SEASON FINALE

"NASCAR IN PRIMETIME" EXPLORES THE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF RACING, ON THE SEASON FINALE, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12 ON ABC

Where does the dream of being a stock car driver begin? And what does it take to get the top? It's a steep ascent to the upper echelons of NASCAR, and few manage to make the climb. Only 43 drivers qualify each week to race in the elite NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series. Some drivers struggle to make the cut, while only a talented few seem to find the right combination of consistent speed, lightning fast pit spots, great team communication and luck in avoiding wrecks. Many never even come close. What differentiates those who succeed in NASCAR from those who don't? The finale of "NASCAR in Primetime" delves deep into the lives of drivers at different levels of racing to find the answer. "NASCAR in Primetime" airs WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12 (10:00-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

Tony Stewart is, by many measures, the ultimate race car driver. He's won championships in sprint cars, Indy cars and, most recently, the 2002 and 2005 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Championship. He races hard, wears his heart on his sleeve and is one of the most recognizable faces in racing. He began racing go-karts at the age of seven and his parents mortgaged their home to support him. While he admits racing is all he has known, the hour looks at how sometimes the pressure of being in the public eye can be more intense than the pressure to perform on the racetrack for Stewart. Still, his career is what racing dreams are made of. Drivers from all ranks of racing envy his achievements and they won't be deterred from trying to match � or surpass � them.

ABC also revisits NASCAR rookie Juan Pablo Montoya, who may give Stewart a run for his money. The former world-champion Formula One driver is no stranger to life in the fast lane. He made the crossover to stock car racing in the hopes of conquering the extremely competitive series. If Montoya can prove himself in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup, he might become the first non-American hero in this all-American sport.

Stanton Barrett is a Hollywood stuntman who has spent most of his life savings to fund his racing career. In addition to being a driver, he's also his own crew chief and team owner. He lacks many of the advantages that better-funded drivers have � a regular and reliable pit crew, a supportive financial sponsor, a top-notch car. Barrett is a true competitor and an inspiration � someone who will never give up, against all odds. But does he have the skills and resources needed to be a top-tier racer?

Today's NASCAR drivers come from all walks of life, but the local go-kart tracks are often the breeding ground for the next generation of racing superstars. Viewers meet Sage Karam, who is twelve years old and the one of the top go-kart racers in America. His hero is Tony Stewart. Sage shows so much passion and promise that his family will do whatever it takes to keep him moving forward. But only time will tell if Sage can fulfill his racing dreams and make it to the big leagues � the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series.

ABC News will also offer the full show the day after air on ABC News Now, in HD where available.

About "NASCAR in Primetime"

For six months, ABC News delved deep into the lives of top drivers -- including Tony Stewart, Juan Pablo Montoya and Jimmie Johnson -- to reveal what goes on behind the scenes in the high-speed world of stock car racing. This is the first time NASCAR has granted a news network unfettered access, giving ABC News cameras a unique view to the lives of some of the top drivers and the inner workings of the sport. Michael Bicks is the executive producer of "NASCAR in Primetime." Rudy Bednar is the senior executive producer.