Actress Kim Zimmer prepares for her role as driver for the day. Credit: David Griffin/NASCAR Scene

Kvapil gets cameo role on 'Guiding Light'

NEW YORK -- 2006 Emmy Award-winner Kim Zimmer and the CBS soap Guiding Light hit the track this week with NASCAR driver Travis Kvapil and the Tide Racing Team as the show taped on location at the Hickory Motor Speedway in Hickory, N.C.

Paul Fitzgerald, Kim Zimmer and Travis Kvapil pose for a picture at Hickory Motor Speedway. Credit: David Griffin/NASCAR Scene

The soap also plans to tape at the team's race shop.

The storyline revolves around Zimmer's character, Reva Shayne Lewis and her battle with breast cancer. Thanks to the encouragement from her doctor Colin McCabe (played by Paul Fitzgerald) and Kvapil, Reva gets the chance to take the wheel in an attempt to prove that her diagnosis will not stop her from living out her dreams. The scenes shot at the speedway and the race shop will air on June 28.

Zimmer and several cast members first met the team last September at Richmond International Raceway. Everyone had such a great experience that the idea of working the race team into a storyline was proposed.

Several months later, the project came to fruition when Zimmer's character was diagnosed with breast cancer. In the story, Reva remembers a list she made as a young girl that contained 10 items she wanted to do before she died. Driving a race car was one of them.

"I've never done anything like this," said Kvapil, who took Zimmer for a high-speed ride around the track to experience the thrill of NASCAR. "I was given a script with lines to memorize and when it was time to roll tape, Paul and Kim really went out of their way to put me at ease.

"We got through all of the takes without any major hiccups. It was awesome. Kim really seemed to enjoy herself and Paul wants to come to a race so I think everyone at Guiding Light is hooked on NASCAR. I am sure hooked on them. I can't wait to watch the episode."

A four-time Emmy winner, Zimmer won the award for Outstanding Lead Actress in April. A native of Grand Rapids, Mich., Zimmer and her husband currently live in New Jersey and have three children.