Animal Planet will broadcast a one-hour programming special on NASCAR drivers and their family pets the week of the Daytona 500. NASCAR: ANIMAL CREW answers the question - “What’s with all the pets?” - by bringing fans behind-the-scenes with NASCAR’s tough competitors to reveal their soft sides. NASCAR: ANIMAL CREW debuts on Thursday, February 17, 2005 at 8 p.m. ET on Animal Planet. NASCAR: ANIMAL CREW features footage shot at NASCAR events in Rockingham, North Carolina, Atlanta and Charlotte, as well as on location with drivers at home. The family pets featured are big and little, ordinary and unusual, two- and four-legged, but all similar in that they provide comfort in a career of tough competition and normalcy to a life led on the road. In addition, NASCAR and Animal Planet have teamed with Halifax Humane Society in Volusia County to offer NASCAR fans attending the 2005 Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway (February 20, 2005) with a sneak peek at the special, and the opportunity to bid on unique, autographed NASCAR items. The Halifax Humane Society will hold the benefit auction on February 16, 2005 Daytona International Speedway. At 7 p.m., a five-minute exclusive preview of NASCAR: ANIMAL CREW will be shown, with the auction beginning immediately after.