Like the episode just before this one, 'Exit Stage Death', the story here keeps you guessing about the characters and their motivations. When you see the tow truck drive out on Kyle Owens' (Tim Blake Nelson) phony breakdown call, you fully expect it was Davis McDowell (Charles Melton) going out on the job. Instead, his Mom (Angel Desai) went while Davis hung back to see Owens tamper with his race car. Turning the tables on his hated rival, Davis lures Owens' daughter Katy (Jasmine Aiyana Garvin) into racing his vehicle with the carburetor still rigged to prevent it from reducing speed. But after she crashes and goes into a coma, Kyle Owens has a come to Jesus moment and admits that he interfered with the car's engine looking to undermine his racing opponent. Charlie Cale (Natasha Lyonne), with her ability to sniff out when someone is lying, calls 'bulls...' on Davis's explanation that the seat belt that didn't hold for Katy's crash was an accident. The way this story strays from the formula already established in the series is that no one dies in this one, by murder or otherwise, although Katy's crash could have resulted in much worse. Content with her investigation, Charlie's final act was to psych out Davis for his upcoming races, instilling in him a doubt about facing Katy as a future rival that could dethrone him as a racing champion.
Full disclosure: Most of the race car scenes and the interview fight between Davis McDowell and Kyle Owens were filmed on August 2, 2022 at the Orange County Speedway in Middletown, New York. The race track was renamed the Peach Tree Raceway for the episode. I know, because I was there as a background extra hired to portray a blue-collar race car fan. I'm not visible as part of the crowd scenes in the stands viewing the races. The go-kart scenes were filmed in nearby Chester, New York at the Castle Fun Center. I was not involved on that occasion.
Full disclosure: Most of the race car scenes and the interview fight between Davis McDowell and Kyle Owens were filmed on August 2, 2022 at the Orange County Speedway in Middletown, New York. The race track was renamed the Peach Tree Raceway for the episode. I know, because I was there as a background extra hired to portray a blue-collar race car fan. I'm not visible as part of the crowd scenes in the stands viewing the races. The go-kart scenes were filmed in nearby Chester, New York at the Castle Fun Center. I was not involved on that occasion.