More than 100 breast cancer survivors and supporters joined Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina and Charlotte Motor Speedway on Tuesday to paint more than 1,300 feet of the iconic pit road wall pink, kicking off National Breast Cancer Awareness Month ahead of the NASCAR Chase weekend.
The 14th annual Paint Pit Wall Pink celebration has become one of Charlotte’s most powerful race-week traditions, setting the stage for Saturday’s Blue Cross NC 300 and Sunday’s Bank of America 400, which returns to the oval for the first time since 2017.
Drivers lend a hand
Among those on hand were NASCAR Cup Series drivers Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Ryan Preece, Todd Gilliland, Cole Custer and Cody Ware. O’Reilly Auto Parts Series drivers Lavar Scott and Brad Perez also took part, along with Truck Series driver Daniel Hemric.
A personal fight
The day carried special meaning for Charlotte Motor Speedway Executive Vice President and General Manager Jessica Fickenscher, who revealed she was diagnosed with breast cancer one year ago.
“Standing here today is incredibly emotional for me, because exactly one year ago, my life looked very different,” Fickenscher said. “I had just heard the words no woman ever expects to hear: ‘You have breast cancer. Everything suddenly felt uncertain. And then I walked into this event, Paint Pit Wall Pink. I remember seeing all the pink. But more importantly, I saw the women. I saw survivors. I saw women laughing, hugging, living their lives, and standing on the other side of something that I had just been told I was going to have to face. And I remember thinking, ‘Okay. I can do this. I’m going to be okay.’”
More than paint
Beyond the pink pit wall that will remain throughout the weekend, participants heard stories from survivors, took part in a survivors’ parade lap around the frontstretch and packed more than 250 care packages for those currently fighting. The packages will be distributed through Atrium Health’s Project Pink and Nothing Pink, two local programs supporting those facing breast cancer.
“Paint Pit Wall Pink is a chance for us to shine a light on the resilient individuals impacted by breast cancer,” said Cheryl Parquet, associate vice president of community engagement at Blue Cross NC. “As we gather during Breast Cancer Awareness Month and honor those at every stage of their journey, we’re reminded of the power of community and the difference it makes when we come together to support one another.”