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AMC Networks has stepped into the racing entertainment with NASCAR. The network has begun working on a high-profile project closely highlighting stock car racing. The mind behind the movies like Young Guns, The Highwaymen, and Netflix's series Marco Polo, John Fusco, will lead the Thunder Road series.Following movies and docuseries like Tom Cruise's Days of Thunder and NASCAR's Full Speed mark a major step in that direction. The Thunder Road series will follow the story of the multi-generational history of the Whitlock family's legacy in stock car racing. The series will also feature family dynamics, fierce rivalries, and the untold stories of the sport.NASCAR's roots trace back to the moonshine runners during the prohibition. The bootleggers modified their stock cars to outrun the police, leading to the birth of stock car racing. Fast forward to 2025, the governing body has over a thousand races on more than 100 tracks. The sport has evolved with time and now features Gen-7 cars in the Cup Series.The well-recognized screenwriter, John Fusco, opened up about his Thunder Road project and told the media:“Thunder Road is about the Whitlock racing dynasty, a family bound by legacy, love, and the weight of their name. Set against the high-stakes world of NASCAR and the mythic outlaw roots of a sport born on the whiskey-running backroads of the South, you might call it Succession with stock cars. I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to bring this dramatic, action-packed, uniquely American story to life with AMC and NASCAR.”Cliff Roberts and Mark L. Smith will produce the project alongside John Fusco. AMC Networks' Dan McDermott will oversee the NASCAR project, and the governing body will officially work with the network to give it an authentic look.NASCAR released the full schedule of the Cup Series for the 2026 seasonNASCAR has tweaked the Cup Series schedule for the 2026 season. The next season will feature 38 races, adding two non-points-paying races. The 2026 season will kick off from the Bowman Gray Stadium race and wrap up at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 8, 2026.The Athletic released the schedule, and here's the list of the races:Feb. 1: Clash at Bowman Gray StadiumFeb. 15: Daytona 500Feb. 22: Atlanta (EchoPark)Mar. 1: Circuit of the AmericasMar. 8: PhoenixMar. 15: Las VegasMar. 22: DarlingtonMar. 29: MartinsvilleApr. 5: Off (Easter)Apr. 12: BristolApr. 19: KansasApr. 26: TalladegaMay 3: TexasMay 10: Watkins GlenMay 17: All-Star Race (Dover)May 24: Coca-Cola 600 (Charlotte)May 31: NashvilleJun. 7: MichiganJun. 14: PoconoJun. 21: San Diego (Naval Base Coronado)Jun. 28: SonomaJul. 5: ChicagolandJul. 12: Atlanta (EchoPark)Jul. 19: North WilkesboroJul. 26: Brickyard 400 (Indianapolis)Aug. 2: Off weekendAug. 9: IowaAug. 15: RichmondAug. 23: New HampshireAug. 29: Daytona (regular-season finale)Sept. 6: Darlington (playoff opener)Sept. 13: GatewaySept. 19: Bristol (Round 1 elimination)Sept. 27: KansasOct. 4: Las VegasOct. 11: Charlotte Roval (Round 2 elimination)Oct. 18: PhoenixOct. 25: TalladegaNov. 1: Martinsville (Round 3 elimination)Nov. 8: Homestead (Championship Race)Hendrick Motorsports driver Kyle Larson clinched his second Cup Series title in the 2025 season. His third-place finish at Phoenix Raceway led to HMS' 15th title win in the series.
