Next week marks the first NASCAR-themed documentary released in theaters in nearly three years, as Utopia Films’ Rowdy will have a one-night only showing on June 29.
I had the chance to view a screener of the film ahead of its release and chat with Chance Wright, head producer on the Kyle Busch documentary as well as the owner and founder of Wright Productions Entertainment. Wright discussed the production at length, his relationship with Busch and the two-time Cup champion’s initial reaction to and involvement with the film.
Screening around the country, the film follows Busch’s journey to the pinnacle of NASCAR, focusing on his 2015 comeback season after a horrific injury at Daytona International Speedway. It also documents his journey to the Cup Series as well as the years that followed his first title.
Rowdy is an uncensored look at the man behind the wheel of the No. 18 Toyota and includes interviews with Busch’s family, including his parents, brother Kurt and wife Samantha; competitors including Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jeff Gordon and owners Rick Hendrick and Joe Gibbs. Reporters Jamie Little and Marty Smith, among others, also make appearances.
The following is an edited version of the interview; Part 2 of this feature article will follow the film’s release.
Adam Cheek, Frontstretch: Where did you guys come from in terms of your interest in racing? Were you into racing, were the directors and how did this idea come about as a whole?
Chance Wright: So I’ve been associated with racing and NASCAR for a long time, and I’ve known Kyle for a number of years before we made this documentary. So I was familiar with racing, familiar with NASCAR, kind of knew Kyle and his personality and things like that and a little bit of his history. And the 2015 season was so monumental, in terms of a comeback story in racing and sports alone, so we always knew that there was a story around that. […] We knew we wanted to make something about Kyle because of his polarizing personality, and there’s so much of that love-hate relationship that people have with him. And [also] kind of the idea that [with] the fans, if you do love him, you really love him, and people are all in and 100%. And if you don’t like him at all, then you hate him. [He’s] such a drastic figure within the racing community.
And then, furthermore, the 2015 season, when Kyle broke both of his legs and went through his recovery, […] we were all kind of blown away when Kyle…
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