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Fox Sports
06-03-2025
- Automotive
- Fox Sports
Fox Sports Films Announces Destined To Drive: Patrick Dempsey's Return to Racing Premiering March 16 on FS1 - Fox Sports Press Pass
Film Follows Golden Globe Nominated Actor Patrick Dempsey's Anticipated Return to Motorsports Documentary Features Exclusive Interviews with NASCAR Cup Series Champion and FOX NASCAR Analyst Kevin Harvick, Three-Time American Le Mans Series Champion and Porsche Icon Patrick Long, and Rallycross and Formula Drift Champion Tanner Foust Trailer Premieres Today (Click Here) LOS ANGELES – FOX Sports Films announces today a new documentary DESTINED TO DRIVE: PATRICK DEMPSEY'S RETURN TO RACING featuring Golden Globe nominated actor Patrick Dempsey ('Grey's Anatomy') as he makes his anticipated return to race car driving. Premiering Sunday, March 16, (7:00 PM ET, FS1) immediately following the network's live coverage of the NASCAR Cup Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the film offers an intimate look at Dempsey's comeback to the sport after a nearly decade-long hiatus. Featuring exclusive interviews with NASCAR Cup Series champion and FOX NASCAR analyst Kevin Harvick, three-time American Le Mans Series champion and Porsche factory driver Patrick Long, and Rallycross and Formula Drift champion Tanner Foust, the one-hour film offers behind-the-scenes access to Dempsey's preparation as he reignites his passion for professional motorsports and competes in the high-stakes Porsche Endurance Challenge. 'Patrick Dempsey's unwavering passion for racing and competitive drive reflects the heart of a true athlete, and FOX Sports is thrilled to partner with NASCAR Studios to spotlight the extraordinary commitment he's put into racing at the highest levels,' said Barry Nugent, Vice President, Development and Original Programming, FOX Sports. 'We're excited to bring fans along for the ride to reveal the grit, determination and challenges Patrick faced competing in the high-stakes Porsche Endurance Challenge and whether this experience awakens the burning desire within to continue on his quest.' Having previously placed on the podium at the prestigious 24 Hours Le Mans and raced at the Rolex 24 at Daytona, Dempsey stepped away from racing in 2016 to focus on his family and acting career. His work on the 2022 film Ferrari rekindled his excitement for racing and brought back memories of the camaraderie and fellowship that brought drivers together within the sport. With renewed determination and support from Mobil 1 and Porsche's elite team, Dempsey returns to the track to embark on a high-pressure quest to fulfill his racing dreams. 'I am so thankful for this opportunity – not just to be back behind the wheel, but to do it with the right team and my friend, Patrick Long, as my co-driver,' Dempsey said. Through first-person interviews with Dempsey, Harvick, Long and Foust, the documentary provides an all-access view into Dempsey's mindset as a driver and teammate. With Harvick and Long as mentors, viewers gain unique insight into Dempsey's comeback journey and a rare glimpse into a side of Dempsey that few have seen on-screen. Blended with archival footage and thrilling trackside action, the film showcases the intensity, athleticism and psychological resilience required to succeed in motorsports. This film is not just about a podium finish, but the relentless pursuit of personal excellence. DESTINED TO DRIVE: PATRICK DEMPSEY'S RETURN TO RACING is executive produced by Robert Dalrymple of Robert Dalrymple Productions and Bobby Akin of Mechanical Rabbit Productions. Ariana Rotstein, Carl Hansen, Michael Vayder and Rita O'Dea from FOX Sports serve as producers. FOX Sports Films is dedicated to presenting captivating global sports documentaries through an unconventional and entertaining lens. Working with FOX Sports' league and conference partners, the brand produces original programming, connecting live sports events to sports culture. For more information, visit FOX Sports Press Pass and follow @FOXSportsPR on X. –FOX SPORTS–
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
New Trans Am Series Boss Andy Lally Faces Daunting Task
The Trans Am Series TA class, which averaged fewer than 10 entries last year, has just 11 entries for the 2025 season opener at Sebring. The explosion of GT racing series and 'country club' tracks has created opportunities to go elsewhere for drivers who can afford their own cars and crews. , who occasionally raced in the Trans Am, was preceded by John Claggett, an executive who was a driving force of the series for four decades. Andy Lally's endurance racing victories and three IMSA championships, not to mention a NASCAR Cup Series rookie title, brought momentum to his new job as the Trans Am president. But like a driver at the wheel of an 850-horsepower beast with no driver aids, Lally has his hands full as the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli season launches at Sebring (Fla.) International Raceway this weekend. The ground-pounding top class of TA, which averaged fewer than 10 entries last year, has just 11 entries at Sebring. The explosion of GT racing series and 'country club' tracks has created opportunities to go elsewhere for drivers who can afford their own cars and crews. 