NASCAR Champions Surprise 'Top Chef' Premiere

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NASCAR champions Jimmie Johnson and Kyle Busch made an unexpected appearance as guest judges on the season premiere of Bravo's cooking competition show Top Chef. The episode, filmed at Charlotte Motor Speedway, featured a Quickfire Challenge where contestants had to prepare dishes before a professional driver completed 23 laps around the track.

Why it matters

The crossover between NASCAR and Top Chef highlights the strong connection between motorsports and the culinary culture in the Carolinas, a key focus for this season of the show. It also marks a rare instance where NASCAR drivers have directly participated in a mainstream entertainment television program.

The details

For the opening Quickfire Challenge, contestants were divided into teams of three and tasked with preparing a dish while race cars circled the 1.5-mile oval at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Instead of racing against a traditional timer, the chefs had only as long as it took a driver to complete 23 laps of the track. Johnson, a seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, and Busch, a two-time Cup Series champion, helped judge the completed dishes alongside the show's regular panel.

• The Top Chef Season 23 premiere aired on March 12, 2026.

What’s next

The season of Top Chef featuring the NASCAR-themed challenge will continue to air new episodes on Bravo throughout the spring of 2026.