NASCAR Drivers to Be Featured on Popular Game Show

    LOS ANGELES--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--April 8, 2002--The number one game show in the world and the fastest growing sport on television have partnered for "Wheel of Fortune" "NASCAR Week," airing nationwide April 22-26, 2002. All week, the die-hard NASCAR fans that were chosen as contestants will compete on a NASCAR-outfitted "Wheel of Fortune" set featuring everything from stock cars to checkered flags for great NASCAR-themed prizes, such as Gasoline for Life from TOSCO/76, a Ford F 150 Truck, and VIP fantasy trips to some of NASCAR's premiere events. The April theme week marks the first partnering of "Wheel of Fortune" and NASCAR.
    NASCAR drivers Bobby Labonte, Jeff Gordon, Rusty Wallace, Ward Burton, Jeff Burton, John Andretti, Buckshot Jones and 7-time NASCAR Winston Cup Champion, Richard Petty, will be featured in show segments shot with Vanna White on location at the Las Vegas Speedway in March.
    NASCAR favorites Kyle Petty, Jeff Green, Stacy Compton, Ricky Craven and Jimmie Johnson also make appearances during "Wheel of Fortune" "NASCAR Week" to introduce the great NASCAR-themed prizes from sponsors Lowe's Home Improvement, Tide, Conseco, Daytona USA, NASCAR Speed Park, America Online (AOL) and the Richard Petty Driving Experience.
    "`Wheel of Fortune' `NASCAR Week' combines two high-powered American favorites," says Harry Friedman, executive producer, "Wheel of Fortune." "This is a winning partnership."
    Paul Brooks, vice president, broadcasting, NASCAR, explains: "NASCAR is committed to creating opportunities within the entertainment industry that help grow the sport further while showcasing the incredible drivers, teams, tracks and fans that make our sport so special and exciting for the entire family. `Wheel of Fortune' `NASCAR Week' is a perfect example of creating a win-win partnership for everyone, especially the viewers."
    "Wheel of Fortune" "NASCAR Week" will be promoted nationwide on over 200 "Wheel of Fortune" affiliates and online at www.nascar.com, the official website of NASCAR.
    Hosted by Pat Sajak and featuring Vanna White, "Wheel of Fortune" is televised in 40 territories worldwide, reaching more than 100 million weekly viewers, making it the most popular television show on earth. Since its 1983 syndication launch, the game show has awarded more than $125 million in cash and prizes to contestants.
    Merv Griffin is the creator of "Wheel of Fortune." The show is produced by Columbia TriStar Domestic Television, a Sony Pictures Entertainment Company, and is distributed domestically by King World Productions, Inc. The U.S. episodes are distributed internationally by CBS Broadcast International (CBI); King World International Productions, a subsidiary of CBI, sells and produces format versions worldwide.