TALLADEGA, Ala. - Elliott Sadler's life changed forever the moment he learned his mother had breast cancer. Now, Sadler and some of his fellow NASCAR drivers are in a race to change more lives for the better.
The NASCAR Foundation is "going pink" at Talladega this weekend in a joint partnership with FOX Sports Supports and Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Nancy Brinker, the founder of the breast cancer research charity, will be serving as honorary Race Director for the Aaron's 499 Sprint Cup race.
The weekend will have special meaning for Sadler.
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Watch and learn: Find out more about Susan G. Komen for the Cure during racing from Talladega this Sunday. The NASCAR on FOX prerace show begins at 1 p.m. ET and the green flag waves at 2:19 p.m. ET.
A typically happy-go-lucky driver, Sadler has always supported charitable causes. But he knew very little about breast cancer before his own mother was diagnosed in 2007. The impact on Sadler and his family was immediate.
"Momma Bell" has always been the rock of the Sadler household. She supported Elliott, now 33, and his two older siblings, Hermie and Missi, in everything they did, driving the boys to ball practice, packing supper for the Sadler brood's travels to races at local short tracks and much more.
As an adult, Sadler moved from his hometown of Emporia, Va., to Charlotte, N.C., where he now lives with his wife, Amanda. Despite the distance, he remains close to his mother, spending as much time with her as possible.
And when Momma Bell was diagnosed, it became so much more important for Elliott and his whole family to come together to support her in the same way she always looked after them.
Elliott reached out to Rick Hendrick, owner of rival NASCAR team Hendrick Motorsports and a leukemia survivor, who had access to the best oncology specialists in the country. Not long after, representatives from Susan G. Komen for the Cure contacted Sadler, who found the foundation's resources and help invaluable.
"Susan G. Komen for the Cure was very quick to reach out to my family after they heard of my mom's condition," Sadler said. "They came in and told her what to expect, told her how her body may react and helped her mentally prepare for the battle. They spent an hour or so in my bus at a race one weekend.
"They answered questions and gave support that we, as a family, couldn't give. There were so many questions that we didn't know the answers to. But they did. They helped my mom prepare to battle breast cancer, and so far she's winning the battle."
Susan G. Komen for the Cure was founded by Nancy Brinker in 1982 to honor her sister, Susan G. Komen, who lost a battle against breast cancer at age 36. Since its founding, the charity has raised more than $1 billion for research and education.
Sadler was more than impressed, he was touched, and he wanted to share his experience with others. So during breast cancer awareness month last October, Sadler did his best to give back to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, which already had given so much to him and his family.
Momma Bell's battle with breast cancer helped Elliott Sadler understand the disease and led him to "go pink." (CIA Stock Photography / Special to FOXSports.com)
With assistance from his sponsor, Stanley, Sadler ran a pink paint scheme at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Afterward, he auctioned his pink wheels, race-worn pink firesuit, helmet, cap and Puma driving shoes on the Sadler Foundation Web site, then donating $10,000 to Susan G. Komen for the Cure in support of breast cancer research, a cause that had become so personal and close to his heart.
This season, Sadler also took time to tape a public service announcement alongside NASCAR on FOX's Darrell Waltrip and fellow competitors Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Kevin Harvick.
Although Sadler's mother remains his primary focus, he recognized early on that breast cancer had a much farther reach, beyond even the women in his family, including his older sister or four young nieces. He knew his mission was just beginning.
"I've learned over the last couple of years that various forms of cancer seems to touch everyone's life in some way, shape or form," Sadler said. At the Lowe's event, a representative from the Susan G. Komen Foundation asked the crowd several questions to determine if they had family or friends who had been diagnosed with cancer. "Three questions later, everyone in the tent was standing," Sadler said. "Everyone knows someone close to them that's had to battle cancer."
Sadler was so touched and affected by his experience that he told everyone he knew, even recruiting his new Richard Petty Motorsports teammates Reed Sorenson and AJ Allmendinger to participate in the cause.
For Sorenson, 23, the charity was a logical choice: Three of Sorenson's five maternal great aunts had battled breast cancer, and his maternal grandfather died from the disease.
"Cancer is one of those things that doesn't discriminate — it can happen to anyone at any time," Sorenson said. "It's a scary disease that at some point in your life will hit close to home. In my case, I've had several relatives battle cancer.
"Susan G. Komen for the Cure is out there educating and helping people that are in some way dealing with cancer. They help raise money for research and bring awareness to the cause. I know that Elliott has been really involved over the last couple of years since his mother was diagnosed.
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"Thankfully, it sounds like his mother is doing well now, but I can't imagine what it would be like to have my mom affected by breast cancer. My mom has always played such a big part in my life that I think it'd be extremely difficult to have to go through something like that. So that is kind of my motivation to start to get more involved."
Allmendinger's awareness of breast cancer grew through the experiences of his friend, Tara Ragan, who oversees his company Walldinger Racing. He believes that contributing to The Cure will benefit the women he cares about now and in the future — which is why he's personally donating $5,000 to Susan G. Komen for the Cure this weekend on behalf of the women at Walldinger Racing.
"My business manager's mother battled breast cancer, and I know that it's a cause that's important to the women in my life," Allmendinger said. "They are all important to me, and want to make sure that I support them any way that I can.
"I surround myself with a lot of really strong women. My mom (Karen) means the world to me. She has been there pushing me and helping me every step along the way to get to where I am now. My wife is very influential in my life and is my best friend in the world. And my business manager that runs Walldinger Racing is a huge part of my life. I rely on all of the women in my life to keep me going and headed in the right direction.
"So I want to support a cause that could protect them if something were to happen. I don't know what I would do without any of them. Susan G. Komen for the Cure is out there helping to make life better for those affected and researching ways to cure the disease. That's something that's important to me."
As Elliott Sadler works to raise awareness of both breast cancer and Susan G. Komen for the Cure, his own family's battle continues. Bell Sadler is currently in remission, but the Sadler family knows they will be able to turn to the charity and the open arms and hearts of the foundation when they have questions, and they're glad to support a resource that assists others in their time of need. So a "go pink" NASCAR day at Talladega is something Elliott Sadler can really get behind.
"'Momma Bell' is what everyone calls my mom," Sadler said. "I think that says a lot about how special she is to people that have gotten to know her. I can't thank Susan G. Komen for the Cure enough for their help and support. They are a fabulous support tool, and I can honestly say I don't know what we would have done without them.
"I don't take time with her or any of my family members for granted. I get back to Emporia, Va., as much as my schedule allows. My mom is the strongest person in our family. She probably managed the battle with cancer better than I did — from the outside looking in. She's an amazing person and has been the glue to our family my entire life."
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