Top Fuel driver "Hot Rod" Fuller nearly lost his mom Cathy to liver disease. Fellow Top Fuel pro David Baca had a big scare when doctors discovered his father-in-law Frank Gau had a faulty artery in his heart. Both are alive today thanks to someone's unselfish decision to become an organ and tissue donor.

Following their hugely successful campaign to raise awareness of organ and tissue donation three races ago in Brainerd, Minn., when they both ran signage on their racecars promoting Donate Life America (www.DonateLife.net), Fuller and Baca were contacted by the Gift of Life Donor Program (www.Donors1.org). The 501c3 non-profit group, a partner of Donate Life America, has been serving needy patients in Eastern Pennsylvania, Southern New Jersey, and Delaware for 32 years.

As quickly as the call for help was made, Fuller and Baca both immediately agreed to help. The main goal of the campaign, just as it was in Brainerd, is to get the thousands of race fans attending this weekend's 22nd annual Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals to at least consider being an organ and tissue donor.

"I think the word's getting out," Fuller said. "Fans have been coming up to me ever since Brainerd saying they filled out a donor card. Last week in Indy I had these two guys tell me they had never really thought about it before but decided after hearing about my mom and David Baca's dad that it was something they wanted to do."

"It's a life-changing event," Baca said, "not only for the recipients, but for the people that sign up to become donors. Everyone I've talked to that signed up since Rod and I started raising awareness for this cause has told me they feel awesome after filling out a donor card. I know it's not for everyone, but when you think about the fact that one donor can help save or enhance the lives of more than 60 people, you realize what a big deal it is to make that call."

Locally, more than 4,500 men, women, and children await life-saving organ transplants within the Gift of Life region that serves the Eastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey and Delaware. Nationally there are more than 92,000 people waiting for an organ transplant and thousands more in need of a tissue transplant.

Throughout the race weekend, fans can visit with representatives of the Gift of Life Donor Program at the Valvoline display on the Manufacturer's Midway at Maple Grove Raceway. Fuller and Baca will be on-hand to sign autographs whenever their schedules permit. Additionally, Fuller's Valvoline dragster and Baca's Mach 1 Air Services rail will carry signage promoting the cause.

"If we can save one life by doing this, then to me it's well worth the effort," Fuller said. "If someone hadn't made the decision to become an organ donor last year, then my mom wouldn't be alive today. It's that simple."