Fast Times at 'One Tree Hill'

Fast Times at 'One Tree Hill'

LUCAS AND NATHAN GO TO THE RACE TRACK AND MEET REAL-LIFE NASCAR DRIVER JEFF BURTON, WHO DRIVES THE NO. 31 CINGULAR WIRELESS CHEVROLET

ATLANTA and BURBANK, Calif., April 28 /PRNewswire/ -- The fast-paced world of auto racing will be front and center on The WB's hit series ONE TREE HILL from Warner Bros. Television Tuesday, May 3 (9:00-10:00 p.m.) as Lucas (Chad Michael Murray) and Nathan (James Lafferty) meet up with real-life NASCAR standout Jeff Burton, who drives the No. 31 Cingular Wireless Chevrolet in the Cup Series. Lucas and Nathan meet Burton in the garage before they take a couple of laps around the track.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050428/CLTH098 )

In the episode, which combines America's most popular spectator sport with a dramatic ending, Lucas and Nathan go to the track with their uncle, a professional stock car racer. While there, Nathan and Lucas learn to drive a car in excess of 100 miles per hour as Nathan tries to leave his past in the dust. The pair also gets the chance to rub elbows with Burton, a career 17-time winner on the NASCAR Cup Series.

"Cingular Wireless has been a great partner for The WB and specifically One Tree Hill," said Bill Morningstar, executive vice president, media sales for The WB. "Integrating a huge talent like Jeff Burton into an auto racing episode of ONE TREE HILL not only brings authenticity, but it's also a unique way for Cingular Wireless to extend its brand presence in a meaningful and natural fashion. We are excited to partner with Cingular Wireless, Warner Bros. Television and executive producers Mark Schwahn and Joe Davola to help bring this opportunity to life."

"The motorsports fan base is more diverse today than it's ever been and we're always looking for new audiences to reach out to," said Dave Garver, executive director of high growth segments and sponsorship at Cingular Wireless. "We're proud to showcase Jeff Burton, one of the sport's most celebrated drivers, and the No. 31 Cingular Wireless Chevrolet to 'One Tree Hill' viewers and let them see firsthand why the sport is so exciting. This will definitely be an action-packed episode."

"My experience on the set of 'One Tree Hill' was awesome," said Burton, who filmed the episode at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte. "It turns out that the cast was very knowledgeable about the sport and my racing career. They made me feel really comfortable. I don't plan on quitting my day job, though. Acting is tough."

Said Schwahn: "Having Jeff Burton pass through Tree Hill, albeit at 190 miles per hour, was thrilling. His presence electrified our cast and crew and he's welcome back anytime."

Burton is in his first year driving the No. 31 Cingular Wireless Chevrolet. He has finished in the top 20 six times in eight races this season, including a 3rd place finish at Phoenix, and currently sits at 17th in the NASCAR Cup point standings. He has 17 career victories and has finished in the top 10 in the NASCAR Cup point standings five times.

ONE TREE HILL is television's fastest-growing returning show in young adult demos. It is The WB Network's top-rated show in several key demographics, including its target demos of adults 18-34 and persons 12-34. ONE TREE HILL is from executive producer and show creator Mark Schwahn, executive producers Mike Tollin, Brian Robbins, Joe Davola and Mark Perry for Tollin/Robbins Productions and Warner Bros. Television Production Inc.

ABOUT CINGULAR WIRELESS

Cingular Wireless is the largest wireless carrier in the United States, serving more than 50 million customers. Cingular, a joint venture between SBC Communications Inc. (NYSE:SBC) and BellSouth Corporation (NYSE:BLS), has the largest digital voice and data network in the nation and the largest mobile- to-mobile community of any national wireless carrier. Cingular is the only U.S. wireless carrier to offer Rollover(SM), the wireless plan that lets customers keep their unused monthly minutes. Details of the company are available at http://www.cingular.com/ . Get Cingular Wireless press releases e- mailed to you automatically. Sign up at http://www.cingular.com/newsroom .

ABOUT THE WB TELEVISION NETWORK

The WB Television Network, launched by Warner Bros., the Tribune Co. and Jamie Kellner on January 11, 1995, currently has national coverage reaching 93% of U.S. households. It is best known for its hit shows including "One Tree Hill," "7th Heaven," "Everwood," "Gilmore Girls," "Reba," "Smallville," "What I Like About You," "Dawson's Creek," "Felicity" and "Buffy the Vampire Slayer."

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050428/CLTH098 AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/ PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com Source: Cingular Wireless

CONTACT: Clay Owen of Cingular Wireless, +1-404-236-6153, or clay.owen@cingular.com ; or Keith Marder, +1-212-636-5893, or keith.marder@TheWB.com , or Suzanne Gomez +1-818-977-4115, or suzanne.gomez@TheWB.com , both of The WB

Web site: http://www.cingular.com/ http://www.cingular.com/newsroom

------- Profile: Ent