Utopia today announces the acquisition of the worldwide rights to the critically acclaimed documentary “ROWDY,” which chronicles the career of Kyle Busch, one of the most successful and controversial drivers in NASCAR history. 

In anticipation, Utopia—in partnership with Fathom Events--will hold a worldwide premiere and VIP event in Nashville on June 23, prior to that weekend’s Ally 400 at Nashville Superspeedway.  On June 29, “ROWDY” will screen for one night only in theaters nationwide.

“Kyle Busch is a world-class competitor and for nearly two decades has shined as one of the biggest stars in NASCAR,” said Matt Summers, Managing Director of Entertainment Marketing and Content Development at NASCAR. “We’re thrilled to partner with Chance Wright, Utopia and Fathom in bringing Kyle’s story to life for all race fans to enjoy.”  

Establishing one of the greatest and most memorable comebacks in sports history, Busch - who earned the moniker “ROWDY” because of his flat-out, no-holds-barred racing style - is widely considered to be one of the most polarizing drivers of the contemporary NASCAR Series. 

The documentary provides a special look at his unmatched talent and singular determination to win at everything while giving candid insights from family, friends and NASCAR personnel on his life and career. Busch confronts his physical limits when he sustains a potentially career-ending wreck in 2015, only to find a path to the first of many Cup Series Championships.

“Since I started racing at 13, I’ve focused on becoming the best driver I could possibly be,” said Busch. “This film documents my journey, sacrifice and passion for the sport that led to winning races and, ultimately, championships. It also sets the record straight about controversial instances with perspectives from the people who were a part of those pivotal moments that changed me.”

Busch’s irreverent and polarizing personality, whether in or out of the driver’s seat, has earned him both diehard fans and vehement detractors, though his accomplishments are irrefutable. His 60 Cup wins lead all active drivers, ranking Busch ninth on the all-time wins list. Busch is the all-time record-holder for wins in both the NASCAR Xfinity Series (102) and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (61). Busch has a total of 223 victories in all three NASCAR national series.

“ROWDY is an incredible comeback story of perseverance, grit, and overcoming improbable odds” said Chance Wright, Executive Producer of ROWDY. “Peeling back the curtain shows the truth in athleticism in NASCAR and Kyle. Hardcore fans of NASCAR will get as much out of this as the person who has never seen a race.”

In addition to interviews with Busch himself, the documentary provides commentary from some of NASCAR’s most legendary personalities, including but not limited to NASCAR superstars Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jeff Gordon, team owners Rick Hendrick and Joe Gibbs, brother Kurt Busch and wife Samantha Busch.

F1 great Juan Pablo Montoya had a conversation with VegasInsider where he discussed the situation at Mercedes. He opined that there's no drama at Mercedes between Lewis Hamilton and George Russell. Here's what he had to say:

• I don't think there's drama between Lewis Hamilton and George Russell - Mercedes are trying to figure out the car

"I think there's no drama (betweem Lewis Hamilton and George Russell)."

"Lewis is in a different position in his career than George and that makes a big, big difference."

"The focus, at the team, at the moment, they're not racing each other at all. They're just trying to figure out the car. And I bet you they're trying different setups and different things."

"If they struggle on a weekend and it's terrible, they'll be like, 'okay, we move on to the next one.'"

"A team like Mercedes that are used to winning races, if they finish fifth or ninth in a race, or ninth and 12th. Who cares? In the big picture, who cares?"

"What really matters is understanding what's missing and figure it out and if they can understand what they need to do, it'll make a big difference."

• George was fighting in traffic for the last two-three seasons at Williams and Lewis was cruising up in front - that makes a difference

"Lewis is struggling and people are like - 'it really shows it was just the car, look how good is George (Russell).'"

"I'm a big fan of George, I really like Lewis as well. I think the biggest difference is that you got to remember, George has been in Williams for the past three-four seasons. So, he's been in the melee every weekend. Like he is 'traffic, traffic' and racing people all day."

"And Lewis, the last seven-eight seasons, he's been cruising by himself every weekend. He hasn't really raced people because when he gets to lap them, everybody needs to get out of the way."

"All of a sudden he's stuck in traffic and it doesn't matter how good you are, if you don't practice it, it's hard."

"Somebody who's been doing it all his life (George Russell), it doesn't mean he's (Hamilton) worse, it's just going to take him more time to figure it out."

• Lewis is not as comfortable in the car - he's focused on making it better

"I think Lewis is not as comfortable and I think the car is doing a lot of different things."

