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By | Friday, January 9, 2009

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'Wives' on track

TLC is gearing up a new reality show tracking the spouses of NASCAR drivers.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, the cable network has ordered a docusoap series titled "NASCAR Wives," starring women with surnames familiar to racing fans.

The cable network will air an hour of the series as a special Jan. 24 with a lead-in from its most-watched annual event, the Miss America pageant. A full season, including an undisclosed number of episodes, will follow in the spring, THR says.

The concept mixes racing with the wives genre peppering cable prime time, from Lifetime's drama "Army Wives" to Bravo's reality show "The Real Housewives of Orange County."

"Viewers turn to TLC for an insider's view into uncommon lives, and 'NASCAR Wives' will give an unprecedented look at what happens on and off the track," TLC President Eileen O'Neill said. "NASCAR is a remarkable and respected brand to partner with, and we look forward to exploring both the heart and adrenaline that keeps its fans coming back for more."

Lest the concept seem too male-skewing for a female-skewing genre, Miss O'Neill points out that 40 percent of NASCAR fans are women.

Participants include DeLana Harvick (wife of Kevin, who has 11 career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series wins); Shana Mayfield (wife of Jeremy, a 15-year Sprint Cup veteran); Kelley Earnhardt (sister of Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR's most popular driver); and Angie Skinner (wife of Mike, who competes in NASCAR's top three national series).

New 'Cops' on A&E

In other reality show news, A&E has expanded its slate of ghost-and-goblin-themed nonfiction series, greenlighting "Paranormal Cops," Variety reports.