by Steve Byrnes

Ryan's Racecar gives kids a close look at a real racing stock car and its driver, Ryan Zeck. Ryan's Racecar was produced, written and hosted by veteran motorsports broadcaster Steve Byrnes. Byrnes is in his fifth year with FOX Sports and the Speed Channel.

"I wanted younger kids to have the opportunity to see a racecar up close," said Byrnes. "We mounted on-board cameras so you can see the driver really working the steering wheel which gives kids the feeling of actually being in a racecar. I see so many young kids at the race tracks and I want them to have something that furthers their understanding. I also want their parents to feel like there is value in what their kids are watching."

"I have the perfect motivation, and focus group at home," continued Byrnes. "I watch my two-year-old son, Bryson, viewing videos and television programs. He likes humor, action, colors and music. I incorporated all of those elements into a video that will be entertaining and provide positive messages on safety and education."

"My father, Jerry Byrnes, was a career United States Federal Government employee and spent the last 15 years of his service at the Department of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration," said Byrnes. "Seat belt safety was a big issue in my house. That message is prominent in the video."

"We dedicated an entire segment of the video to safety and compared the Ryan's racecar to the family car," said Byrnes.

The video was shot at the Hickory Motor Speedway in Hickory, N.C. and depicts Ryan preparing for an upcoming race by testing on the tough short track.

Ryan Zeck, the first recipient of the prestigious Alan Kulwicki scholarship at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte, has been racing since the age of eight. The Alan Kulwicki scholarship is awarded annually in honor of the 1992 NASCAR Nextel Cup champion who died in a plane crash in April of 1993.

"I first met Ryan when he was a student at the University of North Carolina in Charlotte," said Byrnes. "I was hosting a show on The Nashville Network called Motor Madness and we produced a feature on Ryan. He moved with his family from Eureka, California to pursue his dream of racing. Ryan was racing while getting his engineering degree. I was so impressed with his determination and intellect. We stayed in touch over the years and when I began to formulate this project, he immediately came to mind."

Ryan Zeck graduated from UNCC with honors in 1999 with a degree in mechanical engineering and continues to pursue his racing career. Zeck also works as an engineer for MB2 Motorsports with drivers Scott Riggs, Joe Nemechek and Boris Said.

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"I thought this video was a great idea," said Zeck. "The process of making a video was new and challenging to me. Racing is a family sport and this is a great way to bring kids into racing."

During the video, Ryan is constantly asked to take the goofy television reporter, Byrnes, for a ride in his racecar. Worse yet, Byrnes asks to drive the number 95 car. "I didn't think that was a good idea," said Zeck. "Steve wasn't properly dressed and my racecar was really against the prospect of being driven by a TV guy."

A talking racecar? Just a part of the fun of Ryan's Racecar.

Ryan's Racecar is available in DVD and VHS formats and can be ordered via the Internet at www.ryansracecar.com.