The Buzz: April 24, 2001

April 25, 2001
10:50 AM EDT (1450 GMT)

Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s hour-long MTV documentary called "True Life: I drive race cars," has gotten rave reviews -- and not just from the general public. A team spokesman said Tuesday that pop band N'Sync is among those who have contacted Earnhardt Jr. about the piece.

The MTV crew first joined Earnhardt, Jr., at the second Loudon race and then followed the young star for six or seven of the remaining races. They also shot several follow-up pieces during the off-season, but much of that did not make the finished show.

The show took a much different tone and direction following the death of Dale Earnhardt at this season's Daytona 500. Among those segments that were deleted was a humorous trip to the Richard Petty driving school where Jr. drove them around in a race car.

Free ride

Second year NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver Stacy Compton has set up an appointment at Sears Point Raceway for Tuesday evening with driving instructor Bill Cooper. Compton will make some laps in a Dodge Viper street car, therefore not burning one of his allotted seven tests allowed by NASCAR.