Trevor Bayne and Charlie Kimball Race With Passion In Spite of Illness
While Trevor Bayne, NASCAR Cup and Nationwide Series driver as well as Daytona 500 winner, and Charlie Kimball, IZOD IndyCar Series driver, may compete in very different worlds, they are indeed united in their passion to race in spite of battling major illness.
Bayne, the 22 year old Roush Fenway Racing driver, was recently diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Charlie Kimball, who drives for Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing, was diagnosed in 2007 with diabetes.
Both share the distinction of being one of the few race car drivers to reach the top levels in their respective series to compete with significant health challenges. Yet both had very similar reactions after their diagnosis, wondering just how this would affect their racing careers.
For Bayne, it took several years of testing after experiencing double vision, nausea and fatigue, before his diagnosis of MS was confirmed. Bayne’s sister also has the disease, however, it was still a most unexpected revelation for the young driver.
“Back in 2011 I started going to Mayo Clinic after I’d been out with double vision,” Bayne said. “It’s kind of relieving to finally have a diagnosis.”
“When you’re 20 you want to think you’re superman and you’re really not and there’s going to be hard times you have to overcome,” Bayne continued. “I hope this won’t slow me down, especially because our job is to go really fast.”
Kimball was diagnosed with diabetes almost six years ago after going to the doctor with a skin rash.
“When I mentioned I had been drinking a lot of water and I jumped on the scales and had lost 25 pounds in just five days, the doctor told me he thought I had diabetes,” Kimball said. “I really didn’t know what it was and my first thought then was wondering if I would ever drive again.”
“I remember the doctor looked me square in the eye and said he didn’t see any reason why not,” Kimball continued. “There are incredible people with diabetes doing amazing things all over the world.”
“I was told I may have to make some adjustments but that it shouldn’t slow me down at all,” Kimball said. “And as a racing driver, not slowing down was something I could really get behind.”
To date, Bayne has not had to make any adjustments for his illness in the race car, including not having to take any medication. He has been advised, however, that he will have to manage fatigue, stress and heat in order to effectively cope with the potentially disabling disease.
Kimball, on the other hand, has to manage a myriad of steps with his diabetes that begins even before he climbs into the cockpit of his race car.
“My diabetes management happens before I get in the car, especially at the race track,” Kimball said. “It comes down to managing hydration, my nutrition and my blood sugar levels as well.”
“For me it’s taking insulin and using my NovoLog Flex Pen so that my blood sugars are where they need to be when I climb into the race car,” Kimball continued. “So, ideally, when I’m in the race car all I have to think about is driving and hopefully winning.”
In spite of having to carefully monitor his blood sugar levels and adjust accordingly, Kimball’s diabetes has never interfered with his performance in the car. In fact, the racer has had a breakout season, with a win in the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio and a podium sweep for team Ganassi at Pocono this past year.
Kimball and his teammates were also the overall Rolex 24 at Daytona winners for Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates in January 2013.
“I’ve never had any issues where my diabetes has affected what I do in the cockpit,” Kimball said. “My IndyCar experience is a little bit different because I wear a glucose monitor so I can keep track of where my blood sugar is during the race.”
“I actually have two drink bottles in the cockpit, one for hydration and one full of orange juice,” Kimball continued. “That way, if my blood sugar is getting low for some reason, I can drink that juice and I don’t have to stop.”
Both drivers have expressed how important it is to not only compete but to also share their stories with others, including their teams, fellow racers and fans. In fact, that passion about helping others realize that they too can succeed in spite of their health challenges has been what has motivated the two drivers most.
“I know there a lot of people out there dealing with these things,” Bayne said. “It’s something I want to be able to share with people.”
“I know people can relate to struggles.”
“I think the biggest message is that you can overcome challenges and still live your dream,” Kimball said. “When I get to meet a newly-diagnosed patient, the biggest thing I try to impart to them is that they can still live their dream, whatever they want to do in life.”
“They may have to make some adjustments but the challenges they face should not slow them down.”
Bayne and Kimball share one other important characteristic. Both want not only continue to pursue their racing passions but also succeed at the highest levels in both NASCAR and the IZOD IndyCar Series.
“I’ve never been more driven to compete,” Bayne said. “My goals are the same as they’ve been since I started racing.”
“I want to compete at the highest level and I want to win races and championships,” Bayne continued.
“I am in the best shape I’ve ever been in, and I feel good.”
“Our team had a great year, with a top-ten in points in a season that was so competitive,” Kimball said. “It was a great, great result not just for myself but the whole team.”
“The team has built a foundation and with Tony Kanaan coming on board and switching to Chevy power, I hope to be fighting for race wins and the championship, from the first race in St. Pete.”
While both racing series take a break until next year, allowing Bayne to enjoy a long-awaited honeymoon and Kimball some travel to California for family time and rest and relaxation, both drivers are absolutely committed to their dreams, even with their own physical challenges.
“I’ve been racing since I was 5 years old and this doesn’t change a thing,” Bayne said. “I want to do things I’ve always dreamed of, and we have high hopes we can continue to do that.”
“With November being Diabetes Awareness Month, it’s a great opportunity for me to share my story,” Kimball said. “Driving a race car is what I do for a living but the fact that I have diabetes means that I’m a living example that you can still live your dream.”
“Overcoming the challenge of diabetes is very close to my heart….and to my pancreas as well,” Kimball said with a chuckle. “Seriously though, it’s a great opportunity to get the awareness out there and encourage people to understand it and still live their own dreams.”
