How ‘NASCAR Americana’ Docuseries Highlights Family Triumphs & Tragedies

The evolution and ascension of one of the nation’s biggest pastimes enters USA Network’s Victory Lane in NASCAR Americana. The docuseries traces the motorsport’s history from its backwoods roots to a booming business enterprise that became a cultural phenomenon. Each of the three episodes narrated by Walton Goggins explores NASCAR’s different eras, multi-generational connection, and triumphs — and even tragedy. 

The project features the first formal sit-down interview with Hall of Famer Kurt Busch since the sudden loss of his brother Kyle in May. Kyle died following complications from severe bacterial pneumonia that progressed into sepsis. Cameras also follow third-generation driver Ryan Blaney as he prepares for this year’s 2026 Daytona 500. The final chapter puts the spotlight on the modern times through the eyes of five-time Cup Series winner/Daytona 500 champion Tyler Reddick and three-time Cup Series winner Bubba Wallace at the 2026 Anduril 250, the first-ever race at a U.S. Naval Base. 

Numerous prominent figures are featured throughout the series, including four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon. Other familiar faces participating in the project are country music star and NASCAR team co-owner Darius Rucker, actor turned stock car driver Frankie Muniz, and NFL legend and doc executive producer Peyton Manning.

Ahead of the August 9 premiere, we caught up with Emmy-winning director Max Gershberg to talk about his experience getting immersed in the racing game. 

Richard Petty and Kyle Petty (USA Network)

You’ve done numerous sports documentaries. What stood out about this one? 

Max Gershberg: This was an exciting opportunity for me because frankly, I knew very little about the world of NASCAR. Digging into the history, it became wildly fascinating for me on a personal level. I think our intention with the series was making it a bit different from the other things NASCAR productions have done. It’s not intended to be an all-access series or something like that. It’s tracing the cultural relationship between country and homegrown pastime throughout history. I love history. I like using sports stories as a prism to reflect on moments in our country’s history, kind of extrapolate larger themes. Our hope and intention for this series, and I hope we achieved that, was to make something that the tried and true NASCAR fan and follower would enjoy, but the uninitiated new viewer would find compelling fodder in as well. 

What went into the approach of breaking the docuseries down into three parts? 

When it was brought to me, it was already conceived as a three-part docuseries… I think three was the perfect size of a meal for this in the way we broke it up. The first episode really delved into the unique genesis of stock racing and NASCAR in America. It’s a story I wasn’t that familiar with before we got going earlier this year — the bootlegger roots, the moonshine history of this sport created by accident on the backwoods trails in the Deep South and how the early era legends were all moonshiners. After that first episode, we continue on a thematic journey to see how NASCAR evolved from those roots to a prominent part of American life. The series does follow a largely chronological arc, but we move around in time to hit different ideas as we go. 

Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images

One thing that wasn’t planned was losing Kyle Busch during filming. Talk about how you got through that and got Kurt to open up about the tragedy. 

It was so abrupt and tragic when Kyle Busch passed. I was actually on my way to Charlotte for the Coca-Cola 600 weekend and our planned production that week when we heard Kyle was in the hospital. It just so happened that our second episode when we were going down to Charlotte to film that week was centered around the theme of family. Contributor Wright Thompson said racing was passed down from families in America as sort of like an heirloom. He analogizes it like a shotgun or cufflinks. As we shot and continued production, you really start to believe it. It’s deeply meaningful to fan families, amateur racing families, and obviously to these iconic, dynastic families that have helped carry this sport forward into a more prominent face in American culture over time. The Busch family were one of those families, so we had a second episode where we were spending time with the legendary Pettys and did a lot of filming with Kyle and Richard Petty. We covered the iconic and indelible Earnhardt family’s story. Those two families have achieved amazing things and also endured tragic loss.

When Kyle passed, at first, it was dizzying. Like, does it fit in our show? Then the whole weekend, it dominated the whole thing. It was a dark cloud over what was normally one of the great racing weekends of the year. With a little time and reflection, we did decide to work it into the family thing while also paying homage to Kyle. We wanted to find a respectful narratively motivative way to work on it. A little bit down the road, we engaged with Kyle’s brother Kurt. He was very gracious. I think he understood our series would allow an opportunity, even in a brief way, to authentically and meaningfully pay homage to Kyle. To be able to touch on him a bit, and work him into this larger thematic prism of what this pastime is for families and how they deal with the highs and lows. How they navigate loss and how in moments of loss the NASCAR family forges solidarity because unfortunately, they are well-practiced dealing with untimely deaths of racing legends on the track or off with the latest being the tragic death of Kyle Busch. Horrible circumstances, but hopefully, our episode that includes Kurt’s interview and touches on Kyle does that justice. 

