Carl Edwards to Drive the No. 60 Aflac Ford in July 6 NASCAR Busch Series Race
at Daytona International Speedway
COLUMBUS, Ga., July 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Aflac Incorporated (NYSE: AFL) today
announced that it will partner with NASCAR through the 2010 season and become
the sanctioning body's exclusive supplemental insurance sponsor. Aflac's
sponsorship of NASCAR comes on the heels of the insurer's recent partnership
with Roush Fenway Racing to sponsor its drivers in four NASCAR NEXTEL Cup
races and four NASCAR Busch Series races.
"Aflac is excited to expand its venture into the motorsports arena through
its sponsorship with NASCAR," said Paul S. Amos II, president, Aflac; COO,
U.S. Operations. "As the cornerstone of Aflac Racing, our association with
NASCAR will help us reach more consumers and businesses by bringing the Aflac
brand closer to racing fans across the country."
"NASCAR's strategy is to partner with best-of-class, blue-chip companies
that make the most of our sport's unparalleled marketing platform," said Jim
O'Connell, Vice President of Corporate Marketing at NASCAR. "Aflac is a
leader in supplemental insurance and knows how to reach consumers with
breakthrough advertising and marketing. We're very pleased to welcome the
company to the NASCAR family of official partners."
Aflac's Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Jeff Herbert
added: "With our recent sponsorship of Roush Fenway Racing and now our new
partnership with NASCAR, sports marketing will become an integral business
strategy for Aflac allowing us to maximize the excitement surrounding
motorsports. It is a chance to activate innovative marketing and promotional
events that fans of both racing and the Aflac Duck can enjoy."
On July 6, Carl Edwards will drive the No. 60 Aflac Ford in the Winn-Dixie
250 at Daytona International Speedway (ESPN2 7:30 p.m.) as part of the Rousch
Fenway Racing sponsorship. Currently, Edwards leads in the NASCAR Busch
Series and ranks seventh in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup series championship points
standings. Greg Biffle drove the No. 16 Aflac Ford for its debut at the
NEXTEL Cup race on July 1.
For more information on Aflac Racing, including the race schedule, car
paint schemes, latest news and driver bios, visit www.aflacracing.com.
Upcoming Races:
Carl Edwards - No. 60 Aflac Ford, Busch Series
* July 6, Daytona International Speedway
Greg Biffle - No. 16 Aflac Ford, NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series
* July 15, USG Sheetrock 400, Chicagoland Speedway (TNT, 3 p.m.)
* Sept. 2, NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series 500, California Speedway
(ESPN, 7 p.m.)
* Sept. 30, Kansas 400, Kansas Speedway ABC, 1 p.m.)
Matt Kenseth - No. 17 Aflac Ford, NASCAR Busch Series
* Aug. 11, Zippo 200, Watkins Glen International (ESPN, 3 p.m.)
Jamie McMurray - No. 26 Aflac Ford, NASCAR Busch Series
* Aug. 24, Food City 250, Bristol Motor Speedway (ESPN2, 7:30 p.m.)
* Sept. 7, Emerson Radio 250, Richmond International Raceway
(ESPN2, 7:30 p.m.)
About Aflac
For more than 50 years, Aflac products have given policyholders the
opportunity to direct cash where it is needed most when a life-interrupting
medical event causes financial challenges. Aflac is the number one provider of
guaranteed-renewable insurance in the United States and the number one
insurance company in terms of individual insurance policies in force in Japan.
Our insurance products provide protection to more than 40 million people
worldwide. Aflac has been included in Fortune magazine's listing of America's
Most Admired Companies for seven consecutive years and in Fortune magazine's
list of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America for nine consecutive
years. Aflac has also been recognized three times by both Fortune magazine's
listing of the Top 50 Employers for Minorities and Working Mother magazine's
listing of the 100 Best Companies for Working Mothers. Aflac Incorporated is a
Fortune 500 company listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol
AFL. To find out more about Aflac, visit aflac.com.
About NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, Inc. (NASCAR), which
began in 1948, is the sanctioning body for one of America's premier sports.
NASCAR is the #1 spectator sport - holding 17 of the top 20 attended sporting
events in the U.S., the #2 rated regular-season sport on television with
broadcasts in over 150 countries, and has 75 million fans who purchase over $2
billion in annual licensed product sales. These fans are the most brand loyal
in all of sports and as a result, more Fortune 500 companies participate in
NASCAR than any other sport.
NASCAR consists of three major national series (NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series,
NASCAR Busch Series and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series) as well as eight
regional series and one local grassroots series. NASCAR sanctions 1,500 races
at over 100 tracks in 38 states, Canada and Mexico. Based in Daytona Beach
(Fla.), NASCAR has offices in Bentonville (Ark.), Charlotte (N.C.), Concord
(N.C.), Conover (N.C.), Los Angeles, New York, Mexico City and Toronto.
Media Contacts:
Mechell Clark
Aflac Incorporated
706-243-8004
meclark@aflac.com
Andrew Giangola
NASCAR
212-326-1880
agiangola@nascar.com
SOURCE Aflac Incorporated