What makes an athlete and why isn’t a driver considered one?
Most of you have probably already heard about Donovan McNabb’s statement about Jimmie Johnson (and all others drivers) are “not athletes”. With that said, Johnson’s reply was, “Yes, I am an athlete, and so is every other driver in one of these race cars.” So I wanted to go a little deeper into the subject as to why motor sports in general is not seen as a sport.
In today’s world, many new sports have been recognized, such as chess and beach volleyball. So why is it that motor sports is not taken seriously? Racing or now NASCAR originated from the moonshine runners outrunning each other and/or the police. Since it was primarily in the south and for years was not shown live on television, I can see why it wasn’t initially nationally recognized when it first became an actual series.
In the 70’s, the sport then started to really bloom and finally started seeing more and more coverage on radio and television. Were the drivers back then athletes? Perhaps not as much as a football or basketball player. Back then, many of the drivers drove and were their own mechanics. It wasn’t about sponsorship’s like today, it was more about racing.
With growing popularity, the cars, teams, sponsors and the sport became more streamlined. Live television coverage and additional races were added to the series schedules. Somewhere from running moonshine, to the late 80’s the sport grew up, NASCAR became a sport. With more races and a longer season, the drivers needed more endurance and the teams needed to be in great shape. Drivers and teams began to work out, they became athletes.
Today NASCAR or racing in general is still not recognized as a sport, such as football. It’s time for some respect for the sport. It’s time for football players and all other athletes to open their eyes to what the sport truly entails. As one driver I spoke to stated, “I work out up to four times a week, run roughly five miles three times a week, and mountain bike five miles 2-3 days a week to help with my stamina and concentration, if this is not athletic I do not know what is.”
In short, whether you are a pro-football player, a weekend warrior, or any type of athlete, just show some respect to racing. That’s really all that we are asking for.
Kyle Busch helps to grow sport with KBM and Truck Owner’s Title
Leading the way, taking the bull by the horns, Kyle Busch led his Kyle Busch Motorsports team to the 2013 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Owner’s Championship in 2013.
“We worked hard all season long and everyone on this Kyle Busch Motorsports team deserves all the credit,” Busch said afterwards. “They work so hard every week, all year long — we’ve had a lot of the same employees, but we’ve had a lot of new employees. The 51 team with Erik Jones winning last week — he gave us the saving grace to come into this week and have a chance and I can’t say enough about him. Chad Hackenbracht for being on board with us this year and doing the results that he did and of course there’s one other one I’m missing — (Scott) Bloomquist, he was there too at the dirt race. It’s just a testament to this team and what they’re made of and everyone from Toyota Care, Toyota, TRD (Toyota Racing Development) — everyone makes this possible for us. We hope to do it again next year.”
Busch drove the No. 51 Toyota Tundra most of the year, winning five races along the way as he contended for wins each time he was behind the wheel. Busch has proven without a doubt that he can win at any level of NASCAR and has shown his car control multiple times. Some have even been critical of Busch stating that he is racing at the lower levels of NASCAR too much, picking on the little guys. But Busch is a diehead racer that loves to be behind the wheel and racing. That’s why he does it.
However, while you may not agree with Busch’s decision on running in the lower tiers, you can agree with this – he is the man of opportunity.
While many people tend to stick to running with an established team, Busch went out on the limb a couple years ago and created his own team – Kyle Busch Motorsports. In doing so, hiring employees, he gave those people a start in the sport where they may have not been able to without another team. Behind the scenes, you have crew chief Rudy Fugle getting a chance to be atop the pit box, calling races. You have crew members going over the wall that otherwise may have been left as back-up or without an opportunity. You have employees in the shop that are getting the chance to work on trucks and learn about the industry, possible future crew chiefs and car chiefs down the road.
When Busch wins, it’s not just shows the type of driver Busch is, but the equipment that those boys and girls are building. It validates their hard work and dedication.
Though, let’s not forget, Busch wasn’t the only driver to run that truck this year and win in it.
Established dirt racer Scott Bloomquist took his shot behind the controls at Eldora with NASCAR’s inaugural trip to the dirt track. A bad decision on an adjustment caused Bloomquist to struggle, but the opportunity was there for him.
ARCA standout Chad Hackenbracht got his chance behind the wheel a couple times and impressed many onlookers, scoring a solid second place finish at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park.
Then there was Erik Jones. Busch hired Erik Jones because Jones beat Busch to win the Snowball Derby last year. The result was success as each time he was in the truck, he ran well. Phoenix International Raceway was his best run as he dominated the race, scoring the victory to become the youngest series winner ever.
Busch is looking to run Jones in more races next year, along with fellow young standout Darrell Wallace Jr. Wallace Jr. had a solid season behind the wheel of his No. 54 Toyota Tundra, finishing top 10 in points and scoring his first career win at Martinsville Speedway.
“It’s pretty neat to see the young talent and that’s kind of the whole point in having a Kyle Busch Motorsports, having a Late Model program, having a Truck Series program,” Busch said at the Canadian Motorsports Expo earlier this year. “We’re trying to help bring that younger talent to NASCAR.
“Everybody has plenty of opportunity to make it happen. One thing that it comes down to is trying to have the right sponsorship to put you to that next level. Once you have talent, that’s what you need.”
A lot of people will continue to criticize Busch on a multitude of levels. But before you do, think about the opportunities that he is giving to others along the way.
