Roush Racing: Driver X is a television show on the Discovery Channel

Discovery Channel

Discovery Channel is an American satellite and cable specialty channel , founded by John Hendricks and distributed by Discovery Communications. It is a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav...

 that documented the selection of NASCAR

NASCAR

The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...

 drivers for Roush Racing

Roush Racing

Roush Fenway Racing is a racing team competing in NASCAR racing. As one of NASCAR's largest premier racing teams, Roush runs teams in the Sprint and Nationwide Series, and formerly in the Camping World Truck Series and ARCA RE/MAX Series.Roush first entered NASCAR competition in 1988, but had...

. During occasional years, Jack Roush, the owner of NASCAR's Roush Fenway Racing, auditions drivers from around the world to hire a driver in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series

Craftsman Truck Series

The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series is a pickup truck racing series owned and operated by the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing...

. This audition is informally known as The Gong Show

The Gong Show

The Gong Show is an amateur talent contest franchised by Sony Pictures Television to many countries. It was broadcast on NBC's daytime schedule from June 14, 1976 through July 21, 1978, and in first-run syndication from 1976–1980 and 1988–1989. The show was produced by Chuck Barris, who also served...

. In 2005, the Discovery Channel decided to film and air these tests as Roush Racing: Driver X. The show aired every Monday at 7:00 p.m. EST and at 11:00 p.m. EST on the Discovery Channel.

Roush Racing: Driver X was produced for Discovery Channel by Brainbox Entertainment.

2005 drivers

Justin Allgaier Justin Allgaier Justin Allgaier , is an American stock car driver. He drives the No. 31 Brandt Chevrolet Impala for Turner Motorsports in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. He was the 2008 ARCA RE/MAX Series Champion and the 2009 Nationwide Series Rookie of the Year. Justin is nicknamed 'Little Gator'... Tim Andrews Tim Andrews Tim Andrews is an English studio potter making distinctive smoke-fired and raku ceramics exhibited internationally.Andrews trained as an apprentice to David Leach and studied at Dartington Pottery Training Workshop before setting up his first studio in 1981.He returned to share the workshop at... Chuck Barnes Sam Beam Jason Boyd Jeffrey Choquette Johnny Clark Erik Darnell Erik Darnell Erik Darnell is an American stock car racing driver, c He is the grandson of former USAC and NASCAR driver Bay Darnell, who also started three NASCAR races for Holman Moody... Sondi Eden

Nevin George James Gue' Jason Hogan Matthew Jaskol Bud Kaeding Travis Kittleson Michael Lewis Scott Lynch Matt McCall Matt McCall Matt McCall is a professional race car driver.-Early racing:Matt ran karts from 1990 until 1999, racing first in the Rookie division at age nine, then at the age of thirteen moving to the Adult division earning more than 150 wins...

Danny O'Quinn Danny O'Quinn Daniel O'Quinn, Jr. is an American professional stock car racer from Coeburn, Virginia. He currently drives the #39 Ford Mustang in the NASCAR Nationwide Series for Go Green Racing.- Background :... Christi Passmore Michael Pickens Michael Pickens Michael Pickens is a racecar driver from Birkenhead near Auckland, New Zealand. Michael is a part time auto racing driver part time auto electrician... Bubba Pollard David Ragan David Ragan David Ragan, , is an American NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race car driver. He has previously driven the #6 Roush Fenway Racing ford, but is currently looking for a ride for the 2012 season... Peter Shepherd Auggie Vidovich II Auggie Vidovich II Auggie Vidovich II is a driver who has raced in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.-Career:Vidovich was born in Lakeside, California. Vidovich has competed in the Elite Division Southwest Series for several years. He had a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Auggie Vidovich II (born February 20, 1981) is a... Nathan Werner

Previous Gong Show winners

• 2004: Todd Kluever
  Todd Kluever
  Todd Alan Kluever is a NASCAR driver. He currently is a free agent.-Early career:Kluever began his career by racing motorcycles for over nine years before he moved into full-bodied stock cars at a local track. He raced stock cars in the summer and snowmobiles during the Wisconsin winters...
  
  
• 2002: Carl Edwards
  Carl Edwards
  Carl Michael Edwards, II is a NASCAR driver. He currently drives the #99 Fastenal/Aflac Ford Fusion in the Sprint Cup Series and the #60 Ford in the Nationwide Series for Roush Fenway Racing...
  
  
• 2000: Chuck Hossfeld
  Chuck Hossfeld
  Chuck Hossfeld , is an American race car driver and team owner. He is currently a full-time racer in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour in the #22 car....
  
   and Nathan Haseleu
  Nathan Haseleu
  Nathan Haseleu is a racecar driver from Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. He competed in the Craftsman Truck Series, and now competes in the ASA Midwest Tour, the CRA Super Series, and the Wisconsin Challenge Series....
  
  
• 1999: Kurt Busch
  Kurt Busch
  Kurt Thomas Busch is an American NASCAR and NHRA driver. He drives the No. 22 Shell Oil Company/Pennzoil Dodge Charger in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and will race on an "opportunity permitting" basis in the Pro Stock division of NHRA...
  
  

Results and other development deals

The 2005 winner was Erik Darnell, who won a full-time ride in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series for Jack Roush Racing in the #99 Ford F-150. David Ragan drove a limited number of races in the #6 Ford F-150. He now races for Roush in the Sprint Cup series.
Danny O'Quinn won a ride in the #50 World Financial Group

World Financial Group

World Financial Group is a financial services marketing organization based in Johns Creek, Georgia that markets investment, insurance, and various other financial products through a network of associates in the United States and Canada. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of AEGON...

 Ford Fusion for Roush in the next level up in NASCAR, the Busch Series

Busch Series

The NASCAR Nationwide Series is a stock car racing series owned and operated by the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing. It is promoted as NASCAR's "minor league" circuit, and is a proving ground for drivers who wish to step up to the organization's "big leagues"; the Sprint Cup circuit...

.

Other competitors in the Driver X series that came out on top were Pete Shepherd, who signed a driver development deal with Roush Racing (he will polish his skills in the ARCA RE/MAX Series in 2006). Also, Matt McCall signed with Robert Yates Racing after the show concluded to co-pilot the #90 Ford in the NASCAR Busch Series for 2006. In 2008, Justin Allgaier won the ARCA Series Championship, and signed a deal to race for Penske Racing in the Nationwide Series. He went on to get his first win in 2010.