- Mary Kulwicki and her 13-year-old daughter, Mary Grace, will make a special visit to the Coca-Cola 600 on May 29 at Charlotte Motor Speedway to celebrate Mary’s overcoming breast cancer and Mary Grace’s overcoming a serious bladder issue, this being their first race at Charlotte Motor Speedway
- Fans who are making their first trip can join in the “First Time Fans” initiative, which grants them a welcome pack, a special Q&A with Ryan Newman on May 21 and numerous other benefits
- Frontstretch tickets for the 57th Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, which include a pre-race Lee Brice concert, start at just two for $99 and are available online at charlottemotorspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-455-FANS (3267)
CONCORD, N.C. (May 11, 2016) – The Kulwicki name will make a triumphant visit to Charlotte Motor Speedway for the 57th running of the historic Coca-Cola 600 on May 29. While Mary Kulwicki is of no relation to 1992 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Alan Kulwicki, Charlotte Motor Speedway was the first place that came to mind when Kulwicki and her 13-year-old daughter, Mary Grace, overcame health issues.
While most 4-year-old girls are playing dress-up or giving their little brother a makeover, Mary Grace found herself tuning in to the NASCAR races on TV. Her love for the sport continued to grow and it became a family tradition to attend a few races each year, including Indy car, dirt-track and NASCAR events. But the tradition was paused when the family from Georgetown, Indiana, encountered a setback.
In 2009, Mary Grace was diagnosed with a rare bladder issue. In 2013, she became only the 10thchild to receive an InterStim implant. The device can best be described as a bladder pacemaker. Doctors were uncertain if she would ever fully recover, but after a two-year battle they were able to remove the device because the neurons in Mary Grace’s brain had retrained to normal.
After Mary Grace’s final surgery, the Kulwicki family was ready resume its racing tradition, but just a few weeks later Mary was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer. Following a six-month battle, she was cancer-free and in remission.
“Once we got all the answers, and I knew I was going to be OK, I said, ‘You know what, I’m pulling you from your last day of school and we’re going to go to Charlotte for the race.’ She was so excited,” Kulwicki said.
“My husband, Bruce, and my son, Gregory, are going to be at the Indy 500 on the same day, but I’ve got my priorities in order.”
The 57th running of the iconic Coca-Cola 600 on May 29 was the race of choice for the Kulwicki ladies’ first “Girls Race Weekend” since the two have been healthy. Their new perspective on life has given them a unique appreciation for the quality mother-daughter time they share through racing.
“I have never been to this race,” Mary Grace said. “It’s exciting to get to go to a new track. Knowing both mom and I are healthy means we can enjoy this race and many more.”
For fans like the Kulwickis, who are enjoying their first Charlotte Motor Speedway event, the speedway’s “First Time Fans” initiative educates fans on what to look for, provides them with a unique welcome pack and allows admission to a special question-and-answer session with NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Ryan Newman on Saturday, May 21 from 2:25-2:40 p.m. on the fan stage, located in the fan zone at Charlotte Motor Speedway. First-time fans can also tweet using the hashtag #FTF16 to join in the fun throughout the 10 Days of NASCAR Thunder.
TICKETS:
Fans can catch the patriotic Salute to the Troops, plus all the thrilling action of LiftMaster Pole Night(May 26), the Hisense 300 (May 28), an awe-inspiring pre-race concert featuring Lee Brice and the historic 57th running of the Coca-Cola 600 on May 29 with weekend packages starting at just $99. Visit Charlotte Motor Speedway’s website or call 1-800-455-FANS (3267) to purchase tickets.
KEEP TRACK:
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