Tommy Joe Martins, a veteran driver and team owner in the NASCAR O’Reilly Series, has added a new creative credit to his résumé: writer, director, and star of a short racing film called ‘Underfunded’. The project, which he both wrote and directed, draws heavily on his years behind the wheel and his experience co‑founding Alpha Prime Racing.
A Passion Project Takes Shape
‘Underfunded’ is a 24‑minute narrative that follows several characters at a crossroads in their careers. One is a talented but unknown driver, another is a former champion confronting the end of his racing life, a third is a top prospect with deep family roots in the sport, and the fourth is a team owner wrestling with financial strain. Martins infused the screenplay with personal anecdotes, making the story feel like a mirror of the industry he knows so well.
The film enjoyed a modest but successful run on the independent festival circuit, earning praise for its authentic portrayal of racing life. Its distribution was held back until a suitable platform could be found, after which Omeleto, a YouTube channel with nearly four million subscribers, picked it up for streaming.
Omeleto released ‘Underfunded’ on Tuesday, giving its massive audience the chance to experience the short that Martins describes as both a love letter to racing and a commentary on the financial realities that shape many drivers’ futures. The release marks a rare crossover of motorsport storytelling and mainstream digital video content.
For Martins, the project is more than a side venture; it is an extension of the brand he helped build with Alpha Prime Racing. By sharing his perspective through film, he hopes to shed light on the challenges faced by those who live and breathe the sport, while also inviting viewers to appreciate the behind‑the‑scenes pressures that rarely make it onto the track.