M&M'S® Racing Lets NASCAR® Fans Draft a #1 Pick of Their Own

HACKETTSTOWN, N.J., May 7, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The M&M'S® brand announced today that it is drafting off the hype of football news by giving its fans their own draft and asking them to select their favorite M&M'S^® flavor. From May 7 – May 19, fans can visit the M&M'S^® Racing Facebook page and share which M&M'S^® flavor they would draft – M&M'S^® Peanut, M&M'S^® Peanut Butter, or M&M'S^® Pretzel. The flavor with the top picks by May 19 will serve as the featured paint scheme on the No. 18 M&M'S^® Toyota during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series™ race in Pocono, Pa, on June 8.

Since no draft is complete without guidance from a great coach, M&M'S^® has enlisted the help of legendary football coach and championship stock car team owner Joe Gibbs to rally fans around the three flavors. Gibbs is founder of Joe Gibbs Racing which fields the No. 18 M&M'S^® Toyota piloted by M&M'S^® Racing driver Kyle Busch. While Gibbs is an expert in players and picks, this draft posed some tasty challenges.

"I've participated in many memorable drafts during my coaching career, but this ranks as one of the toughest picks I've ever had to make," said Gibbs. "I love M&M'S^® Peanut, M&M'S^® Peanut Butter, and M&M'S^® Pretzel and the coach in me can't wait to see who the fans select as number one."

M&M'S^® Racing driver Kyle Busch is also getting in on the fun, but for Busch, drafting his favorite flavor is as tough as making the call between two or four tires.

"From the irresistible combination of salty and sweet flavors of M&M'S^® Pretzel, to America's Favorite Nut and M&M'S^® Peanut, or the real peanut butter goodness of M&M'S^® Peanut Butter, this is a tough decision for me," explained Busch. "While I can't wait to see which flavor is picked, the fact that M&M'S^® is giving fans the chance to select the paint scheme we run in Pocono makes them the real winners in this draft."

While the M&M'S^® brand is continuing the nuttiness of the 2014 "Year of Peanut" campaign with this fan engagement, the M&M'S^® Racing NASCAR^® Draft gives race fans coast-to-coast a voice in the team by letting their passion for M&M'S^® Peanut, Peanut Butter and Pretzel decide which flavor adorns the No. 18 M&M'S^® Toyota at Pocono.

"NASCAR^® has some of the most passionate fans in sports and they love feeling like they are part of the M&M'S^® Racing team," said Seth Klugherz, Senior Director, M&M'S^® Chocolate Candies. "M&M'S^® Peanut, Peanut Butter and Pretzel are all fan favorites, but the M&M'S^® Racing NASCAR Draft will let one flavor take the bragging rights of being NASCAR royalty."

To draft your favorite M&M'S^® flavor, visit the M&M'S ^® Racing Facebook page from May 7 – May 19 and cast your vote.

About Mars, Incorporated

In 1911, Frank C. Mars made the first Mars candies in his Tacoma, Washington kitchen and established Mars' first roots as a confectionery company.  In the 1920s, Forrest E. Mars, Sr. joined his father in business and together they launched the MILKY WAY® bar. In 1932, Forrest, Sr. moved to the United Kingdom with a dream of  building a business based on the objective of creating a "mutuality of benefits for all stakeholders" – this objective serves as the foundation of Mars, Incorporated today. Based in McLean, Virginia, Mars has net sales of more than $33 billion, six business segments including Petcare, Chocolate, Wrigley, Food, Drinks, Symbioscience, and more than 72,000 Associates worldwide that are putting its Principles into action to make a difference for people and the planet through its performance.

Mars brands include: Petcare – PEDIGREE®, ROYAL CANIN®, WHISKAS®, KITEKAT®, BANFIELD® Pet Hospital and NUTRO®; Chocolate – M&M'S®, SNICKERS®, DOVE®, GALAXY®, MARS®, MILKY WAY® and TWIX®; Wrigley – DOUBLEMINT®, EXTRA®, ORBIT® and 5™ chewing gums, SKITTLES® and STARBURST® candies, and ALTOIDS® AND LIFESAVERS® mints.  Food – UNCLE BEN'S®, DOLMIO®, EBLY®, MASTERFOODS®, SEEDS OF CHANGE® and ROYCO®; Drinks – ALTERRA COFFEE ROASTERS™, THE BRIGHT TEA COMPANY™, KLIX® and FLAVIA®; Symbioscience – COCOAVIA™ and WISDOM PANEL™.

For more information, please visit www.mars.com.  Follow us: facebook.com/mars, twitter.com/marsglobal, youtube.com/mars, linkedin.com/company/mars

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