Plot Synopsis

NASCAR: THE RISE OF AMERICAN SPEED is a six-hour, three-night special event series that chronicles the lives of the fearless men who took stock car racing out of the backwoods and into the national spotlight, while revealing NASCAR's legendary beginnings, including the sport's early pioneers and ascension to national prominence. From bootleggers settling their differences through racing to a singular vision from "Big Bill" France that launched an empire, NASCAR has always been and continues to be a family affair with a long history of "racing royalty" to be shared and passed along. Time and again, fathers, sons, brothers, uncles and nephews would race together -- Ray Parks, Junior Johnson, Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt and more -- they were family best friends, rivals and heroes. These drivers, mechanics and owners come to life through character-driven scenes that unfold chronologically, starting with NASCAR's founding fathers and concluding with racing's great modernizers and current superstars of the track. The series features archival footage, reenactments and interviews with NASCAR personalities and experts including Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Jeff Gordon, Kevin Harvick, Matt Kenseth, Brad Keselowski, Kyle Larson, Joey Logano, Richard Petty, Tony Stewart and Darrell Waltrip.