DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. and CHARLOTTE, N.C. — FS1 and NASCAR Productions are taking fans both around the world and back in time with the third season of the acclaimed short film series “Beyond the Wheel.” From the ’90s in Japan to present-day Cuba, the documentaries bring a new perspective to some of NASCAR’s most remarkable moments through never-before-seen footage and interviews with the sport’s most fascinating characters and legends.
The films will premiere every Wednesday night for three consecutive weeks, kicking off with “Made in Japan” on Sept. 20 at 6 p.m. ET during “NASCAR Race Hub” on FS1.
The third season of the documentary short film series is comprised of the following:
• Made in Japan — In the mid-1990s, NASCAR orchestrated the ultimate story of East meets West by traveling more than 7,000 miles for an unprecedented series of races pitting its best drivers against top competitors in Japan. Made in Japan captures one of the greatest culture mixes in racing history from the perspective of influential figures on the Japanese stock car racing scene and icons like Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Rusty Wallace, who made the trek more than 20 years ago.
• El Corredor — Born in Florida after his family fled Castro’s Cuba, Aric Almirola has risen to the top ranks of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series circuit. El Corredor follows Almirola as he makes his first-ever trip to discover his ancestor’s homeland, the booming car culture in Havana and the roots of his family tree.
• The Year Without A King — Although Richard Petty remained a constant in NASCAR over the span of four decades, 1965 stands out as a year far removed from any other in his career. The Year Without A King explores the untold story of his foray into drag racing and subsequent return to NASCAR, including Petty’s first-person account of how this turbulent season changed the sport and his life forever.
El Corredor premieres on Wednesday, Sept. 27, followed by the premiere of The Year Without A King on Oct. 4. Both will air at 6 p.m. ET during “NASCAR Race Hub.” Each documentary will also stream live on FOX Sports GO during “NASCAR Race Hub” and be available on FOXSports.com following its premiere.
FOX Sports and NASCAR Productions were recognized in the 38th Annual Sports Emmy Awards earlier this year. NASCAR Productions received top honors in the Outstanding Social TV Experience category — its fifth win since 2011 — while FOX was victorious in 11 categories total, including Outstanding Sports Promotional Announcement for its “Daytona Day” campaign.
Only two races remain before the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series playoffs. Tune in to watch the Bojangles Southern 500 live from Darlington Raceway on Sunday, Sept. 3 at 6 p.m. ET on NBCSN, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90.
