CMT TAKES FANS ON THE “RIDE OF THEIR LIVES” IN NEW TWO HOUR FILM
11/11/08
PREMIERING SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13
Kevin Costner Narrates film which also features NASCARDrivers Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Jeff Gordon, Darrell Waltrip and More
NASHVILLE – November 11, 2008 – The story behind NASCAR is presented in first-person accounts by the people who lived it in the new film RIDE OF THEIR LIVES, produced by CMT FILMS and NASCAR Media Group, premiering on Saturday, December 13 at 9:00 p.m., on CMT.
Narrated by Kevin Costner, the film includes new, exclusive interviews with famed NASCAR personalities Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Jeff Gordon, Bobby Allison and Darrell Waltrip, and tells the story of how family dynamics weaved a thread through a half-century of racing. In RIDE OF THEIR LIVES, the history and heroes of NASCAR are brought to life through the men and women who lived the dream. They tell NASCAR’s history which is a story of family bonds and personal struggles, rebellion and teamwork. These are the threads that weave through the sport’s first 60 years and a half-century of Daytona 500 races. From the moonshine runners of the Postwar Years, to the superstars of the 21ST Century, THE RIDE OF THEIR LIVES celebrates a sport that grew from humble Southern roots to become a national spectacle.
RIDE OF THEIR LIVES features never before seen footage spanning NASCAR’s entire history from the archives of NASCAR Media Group, as well as the final interview with Bill France, Jr., former NASCAR President (1972-2000) and son of NASCAR Founder Bill France. Other drivers spotlighted in the film include Dale Earnhardt, Kyle Petty, Tim Richmond and Wendell Scott.
“After the huge success we had with our first film, “DALE,” we knew we wanted to collaborate on a second project with NASCAR Media Group.” says Jeff Yapp, EVP, Program Enterprises MTVN. “This film will show NASCAR fans a new perspective on the sport they love.”
“On the heels of our success with DALE, which was the largest selling sports title ever and was nominated for 2 Emmys, we are pleased to be working again with CMT and with a talent of the stature of Kevin Costner,” says Jay Abraham, COO, NASCAR Media Group. “This new film will give fans an exciting inside view of the history and evolution of the sport from the unique perspective of some of the families that made the sport.”
RIDE OF THEIR LIVES is produced by CMT FILMS and NASCAR Media Group. Written by Shawn Truax, the film is executive produced by Jeff Yapp and Lewis Bogach for CMT Films and Jay Abraham and Jeff Hillegass for NASCAR Media Group. Jim Jorden produces and Rory Karpf directs.
For downloadable photos, visit CMT's press-only web site www.cmtpress.com for more information.
CMT, a unit of Viacom's MTV Networks (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B), is the leading television and digital authority on country music and entertainment, reaching more than 87 million homes in the U.S. CMT and its website, CMT.com, offer an unparalleled mix of music, news, live concerts and series and is the top resource for country music on demand. The network's digital platforms include the 24-hour music channel, CMT Pure Country, CMT Mobile and CMT VOD.
MTV Networks, a division of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), is one of the world’s leading creators of entertainment content, with brands that engage and connect diverse audiences across television, online, mobile, games, virtual worlds and consumer products. The company’s portfolio spans more than 150 television channels and 350 digital media properties worldwide, and includes MTV, VH1, CMT, Logo, Harmonix, Nickelodeon, Nick at Nite, Noggin, The N, AddictingGames, Neopets, COMEDY CENTRAL, Spike TV, TV Land, Atom, GameTrailers and Xfire.
NASCAR Media Group is responsible for managing all of NASCAR’s broadcast and ancillary media rights as well as creating original content and programming. As such they manage all of the network relationships, develop relationships to integrate the sport into mainstream entertainment and are the exclusive rights holder of NASCAR event footage. Through their internal production group they deliver the Sight, Sound and Emotion of NASCAR® through TV and film productions, home video products and marketing efforts in support of the sport’s sponsors, tracks and teams. In 2007, NASCAR Media Group teamed with CMT Films to produce the critically-acclaimed feature length movie DALE, the only authorized documentary about racing icon Dale Earnhardt.
# # #
PRESS CONTACT:
Cindy McLean 615-335-8404 cindy.mclean@cmt.com
