Racing to my Heart
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DramaBox
Zoey, a janitor for a racing team, finds herself betrayed by her husband, James. As she seeks a way out, James proves unwilling to grant her an easy divorce. In her moment of need, her boss, the renowned NASCAR champion Justin, steps in to assist. Their shared trials spark a growing affection between them. Just as they grapple with revealing their feelings, Justin discovers that Zoey is, in fact, his long-lost childhood sweatheart.
text by DramaBoxCast
My Review
final score
4.2
originality
chemistry
dramas
romance
development
this review might contain spoilers, are you sure you want to read it?
Reveal the reviewI’ve seen promotions for this one a lot—there are a ton of racing-themed verticals coming out these days, but out of all of them, this was the one I was most excited about. Why? Because Paige is leading again! 🙌
Let’s start with our leads
Zoey works as a janitor on a Nascar team, but don’t let the mop fool you—this girl knows her way around an engine. She’s passionate about racing and carries a quiet strength, even while stuck in a recent yet already toxic marriage with a cheating husband.
Justin, on the other hand, is a famous Nascar champion with fans all over the world. Beneath the fame, he’s still searching for the girl who inspired him to chase his racing dreams—a girl from his past at the orphanage.
As fate would have it, Zoey is that girl. But neither of them realizes it when they cross paths again. Their bond slowly grows stronger as Justin becomes her protector and silent admirer. It’s obvious to us he’s falling hard, but Zoey remains clueless—gaslighting herself into believing it’s all in her head. (Spoiler: it’s not!)
In true Vertical drama fashion, miscommunications and missed timing keep them from uncovering the truth. While some minor antagonists try to stir the pot—a jealous assistant and a delusional childhood friend—they’re more of a nuisance than actual threats.
The real drama comes from Zoey and Justin’s inability to connect the dots… and James. That guy is pure creep. Thankfully, Justin’s timing is always perfect when James is around—too bad he isn’t nearly as quick when it comes to confessing his love or recognizing Zoey as the girl from his past. For a Nascar driver, Justin sure is slow in matters of the heart!
This series is called “Racing to My Heart”, but they really should’ve added “…but don’t forget the speed limit”—because clearly, this is a slow burn love story!
Zoey the Badass
One of the highlights of this series is Zoey’s evolution. She’s not your average soft-spoken lead—she’s got grit. That clothing store scene? Iconic. Instead of needing rescue, she filmed the mistreatment herself and shut it down. Paige brings a refreshing sassiness to Zoey, making her stand out from other romantic leads.
The Support Squad
Grace deserves a shoutout—her enthusiasm for Zoey and Justin’s relationship is all of us. Tony’s chaotic driving delivered one of the best moments (hello, accidental kiss!), and even Andrew quietly helped move things along. We love to see it.
Final Thoughts
This was such a fun and heartwarming watch. Zoey isn’t just a sweet lead—she’s got backbone. The only gripe? That rushed ending. The finale went from “You lied to me, I’m done” to “Let’s get married” in 2.10 minutes flat. One or two extra episodes would’ve made it perfect. Still, it’s a delightful Vertical full of feels, laughs, and just enough tension to keep you hooked.