NASCAR DRIVER CARL EDWARDS MAKES A PIT-STOP ON "THE BIGGEST LOSER," AND ONE ELIMINATED PLAYER GETS BACK IN THE GAME TUESDAY, JANUARY 7 ON NBC

Plus, "Fan Favorite" Contestant Abby Rike Visits the Ranch and Inspires Contestants with Her Own "Second Chance" Story

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. - January 2, 2014 - "The Biggest Loser" kicks off the new year with special guest NASCAR driver Carl Edwards, "fan favorite" contestant Abby Rike and one eliminated player getting a "Second Chance" to get back in the game on a lively two-hour episode airing Tuesday, January 7 (8-10 p.m. ET) on NBC.

This week kicks off with all of the eliminated contestants returning to weigh-in, alongside players Matt and Hap, who were eliminated in the previous episode. The player with the highest percentage of weight loss will get a "Second Chance" to return to the competition as the show draws closer to the February 4 live finale.

With the finish line getting closer in sight, the players head to the racetrack to meet someone who knows all about finish lines - Carl Edwards, driver of the No. 99 Subway Ford Fusion for Roush Fenway Racing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and a SUBWAY(R) Famous Fan. Edwards motivates the contestants and revs them up with a fast-paced workout on the racetrack grandstand.

Abby Rike, one of the most beloved contestants in "Biggest Loser" history, stops by the ranch and inspires the contestants with her own "Second Chance" story, and talks about her life today. The contestants also head to the beach for a grueling kettle bell challenge that promises the winning player a hefty prize. Then one player reaches "One-derland" at the weigh-in and another is sent home before host Alison Sweeney gives the remaining contestants some very exciting news.

In just ten years, Carl Edwards has had a storied NASCAR career, moving his way from the Camping World Truck Series to NASCAR's elite Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series,' winning two Nationwide Series Championships. He has chalked up 21 Sprint Cup wins in NASCAR's top series and is in elite company on the Nationwide Series all-time win list in fourth place with 38 career victories. He is considered one of NASCAR's top drivers and is among the most respected, recognized and strongest competitors and nearly claimed his first Sprint Cup championship in 2011, tying for first in points, but losing by the tiebreaker number of wins. Growing up in Missouri, Edwards began his racing career in 1994 at the age of 15 driving four-cylinder cars and winning four feature races on the tracks around Missouri and Illinois in the four-cylinder series.

"The Biggest Loser" is a production of Shine America and 25/7 Productions. Ben Silverman, Dave Broome, Eden Gaha, Lisa Hennessy, JD Roth and Todd A. Nelson are the executive producers.

For embeddable clips and full episodes from "The Biggest Loser," please visit NBC.com's official show site: http://www.nbc.com/the-biggest-loser/

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