NASCAR, Disney team up for 'Herbie'

Herbie to shoot at California Speedway Sept. 3-5

LOS ANGELES -- NASCAR and NASCAR Digital Entertainment (NDE), in conjunction with Walt Disney Pictures, will bring Herbie, the world's coolest and most famous four-wheeled movie star, back into action at the NASCAR Nextel Cup Pop Secret 500 weekend Sept. 3-5 at California Speedway.

The announcement was made Monday by NASCAR Vice President Dick Glover, NASCAR Digital Entertainment Director of Film, Television and Music Entertainment Sarah Nettinga, Buena Vista Motion Pictures Group Senior Vice President, Production Karen Glass, Producer Bob Simonds and Executive Producers Charles Hirschhorn, Tracey Trench and Michael Fottrell .

NASCAR fans at California Speedway in Fontana will get a chance to see firsthand movie magic being made as the A-list cast and crew of Herbie: Fully Loaded roll off the soundstage and into the NASCAR garages, pits and onto the track at both the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series and NASCAR Busch Series races Labor Day weekend. Making his NASCAR debut, Herbie and NASCAR's biggest names will shift into action on the pace lap, alongside his pit crew production team and the film's stars. In the NASCAR tradition, Herbie will be customized in sponsor-laden NASCAR gear and customized with his lucky No. 53.

Herbie: Fully Loaded stars Lindsay Lohan, Justin Long, Breckin Meyer, Matt Dillon and Michael Keaton. Along with the cast, NASCAR Nextel Cup Series drivers Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jamie McMurray, Casey Mears, Kevin Harvick and Rusty Wallace will have cameos in the film. The film is scheduled for release in the Summer of 2005.

"Herbie and Walt Disney are brands that fit perfectly with NASCAR. The movie represents another opportunity expand our sport to a mainstream, loyal, family fan base," said Glover. "This is an excellent opportunity for NASCAR to increase the exposure of our drivers, teams, tracks and sponsors in the wildly popular and well-known Herbie franchise. It is sure to be good and light fun for fans of all ages."

"The excitement of a NASCAR race can not be beaten, but adding the always popular Herbie and the all-star cast to our competition activities at the Labor Day weekend race should give our fans a never before seen look at Hollywood movie magic up close," said Nettinga. "Those same fans, plus the 75 million others in the 'NASCAR Nation' along with the cheers from our multi-media and marketing partners should help make Herbie feel more like the 'love bug' than ever before."

Glass added, "We're thrilled to have Disney's greatest four-wheeled star participating in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series over the Labor Day Weekend, and to be associated with this fantastic American event. Herbie is fully loaded and ready to go through the paces as he rolls into action for his most exciting movie role ever. We think the fans are going to get a kick out of seeing this legendary bug along with the cast of his great new starring 'vehicle'."

Simonds went on to say, "We're grateful to the NASCAR organization for their enthusiastic support and cooperation with the filming of Herbie: Fully Loaded. The NASCAR Nextel Cup Series race provides a great backdrop to our film as well as a wonderful opportunity for fans at the California Speedway to see one of cinema's all-time greatest car champions. We're all revved up about this weekend and looking forward to working closely with everyone connected wit this great American pastime."

Herbie director Angela Robinson and the producers attended the NASCAR Nextel Cup event at the California Speedway May 2, 2004; to experience the impact of NASCAR and learn how to integrate Herbie into the No. 2-rated sport in America. NASCAR and the production team collaborated to finalize a vision to shoot multiple scenes Sept. 3-5 at California Speedway during the NASCAR events. The production will return to the Speedway several times in September and October 2004, to complete all the physical and visual effects shots, allowing Herbie to be added into racing action scenes in a playful but realistic way never before seen.