Eight Year Old's 'Fired Up for A Cure' Paint Scheme Selected as Winner in Ford Customer Service Division's NASCAR Design Contest to Support Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation

CONCORD, N.C., Oct. 13 /PRNewswire/ --

• Carson Luther, an eight-year-old resident of Wildwood, MO, designed the winning paint scheme that will appear on the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Fusion NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car during the Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on October 16.

• Ford Customer Service Division's Funny Car design contest helped raise awareness and $33,391 for JDRF and for research for Type 1 diabetes.

One young man wants to tell the entire NASCAR community that he's fired up to find a cure for type 1 diabetes – and he plans on using the paint scheme on the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Fusion running this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway to get the point across to millions of fans nationwide.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20101013/DE81686 ) 

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20101013/DE81686 )

Carson Luther, an eight-year-old resident of Wildwood, MO, was selected as the winning designer of the Ford Customer Service Division's (FCSD) NASCAR Design Contest to Support the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).

His design, entitled "JDRF – Fired Up for A Cure" was officially unveiled for the first time at the Wood Brothers' Racing shop today, with Luther and his family on hand.

"I wanted fire and flames on my car, and thought the blue would make the flames stand out," said Carson Luther. "I want a cure for diabetes more than anything, even all the LEGOs in the world."

For the past two years JDRF children have helped design the paint scheme featured on the NHRA Motorcraft/Quick Lane Shelby Mustang Nitro Funny Car, driven by Bob Tasca III. This year, in honor of the Wood Brothers celebrating 60 years of racing Ford products in NASCAR, FCSD has decided to bring the successful contest over to the legendary race team.

"We're excited to see how Carson's design performs on the race track this weekend.  It looks great," said Eddie Wood, co-owner of Wood Brothers Racing.  "We're honored to be part of a program this year and help raise money for such a worthwhile cause. Carson and his family are our guests this weekend, where we can educate the NASCAR community and raise awareness for type 1 diabetes."

The Luther family, along with Wood Brothers Racing, Bill Elliott, driver of the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Fusion and representatives from FCSD, were on hand for the unveiling today, Carson and his family will attend their first NASCAR race weekend and watch the JDRF-themed race car qualify for the Bank of America 500.

"This is my first NASCAR race," said Luther.  "My Mom, Grandma, Uncle and sisters are here with me in Charlotte and we're really excited to see my design on the race car this weekend."

Luther raised $5,341 for JDRF with his design.  That number, added to the money raised by the designs that were submitted, brought the total for the contest to $33,391 for research for Type 1 diabetes, and nearly $150,000 in donations the past three years.

"Carson's design looks fantastic on the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Fusion," said David Arne, Group Marketing Manager, Ford Customer Service Division. "Carson was very active in this year's contest and is an excellent spokesperson for JDRF."

Each design was featured on www.jdrf.org/ford from July 6 to September 3, a total of 60 days in honor of Wood Brothers Racing's 60-year anniversary of racing Ford products in NASCAR.  During that time, the public was invited to vote for their favorite car design by making a monetary donation to JDRF.  The top five donation-earning designs were narrowed down to one by a panel of judges from Ford Motor Company. 

"The generosity shown from people from all across this country to help find a cure for type 1 diabetes was remarkable," said Arne. "This year we raised more than $33,000 towards finding a cure."

Diabetes affects more Ford families than any other disease. Ford Motor Company has raised more than $27 million for JDRF since the grassroots campaign started in 1998.

About Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF)

JDRF is the worldwide leader for research to cure type 1 diabetes.  It sets the global agenda for diabetes research, and is the largest charitable funder and advocate of diabetes science worldwide.

The mission of JDRF is to find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research.  Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that strikes children and adults suddenly, and can be fatal.  Until a cure is found, people with type 1 diabetes have to test their blood sugar and give themselves insulin injections multiple times or use a pump – each day, every day of their lives.  And even with that intensive care, insulin is not a cure for diabetes, nor does it prevent its eventual and devastating complications, which may include kidney failure, blindness, heart disease, stroke, and amputation.

Since its founding in 1970 by parents of children with type 1 diabetes, JDRF has awarded more than $1.3 billion to worldwide diabetes research, including more than $107 million last year.  For more information, call 1-800-533-CURE (1-800-533-2873) or visit www.jdrf.org.

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About Motorcraft

Motorcraft® offers a complete line of replacement parts that are recommended and approved by Ford Motor Company. From routine maintenance to underhood repairs, Motorcraft parts offer exceptional value with the highest quality and right fit at competitive prices. Motorcraft parts are available nationwide at Ford and Lincoln Mercury dealers, independent distributors, and automotive parts retailers and are backed by Ford Motor Company's Service Parts Limited Warranty. For more information, visit www.motorcraft.com. 

About Quick Lane Tire & Auto Centers

Quick Lane® provides automotive quick services for all makes and models.  Quick Lane's nationwide network will surpass 600 facilities, each providing the convenience of an aftermarket company (no appointment necessary, service while you wait, evening and weekend hours, competitive prices) with the confidence of a major automotive manufacturer (quality parts, factory-trained technicians).  Quick Lane® is a registered trademark of Ford Motor Company. For more information, visit www.quicklane.com.

About FordParts.com

FordParts.com allows customers to shop online for over 283,000 Genuine Ford and Motorcraft parts. With FordParts.com, repair shops, body shops, fleets and do-it-yourselfers can shop for, order and ultimately receive parts 24/7 via the click of a mouse.  It lets each customer remain connected to their Ford or Lincoln Mercury dealership for the parts expertise, personal delivery assistance, and post-sale follow-up associated with a traditional purchase.  All customers visiting FordParts.com will benefit from its comprehensive, yet user-friendly nature, perhaps best expressed in the way Ford and Motorcraft parts are shopped for and selected. To do so, customers can enter a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and shop with unmatched accuracy for parts uniquely associated with the vehicle or start by entering the year, make and model of the vehicle.  Adding to the site's functionality is the ability to view 22,865 technical illustrations on many of the parts and assemblies. For more information, visit www.fordparts.com.

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents.   With about 159,000 employees and about 70 plants worldwide, the company's brands include Ford, Lincoln and Mercury, production of which has been announced by the company to be ending in the fourth quarter of 2010.  The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company.  For more information regarding Ford's products, please visit www.ford.com.

SOURCE Ford Motor Company