"I think Lewis is at a point that if the car doesn't drive really, really good, I mean when you're younger, and I've been through it, when you're younger, you'll drive it however it is and you think it's okay. As you get older and wiser, you go - 'uh, it's not driving well, there's no point'."

"I think you always want to drive the wheels out of the car but a guy like Lewis that has been used to winning every year, and championships, I think, for him to qualify 10th or 12th, it's kind of the same thing."

"Give him a winning car and you'll see how different he's gonna behave."

"I know he doesn't want to get his ass kicked every week by George. George looks a lot more comfortable and is pushing, and he's got a point to prove. Whereas Lewis doesn't really need to prove anything."

"I think Lewis is really focused on making the car better and is just really uncomfortable in the car."

"Did he forget how to drive? No, that doesn't happen. You don't forget overnight. He's just not happy with the car."

• The Mercedes W13 looks awful and it seems to have given up a lot of pace to deal with the porpoising

"It (the Mercedes W13) looks awful. I think they've given up a lot of pace because they need to run the car really high, for the porpoising."

"You see how bad at the end of the straights that car bounces! It's like the driver is going like that (bobs head) and you're trying to figure out where is the braking zone."

"I've been through it. It's a nightmare."

"It hurts the car, the gearbox, everything takes a beating. They've just given up a lot of pace just to make it survive the races. Once they figure it out, the whole grid is going to flip upside down, it's going to change a lot."

Montoya was speaking to VegasInsider, and you can find the entire interview here.

1st Impressions Race Team announced today it has signed Chad Cose to compete aboard a Honda CRF450R in the Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER class for the remainder of the 2022 Progressive American Flat Track season.

A seat on the four-rider effort opened up following the injury of Michael Lainhart at Texas Motor Speedway. Lainhart suffered a tibial plateau fracture and torn meniscus after colliding with a bike that went down directly in his path and now faces several months of recovery.

Despite the disappointing setback, 1st Impressions Race Team was fortunate to land the services of a rider as accomplished and motivated as Cose.

The Californian boasts more than a decade of professional experience, during which he has continually improved his racecraft and speed. Over the past five years in particular, Cose has established himself as a genuine front-running force across all three Progressive AFT classes.

He took his career to new heights in 2018, earning a first-career premier-class podium finish among his 12 top-ten finishes to secure sixth place in the Grand National Championship. He then took the undercard by storm, winning races in Mission Production Twins presented by Vance & Hines and Parts Unlimited AFT Singles in 2019 while finishing the season ranked inside the top five in both categories.

He continued his winning ways in 2020 and 2021, highlighted by championship runner-up honors at the conclusion of his ‘21 Mission Production Twins campaign.

In his new position with 1st Impressions Race Team, Cose will focus all his efforts on Parts Unlimited AFT Singles with the goal of securing the team a maiden victory in its third year of competition.

Team Owner Eric Hoyt said, “Leading up to this season, (Team Manager) Sandriana (Shipman) and I were set on fielding a four-rider team. Due to the unfortunate injury of Mikey Lainhart at the Texas round, we were left a rider short in our team roster. After discussions with Chad it was agreed that he would be a great full-time addition to the team for the remainder of the season. We are excited to welcome him to the 1st Impressions Race Team.”

Five-time Progressive AFT race winner Cose said, “I’m really excited and grateful for the opportunity to race for the 1st Impressions Race Team. I have a great relationship with Eric, and I’m anxious to see what we can do together. I feel they have taken a step forward each year as a team, and I’m confident they will provide me with bikes capable of contending for race wins.

“I’m also looking forward to the challenge of racing the singles class. The class is ultra-competitive and full of young talent hungry to win. The whole team has already been super accommodating. It’s pedal to the floor to have us in a really good spot for the Kentucky mile doubleheader.”

Cose will make his 1st Impression Race Team debut at the Mission Red Mile Doubleheader presented by Indian Motorcycle of Lexington on May 28-29 in Lexington, Kentucky.

Former INDYCAR SERIES driver and team owner Sarah Fisher, who remains the fastest woman in Indianapolis 500 history, will drive the 2023 Corvette Z06 70th Anniversary Edition Pace Car to lead the field to the green flag for the 106^th Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, May 29 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Ohio native Fisher started “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” nine times between 2000 and 2010, a record for female drivers. Her fastest four-lap qualifying speed of 229.439 mph in 2002 also remains an event record for a female driver.

