Britney Spears Races into NASCAR Movie

By Stephen M. Silverman

06/18/2002 at 01:00 AM EDT

It's full-speed ahead for a long-gestating $40 million-$50 million movie project involving Britney Spears -- through her company, Britney Spears Productions -- and the NASCAR racing scene, according to Reuters. NASCAR officials, highly protective of their name, told the news service that they were attracted to the project because of the pop princess's image as an all-American, southern girl with a strong sense of family. "Unfortunately in the past, there have been no movies that captured the values, the character and the true representation of the sport," NASCAR vice president Paul Brooks told the Hollywood Reporter. "We were so careful on ensuring that whatever will be portrayed through this movie captures the heart, family and spirit that NASCAR represents. And BSP is smart enough to know that they want the NASCAR fans to love it." Spears, 20, made her movie debut last February in "Crossroads," which was met with a mild response at the box office. Of the movie, PEOPLE film critic Leah Rozen said, "And this year's award for best acting by a midriff goes to Spears . . . She's not a joke (but) not yet an actress." The Reporter says that screenwriter Jim Hart (who co-wrote the screenplay for 1997's "Contact," starring Jodie Foster) is currently creating the as-yet untitled script, which will feature Spears as the daughter of a successful NASCAR team owner who helps inspire a former driver to return to the sport. Shooting is scheduled to begin early next year.