NASCAR has been scratching its head for years about how to pull in younger fans, the kind who scroll TikTok instead of flipping to race highlights. The big networks, FOX and NBC, have done a solid job with the races themselves, but they stick to the safe stuff: quick cuts of wrecks, interviews with the usual suspects, and stats that make sense if you’ve been watching since the ’90s.

What gets lost is the messy, real-life side of these drivers, the doubts, the family stuff, the late-night calls where they wonder if it’s all worth it. It’s like the broadcasts are great at showing the finish line, but skip the miles of road that got everyone there.

NASCAR finally got tired of waiting for the networks to mix it up. So they went straight to YouTube with RISING, a five-episode docuseries dropping one video a night from November 17 to 21. It’s all about three young guns: Carson Hocevar in Cup, Jesse Love in Xfinity, and Rajah Caruth in Trucks. No fancy filters or scripted drama, just cameras following them through a key season, catching the good, the bad, and the everyday grind that makes them tick.

Take Rajah Caruth. The guy’s 23, racing Trucks full-time, but his story starts way later than most. No karting as a kid or family hauler pulling him to local tracks. He found racing through sims and online stuff, basically teaching himself the ropes. RISING shows him owning that, pushing himself without excuses, and it makes you root for the underdog who’s rewriting his own rules.

Then there’s Jesse Love, 20 years old and already Xfinity champ. The series gets into how he left home at 15, shipped across the country to chase seats and sponsors, basically growing up in hotel rooms and haulers.

Fans see a guy who wears his heart out there, comparing him to early Jeff Gordon or William Byron, and even getting a shout-out from Rick Hendrick at the banquet. That’s the kind of depth TV coverage glosses over.

And Carson Hocevar, the 22-year-old Cup driver, is the wildcard. He’s got that old-school edge, racing like it’s 2005, not afraid to mix it up and ruffle feathers. RISING doesn’t hide it, it shows the highs, like walking into a room full of trophies from his karting days, and the lows, like the Mexico City scrap with Ricky Stenhouse Jr., where he got called out for being too aggressive.

Hocevar comes off as the regular guy who just happens to drive for a living, posting Walmart selfies and owning his rough edges. It’s that unpolished vibe that makes him stand out, and the series leans into it without making him a villain.

Putting all this on YouTube was smart. No paywall, no waiting for cable. Just hit play and get the full story, from stop-motion die-cast races as a kid to the pressure of a playoff push. NASCAR’s saying, “We’re not relying on networks to tell these stories anymore.” It’s a direct line to the fans who want more than highlight reels; they want the why behind the wins. And that is why, on Reddit, they are throwing heaps of praise.

Fans are all in for it

Many fans are really happy because RISING finally lets them get to know these drivers as people. As one Redditor put it: “It’s nice to get to know them a bit more … see their personalities … it’s hard to get much from the broadcasts anymore.”

On-air coverage often touches on race highlights but seldom dives into personal struggles, dreams, or what drives these young racers off the track, and this series changes that. The emotional access the docuseries offers shows that fans were starving for more than just stats.

Specifically around Rajah Caruth, viewers are impressed by his humility and dedication. One fan said, “Caruth … seems so committed and down to earth.”

Meanwhile, Jesse Love is earning newfound respect: “This guy is so … driven … how hard it was to be shipped off … across country … at 15 years old … really awesome how RC compared him to Jeff Gordon/William Byron, then Rick gave him a shout-out at the banquet.” The series highlights Love’s family sacrifices and raw motivation, giving weight to why he’s such a rising star.

Not everyone’s reaction is totally warm, though. Some viewers are more critical of Carson Hocevar, and RISING seems to have strengthened their opinions. As one comment reads: “I definitely dislike Hocevar more than I did before.” That’s probably because the docuseries shows not just his brilliance but also his full, unfiltered personality, the highs, the lows, and everything in between.

But some fans were taken aback positively by Hocevar, too. They noted a powerful moment when “Hocevar walking into that room filled with trophies was impressive, hadn’t previously realized his dominance as a kid.” That kind of childhood or early achievement context isn’t part of his typical race coverage, and it gives viewers a deeper appreciation for how he got where he is.

And then there’s Jesse Love; many say they’ve come away from the series with way more respect for him. One fan put it simply: “I cannot imagine moving across the country at 15 years old without my family. That takes a whole new level of commitment.” The docuseries shows that driving isn’t just about talent for Love, it’s about family, sacrifice, and grit.