LVMS goes Pink for the Second Year

#BreastCancerAwarenessMonth | #SouthPoint400 For South Point 400 weekend

 

The classic black and white checkered start/finish-line at Las Vegas Motor Speedway might look a little different this Sunday as it has been painted pink once again in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

 

October is known to be a month with many special holidays, but one particular cause has been highly showcased at LVMS for the past two years. Two years ago, the LVMS playoff date changed from September to October. Since then, Breast Cancer Awareness Month has been a central focal point at LVMS.

 

The start-finish line has sported pink for its fall playoff weekend's Alsco Uniforms 302 and the South Point 400. This year will mark the second year the start-finish line has been painted to support breast cancer awareness. Last year's pink start-finish line was met with overwhelming love from fans and those affected by breast cancer.

 

This year, 30 breast cancer survivors joined NASCAR driver and Las Vegas native Riley Herbst, LVMS President Chris Powell, South Point General Manager Ryan Growney, and other special guests in applying the ceremonial pink paint to the famous start-finish line. PGA player wives, Tawny Putman, the wife of Andrew Putnam; Anne Hickok, the wife of Kramer Hickok; Chelsey Brehm, the wife of Ryan Brehm; and Dani Werbylo, the wife of Trevor Werbylo, also helped paint the line pink. The PGA Tour Wives Association made a stop at LVMS while a few miles west of the track, their husbands were participating in the Shriners Children’s Open at TPC Summerlin.

 

"We are so glad to be able to have this event for a second year. It is really special, and we are honored to have these survivors join us," Powell said. "The event is more than just about painting; it's about togetherness and commemorating the bravery and courage of breast cancer survivors."

 

Each breast cancer survivor was also invited to attend Sunday's South Point 400 as a guest of the speedway.

 

"I'm so grateful that the Speedway is willing to bring awareness to breast cancer by doing this; I think it's wonderful," said Desiree Steward, a breast cancer survivor, who attended the event and took part in the painting along with other members of the breast cancer survivor community.

 

Herbst showed his painting skills on the track Thursday but is also set to showcase his racing skills on Saturday for the Alsco Uniforms 302. Herbst looks to get his first Xfinity Series win at his home track.

 

"It’s my first year getting to do this, and I’m fortunate enough to do it,” Herbst said, “Las Vegas is such a great community filled with really good people, and an event like this shows that.”

 

Photo Gallery

 

Painting the track pink for Breast Cancer Awareness 💓 pic.twitter.com/evxJLRLqBQ

— Las Vegas Motor Speedway (@LVMotorSpeedway) October 12, 2023

 

source: Las Vegas Motor Speedway Media

Jimmie Johnson, DeAngelo Williams and NASCAR Drivers Join Breast Cancer Survivors to Paint Pit Wall Pink

Joined by hundreds of breast cancer survivors, seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson, fellow drivers Chris Buescher and Kaz Grala and legendary Carolina Panthers running back DeAngelo Williams painted Charlotte Motor Speedway's pit wall pink on September 20th. 

The fifth Paint Pit Wall Pink event featured a collection of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina employees helping an all-star cast of dignitaries and breast cancer survivors in adorning the speedway's wall with a bright shade of pink to salute breast cancer awareness.

Speedway Motorsports CEO Marcus Smith and Charlotte Motor Speedway Executive Vice President Greg Walter joined Johnson, Williams, Buescher, Grala in picking up paint rollers and turning the 1,500-foot white pit wall into a pink pit wall. NASCAR on FOX personality Hermie Sadler - whose mother is a breast cancer survivor - emceed the event. 

Sending good vibes. #LiveFearless 🎀 pic.twitter.com/8Z1poTo5Fi

— Hendrick Motorsports (@TeamHendrick) September 20, 2018

Johnson, a longtime Blue Cross and Blue Shield Live Fearless ambassador, said the pit wall pink event hits home to his family as well as to people throughout the world.

"It's great to be a part of such a bigger picture and raising awareness for a great cause," Johnson said. "Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina has had me involved with many different projects, but this one hits deep. To meet survivors and hear their stories really hits me. It's impossible for someone to go through life without knowing someone or a family who has dealt with breast cancer. I've had many friends deal with it and then most recently, one of my wife's childhood friends was diagnosed and she's started treatment.

"It's part of our lives. I'm a father of two daughters and I know that what I learn and experience here helps me have the right lens on how I need to go home and make sure my children understand the important of early screening. It's amazing to see the cause and to see our industry support it."

We are in Victory Lane at @CLTMotorSpdwy where @KazGrala, @BlueCrossNC volunteers and breast cancer survivors are getting ready to paint the pit road wall pink for next week's @XfinityRacing debut on the Roval! pic.twitter.com/9DXnBpAolI

— Fury Race Cars (@FuryRaceCars) September 20, 2018

Williams lost his mother and four aunts to breast cancer. The Pro Bowl running back founded the DeAngelo Williams Foundation in 2006 to support the eradication of breast cancer through research and preventative care.

