Coke Zero to debut NASCAR TV spots during Daytona broadcast

ATLANTA Coke Zero’s new NASCAR ad that actively stumped the famous drivers of NASCAR, is set to air on Sunday, Feb. 17 at the Daytona 500, which the Fox network will be broadcasting.

The advertisement, which includes actors posing as Coca-Cola brand managers, is an extension of Coke Zero’s 2007 campaign in which “Coca-Cola managers” tried to sue their coworkers on the basis of “taste infringement,” because Coke Zero tastes so much like Coca Cola. As Coke Zero is now the official soft drink of NASCAR, this year’s ads will feature 30-second and 60-second spots of the same Coca-Cola brand managers now extending their passion against Coke Zero to NASCAR’s fastest drivers.

Labeled “NASCAR sabotage,” the ad shows the Coca-Cola brand managers trying to convince the NASCAR racers that they should “enjoy the track for longer” and “throw a race” so Coke Zero would not end up in the winner’s circle. The drivers featured in the commercial apparently did not realize that it was, in fact, a commercial, and were stunned by their suggestions.

Two-Time NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion, Tony Stewart explained his confusion: “At first, the fake Coca-Cola brand guys came across as really serious, so we were trying to be polite and figure out what they were thinking, but the more they talked the crazier their ideas became until it got to be pretty unbelievable. While it was an unusual experience, Coke Zero is a fun brand and this was a clever way to shoot this commercial.”

The ad will feature top NASCAR drivers Greg Biffle, Jeff Burton, Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, Dale Jarrett, Bobby Labonte, Mark Martin, Jamie McMurray, Kyle Petty, Eliott Sadler, Tony Stewart and Michael Waltrip.

The 60-second version of the ad is set to air on the special Daytona 500 ad showcase on Nascar.com, which will begin at 7 a.m., and the 30- and 60-second versions will appear through cinemas and television throughout the racing season. All ads are currently posted at cokezero.com and NASCAR.com.