Aflac won't likely sell off as many Sprint Cup races as originally planned

By Bob Pockrass - Associate Editor
Friday, February 20, 2009
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Roush Fenway Racing's Carl Edwards finished 18th in the 2009 Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. (David Griffin / NASCAR Scene)

David Griffin
NASCAR Scene

Aflac will likely be the primary sponsor of Roush Fenway Racing’s No. 99 Ford driven by Carl Edwards for more NASCAR Sprint Cup races this year than originally announced.

When Aflac announced it would become the primary sponsor in 2009, a company official had indicated that it hoped to keep only 20-25 races as the primary sponsor and sell off the remaining 11-16. That was back in May when the contract, reportedly a three-year deal with Roush Fenway worth $26 million a year, was inked.
 
The economy has changed since then, as has Edwards’ stature as he challenged for last year’s Sprint Cup title and won a series-high nine races. Aflac currently has sold off four races – three to Subway and one to Claritin – and a company executive says it won’t sell off additional races unless the potential sponsor fits with Aflac’s business model.
 
“Our strategy is right now we feel like we have the hottest driver in NASCAR,” Keith Farley, Aflac’s corporate sponsorship manager, said last week at Daytona. “We feel like since originally working with him last May and working on the contract, his value has gone up. Our strategy is to make sure we do what’s right for the Aflac brand and for Carl.
 
“We might sell to other sponsors. We’ve turned other sponsors down that want to be on the car because we want to make sure it makes business sense for us, not just from a branding standpoint.”

As a supplemental insurance company, Aflac wants only partners that can increase its insurance business.
 
“When we look at a company like Subway that has 30,000 franchises, that is the perfect example of small business owners,” Farley said. “Does that make good sense for Aflac, to sell these products to employees to be involved with? Yes. It’s got to fit there because that’s the main reason we’re in the sport.”
 
 

Comments

21 responses to "Aflac won't likely sell off as many Sprint Cup races as originally planned". Post a Comment.
  1. 1
    Howard Englishman said:
    Feb 20, 2009 at 10:32 AM

    The Duck is the best thing to happen to NASCAR since the Lizards on Scraders Bud car.

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  2. 2
    Shorty Jr. said:
    Feb 20, 2009 at 10:55 AM

    When is Joe The Plumber going to be on the car?

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  3. 3
    Shorty Jr. said:
    Feb 20, 2009 at 10:58 AM

    Umm by the way it's Schrader not Scrader!

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  4. 4
    Bernadette Motherway said:
    Feb 20, 2009 at 3:56 PM

    Roush/Fenway has 35 sponsors. Who cares.

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  5. 5
    marian mcclain said:
    Feb 20, 2009 at 4:07 PM

    who cares about carl.

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  6. 6
    Go 29 Harvick said:
    Feb 20, 2009 at 4:16 PM

    Obviously you do... you read it.. and made a comment!

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  7. 7
    Bernadette Motherway said:
    Feb 20, 2009 at 4:48 PM

    So #6, what do you think about last year's 'strangle hold' between the 29 and the 99?:-) Personally, I think Edwards had no business near Harvick's plane and should have been charged with trespassing! What a baby!

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  8. 8
    Jim Bayliss said:
    Feb 20, 2009 at 5:29 PM

    Well, Bernadette, it is becoming more and more obvious that you are not for the "good guys" out there. Harvick has been a jerk since day one in this league. He is getting SLIGHTLY better with age, but when push comes to shove, he is and always will be a JERK. - - - I have not been happy with Carl a couple of times, but for the most part HE IS a gentleman and one of the good guys. - - - NOW I have to ask you, WHAT has any of last years happenings got to do with THIS article??? Sounds like some of you just have an agenda you want to air. - - Number 5, there are thousands of us who care about Cousin Carl and how well HE does.

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  9. 9
    Bernadette Motherway said:
    Feb 20, 2009 at 6:46 PM

    Bayliss: I know there a lot of Carl Edwards fans out there, but I'm not one of them and anyone can slam me for not liking him. I think he's a phoney. As far as Harvick, the man has matured a great deal over the past 2 years and I like him. Plus, Jim...he drives a Chevy.

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  10. 10
    Werner Boehmert said:
    Feb 20, 2009 at 9:33 PM

    this is almost as good as the Jr slamming ...

