NASHVILLE, Tenn. – June 07, 2012 – Tracy Lawrence announced today that he would begin filming on June 9, 2012 in Mobile, Alabama for the feature film L.A. Dirt. A movie set in Bay Minette, Alabama about a young man’s dream to become a champion dirt track racer. Lawrence will play the supporting role of the uncle to Ty Hargrove (Michael Roark, Dolphin Tale), the eighteen year-old aspiring racer. In addition, Lawrence’s acting role, his music will be featured in the film.
L.A. Dirt produced by award-winning Tundra Productions combines the action of Days of Thunder, the romance of Urban Cowboy, and the feel-good of Rocky into a PG family feature.
“L.A. Dirt is a movie about real people, struggles, and redemption in small-town America,” saidWatt Key, writer of L.A. Dirt and award-winning author of Alabama Moon. “I don’t think we could ask for a better ambassador to represent our message than Tracy Lawrence. He’s lived and sings it through his music, Tracy Lawrence gets it right.”
The movie marks Lawrence’s first acting role in a full-length film. Early in his career, the multi-platinum selling artist contributed the song "Renegades, Rebels, and Rogues" to the soundtrack of the film Maverick starring Mel Gibson, which earned Lawrence a Top Ten record.
L.A. Dirt plans to wrap principal photography on June 30, 2012.
About LA DIRT - The Movie
This is the story of eighteen year-old Ty Hargrove. Ty wants to be a champion dirt track racer, but that takes money and support, two things he’s short on. Snake Turner is the rich boy local champion who has it all. Complications arise when Ty threatens to take away both Snake’s title and his girl.
L.A. Dirt combines the action of Days of Thunder, the romance of Urban Cowboy, and the feel-good of Rocky into a PG family feature. You’ll laugh, cry, grip your seat during the races, and cheer at the finish line.
Summary
Ty Hargrove is an eighteen year-old country boy living with his impoverished, alcoholic father at the edge of a clay pit in Bay Minette, Alabama. In spite of his disadvantages Ty is bull-headed to succeed and make something of himself. During the week he’s a manager at his uncle’s telephone pole plant. On the weekend he pursues his passion, racing on the dirt track. Ty and his sidekick, Lurvy Wilson, have spent countless hours building their race car in the evenings. With the financial support of Uncle Charlie, their dream is to beat the local champion, Snake Turner, and go all the way to the state championship.
When Snake’s girlfriend falls for Ty, things get heated. Then Ty’s uncle dies suddenly, leaving him without a sponsor and a father figure in his life. Now, with the whole town finally believing in him, Ty finds it hard to believe in himself.
About Tracy Lawrence
Tracy Lawrence is a one of Country music’s most recognizable voices with songs such as "Paint Me A Birmingham," "Time Marches On," and "Find Out Who Your Friends Are." The critically acclaimed CMA and ACM award-winning artist is celebrating twenty-years of music and has enjoyed twenty-two songs on the Billboard top ten charts with eighteen number one singles.
For additional information on Tracy Lawrence visit: www.tracylawrence.com
Watt Key is an award-winning southern fiction author. His debut novel, ALABAMA MOON, was released to national acclaim in 2006, won the prestigious E.B. White Read-Aloud Award, and has been published in eight languages. A feature film by the same name was produced in 2010 starring John Goodman and Jimmy Bennett for which Watt wrote the screenplay. His follow-up novel, DIRT ROAD HOME, was released in 2010 both domestically and internationally. His next novel, FOURMILE, will be in bookstores in September of 2012. In addition to his novels and screenplays, Watt writes fiction and nonfiction articles for both local and nationally distributed publications.
Dirt Track Racing is the single most common form of auto racing in the United States. There are hundreds of local and regional racetracks throughout the nation: some estimates range as high as 1,500. The sport is popular in Australia and Canada also. The sport is similar to NASCAR-type racing, but done on dirt raceways instead of asphalt.
