Before you can “talk the talk” you have to “walk the walk.” And that is exactly what Alexis DeJoria Racing (ADR) is doing in the fight against breast cancer. While other professional sports franchises have their players wear pink uniforms or use pink equipment to raise awareness about breast cancer, Kalitta Motorsports’ ADR team is taking it a step further by offering female race fans a free mammogram in a “mammovan” while attending an NHRA race with the “Free Mammograms for the Fans” program.
Alexis DeJoria (Click to enlarge)
This will mark the third year that three-time Funny Car winner Alexis DeJoria (above) will work with the Nevada Health Centers (NVHC) to offer any female ticketholder over the age of 40 a free mammogram while attending the race, regardless of health insurance status, at the NHRA Toyota Nationals in Las Vegas. In addition, she has partnered with Baylor Health Care Systems (BHCS) for a similar program at the AAA NHRA FallNationals in suburban Dallas.
“With the success of ‘Free Mammograms for the Fans’ the last two years, we decided to expand the program to include the Dallas race, which now falls during National Breast Cancer Awareness month in October,” said DeJoria, an Austin resident who will proudly sport a hot pink Patrόn XO Cafe Incendio Toyota Camry Funny Car throughout October in NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series competition.
The addition of presenting sponsors Patrón Spirits Company and Toyota assisted the program’s growth to Dallas and the Texas Motorplex.
“I really want to thank the Patrón Spirits Company and Toyota for their support, as well as Kalitta Motorsports, everyone who bought items on our eBay fundraising page, purchased our pink Fight Like a Girl bracelets and made donations,” said DeJoria, who has qualified for the NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs. “It all goes toward this very wonderful life-saving cause and we would not be able to provide this service to our fans without their support.”
Both Patrón and Toyota have been long-time sponsors of DeJoria’s Funny Car.
“Toyota is extremely supportive of everything that each of our teams does to help promote Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and we are excited that working extensively with Alexis DeJoria Racing on their ‘Free Mammograms for the Fans’ program has afforded us the opportunity to make an additional impact,” said Ed Laukes, Vice President marketing, performance and guest experience for Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. “If we are able to save the life of so much as one mother, daughter, sister, wife or friend, it will be well worth our additional investment in our partners at DeJoria. It truly is rewarding to be able to assist one of our race teams on a program that is so meaningful to so many people.”
Those wanting to get screened at the race do not need an appointment or referral. Although health insurance is not required, those who are insured should bring their insurance information to the race. Test results will be sent via mail approximately ten days following the event.
Baylor Health Care Systems will be on-site at the Texas Motorplex for the AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals, October 16-17, and Nevada Health Centers will be on-site at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the NHRA Toyota Nationals, October 30-31. Each will have their “mammovans,” mobile mammography units, parked in the nitro pits on Friday and Saturday of the race weekends.
