When she isn't racing with the 35 men of the CORR Modified Dune Buggy class, Morter keeps busy by representing the Dodge teams of the NASCAR Winston Cup Series and Craftsman Truck Series, along with the National Hot Rod Association, World of Outlaws, LeMans and the Neon Celebrity Challenge Series. Other clients include the Indy Racing Northern Lights Series and the new Chicagoland Speedway.
So Morter gets to spend her week, and many weekends, working with the likes of Ray Evernham and Richard Petty while still kicking butt as a top race car driver on our country's off-road tracks.
Comeback KidKelly Sutton Thought Her Dreams Of Racing Were Over When She Discovered She Had Multiple SclerosisOne could say Kelly Sutton has two strikes against her when it comes to being a race car driver. For one, she is a woman competing in a male-dominated sport. Second, Sutton lives with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.
With relapsing-remitting MS, Sutton may suffer a series of attacks followed by complete or partial remission as symptoms mysteriously lessen, only to return later after a period of stability.
To some, no matter what gender, having MS may have stopped them from pursuing their dreams, especially that of being a top race car driver. However, Sutton has overcome both of these obstacles by being the first person known to race in any NASCAR series with a confirmed diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.
As a third-generation racer, Kelly "Girl" Sutton took to the dirt tracks of her hometown Crownsville, Maryland, just as her grandfather and father had done and started racing go-karts at age 12.
It was at age 16, an age when many teenage girls are excited about getting their driver's license and dating, that Sutton's life changed. She started to experience numbness on the right side of her body. The subsequent spinal tap and MRI revealed that she had multiple sclerosis. After taking a break to make sense of what had been handed to her, Sutton found herself behind the wheel of a race car.
When Sutton came back to racing in 1992, she came back with a bang. While racing in the Old Dominion Speedway Pro Mini Stock Series between 1992 and 1994, Sutton captured seven feature wins, 20 qualifiers, five poles and the Most Popular Driver Award all three years.
Unfortunately, the next two years took Sutton away from the track. A severe off-track car accident landed Sutton in the hospital for two weeks where she nursed some broken ribs, a collapsed lung and a dislocated hip and shoulder.
The injuries, plus the aggravation to her MS, caused Sutton to stop racing for a couple of years.
Just as she came back charging in 1992, Sutton started racing again in 1997 with the Allison National Legacy Series and the Allison Legacy Pennsylvania Series and became the first woman to win regionally or nationally. She racked up two feature wins in the Pennsylvania Series, along with three pole wins and a sixth-place overall finish in the final points standings. In 1998 Sutton tried the Parts Pro Truck Series and won one qualifying race.
In the 2000 season, Sutton started to race the NASCAR Goody's Dash Series, driving the Team COPAXONE Pontiac Sunfire. Copaxone is an injection used to treat multiple sclerosis. Sutton and her family started to travel the Goody's Dash circuit, and not only raced, but found a way to inspire fans and others living with MS.
Sutton spends time on and off the track sharing her personal story and spreading the message from Florida to California that anyone can overcome obstacles to achieve their goals. Through many speaking engagements and autograph sessions, Sutton is steadily becoming a fan favorite.
Sutton is one of many with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis who is fulfilling a dream.
"I always though that MS would keep me from racing," Sutton says. "Now it has given me a chance to achieve my dreams and follow my passion. With the support of my family, my crew and my sponsor, we will be able to achieve great things on the track and off."