LOS ANGELES -- Living the Hollywood lifestyle means upscale fashion, personal stylists, and in most cases, a name change.

All the greats -- actors and performers alike -- created fabulous stage names for good measure; Dean Martin, Walter Matthau, Marilyn Monroe, Jeff Burton.

Wait ... Jeff Burton?

“

'Why in the hell would they want me?' That was my initial reaction.

”

-- JEFF BURTON

Yes it's true. Say good bye to the formerly known Jeff Burton and hello to the new 'J.B.' ... As if NASCAR doesn't have enough drama.

The sport's no-fuss, no-frills driver has been bit by the acting bug and will appear next month on the iconic ABC daytime soap opera General Hospital.

Burton spent most of Wednesday on the GH set preparing and then shooting a two-scene cameo for an episode appearing with Dr. Patrick Drake (played by Jason Thompson) and the neighborhood bartender, Mitchell Coleman (Blake Gibbons).

Burton engages in some small talk about racing with Dr. Drake, who fails to recognize who the driver is, but Coleman knows exactly who he is and affectionately calls him J.B. throughout the taping.

Behind the cameras, Burton's wife, Kim, holds back a snicker hoping not to disturb the set. "I've heard him called Ice Man, Rain Man ... but J.B.? I've not heard that one," she whispered.

Hey it's television, just go with it -- right?

Burton did -- and he turned out to be a natural in front of the camera, according to co-star Dr. Drake. Burton made it look fairly easy, since daytime dramas are "so out of character for him," Kim said.

Burton admitted he received several sarcastic text messages Wednesday once word spread that he was hitting the soap opera scene.

"One came from the reigning Daytona 500 champion," Burton grimaced. "I mean this is a show I used to watch with my grandmother years ago, she was all into it. Everyone knows about the show but no one expects to see a NASCAR driver on one."

So how did it come to pass that a NASCAR driver and daytime star would share the same spotlight? A good publicist, who religiously has watched General Hospital since 1992.

Christine Brownlow noticed last year Dr. Drake playing with a Jeff Gordon toy car in an episode and thought right away the show would be better served with an actual driver appearance and one who goes by the No. 31.

The staff of General Hospital jumped at the chance.

Burton's initial reaction: " 'Why in the hell would they want me?' That was my initial reaction. Why me?

"I'm pretty far from the actor type. I don't much look like an actor. I mean unless it was for Tom Sawyer or the Andy Griffith Show."

Burton added that this type of outside-the-box-appearance is something more suited for a Gordon or Jimmie Johnson.

However, Burton needs look no further than his own teammate, Casey Mears, who appeared on Days of our Lives in 2004, or Carl Edwards' appearance on The Guiding Light in '05.

"We'll find out who the better actor is, but I'm on the better show," Burton said. "The good news is I'm playing myself, so what's the worse that can happen?"

He may not forego test sessions for casting calls but Burton is glad he took advantage of the opportunity. "It was fun," he said. "I'm glad I did it because if you never do anything then you never do anything."

It's simple advice from the driver now carrying the daytime drama torch for NASCAR by continuing to expose the sport to new audiences.

Dr. Drake will be exposed to a new audience himself on Sunday. Burton has agreed to treat the actor to a pace car ride around Auto Club Speedway and offered a seat atop the Cat Racing team's pit box for the Sprint Cup Series race.

Character Damian Spinelli (played by Bradford Anderson) offered his colleague some parting advice: "Don't get ran over Sunday," he laughed.

The opinions expressed are solely of the writer.