Fisher also was the first woman to win the pole position for a major North American open-wheel event, for the INDYCAR SERIES race in 2002 at Kentucky Speedway. She also was the first female driver to earn a top-three finish in INDYCAR SERIES competition, placing third in 2000 at Kentucky Speedway and second in 2001 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

After her driving career, Fisher turned to team ownership, providing two-time series champion Josef Newgarden with his first ride in the INDYCAR SERIES. Since her team ownership role ended, she stayed involved with the sport by serving as the Pace Car driver at selected NTT INDYCAR SERIES events.

She now co-owns with her husband, Andy O’Gara, the successful Speedway Indoor Karting facilities in Speedway, Indiana, and Daytona Beach, Florida, and is the mother of two children.

“Every time I’ve had the opportunity to drive at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, it’s been special – from INDYCAR SERIES cars to two-seaters to vintage cars,” Fisher said. “Driving the Pace Car is just as special of an honor. And to have served in that role for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES since Johnny Rutherford retired, I’ve had many great memories to add to my career.

“I am humbled and proud to become the official Pace Car driver for the 106th Indianapolis 500 and to represent the hard work and development that Chevrolet puts into these fantastic pieces of automobile advancement and technology.”

The 2023 Corvette Z06 is powered by the all-new 5.5L LT6 which creates 670 horsepower, making it the highest-horsepower naturally aspirated V-8 ever to hit the market in any production car. The Indianapolis 500 Corvette Z06 Pace Car exudes confidence with a wide stance and exotic mid-engine proportions. This year’s Pace Car is equipped with the available Z07 Performance Package, featuring a carbon fiber rear wing, aerodynamic ground effects, carbon ceramic brakes and more, for maximum track capability.

With a nod to Corvette’s 70-year history, the Pace Car is a model year 2023 70th Anniversary Edition Z06, finished in a special White Pearl Tri-Coat Metallic paint. Unique to this package on the production car and the Pace Car are 70th Anniversary Edition exterior badging, including special Corvette crossflags, Edge Red brake calipers and the 70th Anniversary Edition logo on seats, steering wheel and sill plates.

Chevrolet’s Performance Design Studio created an asymmetric stripe package specifically for the Pace Car that draws inspiration from the 70th Anniversary Edition badging on the door of the Z06.

“The Chevrolet Team is proud to pace the Indianapolis 500 for the 33rd time, while celebrating 70 years of Corvette,” said Steve Majoros, vice president of Chevrolet Marketing. “It’s only fitting the Indianapolis 500 will be the first race the 2023 Corvette Z06 paces, a truly special moment for Corvette and INDYCAR fans around the world.”

Chevrolet and Corvette have led the starting field more than any other manufacturer and nameplate, respectively. The 2022 race marks the 33rd time for Chevrolet to pace dating back to 1948, and the 19th time since 1978 for America’s favorite sports car.

“Sarah Fisher is an Indianapolis 500 icon who always takes the time to appreciate her fans and represent the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and ‘The Greatest Spectacle in Racing’ with class and humility,” IMS President J. Douglas Boles said. “She is such a fitting person for this honor, and it will be such a thrill and privilege to see her lead the field of 33 cars to the green flag before a huge crowd at the track and a global television audience.

“I’m sure Sarah will enjoy driving the 2023 Corvette Z06 70th Anniversary Edition, which is an incredible car with the performance to match its great looks.”

Visit IMS.com for tickets and more information on all Month of May events and activities at IMS.

Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world's largest car brands, available in 80 countries with more than 3.2 million cars and trucks sold in 2020. Chevrolet models include electric and fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive and active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

• The Ferguson family where parents Ron & Jenny are pushing for their son, Lil Troy to become the most ruthless competitor and dominate the Cadet class
• The Hidalgos, where parents Ronaldo & Monica have ambitions for their son Hudson to live up to Ronaldo’s vicarious dream of become a professional racer
• The Walcott Family, where Nick has brought his son, Grayson, to California from Chicago to be coached by Troy in hopes of becoming the best of the best while Grayson’s mother, Dr. Kadijah Walcott, has made the ultimate sacrifice of remaining in Chicago to financially support her son’s goal from afar.
• The Biezonsky Family, where former soccer player, Danny, and former pageant-winner, Jeannette, expect the same competitive spirit from their kids Diesel, Danya, and Asher who need to prove they belong in the upper tier racing group.