‘RISING’ Season 2: Full Schedule, Star Drivers, and How to Watch Live

Highlights

  • NASCAR’s “RISING” Season 2 follows three young drivers monthly.
  • Season premieres August 6, episodes release August to November 2026.
  • Connor Zilisch’s rookie journey from go-karts to Cup Series highlighted.
  • Episodes stream first on Xumo Play, then NASCAR’s YouTube channel.
  • Final episode on November 5 features all three drivers together.

NASCAR’s RISING returns for Season 2 in August 2026, profiling Cup rookies Connor Zilisch and Carson Hocevar, plus Truck Series newcomer Brenden Queen, across four monthly episodes.

The premiere lands August 6, with new chapters on the first or second Thursday. Episodes debut on Xumo Play, then appear two weeks later on NASCAR’s YouTube, widening access.

Four-episode Season 2 runs August–November 2026, with monthly releases.

Episode one tracks Zilisch’s rapid ascent from karting to the Cup grid. Family insight frames a rookie campaign built on learning, restraint, and executing clean weekends.

NASCAR RISING Season 2 featured drivers promotional graphic
Image Credit: Yahoo Sports

The series highlights preparation detail: simulator time, feedback loops, and risk management. The goal is incremental gains without compounding errors, a pragmatic stance for a first-year driver.

Episodes stream first on Xumo Play, then two weeks later on NASCAR’s YouTube channel.

Episode two turns to Brenden “Butterbean” Queen, a Kaulig Racing rookie stepping into national series intensity. The narrative builds around expectation management and pressure at Richmond Raceway, his home stage.

Queen’s adaptation focuses on communication, tire management, and traffic craft. The production shows how small procedural wins—pit entry discipline, restarts—translate into sustainable results across varied Truck layouts.

Carson Hocevar anchors episode three, balancing profile growth with scrutiny. The docuseries examines how he filters distractions, protects focus windows, and refines race execution amid heightened Cup-level exposure.

Following a breakthrough Talladega victory, a commemorative die-cast marks the milestone. Candid scenes outline his mindset shifts, from opportunistic aggression to situational awareness in superspeedway and short-run scenarios.

The November 5 finale brings Zilisch, Hocevar, and Queen together for a comparative look at progress and next steps.

All three threads converge in the November 5 finale. The episode contextualizes progress, compares development curves, and outlines next steps as teams calibrate resources for late-season consolidation.

By structuring monthly check-ins, RISING presents process over headlines. Distribution across Xumo Play and YouTube ensures broad access while spotlighting NASCAR’s talent pipeline beyond box-score outcomes.

Visual Summary



🏁
Connor
Zilisch



🟡
“Butterbean”
Queen



🚦
Carson
Hocevar


RISING

EP1
EP2
EP3
EP4

4 Episodes
Aug – Nov 2026

Meet the new faces chasing NASCAR’s future — caught in the spotlight, climbing together.

“RISING” returns for a fresh season, following three ultra-driven young drivers as they navigate pressure-packed firsts, home-track hopes, and Cup Series milestones.

Connor Zilisch fights rookie nerves and expectations as he leaps from kart king to Cup contender.
Butterbean Queen brings a local favorite’s energy — and nickname — to the chaos of Truck Series top circles.
Carson Hocevar sparks headlines (and a die-cast tribute!) after his breakthrough Talladega win.

Every episode drops monthly on Xumo Play, with wider YouTube access for all fans two weeks later.
The story? Three new stars, standing at the base of the NASCAR mountain—racing, learning, rising together.

Zane Muniz

Zane Muniz writes across NASCAR, IndyCar, F1, IMSA, NHRA, and dirt-racing news. His breaking-news alerts and event previews ensure motorsport fans never miss a lap, drift, or drag-strip showdown.

Avatar photo
Zane Muniz

Zane Muniz writes across NASCAR, IndyCar, F1, IMSA, NHRA, and dirt-racing news. His breaking-news alerts and event previews ensure motorsport fans never miss a lap, drift, or drag-strip showdown.

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