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  11. 11
    Bernadette Motherway said:
    Feb 20, 2009 at 10:32 PM

    Thanks, Werner:-)

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  12. 12
    Art Sheeler said:
    Feb 20, 2009 at 11:51 PM

    Motherway if you dispise Carl so much why on earth do you even bother reading anything about Carl. I know myself if it's someone I don't like I don't bother reading the article. As for Harvic it's a miricle someone hasn't done what Carl did a long time ago. From now on I think I will give up with trying to be courtious to a no-mind

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  13. 13
    Ken Farley said:
    Feb 21, 2009 at 12:07 AM

    You guys really need to look at what you are reading. This article doesn't refer to Carl Edwards personally, it refers to the sponsorship on his car. So far, no one has mentioned the fact that his secondary sponsor "Office Depot" jumped ship and went with Smoke. No, it's not Home Depot, but it's the same guys that sponsored him for so long. That's why Aflac has decided to up it's sponsorship, which I think is a great move for Aflac. But the why is the loss of Office Depot. Right?

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  14. 14
    P K SMITH said:
    Feb 21, 2009 at 2:41 AM

    I'm just glad to see sponsors willing to make longer financial commmitments or ANY commitments, (for that matter), to drivers and teams this season! Really, no matter WHO the driver is; Nascar is in need of sponsorships. In the end, the more sponsorship money that flows results in more people being able to retain their jobs and teams. Personally as a fan, I can't afford paying any extra to support Nascar during this economic recession. I greatly appreciate sponsors 'stepping up', so we can still enjoy the benefits of watching our favorite Nascar drivers every weekend.

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  15. 15
    Jim Bayliss said:
    Feb 21, 2009 at 3:18 AM

    Well Bernie, why ARE you reading things about the Ford cars, drivers and sponsors? Certainly not to become educated. At least it certainly hasn't helped yet, has it? I don't read much about Chev-or-leev-it cars, so since you obviously don't like them, I am wondering why you read about the FirstOnRaceDay articles? - - - Just to cause some excitement in your life? I do know people, and yes Harvick has matured some since becoming a car owner, but "man", I don't think so. On a list of best to worst drivers on any given day with 1 being number one, Harvick is a 43. (And always will be on my list). His driving a "Chevy", is but one of the reasons he will never be a champion in Cup. All he can do is follow the "crowd", at best.

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  16. 16
    Mr. Barracuda said:
    Feb 21, 2009 at 9:12 AM

    you tell 'em go 29 Harvick. Carl will be the driver to beat this year.

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  17. 17
    Werner Boehmert said:
    Feb 21, 2009 at 1:18 PM

    Bernadette...if Carl drove a Chevy...would you be his friend?...

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  18. 18
    Ken Farley said:
    Feb 21, 2009 at 1:20 PM

    Jeez, and I always thought that acronym meant Found On Road Dead... If Ford is supposed to be so good, why has it taken them this long to come up with a new cylinder head design. Chevrolet, even with tough economic times has continued to develop the RO7 engine with canted valves (please don't tell me Ford was first with that, because Chevrolet has been running them on NASCAR race engines since 1964). But I do like Jack Rousch, he is one hell of an engineer and a very hands on guy. Too bad he had to stick with the blue oval crowd. I guess he did it to better the spirit of competetition.

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  19. 19
    Bernadette Motherway said:
    Feb 21, 2009 at 1:53 PM

    Fix or repair daily. Art, I made a comment in #4. Mr. Bayliss and I are having a debate so stay out of it. Werner; No. I don't think Childress or Hendrick would even consider him as part of their organizations. If he ever leaves Rousch, I can lay odds he will be in a Toyota or Dodge.

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  20. 20
    Werner Boehmert said:
    Feb 21, 2009 at 1:54 PM

    Jack did submit a new design, but was told by NASCAR that he needed to submit a whole new motor...NASCAR probably intends to have a common motor anyways, just like the bodies so the only thing making the cars Chevy, Ford, Dodge or Toyota will be the decals...mfg's don't mean diddley to me anymore...a V8 in these cars?...where can i buy an Impala or a Fusion with a V8?...you can get a Dodge yet...what Toyota has carburators?...oh btw..you go get em this year cousin Carl...

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  21. 21
    Jim Bayliss said:
    Feb 21, 2009 at 5:15 PM

    Carl will do just fine, AND he will do it in a FORD. (Finest Of Real Deals), not a Chev, (Cutrate Hulk Embarrassing Vehicle). - - - - - You are right Werner, except I HOPE that they don't go the motor route. That is about the only thing besides the name that remotely resembles The real deal. ---- Yes, Bernie, Carl is a "thinking" person, so I am sure he would much rather go to one of the alternatives than the bottom of the barrel.

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