CONCORD, N.C. -- If you see Elliott Sadler clinging to his mother a little tighter on pit road Saturday, know there's a good reason. If you see a protective gaze across his face, understand there is purpose.

This time last year, Sadler sat inside his motor home and listened to a group of women explain to his mother the risks and recoveries of breast cancer.

"I remember it like it was yesterday, three or four ladies from the Susan G. Komen foundation sat on my couch and told her about the side effects and what her body was going through," said Sadler, whose mother, Bell Sadler, was diagnosed with breast cancer in June 2007.

The disease is in remission, but since then, life has changed for Sadler and his Virginia family which is steeped in tradition and built on devotion.

"My priorities have changed because life can change so quickly and you can't take it for granted. I probably took it for granted as a teenager and in my young 20s, but as life changes and you start dealing with real-life issues, things that can harm your family, you definitely change how you look at things and the directions you want to go in," Sadler said. "I'm more aware of what is going on with me and my surroundings."

His heightened awareness has motivated Sadler to set an example in the NASCAR garage this weekend at Lowe's Motor Speedway by running a pink paint scheme on his racecar in support of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

"To run that logo on the car means a lot to me. It means more than just pink lettering and stickers, it symbolizes a cause. A cause we are racing for," he added.

Sadler, who always drives with a pink ribbon decal above the door of his No. 19 Gillett Evernham Motorsports Dodge, found support through his sponsor Stanley Tools in order to create the special pink car.

Stanley Tools, which has refused to change the color of its yellow logo for 165 years, is also making a $100,000 donation to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. All of Sadler's uniform items as well as the used wheels on his racecar will be up for auction on his fan Web site.

The No. 18 of Kyle Busch and No. 43 of Bobby Labonte also are running special paint schemes to increase awareness and raise money for breast cancer research. It's an initiative for Saturday's Bank of America 500, "Partners in Pink," forged between General Mills, Mars and Stanley Tools.

"It's cool to be related with sponsors that do more than just throw their paint scheme on the car; their support means a lot to me and my family. It's very important," Sadler said.

Partners in Pink

Of the utmost importance is the well-being of his mother and seeing that she makes a full and permanent recovery.

When Sadler learned of his mother's illness, he looked to NASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick, also a cancer survivor, for guidance.

"I just didn't know where to turn, didn't know what to do with her doctors being in Virginia and I was in Charlotte, [N.C.]," Sadler recalled. "I called Mr. Hendrick and he told me his doctor would call me that night before I went to bed. The doctor called at 10 p.m. and asked if I could bring my mom to see him in the morning and I did."

The help was greatly appreciated and so was the outpouring of support from friends, family and NASCAR fans.

"You don't realize how many people go through it, how many families are affected until you go through it yourself because people came out the woodwork sharing their stories, good and bad," Sadler said. "Everyone you know has someone they know who has been affected by some form of cancer, especially breast cancer."

The chance of a woman developing invasive breast cancer at some point in her life is about 1 in 8. In 2008, approximately 182,000 new cases of breast cancer are expected to be reported in the United States alone, according to Komen officials.

Sadler's mother went through rounds of radiation, chemotherapy and underwent a single mastectomy. Witnessing her endure such strife and come out on top is something Sadler will always admire.

"She's just amazing to be around now but to see my mom lying in bed some times for days at a time were heartbreaking. I felt helpless; there was nothing I could do to make her feel better," Sadler said.

He did, however, move back to his hometown in Virginia from Charlotte, to be closer to his mother about a year ago.

"I want to make sure she doesn't carry too much stress," he said. "She's always done stuff for my fan club. She does my books and looks after our whole family. She's the glue that keeps it all together. She is still feeling some effects of the cancer, but she's definitely in the right direction. She's just amazing."

To learn more about Susan G. Komen for the Cure, click here.

Note: It's estimated that even 1,990 men will also be diagnosed with breast cancer this year.