Kelly "Girl" Sutton Races and Speaks Out About MS
 

Female Driver Returns to Memphis for NCTS Racing and More

MEMPHIS (June 9, 2004) - Memphis is known as the Home of the Blues and the Birthplace of Rock 'n Roll, and boasts some of the best BBQ and friendliest people in the country. However, for Kelly "Girl" Sutton, Memphis is all about returning to the site of her first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race. Sutton made NASCAR history in 2003 by becoming the first person with a known diagnosis of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) to race in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. She hopes to improve upon last year's 27th place finish.

Sutton made the field in her first ever attempt, but was forced to retire on lap 125 with mechanical problems as a result of an earlier spin. Sutton is determined to take the checkered flag at the O'Reilly 200 Saturday, June 19, and finish where she left off last year. Her memory of the ¾-mile track may be a little bittersweet, but Sutton is hungry for a strong finish.

"The race last year in Memphis was our first race in the series, and we felt so blessed to qualify and compete," recalled Sutton. "This year, we have more races under our belt, a strong crew, and are looking for a solid run."

For Sutton, the visit to Memphis Motorsports Park means more than bettering last year's finish. While in town, Sutton will speak to those who are living with MS or have been touched by the neurological disease which affects approximately 400,000 Americans. Her message is of hope, of courage, of dreaming big, and never giving up.

"Racing is in my blood, it's who I am, and I refuse to let a diagnosis of MS take that from me," said Sutton. "My MS has been in remission for five years with COPAXONE® (glatiramer acetate injection), and I know it is working for me. I have set my eyes on the finish line, and I'm not stopping until I get there."

Staying on Track With MS
Kelly Sutton is no stranger to the NCTS. Runs at Memphis, Loudon, and Phoenix during the 2003 season helped her learn to corral the stronger, 750 horsepower engine of the new truck. She recorded her first top 20 in only her third NCTS start, with an impressive 19th place finish in the season finale at Homestead. Along with her entry into the NCTS, Sutton put together a string of impressive finishes in the NASCAR Goody's Dash Series, which included three consecutive top-10 finishes in June and July. She climbed as high as sixth in championship points and finished the season eighth in the overall point standings, in only her second full season. Racing seemed to be Sutton's destiny, but nothing could prepare her for her sudden turn of fate.

Sutton, a third generation driver, began riding motorcycles when she was just

10 years old. At the age of 12, she graduated to go-carts. By the time she was 15, Sutton was ready to make her mark in local racing - until overwhelming fatigue and a tingling sensation on her right side brought her into the garage for a check-up. After testing from her neurologist, Sutton, 16, was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

"I was devastated," said Sutton. "I was 16 years old, and all I wanted to do was race. At that age, you don't expect something like MS to become a factor in your life."

Although Sutton spent some time in a wheelchair, she was determined to learn how to manage her disease and pursue her dream of racing. While individual results may vary, she found herself back in the driver's seat through a disciplined exercise regimen, a conscientious diet, and a daily injection of drug therapy.

An Inspiration to Many
Visiting cities on the NCTS schedule allows Sutton to share her personal story with the MS community, inspire audiences, and be inspired by them. Her determination and unique story continue to resonate with fans and offer hope to those touched by MS. Her courage and resolve earned Sutton a treasured 2004 Gene Autry Courage Award from Angels Care and the Tempe Sports Authority in March, and the distinguished 2003 Wilma Rudolph Courage Award, presented by the Women's Sports Foundation. This prestigious award is given annually to a female athlete who exhibits extraordinary courage in her athletic performance, demonstrates the ability to overcome adversity, and makes significant contributions to her sport, with previous recipients including such notables as Martina Navratilova and Gail Devers.

Team COPAXONE® (glatiramer acetate injection)
Sutton is not alone in her fight against MS and misconceptions surrounding the abilities of people with MS. She is part of Team COPAXONE®, a group of remarkable people, all living with MS, who refuse to sit on the sidelines and allow the disease to take over. Team COPAXONE® celebrates the accomplishments of people, like Sutton, who won't let MS stand in the way of their goals. Its members are all working to change society's perception of the abilities of those living with MS.

"Modern medicine offers those of us with MS a lot of hope," she says. "This diagnosis does not mean you have to give up your dreams. I'm living proof that if you do everything in your power to help yourself, no dream is out of reach, whatever your dream may be!"

For more information on Kelly Sutton and her racing career, visit her Web site at www.kellygirlsutton.com, or for more information on the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, visit www.nascar.com/series/truck.

Call 1-800-887-8100 or log onto www.copaxone.com