Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina partners with Hendrick Motorsports, Jimmie Johnson

CONCORD, N.C. – Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC), which has served the people of North Carolina with high-quality health insurance for more than 80 years, has joined Hendrick Motorsports as a corporate partner and will feature five-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson in new communications efforts centered on health care reform and wellness.

The 2009 Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year and his No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports team will help educate consumers on how to navigate health care options and live a healthy lifestyle. Among Johnson’s initial efforts will be appearances in BCBSNC’s “Live Fearless” campaign promoting the value of healthy lifestyles and BCBSNC health coverage, which will begin running across North Carolina on various media platforms, including television and digital, later this year.

“As North Carolina’s hometown health insurer, we’ve always shared a love of racing with our customers,” said Michael Parkerson, vice president of marketing for BCBSNC. “But Jimmie’s appeal reaches beyond race fans. He’s not only a race car driver; he’s a husband and father committed to a healthy lifestyle. Partnering with Jimmie is a great fit for us.”

Now the Official Health Insurance Provider of Hendrick Motorsports, BCBSNC will host activities for consumers at the team’s headquarters and Charlotte Motor Speedway during the week leading up to the Bank of America 500 on Saturday night, Oct. 12. Planned activities are focused on engaging consumers and providing them with meaningful information on health care reform and healthy lifestyles.

A winner of 64 career races in NASCAR’s top series and currently in contention for what would be his sixth Sprint Cup championship, Johnson is known for being health conscious. His physical training and nutrition regimens have been documented by media outlets such as Men’s Fitness, Triathlete, ESPN and USA Today.

“I’ve been a BCBSNC member since moving to North Carolina more than 12 years ago,” said Johnson, 37, who lives in Charlotte. “I trust them with my family’s health insurance, so it’s a company I strongly believe in. I’m thrilled to work with them promoting wellness and healthy living. It’s true to who I am and who we are as a team.”

“BCBSNC has been our health insurance provider at Hendrick Motorsports since 2004,” said team owner Rick Hendrick. “It’s a company we trust to take care of our employees and their families. Over the years, we’ve had tremendous success with BCBSNC health and wellness programs. We’re excited about this opportunity to partner with them.”

“Working with Jimmie and Hendrick Motorsports will be an important part of our efforts to raise awareness about health care reform and to motivate all North Carolinians to make health and wellness a priority,” said BCBSNC’s Parkerson. “Together we can make a real difference.”