How was it to work with Walton as the narrator? 

It was terrific. Pretty early on, we created a short list of people we thought would be compelling as the narrator. Whether it was about the voice, tenor, or tone that would feel right for the stylistic sensibility, Walton Goggins was high on that list from the very first time we put names down. He is an Alabama guy, grew up in this culture, knows this culture, but it’s his voice that is so compelling and distinct. It was great. We were thrilled he signed on. Getting to do the voiceover session with him, he really embraced the project. His voice elevates the series in a meaningful way, and we were very lucky to have them. 

What can you say about those who participated in the docuseries? 

A lot of these people were names I had not come across on past projects or interviewed before. So, it was fun to sit down with all of them. The current drivers were great. We spent time with Ryan Blaney. He is so thoughtful and smart. He has a great kind of charisma to him. We filmed with him during the Daytona 500, went to his home in North Carolina, and did an interview. He was great. Wright Thompson, I’m a fan of his work and his writing and his voice. He could roll out of bed, and the way his brain works, he is just thoughtful, smart and interesting. He and I spent a few hours together, and he was awesome. He is sort of this throughline for the series.

Even as someone who didn’t grow up a huge NASCAR fan, Richard Petty is royalty. Kyle Petty was wonderful and generous with his time and thoughtful as well. We shot with them over a few days, and it was a treat. There are a lot of interesting folks we film with current figures, historical figures, non-NASCAR or NASCAR adjacent, Frankie Muniz, Travis Pastrana, it was fun.. Hopefully the series encompasses a wide range of voices while bringing [something] a little different to the doc. 

What were the biggest challenges you faced? 

I think we set out with a very clear thematic prism for this series, which is, what are the shared values, themes, historical parallels that bond stock racing and NASCAR with America? If you were to make the case with your friends at a bar that not football, not baseball, but NASCAR is the true American sport…what would be your argument? We wanted to explore some of these relationships and themes and relationships and these people who captured the imagination of America.

On one hand, that gave us a great advantage because we knew what we wanted the series to be and the story we wanted to tell, but you also have to check yourself to make sure the parallels you’re bringing to bear and the metaphors you are using are authentic. That you believe them and the soundbites and stories you’re telling are proof positive of that thesis. I think it was an exciting challenge to have that North Star of America 250. That was really top of mind, to have explored the different eras of NASCAR and different figures and events, how that theme could be shown through a three-part series in an organic, believable way. That was a storytelling challenge for us and an exciting opportunity. 

How was it working with NASCAR?

They were great. I’ve had the great opportunity to work with the Words + Pictures and Connor Schell’s team out of New York. They’ve done a ton of amazing projects with NASCAR at Full Speed Entertainment. They have a great working relationship. I heard only great things working with NASCAR… Truth be told, some of the leagues and organizations are harder to work with. There are certain red tape, guardrails, or certain things logistically in the workflow that make it tricky to navigate. This was more seamless. It was a treat working with NASCAR, Versant, it allowed for a seamless creative collaboration, no more, no less every step of the way. 

It’s mentioned in the doc that watching NASCAR at the track is different than watching on TV in terms of the feeling, sounds, and smells. What did you take from being in the NASCAR world? 

People say this: It is an assault on the senses. It is loud. It is very loud. It’s visceral, you smell it, you feel it, it vibrates. The flyovers, the cars on track, it’s fun. It is distinct. Through my work and personal life, I’ve been through a lot of marquee sporting events in America. I would say NASCAR races and Daytona 500 and other events were something different. The other thing I want to mention that I think makes it distinct: There is just this endearing sense of community there. People aren’t picking fights. They are not aggressive. There is this communal understanding that people are there because they want to have a good time with friends and family. They enjoy the vibes. There is something charming about the collective energy. I’m from the western part of New York, growing up with hockey and football. It was a new world for me, but it’s a compelling world. I enjoyed checking it out and telling anyone to go to a race. It’s definitely memorable. 

NASCAR Americana, Docuseries Series Premiere, Sunday, August 9, 7/6c, USA Network

NASCAR Americana, Part 2 Premiere, Saturday, August 15, 10:30/9:30 c, USA Network

NASCAR Americana, Part 3 Premiere, Sunday, August 23, 7/6c, USA Network