AceShowbiz - Dennis Quaid is set to headline a new television series on AMC centered around NASCAR racing. Known for his versatile acting career, Quaid has recently portrayed a wide array of characters, including a serial killer in the Paramount+ thriller Happy Face, a harsh television producer in the acclaimed horror film The Substance, and President Ronald Reagan in the biopic Reagan.

Deadline has revealed that Quaid will star in Thunder Road, a forthcoming NASCAR drama series created by John Fusco, the writer behind the films Young Guns and The Highwaymen. The project was initially reported in November 2025 as a collaboration between AMC and Fusco. With Quaid officially attached, the writers’ room now open, and development moving swiftly, the series is expected to be greenlit soon. NASCAR is also involved in the production as a producer.

In Thunder Road, Quaid takes on the role of Duane Whitlock, known in the racing world as "The Wrecking Ball." Whitlock is a legendary NASCAR driver who rose from humble origins to establish a racing empire that spans multiple generations of the Whitlock family. The series will explore his struggles to protect both the family legacy and the competitive racing empire, highlighting complex personal relationships and the fierce world of NASCAR.

John Fusco is not only writing but also executive producing the series, alongside Cliff Roberts and Mark L. Smith. Both Roberts and Smith have experience from the Netflix series Untamed, which starred Eric Bana. Mark L. Smith’s credits also include The Revenant, Twisters, and Netflix’s American Primeval. NASCAR’s Tim Clark, John Dahl, and Gladys Cheng are producing as well, ensuring authenticity in the racing elements.

Dennis Quaid’s involvement in Thunder Road continues his history with sports-themed projects. Over the years, Quaid has appeared in a variety of sports films, including The Rookie, Any Given Sunday, The Express: The Ernie Davis Story, The Long Game, Everybody’s All-American, and American Underdog. While he has portrayed athletes and coaches in baseball, football, and golf, this new role marks his first time leading a story set in the world of NASCAR racing.

Outside of sports, Quaid’s notable roles include performances in The Parent Trap, The Day After Tomorrow, Vantage Point, the TV series Lawman: Bass Reeves, and The Special Relationship. His portrayal of President Bill Clinton in the latter earned him nominations for both Emmy and Golden Globe awards.

The timing of Thunder Road aligns with a surge in popularity for racing-themed entertainment, partly fueled by the recent success of Brad Pitt’s Formula 1 movie. That film received four Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, holds an 82% "Certified Fresh" rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, and a "Verified Hot" 97% audience score. It also grossed over $633 million worldwide, making it Apple’s highest-grossing movie to date.