NASCAR IMAGES AND CMT FILMS TO PRODUCE ONLY AUTHORIZED DOCUMENTARY ON RACING LEGEND DALE EARNHARDT
06/07/06
DALE TO BE RELEASED THEATRICALLY AS PART OF MAJOR MARKET NASCAR TOUR
PAUL NEWMAN TO NARRATE
NASHVILLE, TN and CHARLOTTE, NC -- June 7, 2006 -- NASCAR Images and CMT Films will produce the only authorized documentary on Dale Earnhardt to be released theatrically, on television and later on DVD, it was announced today by Jay Abraham, president/CEO, NASCAR Images and Jeff Yapp, executive vice president, program enterprises, MTVN. The film will premiere in selected cities on the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup SeriesTM circuit beginning next February, coinciding with the beginning of the 2007 Nextel Cup season. DALE will then debut on CMT in third quarter 2007, and will be released on DVD following the CMT premiere.
Narrated by Paul Newman, this portrait of Dale Earnhardt will include archival race footage, rare outtakes, never-before-seen family home videos and interviews with his closest friends and family, toughest competitors and most avid fans, illustrating the depth of Earnhardt's influence in the racing world and beyond.
“When NASCAR Images set out to create the definitive film about Dale Earnhardt’s life and racing history, we knew it was crucial to be the first to have the explicit approval of the Earnhardt family and Richard Childress Racing,” said Abraham. “DALE will be the first film of its kind to tell the real story of Dale Earnhardt through his own words and images.”
“This film provides an incredible opportunity to reach the very audience that Dale’s life and legacy mean so much to,” said Yapp.
“We’ll create large event screenings in Nextel Cup Series markets preceding a race weekend, with the goal of creating an event atmosphere more like a live concert than a traditional movie screening.”
“Dale’s legendary persona inspired people who had never even met him,” says Teresa Earnhardt, “and this film will keep inspiring those who see it and help to carry on his legacy.”
"Dale Earnhardt will always be one of the most dominant figures in the history of NASCAR,” said Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. "He meant so much to the millions of his fans throughout the world and I think DALE will give everyone a unique perspective on him both as a racer and as a human being."
"DALE not only celebrates Earnhardt as a sports legend, but also gives fans something they've never seen before - a flesh and bones portrait of the man who gave his heart and soul to NASCAR racing," says Paul Villadolid, vice president of programming and development, CMT.
DALE will tour the nation with select sneak preview screenings near NASCAR racetracks. This limited release of the film provides NASCAR and Dale Earnhardt fans a sneak preview of the film before its television and DVD release at the end of the year. These previews will allow fans a chance to see the film on huge, local screens with state-of-the-art sound in the weeks leading up to local race-day.
Following its theatrical debut, the film will premiere on CMT in late third quarter 2007 and will be released later on DVD. DALE is the second film produced under the CMT Films banner. The first CMT Film, Toby Keith’s Broken Bridges, will debut in theaters this fall, with a fourth quarter 2006 release on CMT and DVD.
Dale Earnhardt earned more than $41 million in his career, winning seven NASCAR championships and virtually every major NASCAR event. His death in 2001 on the last lap of the Daytona 500 moved America more than any other athlete's death. His appeal bridged a huge core of race fans and the general public, not so much for his wins, but for the way he won them --spectacularly and with gusto.
The exclusive licensee of NASCAR event footage and home of one of the world's largest NASCAR libraries, NASCAR Images delivers the sight, sound, and emotion of NASCARTM. Past productions include: NASCAR Nextel Cup Series 2005, Dale Earnhardt, Jr.: Any Given Day, NASCAR Adrenaline Volume 1, among other high-octane titles.
DALE is executive produced by NASCAR Images’ Jay Abraham and Jim Jorden, with Ryan McGee serving as editor-in-chief; Rory Karpf and Mike Viney, producers; and Al Francesco, director of photography. For CMT Films, Paul Villadolid and Lewis Bogach serve as executive producers.
CMT, America’s No. 1 country music network, carries original programming, specials and live concerts and events, as well as a mix of videos by established country music artists and new cutting-edge acts, including exclusive world premiere videos. CMT is available in 82.5 million homes.
Formed in 2005, CMT Films is a division of MTV Networks that uses innovative distribution methods including theatrical and television network premieres to distribute its films before premiering them on CMT and releasing for DVD sales. More information is available at country music’s biggest website, www.CMT.com.
# # #
PRESS CONTACTS:
CMT/CMT Films Cindy McLean 615-335-8404 cindy.mclean@cmt.com
Rogers & Cowan
for NASCAR Images Glen Lehrman 310 -854-8189 Lehrman@webershandwick.com
DEI Steve Brown 704-662-8000 sbrown@DEI-ZONE.com
RCR David Hart 336-731-3334 hart@rcrracing.com
