From a press release issued by SPEED:

SPEED CHANNEL FAST TRACKS I WANNA DATE A RACE CAR DRIVER

NASCAR DRIVER WOOD, SUPERBIKE RACING’S BOSTROM BROTHERS AND ZETA-JONES DOUBLE LEILANI MÜNTER AMONG FIRST TO MAKE THEMSELVES AVAILABLE TO FANS

SPEED Channel will give race fans a new way to get up close and personal with some of their favorite racers, as the network has signed a deal to produce four one-hour programs offering contestants a chance to win a date with a professional racer.

“We’ve been looking for a way to combine elements of the popular reality genre with our viewers’ passion for racing, but with a fun twist,” said Robert Ecker, SPEED Channel VP of Programming. “This is one of those ideas that seemed a little crazy at first, but that just got more traction as we kicked it around. Drivers have responded enthusiastically, and we’re sure the fans will, too.”

With the working title I Wanna Date a Race Car Driver, the first show is scheduled to air June 9 at 9 p.m. ET and will be hosted by Scott Lasky, a veteran of E! programs including Search Party, Celebrity Adventures, Talk Soup and Wild On.

“Scott brings just the right degree of hip personality to the show,” Ecker added. “He’s quick-witted, funny and very agile at drawing great responses from the drivers and contestants.”

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver Jon Wood, AMA Superbike racers Eric and Ben Bostrom and Late Model newcomer Leilani Munter will be the first racers to participate.

“I’ve seen a few reality shows on television but I never thought I’d be the subject of one,” said Wood, a 22-year-old Virginian whose family roots run deep in NASCAR. “This should be pretty entertaining for everybody involved. I’m looking forward to it — it should be a lot of fun.”

Fans from across the country have been sending in three-minute videos explaining, in whatever manner they choose, why they deserve a chance to date a racer. From those tapes, and tapes recorded at multiple events, drivers and a small group of their friends, family members, crew members or someone else of their choosing, will select four contestants. These four contestants will then compete for the date.

Each show will consist of three outrageous events that determine the overall winner. Events will be developed based on the driver’s “wish list” of what he/she is looking for in a potential date. The contestant’s ability to complete and win these events will determine who goes on the date. But watch for additional scoring twists.

“My first thought when they came to me about the show was ‘this is going to be interesting,'” said Ben Bostrom, who just turned 30. “It’s always great to meet new people — even when it goes wrong, it’s fun.”

So, what are the racers looking for? Here’s a hint: On Eric Bostrom’s Web site, the 27-year-old lists his favorite music as “anything from metal to Johnny Cash,” his favorite foods are Italian and Mexican and his philosophy on life is “Do it all NOW.”

And Munter, who has a Biology degree from the University of California/San Diego, has worked as a photo double for actress Catherine Zeta-Jones in the Academy Award winning movie Traffic and America’s Sweethearts. The Minnesota native also worked as a stunt double on Scorpion King and as a band-aide on Almost Famous.

Said Munter, currently a special correspondent for NASCAR.com: “I’m a single girl and who better to find me a date than SPEED? It’s my favorite channel and I was happy to participate.”

The new SPEED Channel show will be produced by Nashville-based High Five Entertainment.

“I Wanna Date A Race Car Driver will reflect the high energy for which SPEED Channel is so well-renowned, by bringing together the vibrant personalities of some of racing’s top drivers with diehard fans of the sport competing in a freewheeling and fun setting, resulting in a new and altogether unique twist on the dating genre,” said Martin Fischer, High Five Entertainment President.

High Five Entertainment (HFE) is an internationally recognized, Emmy Award-winning entertainment production company that specializes in television series, specials, pilots, live events and award shows. HFE has produced over 600 projects worldwide — including eight national television series and a dozen large-scale live award shows. Fans interested in participating in the new program can visit SPEEDTV.com for details.

In 2004, SPEED Channel is the exclusive U.S. cable home for many of the top motor sports series in the world. In addition, SPEED’s weekly programming schedule brings car enthusiast television to Prime Time Monday through Thursday. Now available in more the 65 million homes in North America, SPEED Channel is among the fastest growing sports cable networks in the country and the home to NASCAR TV.