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NASCAR-WCUP: NASCAR Goes Hollywood

6 May 1999

ATLANTA,--While it is unlikely that this years Oscar winners will wear firesuits anytime soon, race fans can watch their favorite drivers act in more than 10,000 movie theaters this summer. NASCAR goes Hollywood with Coca-Cola Racing Family drivers displaying their acting ability in an upcoming movie short appropriately titled, "Screen Test."

Unveiled to coincide with the beginning of the summer blockbuster movie season, The Coca-Cola Racing Family "Screen Test" features Dale Earnhardt, Jeff Burton, Bobby Labonte, Dale Jarrett, Kyle Petty, Bill Elliott, Ricky Rudd, Kenny Irwin, Steve Park and Jeremy Mayfield. In the off-track screen test footage, the drivers attempt to re-create scenes from films such as "Forrest Gump," "The Godfather," "Waynes World" and "Grease."

Clips include Elliott reflecting that "life is like a box of chocolates," Burton and Labonte dressed as Garth and Wayne, Jarrett donning a wig for his rendition of Grease Lightning, as well as a few other surprises.

The result is hilarious and firmly establishes that todays Winston Cup stars may want to keep their day jobs. But just like most actors, one of the drivers dreams of loftier Hollywood goals.

"Im not much on acting, I want to direct," said Earnhardt when discussing his scene from the movie short.

Produced by Hungry Man Productions and directed by Angel Gracia, the Coca-Cola Racing Family of Drivers movie short was shot in Charlotte during January and will begin running in theaters on May 19. Through its association with tracks and racing teams, The Coca-Cola Company and its bottling partners have been involved in NASCAR for more than 30 years. The company is title sponsor of the Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte and the NASCAR Busch Series Coca-Cola 300 race at Texas Motor Speedway. The Company sponsored cars from 1969-76 under the Coca-Cola and Mellow Yellow brands, respectively.

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