NASCAR Unveils "RISING" Documentary Series, Offering Unfiltered Glimpse into Young Talent with Hocevar, Love, and Caruth

NASCAR is amplifying its commitment to showcasing the human element of its sport with the debut of "RISING," a compelling new documentary series now streaming on YouTube. The five-episode series, with new installments released nightly at 7 p.m. ET throughout the week, shines a spotlight on three promising young drivers: Carson Hocevar, Jesse Love, and Rajah Caruth. This initiative aligns with NASCAR’s strategic push to cultivate and present authentic personalities to a broader audience, a vision spearheaded by Senior Vice President of Content John Dahl, a veteran executive producer known for his work on ESPN’s acclaimed "30 for 30" series.

Carson Hocevar, a driver who has cultivated a public persona extending beyond the racetrack, embraces the scrutiny inherent in a documentary format. His established presence on Twitch, where he engages with fans during his evenings, and his accessibility during the off-season through dirt track and short track appearances, underscore his comfort with being in the public eye. This openness, Hocevar suggests, makes the cameras’ presence throughout his season less intrusive. "I think it’s healthy for a show to have the good, bad and the ugly, right," Hocevar stated during a teleconference. "For me, I’m comfortable being vulnerable on a camera just because I think that’s healthy. Life isn’t all sunshine and rainbows, and when everything is PR or portrayed that way, the world can see through that pretty easily and feel like something is faked or whatever. I want to watch ‘authentic’ and ‘real’."

Hocevar’s perspective on authenticity resonates with NASCAR’s broader content strategy. Since joining the organization in 2024, John Dahl has championed a narrative-driven approach, drawing parallels to the success of documentaries like "Full Speed" and the "Earnhardt" series. Dahl emphasizes the importance of drivers who are willing to share their genuine experiences rather than presenting a carefully curated public image. "What we’re looking (to spotlight) is characters and people, drivers in this case, who are willing to open up and not just present a polished PR look at their lives, and are willing to be vulnerable," Dahl explained. "These are drivers that have an interesting story, a backstory, and we see it with all three over the course of these five episodes, that they have inspiring and interesting backgrounds. We show them as human beings, and as we expand our audience for NASCAR, we look to do storytelling that is authentic and relatable, and that’s what we got here with RISING."

Hocevar’s journey in racing has been marked by a distinct, often polarizing, on-track style and an unwavering willingness to express his opinions, a trait evident since his teenage years at Berlin Raceway. This forthrightness continues to define his approach in his third season at the Cup Series level. "There are some young drivers out there, 15 years old, and they show up to the track with nice pants and they look like salesman," Hocevar commented. "They have buttoned up shirts and their sponsors on them, mostly their family business, and they try to play a part. I never had that. I was showing up to the race track in shorts, and just wanted to race, and I always thought that even if this is what you’re supposed to do, at least I stand out by not doing it."

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For Hocevar, "RISING" aims to present him as an accessible individual who happens to compete in high-stakes motorsport. He asserts that he is not portraying a persona but rather showcasing his genuine self. His aspiration is to embody the kind of racer he admired as a fan in his youth. "This is a look at who I am behind close doors and how can I be the driver that I was a fan of growing up," Hocevar said. "We have YouTube documentaries and streaming services, content creators, so that’s new. But even racing the La Mullets (a race at Freedom Factory owned by Cleetus McFarland), that got a crazy number of viewers and that started with a guy that was just shooting content with his iPhone, and it’s just fun to watch."

The series’ focus on Hocevar, Love, and Caruth underscores NASCAR’s broader effort to connect with a younger demographic and cultivate relatable figures within the sport. Hocevar articulates a deep-seated desire to contribute to the sport’s growth and to honor the passion that first drew him to NASCAR as a child. "So ultimately, I just want to hopefully grow the sport, and not be a disservice to five-year-old me that fell in love with the sport. It would be a disservice to that kid and every kid like me if I shied away from going into the stands, enjoying a Xfinity or Trucks race, and not positing about the things I do," he stated. "I just hope that it moves the needle, because I’m passionate about this sport, and seeing kids with their parents because I was that kid once."

Caruth, a rising star in the Truck Series and a recent winner at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in March, brings a unique perspective to the documentary. His background in esports and his transition to professional racing offer a compelling narrative of crossover appeal. Love, a prominent figure in the ARCA Menards Series, has consistently demonstrated championship-caliber performance, securing the 2020 ARCA Menards Series championship and continuing to contend for victories in subsequent seasons. The inclusion of these three drivers suggests a deliberate strategy by NASCAR to highlight individuals who represent diverse paths into the sport and possess distinct personalities that can resonate with a wide spectrum of fans.

The "RISING" series is poised to offer viewers an in-depth look at the pressures, triumphs, and personal journeys of these emerging talents. By opting for an unvarnished portrayal, NASCAR aims to foster a deeper connection between its drivers and its fanbase, mirroring the success of similar documentary initiatives in other professional sports that have prioritized authenticity and emotional storytelling. The continued success of such content, as evidenced by Hocevar’s observations on the popularity of grassroots racing content, suggests a growing appetite among motorsports enthusiasts for genuine narratives that go beyond race results and highlight the human drama inherent in elite competition.

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