Aspiring Racecar Drivers Compete for Chance to Race Against Kevin Harvick in 'Bud United presents: The Big Time'

BRUSSELS, February 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- In the NASCAR world, it doesn't get any more Big Time than learning from and competing against the likes of Richard Childress, Kevin Harvick, Austin Dillon, Ron Hornaday and Andy Hillenburg.  In the sixth episode of Bud United presents: The Big Time, airing Saturday, February 25, on ABC, three aspiring racecar drivers will have the chance to do exactly that.

The contestants competing in next Saturday's episode for a chance to meet NASCAR legend Richard Childress and race against Kevin Harvick and other professional drivers were cast via social media channels and include:

• Katie Hagar, 25, of Mooresville, NC
• Mike Mulhall, 30, of Los Angeles, CA
• Eric Purcell, 26, of Shreveport, LA

"My big dream is to make it to the top, to be one of the only females in the United States to build her own racecar and make history by winning," says Hagar, who was one of less than a dozen women who submitted a casting application for The Big Time racing episode.

"I've never been chased around with cameras like this in my life, so it's kind of cool to be the center of attention," adds Purcell.  "Without this contest, I never would've had a chance to do any of this and meet my heroes."

In addition to what they will see in the show, fans may view exclusive behind-the-scenes clips of the contestants and hear real-world racing tips from NASCAR legends on The Big Time's official Facebook page (www.facebook.com/budunited) and YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/bigtime).

The seventh and final episode of Bud United presents: The Big Time will air Saturday, March 3, at 3 p.m.  ET on ABC, featuring baseball greats Tom House and Frank Viola as three contestants – including one who beat Stage IV cancer – vie for a chance to join the New York Mets at spring training.  For more information on the show, produced by @radical.media and seven-time Emmy Award winner Evan Weinstein, visit www.thebigtime

About Anheuser-Busch InBev

Anheuser-Busch InBev is a publicly traded company (Euronext: ABI) based in Leuven, Belgium, with an American Depositary Receipt secondary listing on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: BUD).  It is the leading global brewer and one of the world's top five consumer products companies.  A true consumer-centric, sales driven organization, AB InBev manages a portfolio of well over 200 beer brands that includes global flagship brands Budweiser®, Stella Artois® and Beck's®, fast growing multi-country brands like Leffe® and Hoegaarden®, and strong "local champions" such as Bud Light®, Skol®, Brahma®, Quilmes®, Michelob®, Harbin®, Sedrin®, Klinskoye®, Sibirskaya Korona®, Chernigivske®, and Jupiler®, among others.  In addition, the company owns a 50 percent equity interest in the operating subsidiary of Grupo Modelo, Mexico's leading brewer and owner of the global Corona® brand.  AB InBev's dedication to heritage and quality is rooted in brewing traditions that originate from the Den Hoorn brewery in Leuven, Belgium, dating back to 1366 and the pioneering spirit of the Anheuser & Co brewery, which traces its origins back to 1852 in St. Louis, USA.  Geographically diversified with a balanced exposure to developed and developing markets, AB InBev leverages the collective strengths of its approximately 114 000 employees based in operations in 23 countries across the world.  The company strives to be the Best Beer Company in a Better World.  In 2010, AB InBev realized 36.3 billion US dollar revenue.  For more information, please visit: www.ab-inbev.com.

Bud United presents: The Big Time Internet Press Kit

http://www.pwrnewmedia.com/2012/anheuser-busch/bud_united/index.html

About the Contestants (Episode Six Airing Saturday, February 25, 2012)

Katie Hagar
Age: 25
Resides: Mooresville, NC
Full of sass and driven to be the first female racer who ever built her own car, Katie discovered her passion for racing at a young age. While most of her peers were headed off to college following high school graduation, Katie went a step further. She attended classes while racing and working. In 2008, Katie was accepted into NASCAR's official Diversity Development school. While there, she raced in California and around the country. She currently works as a welder in a North Carolina race shop by day, and builds her own racecar by night. Katie dreams that 2012 will be the first time she can compete on her own terms, in her own car.

Mike Mulhall
Age: 30
Resides in: Los Angeles, CA
As the son of a Hollywood stuntman, Mike's childhood was anything but normal. His father's best friend was an Arabian prince who funded Mike's father's horse training business. When his father's best friend suddenly passed away, the prince's heirs decided to no longer fund the business. In the midst of personal chaos, Mike discovered his love of racing and devoted the next five years of his life and his entire savings into racing competitively. In the end, he gambled big, investing $75,000 in a car that was later destroyed in his first high-tier race. Finding himself in serious debt and with his father's health declining, Mike had to make a difficult choice. He reluctantly gave up racing to care for his family because he "didn't want to be one of those guys" who bankrupt themselves and their families to "selfishly" pursue a personal passion. Several years later, when Mike came to the Big Time skills test in North Carolina, he hadn't driven a race car in seven years, but still exceeded everyone's expectations – including his own – on the track.

Eric Purcell
Age: 26
Resides in: Shreveport, LA
As the son of a well-known driver with a bad boy reputation, Eric's mother was adamant that he did not get into a racecar until he was 18. When that day finally came, Eric was a natural and won the two of the first three races he entered. Eric considers himself to be something of "a natural" and describes the difference between him and other drivers on the track: "some people are racers, and some are just drivers." When the economy took a turn for the worst, Eric struggled to find work in his hometown community in Florida. Relocating to Shreveport, LA, for a job was not an ideal situation and Eric dreams of the day his boss relocates him to North Carolina so he can pursue his racing dreams in his off hours.

SOURCE Anheuser-Busch InBev