The constant adrenaline rush in between the roaring engines and the glint of Hollywood stardom collided at the legendary Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The 60-year-old actor, whose passion for motorcycles and racing has been well-documented throughout his career, finally had a dream-come-true moment last year. He made his debut at Roger Penske’s historic track, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, in the Toyota GR Cup.
Competing in a field of 35 cars, Reeves qualified 31st and finished 25th in his first race. Even managing to recover from a dramatic spin in turn nine without collision. The “John Wick” star drove the No. 92 BRZRKR car named after his graphic novel series. Meanwhile, Cody Jones, representing the YouTube collective Dude Perfect, brought his characteristic enthusiasm to the same legendary 2.5-mile oval.
Well, a trickster and the Hollywood star got more than they could’ve hoped for after racing Indy. And IndyCar’s newest premier partner is making sure that the race fans get a Hollywood-themed showdown of last year’s event.
NASCARonFOX has officially announced “DRIVEN BY SPEED: KEANU REEVES VS. CODY JONES” as their newest high-octane special, slated to premiere Sunday, April 13 at 9:30 PM ET on FS1. The documentary title was revealed in a trailer posted to Instagram with the caption “DRIVEN BY SPEED: KEANU REEVES VS. CODY JONES Catch the full-throttle showdown Sunday, April 13 at 9:30pm ET on FS1.” Rather than positioning itself as either a traditional race broadcast or a typical celebrity profile, this special offers viewers unprecedented access to both competitors’ racing development.
The strategic April 13 premiere on FS1, firmly within NASCAR’s broadcast ecosystem, signals Fox Sports’ commitment to expanding motorsport’s cultural footprint beyond traditional race coverage. The promotional campaign cleverly leverages both Reeves’ enduring fan base—recently energized by his BRZRKR comic series and The Book of Elsewhere novel. Meanwhile, Dude Perfect’s massive online following creates an opportunity for FOX to tap into the younger demographics.
Keanu Reeves’ journey to Roger Penske’s Indianapolis wasn’t merely a celebrity publicity stunt but rather the culmination of a lifelong passion. “When I was a little kid, I wanted to be a race car driver, a conductor of an orchestra, or a nuclear physicist. I think driving a car does all of those things,” Reeves revealed in Toyota’s mini-documentary chronicling his racing adventure. The actor’s automotive credentials extend beyond casual interest. As co-founder of Arch Motorcycles, Reeves has demonstrated his commitment to high-performance vehicles. And his 2009 victory in the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach celebrity race proved he possesses more than just star power behind the wheel.
While FOX seems to have big plans with IndyCar and other special events, for some reason, their involvement with NASCAR is raising a few eyebrows. They went all out on the IndyCar commercials with Josef Newgarden and Alex Palou. But their sketchy efforts on the Daytona 500 promotional video didn’t go unnoticed. The good thing is that NASCAR’s new partners and collaborators have planned a bunch of cool stuff for the entire racing community.
Streaming Giants Fill NASCAR’s FOX Void
While FOX has shifted significant focus to its landmark IndyCar acquisition. Making it the first broadcaster to simultaneously hold rights to both the Indianapolis 500 and Daytona 500. However, the streaming platforms are stepping up to keep NASCAR in the spotlight. The NASCAR on FOX “DRIVEN BY SPEED” special operates as one small section inside of an energetic motorsports media arena in which conventional broadcasters face streaming providers for racing material. Prime Video plans to launch its first unscripted NASCAR Studios project, “Earnhardt”, across four parts during Memorial Day Weekend, which corresponds with Prime Video’s broadcast debut of the Coca-Cola 600. A signature race that FOX previously aired until losing rights in the new media rights deal shuffling.
The streaming boost happens as Netflix prepares to potentially make a second season of its “NASCAR: Full Speed” documentary series. However, ongoing charter disputes with NASCAR teams create potential production issues for the $5 million production. The five-episode Netflix series began its first broadcast season by ranking among the top ten shows in America before reaching approximately twenty other international top spots due to worldwide NASCAR fan interest.
Not to forget, Prime Video has also signed up with Hendrick Motorsports driver Kyle Larson in documenting his journey to complete 1100 miles in the historic double attempt. So, the new media partners are leaving no stones unturned when it comes to bringing NASCAR and its star drivers into the limelight. Although fans would’ve liked to see FOX actively promoting and growing the sport, with the new exclusive partnership with IndyCar, they seemed to have found a new home. Whereas, NASCAR is trying to adapt to a more strategic approach, bringing on streaming partners and expanding the sport beyond their traditional boundaries.
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