M&M'S(R) Popular NASCAR Contest Celebrates Colorful Fandemonium On and Off the Track

HACKETTSTOWN, N.J., May 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Mars Chocolate North America fired up the engines today 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.

(Photo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100527/AQ11759)

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 Fame™ 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 Fame™ earlier in May.

"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, www.facebook.com/colorfulfans 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.

About Mars Chocolate North America:

Mars Chocolate North America is the North American chocolate operations of Mars, Incorporated.  Mars, Incorporated is a private, family-owned company founded in 1911 and employing more than 65,000 associates at over 230 sites, including 135 factories, in 68 countries worldwide. Headquartered in McLean, Virginia, U.S.A., Mars, Incorporated is one of the world's largest food companies, generating global revenues of more than $28 billion annually and operating in six business segments: Chocolate, Petcare, Wrigley Gum and Confections, Food, Drinks, and Symbioscience.  These segments produce some of the world's leading brands: Chocolate – M&M'S®, SNICKERS®, DOVE®, GALAXY®, MARS®, MILKY WAY® and TWIX®; Petcare – PEDIGREE®, WHISKAS®, SHEBA®, CESAR® and ROYAL CANIN®; Wrigley – ORBIT®, EXTRA®, STARBURST®, DOUBLEMINT® and SKITTLES®; Food – UNCLE BEN'S®, DOLMIO®, EBLY®, MASTERFOODS® and SEEDS OF CHANGE®; Drinks – KLIX® and FLAVIA®; Symbioscience – WISDOM PANEL®, SERAMIS®, CIRCUHEALTH™ and COCOAPRO®.

For more information, please visit www.mars.com.

About NASCAR.COM:

Turner Sports acquired all of NASCAR's interactive rights in October 2000 and became the exclusive producer of NASCAR.COM in January 2001. The official online destination of NASCAR, the site consistently ranks among the top three sport league sites on the Internet. In 2008, NASCAR.COM was awarded a Global Media Award by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) for TNT RaceBuddy as the outstanding interactive platform of the year.  The site has also earned an Emmy® for its TrackPass with PitCommand application in 2003 and was nominated for an Emmy® in 2007 for TrackPass RaceView.

Turner Sports, a division of Turner Broadcasting, Inc., presents some of the best and most popular sporting events worldwide and is a leader in televised and online sports programming.  With events airing on TBS and TNT, Turner Sports' line-up includes NASCAR and NASCAR.COM, the NBA, Major League Baseball, professional golf, PGATour.com and PGA.com.  Turner Sports and the NBA also jointly manage NBA Digital, which includes NBA TV, NBA.com, NBA League Pass, NBADLeague.com and WNBA.com. 

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news, entertainment, animation and young adult media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY "M&M'S® Seeks The Most Colorful Fan™ of NASCAR" Contest is open to legal residents of the 48 contiguous United States of America and the District of Columbia, age 18 years or older, who have Internet access or a access to NASCAR Sprint Cup Mobile(SM) via a Sprint wireless device as of May 28, 2010. Starting at 10:00:00 a.m. ET on May 31, 2010 and ending at 11:59:59 p.m. ET on September 5, 2010. For Official Rules and entry instructions, send a SASE to: "M&M'S® SEEKS THE MOST COLORFUL FAN™ OF NASCAR" CONTEST, P.O. Box 11487, Bozeman, MT 59719-1487 (VT residents may omit postage) or log on to www.nascar.com/mostcolorfulfan. All federal, state and local rules apply. Sponsors: Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. and Mars Snackfood US, LLC.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY to enter or win the "M&M'S® PRETZEL INSTANT WIN GAME". Game is open to legal residents of the 48 contiguous United States and the District of Columbia who are at least 18 years of age at time of entry. Subject to full Official Rules and void where prohibited. Promotion Period starts 10:00:01 AM ET on 5/31/10 and ends 9:59:59 PM ET on 9/5/10.  Additional restrictions and terms apply. For full Official Rules and entry instructions, go to www.nascar.com/mostcolorfulfan.   All federal, state and local rules apply. Sponsors: Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. and Mars Snackfood US, LLC.  All trademarks are property of their respective owners.

SOURCE Mars Chocolate North America