At the Pep Boys Auto 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, the #99 Aflac Ford will sport a colorful new look inspired by the creative imagination of a 13-year-old cancer patient from the Aflac Cancer Center. In support of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, Aflac invited children at the Aflac Cancer Center to Color Carls Car, inspiring the design of the car Carl Edwards will drive at the NASCAR Sprint Cup race on September 6. It will also mark the beginning of a month-long fundraising campaign whereby Aflac is asking NASCAR fans to help in the fight against childhood cancer.
The paint scheme, inspired by 13 year old Jody Lawrence of Greensboro, Georgia, will feature an array of colors and a crayon-sketched look. Edwards will wear a matching fire suit and a white helmet signed by patients of the Aflac Cancer Center. The remaining 54 paint scheme submissions will be featured throughout the concourse of Atlanta Motor Speedway for viewing by race attendees and will adorn the pit wall banner for the #99 race team. Jody, who is battling neuroblastoma cancer, receives treatment at the Aflac Cancer Center. To extend the program beyond the track, Aflac has created a text donation program to coincide with the paint scheme launch. Running throughout the month of September, the donation program gives the NASCAR community an easy method to contribute to the Aflac Cancer Center. Fans can simply text GoCarl to 90999 using any carrier, to donate $5 per text, with charges appearing on customers wireless bill.
As an additional program element, Aflac has teamed up with Motorsports Authentics to create a special die cast car, featuring the special paint scheme, to sell through QVC. As part of the initiative, five percent of all profits from the die cast sales will be donated to the Aflac Cancer Center. All cars sold through QVC will be personally autographed by Edwards (Aflac Racing). See images of the scheme on my #99 Team Schemes page.(8-30-2009)
