It’s been a wild ride waiting for the next chapter of NASCAR: Full Speed. The buzz started building back in January 2024 when Netflix dropped the first season, giving us a front-row seat to the 2023 Cup Series playoffs. Drivers like William Byron and Daniel Suarez opened up about their lives on and off the track, and we couldn’t get enough. Season 1 hit our screens on January 30, 2024, and the hype was real—NASCAR fans were hooked on the drama and speed.
In September 2024, NASCAR Studios and Words + Pictures confirmed Season 2, promising another gritty look at the 2024 playoffs. “I couldn’t be more excited to be expanding our partnership with NASCAR with Full Speed Entertainment,” said Connor Schell, the CEO and founder of Words + Pictures. “The first season of Full Speed was a really rewarding project for our company, and it was a thrill to work side-by-side with NASCAR Studios every step of the way. The opportunity to bring audiences more great racing content and collaborate with NASCAR opens a wealth of possibilities we can’t wait to get working on.”
But the road to Season 2 has been a frustrating mess—a late release, a mysteriously deleted Netflix announcement, and a fanbase left fuming.
Netflix has set a release date for NASCAR: Full Speed season 2
“Early into the Full Speed process, I knew we wanted to find more ways to collaborate and capitalize on new opportunities for NASCAR as cultural demand for compelling sports stories continues to grow,” said Tim Clark, NASCAR’s executive vice president and chief brand officer, in September 2024. “It’s such a natural partnership for NASCAR Studios and for me personally,” said John Dahl, whom NASCAR hired in the spring as the company’s new senior vice president of content. Despite drumming up considerable hype, the final product is still unfinished.
Fast forward to 2025, and the wait for NASCAR: Full Speed Season 2 has felt like an eternity. Netflix promised more action, focusing on the 2024 Cup playoffs, and the trailer dropped on April 16, 2025. However, Netflix surprisingly deleted the trailer, only to re-upload it later, in a move that left fans puzzled. However, it’s official now, the release date is set for May 7, 2025, and the sneak peek shows explosive drama with heart-stopping moments.
Daniel Suarez is set to play a major role, according to Daily Downforce, while Variety highlights the behind-the-scenes tension that’s sure to keep us glued. “We have the tiebreaker over William [Byron],” Christopher Bell’s wife, Morgan, can be heard saying from the trailer amid the infamous race manipulation incident at Martinsville last fall, “And then I realize nobody is celebrating.”
.@Netflix says that the second season of the ‘Full Speed’ NASCAR docu-series will premiere on May 7th. pic.twitter.com/kL34h9cDtK
— Adam Stern (@A_S12) April 16, 2025
But not everyone’s cheering. Hendrick Motorsports’ William Byron has stirred a debate, saying on the Rubbin’ is Racing podcast in February 2025, “It’s just very intrusive into your daily life.” This raised questions about how much behind-the-scenes access is too much. Season 2 notable covers the aforementioned Martinsville playoffs incident, in which Byron was involved. The driver even referenced the playoffs as an inconvenient time of filming, adding, “When it’s in the middle of the round of eight and you’re trying to get to the championship, it’s definitely stressful.”
Despite this, fan sentiment was that of excitement. Finally, they would get a detailed look into the happenings of one of the most controversial incidents of the season. It was shaping up to be a wild ride, blending the thrill of racing with the drivers’ personal stories. Yet, when around the time of Daytona 500—the sport’s Super Bowl—just weeks away, the timing of this release had fans scratching their heads.
That raw frustration struck a chord, echoing a growing sentiment in the NASCAR community. The delay ultimately offended the NASCAR community, and with the 2025 season already in motion, fans were fed up with Netflix’s slow pace. NASCAR.com’s gallery of memeable moments from Season 1 shows the fun fans had, but the delay has sparked outrage.
Let’s dive into those fan reactions, each one a raw reflection of a fanbase that lives and breathes this sport.
Fans are frustrated by NASCAR and Netflix’s slow pace
One fan commented, “Why bother.. Last season was 7 months ago. It’s like watching a NFL Super Bowl special in week 5 of next season.” This comment hits like a wreck on the final lap. Season 1 covered the 2023 season and was released 1 month before the 2024 season, drumming up the necessary hype for fans trying to get into the sport. Now, with 2025 underway, fans feel like they’re getting yesterday’s news. Motorsport.com noted that Season 2 focuses on 2024’s races and drama, but for a community that thrives on the current season’s energy, a seven-month gap feels like a lifetime. Fans want stories that sync with the races they’re watching now, not a recap of last year’s battles when they’re well into the new season.
“About god damn time… don’t get why this doesn’t come out a week before Daytona…” added another used. This one’s all about missed opportunities. The Daytona 500 in February is NASCAR’s biggest stage, and fans expected Full Speed to drop right before it, building hype like F1’s Drive to Survive does for its season opener. The May 7 release lands awkwardly, with the 2025 season already in full swing. Fans craved that pre-season adrenaline rush to fuel their passion, and this late drop feels like showing up to the race after the green flag’s already waved.
“This has been so mismanaged.” declared one fan. Fans are calling out the chaotic rollout, from the late September 2024 announcement, per nascar.com, to the trailer dropping just weeks before the premiere. It highlighted the community’s outrage, noting how the staggered schedule has left fans confused and frustrated. NASCAR is all about speed and precision, and this slow, messy buildup feels like a botched pit stop. Fans want a release that matches the sport’s intensity, not a drawn-out tease that leaves them hanging.
One fan sighed, “Better late than never I guess.” This resigned sigh captures the bittersweet mood. Despite the delays, the trailer’s promise of intense racing and driver stories, as hyped by keeps fans hooked. They’re still eager for the show, but the sour taste of waiting lingers. The NASCAR community is fiercely loyal, and while they’ll tune in, they’re tired of feeling like an afterthought. They want Full Speed to roar as loud as the engines at Daytona, not limp across the finish line.
These reactions show a fanbase that’s all-in but fed up. NASCAR fans live for the thrill of the sport, and Netflix’s delay has left them stuck in the pits. They’re ready for a season that captures the heart-pounding now, not a late replay of yesterday’s races.
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