NASCAR is set to launch an original series called “Rising,” spotlighting young talent such as Carson Hocevar, with the premiere scheduled for November 17, free to watch on YouTube. The Carson Hocevar NASCAR docuseries aims to give fans unprecedented insight into the challenges, personalities, and determination driving NASCAR’s new generation.
Spotlight on Young Competitors in NASCAR
The upcoming docuseries “Rising” will chronicle the 2025 season journeys of up-and-coming drivers, including Carson Hocevar from Spire Motorsports, Rajah Caruth, and Jesse Love. Hocevar, now in his second year as a NASCAR Cup Series driver, competes for Spire Motorsports, while Caruth is preparing to move from the Craftsman Truck Series to the Xfinity Series—the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series beginning in 2026. Love is part of the Richard Childress Racing team in the Xfinity Series, strengthening a new wave of competitive talent.
The series pools its narrative from the drivers’ race weekends and personal lives, offering viewers a candid look at their world both on and off the track. In the 2025 season highlighted by the show, Caruth and Love each qualified for the playoff rounds in their respective series. Hocevar, though not making the postseason, drew attention for his performance at Atlanta Motor Speedway, where he fought in a dramatic three-way tussle for the lead on the final lap against established drivers Christopher Bell and Kyle Larson.
Sports reporter Adam Stern, sharing details about the project, stated:
“(NASCAR) has developed a new five-episode docu-series called “Rising” that will air for free on (YouTube) and follows around Carson Hocevar, Jesse Love, and Rajah Caruth during their 2025 on and off the track. NASCAR worked with Words + Pictures.”
— Adam Stern, Reporter
“Rising” and Its Unique Appeal to Racing Fans
The five-episode series, created through a partnership with production company Words + Pictures, will debut its first episode on November 17, with a new episode released each day thereafter. Its arrival continues a trend of behind-the-scenes racing content popularized by shows like “NASCAR: Full Speed” on Netflix, expanding NASCAR’s efforts to attract new audiences by highlighting the energy and emotion of young competitors.
Further engaging audiences, NASCAR published a parody trailer where the drivers poke fun at the often overly dramatic tone of sports documentaries. Carson Hocevar humorously recalls being
“left at a gas station after a karting race”
as a child, referencing a tale once told about world champion Max Verstappen.
Carson Hocevar Addresses Criticism and His Racing Approach
Hocevar’s reputation for aggressive driving in the NASCAR Cup Series has sparked both conversation and controversy. Despite criticism regarding his style, Hocevar has conveyed steadfast commitment to his unique race-day mentality and preparation. In an interview with Jeff Gluck from The Athletic, Hocevar responded to detractors:
“I think the consensus is, ‘He doesn’t try. He doesn’t put in any effort. He just shows up.’ I feel like I do. I’ve been alive for 22 years, and I’ve been analyzing racing since I was 4… Now I’ve done this long enough that I can show up ‘blind,’ but I’m not actually blind. I’ve got so many years of watching and studying.”
— Carson Hocevar, NASCAR Cup Series Driver
“I run races a thousand times in my head. I’m running through races and ideas. That’s more powerful for me to envision it all than to sit there and watch… I don’t care what people think or say unless they’re in this hauler with me. There’s reasons to the madness of not wanting to look at that stuff. I don’t want to mess up the ideas I already have. That’s the process that works for me.”
— Carson Hocevar, NASCAR Cup Series Driver
The season saw Hocevar involved in one particularly tense moment at the Mexico City race, where a heated exchange occurred with veteran driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr. after Hocevar’s continued aggressiveness despite trailing by a lap. Stenhouse Jr.’s frustration culminated in a post-race confrontation, even prompting light-hearted suggestions of a charity boxing match. Notably, Ryan Blaney joked that he would back the Hyak Motorsports competitor in such a challenge.
NASCAR’s Docuseries and the Growing Racing Storytelling Trend
With “Rising” joining other popular NASCAR content, the industry continues to expand its storytelling approach. By presenting compelling, real-life narratives from rising stars such as Rajah Caruth, Jesse Love, and Carson Hocevar, the new docuseries broadens NASCAR’s outreach, offering in-depth access for devoted fans and newcomers alike. The series not only documents results on the track but also shares the personalities and ambitions fueling the next generation of stock car racing.
As the premiere approaches, anticipation is high for how the five-episode project will influence perceptions of the sport and help connect a larger audience to the drama and determination that define modern NASCAR competition. The focus on real drivers, such as Hocevar and his fellow competitors, underscores the changing face of NASCAR and the dynamic future ahead for one of America’s top motorsports.
.@NASCAR has developed a new five-episode docu-series called "Rising" that will air for free on @YouTube and follows around Carson Hocevar, Jesse Love and Rajah Caruth during their 2025 on and off the track.
➡️ NASCAR worked with Words + Pictures.
📰: https://t.co/6XNuNqvzGl pic.twitter.com/46pgYw2L4L
— Adam Stern (@A_S12) October 27, 2025
