Lucky Duck: Aflac Inks Deal To Be Edwards' Primary Sponsor

By Michael Smith, Staff Writer, SportsBusiness Journal

Aflac To Be Primary Sponsor Of Edwards' Sprint Cup Ride Beginning In '09

Aflac has finalized a three-year, $78M deal with Roush Fenway Racing to be the primary sponsor on Carl Edwards' No. 99 Sprint Cup car beginning in '09, sources said. Aflac has been an associate sponsor and part-time primary sponsor on Edwards' car this season, spending about $6-7M, but the new primary sponsorship is expected to run about $26M per year, according to industry insiders. The deal is believed to be the second-most lucrative team arrangement in NASCAR, trailing only the Amp Energy/National Guard sponsorship of Dale Earnhardt Jr., valued at just more than $30M. Office Depot, which has been Edwards' top sponsor for the last three years, recently concluded its negotiating window with Roush Fenway for the No. 99 car without reaching a primary deal. Aflac is expected to sell a handful of its '09 primaries, possibly eight to 10, to other sponsors. Career Sports & Entertainment, Atlanta, represents the Georgia-based company.