Kelly Sutton
Encyclopedia
Kelly Renae "Girl" Sutton (born September 24, 1971) is a NASCAR
Camping World Truck Series driver, who is currently a free agent. She has run the most races by a female in Craftsman Truck series history and drove the #02 Chevrolet Silverado
owned by her father, Ed Sutton. She is the only racer, male or female, known to race with multiple sclerosis
.
at the age of twenty-five, she resumed racing in 1992 at Old Dominion Speedway
, driving in the Pro Mini Stock Series. During her first year of competition, Sutton won the Hard Charger and Sportsmanship awards. During her three years competing in the series, she won seven feature races and won the Most Popular Driver award all three years.
In 2000, she advanced to the NASCAR Dash Series
, where she competed in two races and had a sixteenth-place finish. She posted her first top-ten in the division the following year, before competing full-time in 2002, winning the Most Popular Driver award and finishing third in rookie standings.
Camping World Truck Series debut in 2003 at Memphis Motorsports Park
, where she started 34th and finished 27th after suffering early transmission
failure. She ran three more races that year, her best finish being a 19th at the season-ending Ford 200
. She made her first full-time bid for the championship in 2004, with sponsorship from Copaxone. She finished seventh for NASCAR Rookie of the Year
honors and 26th in championship points, her best points finish to date. Her best finish that season came at Mansfield Motorsports Speedway
, where she finished 20th. She returned in 2005, posting a career-best fifteenth-place run at the Quaker Steak and Lube 200
, despite dropping to 29th in points.
In 2006, she competed in twelve races, missing two races due to injury. Her best finish was a nineteenth at Gateway International Raceway
.
For 2007, she drove three races in the #51 truck for Billy Ballew Motorsports. In June 2007, Sutton finished 20th at the Toyota Tundra Milwaukee 200
, her last race to date.
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Camping World Truck Series driver, who is currently a free agent. She has run the most races by a female in Craftsman Truck series history and drove the #02 Chevrolet Silverado
Chevrolet Silverado
The Chevrolet Silverado , is the latest line of full-size pickup trucks from General Motors.-History:...
owned by her father, Ed Sutton. She is the only racer, male or female, known to race with multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory disease in which the fatty myelin sheaths around the axons of the brain and spinal cord are damaged, leading to demyelination and scarring as well as a broad spectrum of signs and symptoms...
.
Beginnings
Sutton began racing at the age of 10 before her career was halted due to her diagnosis of MS at the age of sixteen. Despite needing a wheelchairWheelchair
A wheelchair is a chair with wheels, designed to be a replacement for walking. The device comes in variations where it is propelled by motors or by the seated occupant turning the rear wheels by hand. Often there are handles behind the seat for someone else to do the pushing...
at the age of twenty-five, she resumed racing in 1992 at Old Dominion Speedway
Old Dominion Speedway
Old Dominion Speedway is a 3/8 mile NASCAR Whelen All-American Series and drag racing track in Prince William County, just south of Manassas, Virginia . The Potomac News reported in August 2006 that the track had been sold and that it would be leveled by developers in around a year...
, driving in the Pro Mini Stock Series. During her first year of competition, Sutton won the Hard Charger and Sportsmanship awards. During her three years competing in the series, she won seven feature races and won the Most Popular Driver award all three years.
Return to racing
Sutton would not race again until 1997 in the Allison Pennsylvania Legacy Series. She won two feature races and the Most Popular Driver Award. The next year, she competed in the Parts Pro Truck Series, where she won one qualifying race and the Oral B Close Brush Award.In 2000, she advanced to the NASCAR Dash Series
NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Southeast Series
The NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Southeast Series was a NASCAR-sanctioned amateur/semi-pro racing series based in the Southeastern United States. The series was formerly known as the Slim Jim All Pro Series. The drivers who have graduated from this series include Shawna Robinson, Rick Crawford,...
, where she competed in two races and had a sixteenth-place finish. She posted her first top-ten in the division the following year, before competing full-time in 2002, winning the Most Popular Driver award and finishing third in rookie standings.
Craftsman Truck Series
Sutton made her NASCARNASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Camping World Truck Series debut in 2003 at Memphis Motorsports Park
Memphis Motorsports Park
Memphis International Raceway is an auto racing park located across the Loosahatchie River from Memphis, Tennessee, approximately ten miles south of Millington, Tennessee. The facility opened in 1987 with a drag strip and 1.8-mile road course...
, where she started 34th and finished 27th after suffering early transmission
Transmission (mechanics)
A machine consists of a power source and a power transmission system, which provides controlled application of the power. Merriam-Webster defines transmission as: an assembly of parts including the speed-changing gears and the propeller shaft by which the power is transmitted from an engine to a...
failure. She ran three more races that year, her best finish being a 19th at the season-ending Ford 200
Ford 200
The Ford 200 is a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race that takes place at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The races of 1996-2001 were scheduled 250 miles.It has served as the final event of the season for the Truck Series since 2002.-Past winners:...
. She made her first full-time bid for the championship in 2004, with sponsorship from Copaxone. She finished seventh for NASCAR Rookie of the Year
NASCAR Rookie of the Year
The NASCAR Rookie of the Year Award is presented to the first-year driver that has the best season in a NASCAR season. Each of NASCAR's national and regional touring series selects a RotY winner each year....
honors and 26th in championship points, her best points finish to date. Her best finish that season came at Mansfield Motorsports Speedway
Mansfield Motorsports Speedway
Mansfield Motorsports Park is a half-mile oval racetrack located in Mansfield, Ohio, United States. Featuring moderately high banks and a wide racing surface, it is suitable for close racing and passing. The track hosts an ARCA RE/MAX Series race in 2009...
, where she finished 20th. She returned in 2005, posting a career-best fifteenth-place run at the Quaker Steak and Lube 200
Quaker Steak and Lube 200
The North Carolina Education Lottery 200 is a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race held in mid-May at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina. The race is currently held as a companion event to the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race in late May....
, despite dropping to 29th in points.
In 2006, she competed in twelve races, missing two races due to injury. Her best finish was a nineteenth at Gateway International Raceway
Gateway International Raceway
Gateway Motorsports Park is a race track in Madison, Illinois, USA, just east of St. Louis, Missouri. After being shuttered by former owner Dover Motorsports Inc., on Nov. 3, 2010, it was announced Sept. 8, 2011, that the facility would re-open and host an NHRA Full Throttle Series event Oct. 5-7,...
.
For 2007, she drove three races in the #51 truck for Billy Ballew Motorsports. In June 2007, Sutton finished 20th at the Toyota Tundra Milwaukee 200
Toyota Tundra Milwaukee 200
The Copart 200 is a race in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series which takes place at The Milwaukee Mile.-Race results:...
, her last race to date.