The Sherwin-Williams Planet Color Custom Finishes All-Star Charity Challenge pitted the truck design talents of Clint Bowyer against fellow NASCAR driver Greg Biffle, as each of the driver’s design teams created a unique look for the cars. Their vehicles recently went across two separate Barrett-Jackson auto auction stages in Las Vegas, with bragging rights at stake for the highest bidder, and the two superstar drivers’ chosen charities being the main beneficiaries.
Clint Bowyer’s $100,000-raised Toyota Tundra (the sale price garnered at the previous auction held in Orange County, Calif., in June) was declared the winner over Biffle’s custom Ford F-150 SVT Raptor, which sold for $80,000.
The proceeds from Bowyer’s modified Tundra went to the Emporia Community Foundation in his Kansas hometown. Recently, that part of the country has been devastated by floods, tornadoes, drought and high unemployment from factories and farms shutting down. The Foundation supports many different causes there, emphasizing area children’s needs first. It also includes supporting the region’s hospital, storm shelters and school projects.
Biffle’s sale proceeds went to the Greg Biffle Foundation for Animals. It was founded in 2005 by Greg and Nicole Biffle to create awareness and serve as an advocate to improve the well-being of animals by engaging the power and passion of the motorsports industry. The foundation donates to Humane Societies, no-kill animal shelters and spay/neuter clinics.
"We appreciate NASCAR superstars like Clint Bowyer and Greg Biffle lending their names and efforts in helping us create the Planet Color Custom Finishes All-Star Charity Challenge," said Bobby Moody, director of motorsports at Sherwin-Williams. "Planet Color custom paints and finishes have been a tremendous hit among custom automotive enthusiasts and painters alike. All Planet Color custom paints and coatings are based upon the exclusive OEM-approved color system from Sherwin-Williams."
In Bowyer’s case, his custom Tundra features a red patina paint job, giving the truck the appearance of a well-used "tri-five" style work truck. The truck’s design was inspired by all the weather-beaten trucks that litter the Midwestern countryside where Bowyer was born and raised.
Additional ’50s-style elements incorporated into Bowyer’s Tundra design include a roof visor, custom wheels, louvered tailgate, vertical bar grille, white bumpers, mirrors and grille, a wood bed and wood bed stakes, and blanket upholstered seats. It also includes a custom exhaust and upgraded suspension components.
Biffle’s Raptor also features Sherwin-Williams Planet Color paints, including the hues Red Hot Red (PCGK1), Hot Rod Satin Black (PCGK3), White Lightning (PCGK5) and a final clearcoat (PCCCGk1). Biffle’s paint scheme was designed and applied by automotive artist Ron “Flea” Fleenor of Fleaz Kolor Faktory.
The Raptor has been modified by Roush Performance and fitted with items like its TVS2300 supercharger system good for 525 horsepower, a performance exhaust system, custom 18-inch wheels shod with 35-inch BFGoodrich tires, TireGate tire carrier and light bars front and rear.
Sherwin-Williams’ use of social media has helped fuel the competition. Thousands of its Facebook fans and Twitter followers voted for their favorite custom paint scheme, choosing between the Team Biffle Raptor and the Team Bowyer Tundra. The chosen contestants from the custom painting team that garners the most votes will win tickets and Hot Pit passes to the 2013 NASCAR race of their choice. There will also be two Facebook fans selected to attend an upcoming Scottsdale, Ariz., Barrett-Jackson auto auction with behind-the-scenes access.
Contest sponsors include Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes, Barrett-Jackson, Roush-Fenway Racing, Michael Waltrip Racing, Ford Motor Company, Toyota Motor Corporation, Greg Biffle and Clint Bowyer.
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