| -

DEARBORN, Mich. — Ford Customer Service Division is asking for the public's input on the design of a NASCAR Spring Cup Series race car in a campaign launched Tuesday to raise funds for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Here's how the division's contest is designed to work. 

Race fans will get to submit their vote for which JDRF design they want on the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Land Ford Fusion NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car by simply going to www.jdrf.org/ford and making a donation to the foundation.

The five designs that have the most donations attached to them will be passed along to the judges, who will then decide which one will be on the vehicle at the Bank of America 500. That race will be held Oct. 14 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Charlotte, N.C.

Officials pointed out that Bill Elliott drives the No. 21 vehicle.

The public voting runs through Sept. 3.

Officials noted that JDRF children have been lending their assistance in the paint scheme of the NHRA Motorcraft/Quick Lane Shelby Mustang Nitro Funny Car during the past couple of years.

Ford chose to take this contest to the Wood Brothers race team in light of this year being the celebration of 60 years of the team's involvement with Ford in NASCAR.

Also, the program is also generating some input from JDRF children, who have been creating their own design of the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Fusion on canvasses via crayons, markers and paintbrushes this past month.

One design will be chosen on Sept. 8, and the winner will get to head to Charlotte with parents for an official unveiling of the paint scheme on Oct. 13 at the Wood Brothers Racing shop. The winner will also be able to attend NASCAR Sprint Cup qualifying at the Charlotte speedway on Oct. 14 and watch as the car bearing their design rounds the track.

"We are delighted to bring this contest which has seen so much success through our NHRA program to NASCAR," shared Brett Wheatley, director of Marketing for FCSD.

"The children did a tremendous job with their paint schemes for this year's contest," he added. "This program has been a great way to generate awareness and funding for a worthy cause. We're honored to partner with the Wood Brothers and JDRF for the program this year."

Ford indicated that its funds raised for JDRF since 1998 have totaled more than $27 million.