Salt Lake City, Oct. — Joe Hopper is a winner. He just won the Wally- the most coveted trophy for professional drag racing from the National Hot Rod Association. He is the fastest drag racer in Utah, finishing a quarter mile track in 9.33 seconds at a top speed of 140 mph.

But Joe is also racing for a worthy cause. His 1967 Chevelle Super Sport with a 498 cubic inch engine and 900 horse power proudly displays “Donate Life” symbols and he openly promotes organ donation.

“You can’t win a race if a piston is out of whack, just like you can’t function if your heart isn’t pumping right,” Joe quips. “People, like cars, need all their parts to work right. That’s why organ donation and fast cars go well together.”

And he’s reaching the right audience too.

“Our research shows that young males are a challenge to get signed up on the Utah Donor Registry,” said Alex McDonald, director of public education/public relations for Intermountain Donor Services. “When they see that a star like Joe is talking about organ donation, then they think about signing up and saving lives.”