Mon, 20 Dec 2010, 07:08 PM 'Full Throttle Drag Racing Wives' Calendar to Help Fund Melanoma Research

Courtesy of Joe Sherk

Unable to prevent the loss of a childhood friend to melanoma last August, Andrea Pedregon instead is beginning a fight against the deadly skin cancer in unique fashion.

The wife of Tony Pedregon, two-time NHRA Funny Car champion, Andrea called upon 11 more drag racers' wives - and one husband - to assist in the production of a full-color NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Housewives calendar that will support melanoma research.

"In researching melanoma, I found out a lot of people don't know how serious it is," she said. "My friend Angi Austin was just 42 when she died.

"We want to raise funds for melanoma research and raise awareness of this terrible disease. We want everyone to know skin cancer is curable. The longer you wait, however, the worse it gets."

Pedregon said the calendar idea came from the popularity of housewives-themed television programs.

"We had a good time with it. We took glamour shots of the wives, and there are pictures of the drivers with their wives."

The other wives featured include:
Ali Dixon (wife of three-time Top Fuel champion Larry Dixon), Kim Anderson (wife of four-time Pro Stock champion Greg Anderson; Shelley Capps (wife of Funny Car driver Ron Capps), Billie Brown (wife of Top Fuel driver Antron Brown), Tracey Bernstein (wife of Top Fuel driver Brandon Bernstein), Pam Johnson (wife of Pro Stock driver Allen Johnson), Samantha Kenny (fiancee of five-time Pro Stock champion Jeg Coughlin Jr.), Connie Worsham (wife of Funny Car/Top Fuel driver Del Worsham), Annemarie Krawiec (wife of 2008 Pro Stock Motorcycle champion Eddie Krawiec), Cindy Line (wife of 2006 Pro Stock champion Jason Line), and Adria Hight (wife of 2009 Funny Car champion Robert Hight.

"We did add a bonus 13th month," Pedregon pointed out. "It features Danny Hood, the husband of Funny Car driver Ashley Force Hood."

The calendars are available until Jan. 15 or until they are sold out. A limited number of calendars were produced. They are priced at $20 each. To place an order, go to www.pedregonracing.com.