'It's a thin herd because not a lot of people choose difficult challenges and Trans Am is not easy' said Lally before pointing to two recent champions. 'A guy like Paul Menard, who's got a ton of Cup experience, sees the Trans Am series as fun,' said Lally. 'He likes to drive the heck out of something. Same thing with Chris Dyson. When I was Chris's teammate in a million-dollar prototype in the American Le Mans Series, he loved the high-speed corners.' Building the car count will not be an easy task, acknowledges Lally. 'It's a tough sell to get people to invest in what they need to do to raise the bar and come race Trans Am,' Lally said. 'It's not cheap. You've got to love a lot of horsepower in a car that's difficult to drive, because these things are rocket ships and the driver is in charge of everything. There's not a babysitting tool in that car.' Lally, who occasionally raced in the Trans Am, was preceded by John Claggett, an executive who was a driving force of the series for four decades. Tony Parella, founder of series owner Parella Motorsports Holdings, recruited Lally. 'The first time Tony actually made the offer, he didn't say president,' recalled Lally. 'I forget exactly how he worded it, but it was something along the lines of 'Do you want to run Trans Am?'' Lally initially was not interested, although as he approached the age of 50 he was alert to an alternate career path. 'I assumed Tony was talking about being a race director. That meant trouble. I don't have much of a filter. I have a long fuse with people who are trying. I have a short fuse with intelligent people that aren't trying. I tend to speak my mind on stuff.' But as president he will get involved on the rules side. One of his main tasks will be coordinating with SCCA Pro Racing, which sanctions the Trans Am and operates the series under a licensing agreement. 'He's going to fill a role that's been very much needed,' said Dyson, 'helping to interface between the competitors and officials to narrow that gap down.' Observed Adam Andretti, another veteran of the TA class, 'Everybody will come to him with an agenda.' This year's schedule should help give Lally a tail wind, because the car counts tend to go up on the classic road circuits. Sonoma Raceway, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca and Barber Motorsports Park have been added and the races at NOLA Motorsports Park and World Wide Technology Raceway were dropped. To present full fields, three GT classes run with the TA cars, including XGT for ex-GT3 cars no longer eligible in the FIA category. Indy car veteran Paul Tracy is among the entries in XGT at Sebring. The SGT and GT classes are based on SCCA categories. The well subscribed TA2, a support series that runs separate preliminary races, is an entirely different story. It averaged 30 entries last season with cars usually fielded by teams selling seats. The category for tube-frame Late Model stock cars with 530 horsepower has been positioned as the road racing rung for those with an eye on advancing to NASCAR. But it's one of motor racing's best kept secrets. Lally's goal is to bring TA2 as well as the Trans Am more publicity via marketing by Parella Motorsports Holdings, where longtime friend Michael Printup is the Chief Operating Officer. 'TA2 is the only fulltime stock car road racing series in the United States,' said Lally. 'It's recognized as a rung on the ladder, sort of parallel with ARCA in regard to a place for a young driver to come in and get the best bang for the buck and the closest thing that they're going to be able to drive in the Xfinity Series car or in NASCAR Truck.' Brent Crews became TA2's youngest champion in 2023 at the age of 15 and was subsequently signed to the Toyota Driver Development program. This year, Crews is driving for Joe Gibbs Racing in the ARCA Menards Series and in the NASCAR Truck Series for Tricon Garage. At Sebring, he will return to Nitro Motorsports and step up to the TA race. Phenom Connor Zilisch came through the TA2 series with flying colors in 2023 as well, winning five races with Silver Hare Racing. He signed with Trackhouse Racing at the beginning of the 2024 season and will drive in the Xfinity Series for JR Motorsports this season. 'TA2 is an amazing learning tool,' said Lally. 'We've got bright drivers as young as 13, 14, 15, coming into the series to drive, which is allowed by our insurance. NASCAR is not letting you in until you're much older than that. 'The car is essentially a straight Late Model, not offset for the ovals, but straight for a road course,' he continued. 'It's a 500-plus horsepower engine with a spec tire and no ABS, no traction control, no driver aids, just raw power. It's a good tube frame racing car, very, similar to the feel of a Xfinity car or a NASCAR Truck.' But to maintain the legacy of North America's longest running road racing series, the big horsepower cars remain the key. As the TA class goes, so goes the Trans Am. Can Lally be the crucial link in a TA revival? He thinks of a racing garage as a crucible and in that sense is well prepared for the job ahead. 'Conflict with human beings is natural,' he said. 'When you get competitive people who race, you're going to get this mixing bowl of emotion. We've got the same end goal, but they all want to be on the top of the podium.'
