CONCORD, N.C. — It has become a colorful staple on the NASCAR calendar.
On Tuesday, over 50 breast cancer survivors painted the pit wall pink at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
A tradition now 12 years in the making helps celebrate survivors, provides hope for those battling breast cancer and raises awareness of the importance of early detection.
Several NASCAR drivers participated in the event, including Erik Jones, whose mother counts herself as a survivor.
Jones, who unfortunately lost his father to cancer, will drive the Oct. 13 ROVAL 400 with pink window nets, as part of the Window of Hope program. His No. 43 Toyota Camry even got a special paint job for the upcoming playoff race, including ribbons with the names of survivors and others affected by breast cancer that he personally knows.
"I think everyone has a story," Jones said. "One of the reasons we have a pillar of the foundation being early detection is because it affects everybody. I love to hear the stories of the fight and inspiration."
As part of the event, survivor Alexandria Shelton-Brabham unveiled her design on the pace car for the Drive For the Cure 250, the XFinity playoff race on the ROVAL set for Oct. 12.
"When you have time to engage each of the survivors and hear their stories," Charlotte Motor Speedway President/GM Greg Walter said. "The hope, the persistence, the never giving up, those are so inspiring. It puts a story, a face, a heart behind it. That's very impactful."
Contact Nick Carboni at ncarboni@wcnc.com and follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.