M&M’S® Most Colorful Fans

M&M’S® POPULAR NASCAR CONTEST CELEBRATES COLORFUL FANDEMONIUM ON AND OFF THE TRACK

M&M’S® Most Colorful Fans™ of NASCAR® Contest Rewards Winning Fan with $10,000 and Ultimate Fan Recognition: a Display in the NASCAR Hall of FameTM

HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. – Mars Chocolate North America fired up the engines for its third annual M&M’S® Most Colorful Fans™ of NASCAR® Contest, which is designed to celebrate and reward the sport’s most colorful fans. Building on Mars’ status as the official chocolate of NASCAR, the contest follows the release of M&M’S® new NASCAR.COM social community, which launched in February at www.NASCAR.com/mostcolorfulfans.

From May 31, 2010 through September 6, 2010, fans can enter M&M’S® Most Colorful Fans™ of NASCAR® Contest and showcase their unmatched love for the sport, favorite teams and drivers, by submitting their most colorful racing-themed photos to www.NASCAR.com/mostcolorfulfans.

All entries receive fifteen percent off a one-time purchase at the NASCAR.COM Superstore, including free shipping. Fans will then cast their vote to help choose weekly winners, as well as three finalists who will vie for the title of The Most Colorful Fan™ of NASCAR.



“M&M’S® Most Colorful Fans™ of NASCAR® Contest is unique because it’s 100 percent ‘fan generated,’” said Suzanne Beaudoin, vice president, Sponsorships and Sports Marketing, Mars Chocolate North America. “Everything from the weekly winners to the lucky fan who gets to be featured in the new NASCAR Hall of Fame is decided by the boss of NASCAR – the fans!”

Each week of the contest, the votes submitted on NASCAR.COM will be tabulated and the photo with the highest average rating and the minimum number of votes will be selected as that week’s winner and receive a $500 gift card. Fans can also participate in the instant-win game with one hundred (100) fifty dollar ($50.00) gift card instant-win prizes available.

As the elite of NASCAR drivers head into The Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup™ the 14 weekly winners will compete head-to-head during the “Final Round.” At the end of the Final Round, three “Finalists” with the most fan votes will vie for the grand prize: a trip to the NASCAR Hall of Fame Museum, $10,000, and a featured display in the NASCAR Hall of FameTM for one year.

The 2009 contest winner, Cynthia Peace of Havana, Ill., bested thousands of other colorful NASCAR fans who participated in the contest and became the first fan honored in the NASCAR Hall of FameTM earlier in May. (click here for Cindi Peace's Story)

“NASCAR.COM has the ability to create, manage, and host, NASCAR initiatives that provide fan-friendly experiences while also delivering on client objectives,” said Walker Jacobs, senior vice president Turner Sports and Entertainment Digital Ad Sales. “We’re pleased to extend our great partnership with M&M’S® on this fan-favorite contest and it’s a golden example of how a multi-year program can thrive and evolve naturally.”

Fans can also follow alongside Left Turn Lindsay and Right Turn Ryan, with at track behind-the-scene photos and videos starring fans at M&M’S® Most Colorful Fans Facebook page, and via Twitter at @mmscolorfulfans.

“The fans are a crucial component to what makes NASCAR successful,” said Jim O’Connell, vice president of Corporate Marketing for NASCAR. “M&M’S® ‘Most Colorful Fans™ of NASCAR®’ is a one-of-a-kind promotion which celebrates the creativity of our fans, and rewards them in a fun and memorable way.”

For more information about M&M’S® Most Colorful Fans™ of NASCAR® Contest, visit www.NASCAR.com/mostcolorfulfans.

M&M’s Most Colorful Fan of NASCAR

My Friend Is Featured In The NASCAR Hall Of Fame

You can imagine my pleasure when I learned that my friend, Cindi Peace was selected as the 2009 M&M’s Most Colorful Fan of NASCAR. For the contest, she entered a photo of herself in front of a Petty racecar. Kyle Petty is one of her favorite NASCAR celebrities. To win, Ms. Peace first had to win a weekly round, to be sent to the finals. In the finals, her photo had to survive each additional round. In the end, Cindi’s photo was chosen by fan vote to be the M&M’s Most Colorful Fan of NASCAR.

Of course, you know that I voted for her and it was really neat being able to share her progress via her updates. Below is our interview regarding her “once in a lifetime” NASCAR Experience.

NASCAR Race Mom: Please tell us a bit about yourself?

Cindi Peace: I live in a rural farming community in central Illinois with my husband of 21 years, Bobby, and our 16-year-old daughter, Kelsey. I work for the local park district as a groundskeeper at our city's cemetery.

I've been a NASCAR fan for about 10 years and have been a Kyle Petty fan for at least 9 of those, until he retired. I now root for a lot of different drivers but if I had to pick a favorite, it would be Kevin Harvick.

NASCAR Race Mom: What was your first NASCAR Experience?

Cindi Peace: The first race we attended was a Busch (now Nationwide) series race at Gateway in 2004 and our first Cup race was the Daytona 500 in 2006.

NASCAR Race Mom: How did you earn your way into the NASCAR Hall Of Fame?

Cindi Peace: Amazingly, I won the M&M's NASCAR's Most Colorful Fan Contest. I submitted a photo, got friends & family to vote like mad for me and couldn't believe it when I kept making it through the weekly rounds to end up one of 3 finalists. Then it was up to the judges to decide the winner & for some crazy reason they chose me! There were so many creative and what I thought were more "colorful" photos submitted than mine so I was truly shocked to win.

NASCAR Race Mom: What was your favorite part of your NASCAR Hall Of Fame experience?

Cindi Peace: That's a hard question to answer....it was all such a blast! Meeting Junior Johnson was such an honor. Being included in the Hall of Fame is an honor as well, and one I don't feel I deserve. Touring Joe Gibbs Racing and getting to see all the behind-the-scenes parts of a race shop that most people never get to see was incredible. Also amazed at being able to tour NASCAR's Research & Development shop. Lots of fun seeing how they inspect the cars as well as test the safety equipment. We met so many wonderful people and they all treated us like royalty so I'd have to say the people were my very favorite part even though the entire experience was amazing. Thanks for letting me share my experience!