Charlotte Motor Speedway Executive Vice President and General Manager Jessica Fickenscher shares her personal experience with a breast cancer diagnosis as the venue prepares to host the 14th annual Paint Pit Wall Pink event ahead of the upcoming NASCAR race weekend.
Drivers and Survivors Paint Charlotte Pit Road Pink
More than 100 breast cancer survivors and supporters gathered at Charlotte Motor Speedway alongside NASCAR drivers to paint the iconic 1,300-foot pit road wall pink. The annual tradition kicks off National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and sets the stage for a race weekend at America’s Home for Racing. NASCAR Cup Series drivers Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Ryan Preece, Todd Gilliland, Cole Custer, and Cody Ware participated in the event. They were joined by NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series drivers Lavar Scott and Brad Perez, as well as NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series driver Daniel Hemric, according to charlottemotorspeedway.com.
Participants in the race week gathering heard stories from survivors, took part in a survivors’ parade lap around the frontstretch quarter-mile, and packed care packages. Volunteers assembled more than 250 care packages destined for Atrium Health’s Project Pink and Nothing Pink to support local patients undergoing treatment.
Jessica Fickenscher Details Her Breast Cancer Diagnosis
Reflecting on her own experience, Fickenscher recounted receiving her diagnosis exactly one year prior to the event. She stated that walking into the Paint Pit Wall Pink event a year ago and seeing survivors laughing, hugging, and living their lives provided her with essential reassurance that she could get through her own treatment.
“Paint Pit Wall Pink is a chance for us to shine a light on the resilient individuals impacted by breast cancer,” Cheryl Parquet, Associate Vice President of Community Engagement at Blue Cross NC, said in the report. Blue Cross NC has partnered with the speedway for over a decade to use racing as a platform for community outreach, expanding its focus this year to address food insecurity alongside cancer prevention.
Charlotte Motor Speedway Hosts Three Nights of NASCAR Competition
The pink pit road wall remains visible for fans attending the upcoming racing events. The speedway hosts three nights of NASCAR competition:
- Friday, Oct. 9: NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Ecosave 200
- Saturday, Oct. 10: NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Blue Cross NC 300
- Sunday, Oct. 11: NASCAR Cup Series Bank of America 400
Tickets are available by calling the speedway ticket office at 800-455-FANS (3267) or by visiting the official Charlotte Motor Speedway website.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Charlotte Pink Wall Event
Where do the packed care packages go?
The more than 250 care packages assembled during the event are distributed through Atrium Health’s Project Pink and Nothing Pink, which are local programs supporting individuals facing breast cancer battles.
How long is the painted pit road wall?
Volunteers and drivers painted more than 1,300 feet of pit road at Charlotte Motor Speedway, creating a visible sign of support that remains in place throughout the race weekend.
Which racing series are competing during the weekend?
The race weekend features the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Ecosave 200 on Friday, the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Blue Cross NC 300 on Saturday, and the NASCAR Cup Series Bank of America 400 on Sunday.