'NASCAR in Primetime' Heads to Atlanta

Aug. 7, 2007 — -- As the sun rises over Hampton, Ga., thousands of cars line up outside the gates of the Atlanta Motor Speedway. One by one, fans begin to fill the 124,000 seats in the grandstands.

NASCAR isn't just a race, it's a lifestyle. Each weekend, thousands of people travel hundreds of miles to eat, sleep and breathe NASCAR and watch their favorite drivers battle it out on the track.

"NASCAR in Primetime" airs Wednesdays at 10/9c.

Every speedway poses unique challenges and demands a different set of skills. Atlanta is known as one of the fastest and most dangerous tracks in the circuit. With steeply banked turns and extra long straightaways for drivers to build up speed, the Atlanta Kobalt Tools 500 is an unbridled beast of a race.

Hour one of ABC News' "NASCAR in Primetime" steers viewers through this unpredictable race, taking them deep inside the world of fast tracks and high stakes. Interwoven through the tense moments and twists and turns are the lives of three Nextel Cup drivers – Johnny Sauter, Mark Martin and Juan Pablo Montoya.

Johnny Sauter is one of NASCAR's loose cannons. Plagued with his fair share of problems -- his car, his team and his attitude – he has a well-deserved reputation as a renegade and a tendency to get reckless on the track. Sauter said he likes being the underdog but viewers can see in his eyes that he hopes for bigger things.

With a family legacy of broken racing dreams, Sauter has a lot of NASCAR baggage weighing him down. He wants to redeem the Sauter name, but he's got a chip on his shoulder that threatens to get in the way of his dreams.

Sauter knows it will take time to launch himself into the stratosphere of the top drivers. But patience is not his greatest virtue – he's got a short fuse and only a season to prove himself. In Atlanta, he faces some unexpected hurdles that push him to the limit. Can Sauter get a grip on his temper and funnel his energy into becoming a first-class racer?

Juan Pablo Montoya walked away from a world championship career in Formula One racing to cut his teeth on stock car racing. In his rookie season with NASCAR, he's already stirred up his fair share of controversy. He'll do anything for a win, but NASCAR fans aren't sure if they like that –yet. Reluctant to embrace a newcomer from a different series and a different nation, some are skeptical that Montoya has what it takes to be a NASCAR legend.

But Montoya remains unshaken by his lukewarm welcome into NASCAR. He has grown accustomed to winning and he's not about to forget what it feels like. He's not afraid of ruffling some feathers, if that's what it takes to get to the top.

Racing isn't the only thing in Montoya's life. He's a family man and his wife, Connie, is one of the secrets of his success. In the testosterone-fueled world of NASCAR, Connie gives a unique take on what it takes to get to the top – how a supportive family can be crucial in propelling a driver to the ranks of the victorious.

Montoya unsettles NASCAR drivers with his relaxed attitude, but make no mistake, when it counts, his ability to focus is unmatched. His performance in Atlanta will have viewers biting their nails as it all comes down to the final stretch.

Mark Martin doesn't do anything halfway. A 25-year stock car racing veteran and consummate professional, Martin has devoted his entire existence to pursuing the NASCAR dream. He is a consistently strong performer and one of the best drivers in the league. But it's been a bittersweet ride – despite his dedication to NASCAR, he has never gone the distance to win a championship.

Coming into the Atlanta race, Martin is poised to have the best season of his life. He's the leader in points and a favorite to win the Nextel Cup Series -- the Super Bowl of NASCAR. His car and crew are finely tuned. It seems like nothing can break his stride.

But Martin's years of working like a machine have taken their toll. Driving so hard for so long has meant sacrificing other parts of his life and he has some regrets. He's given everything to racing and given up so much in the process.

Martin cemented his place in the hearts of NASCAR fans long ago and they don't want to let him go. But will Martin put the brakes on his own career and step away from the demanding world of racing?

In this first episode of "NASCAR in Primetime," viewers get an insider look at the drivers' struggle to balance their personal lives with the pressures of NASCAR and glean a better understanding of the fanaticism gripping the sport. If you're not already a fan, by the end of hour one, you may have been won over.