A New NASCAR STRETCH: Animal Planet Builds Momentum for the 2005 NASCAR Season With Hour-Long Special Dedicated to NASCAR and Their Pets - Are You Kidding Me?

NASCAR: ANIMAL CREW to Air Exclusively on Animal Planet Feb. 17, 2005 at 8 p.m. ET

Sneak Preview on Feb. 16 at 7 p.m. at Daytona International Speedway as Part of Halifax Humane Society Fundraising Auction

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 4 -- To help NASCAR launch its 2005 season, Animal Planet will broadcast a one-hour programming special on NASCAR drivers and their family pets the week of the Daytona 500. NASCAR: ANIMAL CREW answers the question -- "What's with all the pets?" -- by bringing fans behind-the- scenes with NASCAR's tough competitors to reveal their soft sides. NASCAR: ANIMAL CREW debuts on Thursday, Feb. 17 at 8 p.m. ET only on Animal Planet.

Produced by Tomwil Entertainment for Animal Planet, NASCAR: ANIMAL CREW features footage shot at NASCAR events in Rockingham, North Carolina, Atlanta and Charlotte, as well as on location with drivers at home. The family pets featured are big and little, ordinary and unusual, two- and four-legged, but all similar in that they provide comfort in a career of tough competition and normalcy to a life led on the road.

In addition, NASCAR and Animal Planet have teamed with Halifax Humane Society in Volusia County to offer NASCAR fans attending the 2005 Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway (Feb. 20) with a sneak peek at the special, and the opportunity to bid on unique, autographed NASCAR items. The Halifax Humane Society will hold the benefit auction on February 16 at the Daytona International Speedway. At 7 p.m., a 5-minute exclusive preview of NASCAR: ANIMAL CREW will be shown, with the auction beginning immediately after. "Animal Planet is always looking for new ways to showcase the powerful connection between people and animals and NASCAR: ANIMAL CREW is a perfect example of how pets can bring joy even amidst the tremendous pressure of the NASCAR racing circuit," said Maureen Smith, executive vice president and general manager, Animal Planet.

"Tomwil Entertainment has created an entertaining and heartwarming special that is accessible to NASCAR fans and animal lovers alike. It's a perfect complement to Animal Planet's schedule," says Sarah Nettinga, director, film, television and music entertainment, NASCAR Digital Entertainment. "This type of programming is part of NASCAR's continued effort to introduce NASCAR to mainstream audiences while providing additional exposure for our sponsors."

NASCAR: ANIMAL CREW was created for NASCAR fans and animal lovers alike. The special chronicles how families and drivers navigate the NASCAR circuit with their cats and dogs in tow, where NASCAR pets such as "Mr. Bigfoot," "Shortrack," "Vegas," "Chuck," "Ragdoll" and "Pluto" play a starring role alongside their famous owners.

NASCAR: ANIMAL CREW takes the viewer away from the track and onto family farms treasured by NASCAR driver Todd Bodine, NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series driver Jeff Burton and seven-time champion of NASCAR's top series, Richard Petty, all of which look forward to spending quiet time in the country with horse, cattle, goats, rabbits and more. NASCAR: ANIMAL CREW also shares the stories of animal rescue and adoption as told by the drivers and their families, such as Ryan and Krissy Newman, who support causes such as "Friends in Need" and "Paws with a Cause."

NASCAR: ANIMAL CREW is a production of Tomwil Entertainment for Animal Planet. For Tomwil Entertainment, executive producers are Jim and Wilda Rokos. For Animal Planet, Alexandra Bennett is executive producer. The NASCAR: ANIMAL CREW telecast on Animal Planet is sponsored by Pedigree, North Carolina Division of Tourism, Film & Sports Development; and Cendant.

Animal Planet, available in more than 86 million homes nationwide, is the only television network dedicated exclusively to the connection between humans and animals. The network's original programming brings together people of all ages by tapping into a fundamental fascination with animals and providing an entertaining mix of programming including original movies, adventure series, sports, and drama. Discovery Networks, U.S., a unit of Discovery Communications, Inc., operates and manages the Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, the Travel Channel, The Science Channel, Military Channel, Discovery Home Channel, Discovery HD Theater and FitTV. The unit also distributes BBC America.