Tobacco-Free Racing

The AAFP Tar Wars Program has teamed up with race car drivers to promote Tobacco-Free Racing (TFR), an initiative designed to share the Tar Wars message with students across the United States.

Our drivers compete in NASCAR and CORR series-sanctioned races in various regions and at different levels all across the country. As part of their commitment to the TFR initiative, each driver schedules a visit to a fourth- or fifth-grade classroom in the host city prior to race weekend and introduces Tar Wars to the students.

During this visit, students also get a chance to see the driver’s showcar, which is identical to their actual race car. The cars are emblazoned with the Tar Wars logo and colorful artwork displaying tobacco-free messages.

NASCAR is the fastest-growing sport in America as well as the most tobacco-friendly sport in the world. Racing attracts a family-oriented audience, of which 72% are brand loyal to the products they see advertised on race cars. The TFR cars are designed to counter the effect of tobacco-heavy advertising and sponsorship at races and on the other cars by exposing spectators to the tobacco-free message of Tar Wars.

The drivers each have their own story about how they got involved, but all share the common interest of encouraging kids to be tobacco free.