Chase Stokes reveals 'incredibly disrespectful' experience ahead of 'Thunder Road' role

Chase Stokes has finally opened up about the transformation he is going through for his role in Thunder Road.

For those unaware, the 33-year-old American actor and director is playing the role of a rebellious NASCAR racer, Ronnie Whitlock, in the forthcoming television series. The series “follows the multi-generational saga of the Whitlock family, whose legacy in stock car racing intertwines with their southern hill country roots, featuring family dynamics and fierce rivalries in the world of NASCAR,” according to IMDb.

Chatting with Men’s Health, Stokes stated that he is considering his role as an opportunity to prove his acting prowess.

He told the outlet, “I’ve been playing a teenager through my late 20s and early 30s. I’m sort of already in the box of John B., so I was like, okay, I need to do something. I need to show the world that I am not a child with floppy, blonde hair. It’s salt and pepper now. I have a beard.”

The Tell Me Your Secrets star went on to admit that he really wants to pay homage to the NASCAR world, and the people in the field.

Stokes explained, “This character, he’s a rear tire changer, and those guys are ex-Division I athletes, and a lot of them have played professional ball in other areas. So, if I came in at the size of John B., that would be incredibly disrespectful to so many people who love this sport and those who are still operating at a professional athlete level physically to make sure that car goes into the pit lane, gets up on a jack, and goes out in the blink of an eye, so they can win these races.”

It is pertinent to mention that Thunder Road, with an ensemble cast including Dennis Quaid, Matt Barr, Michael Rooker, Jake Manley, and Maggie Grace, is scheduled to be released sometime in 2027.