Subway Near Deal With Carl Edwards To Serve As Spokesperson

Subway Nears Deal To Make Edwards Spokesperson

Subway is completing a deal to make NASCAR driver Carl Edwards a spokesperson for the QSR, according to sources cited by Michael Smith of SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL. Subway is expected to sign Edwards to a "personal-services agreement to use him in its advertising," though terms for the deal were unavailable. The QSR also is expected to serve as the "primary sponsor for Edwards' No. 99 Ford in three Sprint Cup races next year," which will cost Subway "about $2.25[M]." Edwards may replace driver Tony Stewart, who has "pitched for Subway since late 2006, and whose contract with the brand ends this year." It is "uncertain whether the company will continue" its relationship with Stewart. To broker the deal, Subway went through Aflac, which will replace Office Depot as Edwards' primary sponsor on the No. 99 car for the 2009-2011 seasons. Aflac is working with its agency, Career Sports & Entertainment, Atlanta, to "sell off a portion" of the '09 races (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 8/18 issue).