LOS ANGELES (AP) - March 20, 1010
NASCAR star Earnhardt voices the character of Chase Davis, who steps in to help Manny compete in the Wood Valley 500 auto race. The special, debuting at 7 p.m. EDT Saturday on the Disney Channel, stars Wilmer Valderrama as the voice of Manny.
Earnhardt said he decided to participate in "Handy Manny" because his 4-year-old niece is a fan of the show. The Disney Channel series is designed to teach preschoolers about working together and problem-solving.
The "Handy Manny" special also features a new song performed by Lance Bass, who voices the character of Elliot.
Valderrama, who describes himself as a "huge" car fan and races as a hobby, said he was delighted that Earnhardt agreed to lend his voice to a "Handy Manny" character.
"I have a lot of respect for that sport," Valderrama said, adding that Earnhardt's participation could introduce the series to a new set of families.
A music video of "One Step at a Time," the song performed by Bass and Valderrama in the special, is online at Disney.com. The "Handy Manny" series airs weekdays at 9 a.m. EDT and on weekends at 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. EDT as part of Disney Channel's programming block for preschoolers.
