Drag Racing and Mammograms- An Unlikely Combination

Online, September 30, 2013 (Newswire.com) - Alexis DeJoria, driver of the 10,000-horsepower Kalitta Motorsports Tequila Patrón Toyota Camry Funny Car, will compete in two races during the weekend of October 25-27 in Las Vegas- the NHRA Toyota Nationals, and an even harder-fought battle- the race to help defeat breast cancer.

Alexis DeJoria Racing is proud to announce that a partnership with the Nevada Health Centers (NVHC), has enabled them to provide FREE mammograms at the Vegas race to female race fans, when NVHC's 'mammovan,' a mobile mammography unit housed within a semi-truck, will make a stop at their most unique venue yet- the nitro-fuel pits of Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

The mammovan will be located directly behind the Alexis DeJoria Racing pit throughout the duration of the race weekend, and open for screenings at the start of each race day. Any woman over the age of 40- regardless of her health insurance status- is encouraged to stop into the mammovan at any point throughout the weekend and take advantage of the free screenings.

"I'm thrilled that we were able to team up with NVHC and provide this service to our fans. As one of the few females in the auto-racing industry, it's important to me to be a vocal spokesperson for the fight against breast cancer," said DeJoria, whose Tequila Patrón hot rod will be decked out in special pink graphics throughout the month of October- National Breast Cancer Awareness month, beginning with this weekend's race in Reading, Penn. "At any given race, you see just as many female fans as you do males. People don't typically think of auto racing as a sport that attracts a large female audience, but it does, which is why I was so intent on doing something like this."

"Adding pink accents to race cars and selling specialty pink merchandise is great, but we wanted to take it a step further and be an active supporter of the fight against breast cancer. When planning what we were going to do to support National Breast Cancer Awareness month, we decided we wanted to do something that would be a direct benefit to our fans, which is where the idea of 'free mammograms for the fans' came from."

"I encourage any woman attending the race to stop by the mammovan and get screened. According to the Susan G. Komen Foundation, lack of health insurance is one of the main reasons women go without getting a mammogram. This is the perfect opportunity to have this important test performed, regardless of one's insurance or financial situation," said Alexis, who will be getting screened herself during the weekend.

Those wishing to get screened at the race do not need an appointment or a referral. Although health insurance is not a requirement, those who are insured should bring their insurance information to the race. Test results will be sent via mail approximately ten days following the event.

Alexis will debut her pink accented race car this weekend at the 29th Auto-Plus NHRA Nationals in Reading, Penn. this weekend, October 4-6. For more information, please visit contact Allison McCormick, [email protected]

About Alexis DeJoria
Alexis DeJoria, daughter of the famed John Paul DeJoria, co-founder of John Paul Mitchell Systems and proud owner of Tequila Patrόn, is a professional NHRA race car driver, competing in the nitro Funny Car class on the Kalitta Motorsports team. Alexis drives a Tequila Patrόn-sponsored 2013 Toyota Camry. Alexis, who had all the opportunity in the world to pursue any type of career, felt strongly about following her passion, and her need for adrenaline drove her to pursue the unlikely profession of auto-racing. The determination to 'blaze her own trail' continues to drive her and push her to higher levels in male dominated sport of drag racing.

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