DENSO Products and Services Americas, Inc., an affiliate of global automotive supplier DENSO Corp., and Matt Smith, three-time winner of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Pro Stock Motorcycle championship, are wrapping Smith’s bike in pink this month to raise awareness about breast cancer. The partners will debut the new wrap Oct. 11-13 at the NTK NHRA Carolina Nationals in Concord, North Carolina.
“I’m really looking forward to this wrap on our DENSO Auto Parts EBR for Breast Cancer Awareness Month,” Smith said. “This cause hits close to home for our team because my longtime racing partner Mark Stockseth’s wife Marshall has battled breast cancer twice. She’s a fighter, and this new design represents and honors her strength.”
Smith’s motorcycle will continue to sport the sleek pink and black wrap throughout the month of October. Other weekend races coinciding with Breast Cancer Awareness Month are the Oct. 17-20 AAA Texas NHRA Fall Nationals and the Oct. 31-Nov. 3 Dodge NHRA Nationals Presented by Pennzoil in Las Vegas.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month is an annual international campaign to educate people about the disease and raise money for research, prevention and treatment leading to a cure. In the U.S. alone, one in eight women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime.
In 2019, nearly 42,000 women are expected to die from breast cancer. Although the disease is far more pervasive among women, approximately 500 men also will die from breast cancer this year.
DENSO is the primary sponsor of Matt Smith and his wife and teammate Angie Smith for the 2019 NHRA Mello Yello season. The upcoming North Carolina contest is the third event in the Countdown to the Championship for the top 10 competitors in each category. Ranked fourth and eighth respectively, both Matt and Angie Smith are among the Pro Stock Motorcycle finalists.
