Top Fuel points leader Brown tickled pink to drive Matco’s ‘Tools for the Cause’ dragster to deliver message, raise funds

September 28

ST. LOUIS (Sept. 27, 2012) – Breast cancer has touched everyone, and Don Schumacher Racing can be counted on that list.
Linda Matranga, the mother-in-law of DSR’s NHRA Top Fuel points-leading driver Antron Brown of the Matco Tools team, is a breast cancer survivor.
So is Ellen Tobler, wife of DSR’s NHRA Funny Car points leading crew chief Rahn Tobler.
Those close connections to the disease will put added luster on DSR’s special-edition pink Matco Tools dragster in which Brown will drive wearing a pink firesuit and helmet in October at two NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series events to help promote Matco’s Tools for the Cause campaign to benefit the Susan G. Komen for the Cure organization.
“Wearing my pink suit and driving that pink dragster will be just like flying Matco’s red, white and blue colors. It’s great to be part of Matco and be able to help others, Brown said.
“That’s God’s way and the American way.”
Starting on Oct. 1 when Breast Cancer Awareness month begins, Matco will donate 15 percent of the sale for each product purchased from a list of selected items with a guaranteed minimum donation of $100,000 to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure® organization.
Brown’s unique firesuit, helmet and the race team’s pink crew shirts will be on eBay.com in November with all proceeds going to Susan G. Komen for the Cure®.
Matranga, whose daughter Billie Jo has been married to Brown for 12 years, had a routine mammogram in December 2007. A biopsy revealed a cancerous tumor that led to major surgery five months later followed by seven months of chemotherapy.
“The road to recovery is long, but I made it through. I’m a survivor,” said Matranga, who lives in Gheens, La.
It was tough for her,” Brown said, “and we weren’t able to be down there in Louisiana to help her. You just have to pray and leave it in God’s hands. I can’t even fathom what it’s like for any woman to go through that kind of ordeal.”
But the popular racer and fan favorite is proud to being helping Matco’s Tools for the Cause.
“We always want to be there any time you can help with research to help doctors get smarter to help women like my mother-in-law and others in my family who have gone through the same thing.
“It’s a true blessing and honor to be part of this and very special for me to see a corporation like Matco get behind it and to give back to such a great cause that could affect millions of people’s lives.”
The Matco Tools family is full of strong women – distributors, technicians, employees, and wives – and many are battling or have survived breast cancer. In honor of these women, Matco Tools has launched its Tools for the Cause campaign to raise money and support for Susan G. Komen for the Cure®.
According to Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, in 2012, it is estimated that among U.S. women there will be 226,870 new cases of invasive breast cancer, and 39,510 women will lose the fight. Susan G. Komen for the Cure® is the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world, and has invested more than $2 billion in fulfilling its promise to end breast cancer forever. Matco’s Tools for the Cause campaign will provide additional funds towards the search for finding the cures.
The pink Tools for the Cause/Matco Tools dragster will be unveiled Oct. 5 at the NHRA Full Throttle event near Philadelphia at Maple Grove Raceway at Reading, Pa., and race at the last three events of the season.
“Matco Tools has many personal ties to breast cancer at every level of the organization,” said Tim Gilmore, president of Matco Tools. “We are proud that our company can give back and donate profits to such an important organization. Komen is a great partner that’s doing remarkable things in the community to raise awareness, provide treatment and support survivors.”
Dorothy Jones, vice president of marketing for Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, adds, “We are delighted to partner with Matco for this campaign. Employees at Matco know firsthand the effect breast cancer can have on an individual or a family. The Tools for the Cause campaign takes the passion of Matco and its employees, and turns it into a way for people across the country to make an impact in the fight against breast cancer.”
More information on the Tools for the Cause campaign, including a full list of available products, will be on display beginning Friday at ToolsForTheCause.matcotools.com website.
Brown, who has won five NHRA event titles this season, will continue to chase his first NHRA series championship in the Tools for the Cause/Matco Top Fueler during the Oct. 26-28 NHRA Big O Tires Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and the season-finale two weeks later at Pomona, Calif.
About Matco Tools
Matco Tools manufactures, distributes and services premium quality automotive equipment, tools, and tool storage for the professional technician. The company has more than 60 years of national brand experience in the automotive equipment industry and a vast product line of more than 13,000 of the highest quality, innovative tools and accessories. The company’s franchise offering has no initial franchise fee, monthly royalties, or advertising fees. Initial corporate and ongoing local training create and build outstanding value for the franchisee’s business. For more information on Matco Tools products or franchise opportunities, visit www.matcotools.com.
About Susan G. Komen for the Cure®
Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer. Today, Susan G. Komen for the Cure® works to end breast cancer in the U.S. and throughout the world through ground-breaking research, community health outreach, advocacy and programs in more than 50 countries. Visit komen.org. Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.
About Don Schumacher Racing
Don Schumacher Racing, headquartered in Brownsburg, Ind., consists of seven professional NHRA teams: in Top Fuel, the U.S. Army dragster driven by seven-time world champion Tony Schumacher, the FRAM/Prestone dragster of Spencer Massey and the Matco Tools dragster of Antron Brown; and in Funny Car, 2011 NHRA Funny Car champion Matt Hagan in the Aaron’s Dream Machine/Mopar Dodge Charger R/T, Valvoline NextGen Dodge piloted by Jack Beckman, the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge of Ron Capps and the Service Central Dodge of Johnny Gray. DSR has won 193 NHRA national event titles and nine world championships.
Follow Don Schumacher Racing at ShoeRacing.com, on Twitter at @shoeracing and Facebook.com/shoeracing.
- ToolsForTheCause.matcotools.com -