"This is huge," Williams said. "For them to show the support they have … people around the world who are watching the (races at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL™) will see the pink and ask questions like, 'What's the pink mean?' The number of calls and (direct messages) I've received - just in the NFL alone - I know that this will reach as many people as the NFL reaches. Saving lives is what we're all about. This is bigger than any game or sport that we play."

Attendees listened to a powerful speech from Anita Brown-Graham, a breast cancer survivor, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina trustee as well as the director of ncIMPACT and a professor of Public Law and Government at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

"I've had people come up to me and say 'I'm a 20-year survivor,' 'I'm a 10-year survivor,' 'I'm a five-year survivor,'" Brown-Graham said. "I'm a one-month survivor. That's a gift to me, to be able to look that far into the future. Everybody is coming to Charlotte Motor Speedway with this sense that NASCAR is behind us. You can just feel it, it's electrifying here today."

Johnson presented Brown-Graham with a commemorative pair of pink gloves like the ones the four-time Bank of America fall race winner will wear throughout October. The speedway also unveiled a pink Toyota Camry pace car for the Drive for the Cure 200 presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina on Sept. 29 on the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL™.

Source

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So proud to be a part of this event !! ⁦@CLTMotorSpdwy⁩ ⁦@DeAngeloRB⁩ ⁦@JimmieJohnson⁩ ⁦@MarcusSMI⁩ thanks ⁦@kaitlynvincie⁩ for the picture ! pic.twitter.com/Pj6HbWIAFO

— Hermie Sadler (@HermieSadler) September 20, 2018

So many to honor. So many to remember. This is for you! #PaintPitWall pic.twitter.com/3WL0ZI1l8Q

— Charlotte Motor Speedway (@CLTMotorSpdwy) September 20, 2018

The best part about this day is the smiling faces! #PaintPitWall pic.twitter.com/Qnf5ThmzAv

— Charlotte Motor Speedway (@CLTMotorSpdwy) September 20, 2018

.@HermieSadler helps Dr. Patrick Conway and Anita to unveil the #BlueCrossNC200 Pace Car at #PaintPitWall Pink! pic.twitter.com/P0SXpjsAxh

— Charlotte Motor Speedway (@CLTMotorSpdwy) September 20, 2018

Anita Brown-Graham speaking on her experience of battling cancer.

This lady is the ultimate definition of inspiration! #PaintPitWall pic.twitter.com/Z8kK1xKMSQ

— Charlotte Motor Speedway (@CLTMotorSpdwy) September 20, 2018

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NASCAR AND NHRA STARS TO “PAINT THE TRACK PINK™”

This month, the hottest color in motorsports will be pink when the biggest stars in racing take the track to show their support for those affected by breast cancer.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr “Paint the Track Pink” #17

As part of Lionel Racing’s “Paint the Track Pink” initiative, drivers like Greg Biffle, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Courtney Force and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will drive pink race cars as they battle for the win during breast cancer awareness month. “The color pink is now a universally recognized show of support for breast cancer victims and survivors,” said Howard Hitchcock, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Lionel Racing.

With the most popular drivers in both NASCAR and the NHRA driving ‘Paint the Track Pink’ cars, the entire racing community is going to make a strong statement of on-track support that fans can get behind, as well as raise awareness and funds for an important breast cancer charity, Hitchcock continued.

Not only will the pink cars on track serve as a reminder that there is still work to be done in fighting this disease, a portion of the proceeds from the sale of each “Paint the Track Pink” die-cast will benefit the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF), a Texas-based charity that works to increase awareness through education, provide diagnostic breast care services for those in need, and provide support services. 

We are excited to partner with Lionel Racing, the official die-cast of NASCAR,” said NBCF Senior Vice President of Development, Brent Hail. “This promotion not only educates race fans about the importance of early detection, but the funds raised will help provide mammograms and early detection services for women in need.

Drivers participating in the “Paint the Track Pink” program include:

• Dale Earnhardt Jr. - National Guard Pink in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Martinsville.
• Greg Biffle - 3M Pink in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Martinsville.
• Brittany Force - Castrol Edge Pink at the NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove.
• Courtney Force - Traxxas Pink at the NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove.
• Danica Patrick - GoDaddy Pink in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series beginning at Kansas.
• Regan Smith - Fire Alarm Services Pink in the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Kansas.
• Ricky Stenhouse Jr. - Driven Pink in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race at Martinsville.
• Brad Sweet - Great Clips Pink in the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Kansas.

“Paint the Track Pink” die-cast cars are now available for pre-order through LionelRacing.com, the NASCAR.com Superstore, and authorized die-cast dealers. 

NASCAR AND NHRA STARS TO “PAINT THE TRACK PINK™” FOR BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH