Fox Sports Net has signed a broadcast deal with BCC Sports to air a new reality series, “All American Rookie” which takes 30 rookie race drivers and pits their skill, endurance and tenacity against each other, then against 10 of the best of NASCAR in a final race war for the crowning of the “All American Rookie”, a title that earns the winner a sponsored contract to race in the Busch Series. According to NASCAR Busch Series champion, Joe Nemechek, a producer of the show and mentor to the rookies, “We felt all along that this was the right approach to bringing fans a true view of the sport and eventually open the way for a fan to one day compete to become a professional in stock car racing.” Nemechek is being supported by 10 other NASCAR drivers on the show to be involved as judges and mentors to the 30 rookie drivers that will start the show. The final five Rookies will actually race against these champion drivers and will all have to prove themselves worthy of a spot on the track. The driver emerging victorious will earn a sponsored contract to race for NEMCO in the Busch Series. The show moves into production in late November at Daytona International Speedway, filming at five other race tracks across the country, with production running through to the end of January. A broadcast schedule is timed for early spring as the NASCAR season begins on FOX.(BBC Sports PR)(11-14-2006)
