like to be one of them.

“I was with Jeff Gordon the other night and he’s good friends with Tom, and he went to the premiere of Mission Impossible,” Larson said in August on Julian Edelman‘s Games With Names podcast. “He’s like, ‘We’re doing it. We’ve got to do another Days of Thunder.’ I hope they do it. … I would absolutely be in it. I would like to be in it.”