NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series and IndyCar Drivers Go Pink in Support of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®
DALLAS – October 1, 2010 – The motorsports world once again takes on a rose-colored hue this October as cars bearing pink paint schemes will race around tracks in Kansas City, Kan., Miami, Redding, PA, Charlotte, NC and Ft. Worth, TX in support of Susan G. Komen for the Cure and breast cancer awareness.
Kicking off the month-long awareness activities is Sarah Fisher Racing, whose No. 67 Dollar General car will run pink in this weekend’s IndyCar Championships on Oct. 2 at Miami Homestead Speedway. Making the turn the following day are Elliott Sadler’s No. 19 Stanley Ford Fusion and Martin Truex Jr.’s No. 56 NAPA AUTO PARTS car who will swap pink paint at the Price Chopper 400 in Kansas City, Kan. on Oct. 3. Funny cars go pink too at the 2010 Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals in Redding, Pa. with the No. 28 NAPA Dodge Charger. Dollar General races another pink car, Reed Sorenson’s No. 32, at the Dollar General 300 in Charlotte, N.C. on Oct. 15. To close out the month of pink power racing, NAPA will again run a pink signature car on Nov. 7 at the AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway.
The sponsors and their drivers are bringing the message of breast health awareness to fans and spectators through pink paint schemes, fire suits and pit crews in support of their existing partnerships with Komen for the Cure, the world’s largest breast cancer organization.
“Breast cancer is the number one health concern for women and women make up about 40 percent of NASCAR fans. It makes a lot of sense for us to pursue this kind of initiative through our great partners,” said Katrina McGhee, executive vice president and chief marketing officer for Susan G. Komen for the Cure. “We are committed to seeing a world without breast cancer and work to educate women everywhere about the importance of breast self-awareness and the early detection of breast cancer. Our sponsors are helping to make this possible with their show of support this month.”
In their three years of partnership with Komen, Stanley’s commitment to the cause tops $250,000. Fans will have the opportunity to bid on one-of-a-kind items worn by Richard Petty and Elliott Sadler during the Kansas race weekend. The items available will include a custom Charlie 1 Horse cowboy hat made exclusively for Richard Petty and signed by The King himself. Elliott Sadler fans will have the chance to bid on his Kansas race used uniform, including Sadler's pink Stanley/Susan G. Komen for the Cure fire suit. Fans can visit www.nascar.com Oct. 1 – Nov. 8, 2010 to bid on the items with all proceeds benefitting Komen for the Cure or join Stanley in their support of Komen by visiting www.stanleymotorsports.com.
“I’m really excited about our Susan G. Komen for the Cure paint scheme,” said Elliott Sadler driver of the #19 Stanley Ford Fusion for Richard Petty Motorsports in the NASCAR Spring Cup Series. “My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007, so this is a cause that is very near and dear to my heart. You very rarely meet a person who hasn’t been affected in some way, shape or form by cancer and I’m proud to be wearing pink and driving the pink Stanley/Susan G. Komen for the Cure Ford Fusion this weekend in support of that organization.”
“We are honored to support Susan G. Komen for the Cure for this weekend,” said NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty, owner of Richard Petty Motorsports. “This paint scheme is just one small way our organization can help draw attention to the cause and hopefully encourage the fans to not only educate themselves, but to support Komen for the Cure.”
NAPA, also a three year partner with Komen for the Cure, has contributed $600,000 to Komen since 2008. Fans who log on and make a donation to Komen on NAPA’s Know How Facebook page can put theirs or a loved one’s name on Truex’s pink signature car that will race on Nov. 7.
“I am really looking forward to seeing all the names on that car and it’s incredibly humbling to know that I will be carrying the names of people who are so special to this fight against breast cancer,” said Martin Truex Jr. “It will mean the world to me to take that car to victory lane at Texas for NAPA, Susan G. Komen for the Cure and all the people who wanted to be a part of this special program. I will do my best to make it happen.”
Dollar General has given $50,000 to the cause in their two years as a Komen partner.
Komen, their generous corporate partners and participating drivers are asking all fans – at home and at tracks around the country – to wear pink this fall in support of a world without breast cancer.
