THEY’RE PRETTY IN PINK AND THEY KNOW IT

Who would have thought so many men were clamoring to wear pink.

This weekend, at least three Top Fuel dragsters competing at the Auto-Plus NHRA Nationals, will run pink paint schemes in support of Breast Cancer Awareness. In one way or another, the disease has touched the drivers of these race cars.

Dom Lagana joins Antron Brown and Terry McMillen as those drivers racing for the cause.

"Oh man, the NTB/Service Central car looks awesome, and we can't wait for everyone to see it," said Dom. "We're always excited to get out there and race, but this weekend is going to really mean a lot to us. We all believe in this cause. Our mom, Marie Theresa Lagana, passed away December 14, 2000 from Leukemia, and for Paul Richards and his brother Dave, this is a real special deal too because their mom, Peggy, is a two-time breast cancer survivor who has been cancer-free for almost 10 years. To be able to come out there with the support of Service Central and raise awareness like this just gets us that much more pumped up to do well."

Brown, one of seven Don Schumacher Racing drivers, has had the deadly disease affect him personally as well as the DSR family.

Linda Matranga, Brown's mother-in-law, is a breast cancer survivor; as is Ellen Tobler, wife of DSR's NHRA Funny Car points leading crew chief Rahn Tobler.

Those close connections have inspired Brown to embrace wholeheartedly sponsor Matco's Tools' Cause campaign to benefit the Susan G. Komen for the Cure organization.

"Wearing my pink suit and driving that pink dragster will be just like flying Matco's red, white and blue colors. It's great to be part of Matco and be able to help others, Brown said. "That's God's way and the American way."

Starting on October 1, Matco began donating 15 percent of the sale of each product purchased from a list of selected items with a guaranteed minimum donation of $100,000 to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure® organization.

In the end, Brown's unique firesuit, helmet and the race team's pink crew shirts will be on eBay.com in November with all proceeds going to Susan G. Komen for the Cure®.

McMillen is in his second tour of duty with a pink dragster. He's racing to support She4Life, a charity which supports everyday necessities to help families fight the fight in the battle to be cancer survivors.

The men and their dragsters aren't the only pink race cars. Courtney Force will run this scheme in the Funny Car division.“Our whole team is excited about wearing pink again this October,” McMillen said. “In fact we’re real excited about seeing many other teams going pink this season. No other form of motorsports has this much support for Breast Cancer Awareness from multiple teams and we’re proud and honored to be a part of it. I know my guys are glad they’re not the only ones wearing pink in the pits this year.”

Last season, in October, McMillen’s team helped raise nearly $40,000 for their favorite charities. They’re hoping this season will be as successful. For a $50 donation to She4Life friends and fans can place names on McMillen’s dragster to either honor or in memory, of those that are fighting cancer or who have lost their fight.

“Seeing those names on the dragster last season was touching,” McMillen said. “Not only for us, but for all the people that saw their name or the name of a loved one on the car. So, this year we wanted to open it up to everyone by giving them an opportunity to help with a small donation and to see the name of a loved one on the car. We call them cancer survivors. I like to call them cancer warriors. They didn’t just survive this life challenge, they beat it every day like the enemy it is.”

This is why three seemingly tough men feel even tougher wearing pink.

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