Discovery Channel to take viewers along for the ride in high-energy reality series - Reality television is on its way to Darlington. Roush Racing has announced that Martinsville Speedway and Darlington Raceway will host the two rounds of competition which will determine the next driver to join the Roush stable for 2006.  

The first round of testing, with 25 drivers, will take place at Martinsville Speedway on August 2-4.  The field will be narrowed down to 12 drivers before the second and final rounds at Darlington Raceway on August 15-17.

Roush Racing is teaming up with Discovery Channel to capture all of the excitement and drama of the competition on film, with unprecedented access to the gong show.  Candidates will compete on and off the track, testing their skills behind the wheel as well as their marketability and fan appeal.  This high-energy 13-part series will debut on the Discovery Channel this fall.

"Darlington Raceway has been a proving ground for drivers since the day the gates opened in 1950. Every superstar in our sport has raced here," said Chris Browning, president of Darlington Raceway. "We are thrilled at the prospect of having Roush Racing and the Discovery Channel come to Darlington, and delighted to have the opportunity to combine our long racing tradition with this exciting new driving competition.  I can't imagine a more fitting, and more potentially exciting, combination than Roush's talent search and the track 'Too Tough To Tame.'"

"We're honored that Martinsville Speedway was picked to be part of this project," said Clay Campbell, president of Martinsville Speedway.  "We think it's fitting because so many drivers who went on to become NASCAR stars enjoyed their first success here at Martinsville. It should also be a thrill for these youngsters to try and make their mark at a track where so many of the sport's legends have competed."

"I can't think of two more challenging tracks on the NASCAR circuit than Martinsville and Darlington," said Jack Roush.  "They are both very unique and even seasoned veterans can run into trouble at both tracks.  Any driver who is able to conquer both of these tracks deserves a ride with the Roush organization."

Roush Racing is a subsidiary of Livonia, Michigan-based Roush Industries that operates 10 motorsports teams; five in NASCAR NEXTEL Cup with drivers Mark Martin, Matt Kenseth, Kurt Busch, Greg Biffle and Carl Edwards; three in the NASCAR Busch Series with Martin, Kenseth and Edwards; and two in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series with drivers Ricky Craven and Todd Kleuver.