Aflac judged top 'Business to Business' partner

It's interesting, the injuries sports fans tend to remember.

• Jimmie Johnson falling off a golf cart on boys' night out, breaking his wrist.
• Greg Biffle slipping on a fishing dock and bruising his ribs.
• Carl Edwards breaking his foot playing Frisbee.

For Edwards' primary sponsor, Aflac, the foot injury, which put him on crutches for a few weeks, was concerning to say the least. With Carl in a heated battle for a spot in the Chase, Aflac's NASCAR sponsorship team had several questions. The first concern was naturally for Carl's health. Beyond that, would he be able to race? And how effectively, with a broken foot?

Fortunately, the answer was "yes." But the irony of a rippling, muscle-bound cover boy of ESPN The Magazine's "Body Issue" getting hurt doing something as mundane as tossing a Frisbee was not lost on Aflac.

It was a terrible and untimely break of Edwards' accelerator foot going into the Chase. Yet, for his sponsor, satisfied that Carl's health was secure, it set the scene for a positive message about the products Aflac sells.

Edwards, like thousands of claimants whose experiences are not fodder for news stories, filled out a claim and got a check from Aflac in three days.

"When you are hurt or become ill, it could have a significant impact on your finances unless you are prepared for the unexpected," said Keith Farley, manager of motorsports marketing for Aflac. "Carl's accident playing Frisbee, which could happen to anyone on any given day, is a perfect illustration of why we believe everyone should consider Aflac."

"For 38 weekends a year, we have a chance to meet one fifth of America's top companies at the same time and place," said Paul Amos, president of Aflac and COO of Aflac U.S. "That makes NASCAR a productive and efficient sponsorship. All 43 teams and their sponsors are together on the race track every week." (Continued)