There will be plenty of pink in the SCAG Racing pits at St. Louis, but calling it a paint-scheme weekend would miss the point by a mile.
When SCAG’s cars roll to the starting line at World Wide Technology Raceway, they’ll carry a message for people who know breast cancer as something considerably more serious than an October awareness campaign.
SCAG Racing will debut special breast cancer awareness liveries across its NHRA teams for the NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals, Oct. 2-4. Fans and guests affected by breast cancer also will be invited to sign the race cars during the final four events of the season, turning the cars into rolling tributes to survivors, those still fighting and families touched by the disease.
The program extends beyond the racetrack through SCAG Power Equipment’s new “Warrior” series, which gives several of the company’s mowers a pink treatment. SCAG will donate $250 from every eligible Warrior mower sold to breast cancer awareness, research and innovative treatments.
For Funny Car driver Dave Richards, the connection doesn’t require much explanation. His mother is a breast cancer survivor.
“This one means a little more to me personally because my mom is a breast cancer survivor,” Richards said. “I’ve seen firsthand what that fight looks like and how much strength it takes, so I’m really proud to represent the Warrior program and everyone who has been affected by breast cancer. The pink car looks awesome, but what it stands for is obviously much bigger than racing. Hopefully we can have a great weekend in St. Louis and do something special with it on Sunday.”
There is business to handle on the racetrack, too, and SCAG’s teams arrive in St. Louis with plenty of it.
Will Smith comes into the Midwest Nationals off the best outing of his Top Fuel career. Smith reached the semifinals at Rockingham Dragway for the first time, giving the rookie and his Bluebird Turf team something tangible to build on.
Daniel Wilkerson doesn’t need directions around this part of the country. The Illinois native expects family, friends and plenty of his Wilk’s Warriors supporters in the grandstands as his SCAG Power Equipment Ford Funny Car carries the pink livery for the first time.
Justin Ashley’s situation carries a little more urgency.
St. Louis is the third stop in the six-race Countdown to the Championship, meaning the playoff has reached the point where opportunities disappear quickly. Ashley and the SCAG Power Equipment Top Fuel team are looking to turn recent progress into the kind of Sunday that can change the complexion of a championship chase.
“Our SCAG Power Equipment team is very much looking forward to St. Louis,” Ashley said. “It’s important for us to finish the first half of the Countdown to the Championship strong. One good race during this time of the year can make a significant difference. I’m confident we can make that happen if we stay focused on our process.”
For all four SCAG Racing teams, however, the pink cars will carry something beyond elapsed times, qualifying positions and championship points.
By Sunday, some of those bodies could be covered with signatures carrying stories nobody in the staging lanes can see.
Wilkerson understands exactly why they’re there.
“We all have a close friend or family member who has been touched by breast cancer, and all of SCAG Racing is proud to show support by inviting those affected to come sign our car at the last few races of the year,” Wilkerson said. “Can’t wait to see everybody out there!”
