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'Fast Track to Fame' seeking talent at BMS

Published March 17th, 2010 | 0 Comments

Riki Rachtman will help judge the 'Fast Track to Fame' talent showdown at BMS.

BRISTOL, Tenn. — The spotlight of Bristol Motor Speedway will switch from the concrete of the track to the Speed Stage on the BMS campus Saturday night for a talent showdown.

“Fast Track to Fame” is the Fox-owned network’s answer to such variety-themed shows as its own “American Idol,” but judge, Sprint Cup racing nut, and MTV rock television icon Riki Rachtman said Wednesday the NASCAR connection sets this competition apart from the others.

“I am very surprised. I had some preconceived notions of what we would see, but the talent coming from the fans you would see in the grandstands has been outstanding, and I am one that is hard to impress,” said Rachtman, who hosts the syndicated radio series “Racing Rocks.”

Filming for the Bristol episode with host and two-time Daytona 500 winner Michael Waltrip begins at 7 p.m. Saturday on the Speed Stage located behind the track toward Bristol Dragway, and the show is free to attend.

Rachtman contends the show going from track to track gives them an edge over other talent searches because of conditions like a rowdy crowd that always forms near a NASCAR event, the weather, and the spontaneous nature of being on the spot.

“Every track we’ve been to so far the temperature has been in the 20s or 30s, so that plays a role,” said Rachtman.

“It is a start-to-finish circus, no stopping. We want to see what these people have, and the vibe is going to be different at Bristol. We don’t know what to expect from the talent, so it is a fresh and exciting way to possibly discover somebody or some group that may have the ‘it’ factor.

“I think I am the toughest to impress because I’ve lived in Hollywood for years, and I’ve seen clubs and bands come and go. I’ve pretty much seen everything, so it’s got to be an act that puts me on the edge of my seat, and I want somebody that has got heart. I’m not interested if you’re not giving 100 percent to me and the audience.”

Kathy Leigh Carter, another judge and owner of her own talent/casting enterprise in Hollywood, says the connection with the audience is something you can’t teach and must shine through in order to get a positive reaction.

“Are you singing or performing at us or to us? Going through the motions is not going to get it done,” said Carter.

“We want these folks to do good, to succeed, and so far we have seen a nice crop of talent come our way. It is just a unique show where someone’s neighbor or friend or family member can show the world what they can do on national TV,” said Carter. “I am really proud of these performers because they have the courage to get up on that stage and show us what they are talented at, and that takes a tremendous person. But whatever the talent, it has to be great because this is an even playing field.”

Performers for the Bristol taping have already been selected, but future shows in such Southern locales as Martinsville and Charlotte will be taking place in the coming weeks.

More information on the show is available at www.speedtv.com or www.fasttracktofame.com.

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