Cal Club Driver Takes On Nascar, Kyle Kelley Returns to Pro Racing Options

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Kyle Kelley Returns to Pro Racing After Recovering
From Potential Paralyzing Spinal Cord Injury

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. (June 18, 2008) - Kyle Kelley returns to professional auto racing this weekend in the NASCAR Camping World West Series Bennett Lane Winery 200 at Infineon Raceway in his #7 Team Kelley UPR Dodge Charger after rebounding from a potential paralyzing spinal cord injury April of last year during a freak low speed off road vehicle incident.

Once written off by doctors who said he’d never walk again, Kelley rallied against the odds. He bounced back with remarkable recovery after spinal cord experts secured his spine with two titanium rods, eight screws and other miscellaneous hardware.

After laying on his back in the hospital for two weeks recovering from surgery, his therapy sessions began. They were far from routine though. Frustration set in quick for Kelley. “They didn’t get it,” exclaimed Kyle Kelley. “They were putting ice on my back and that made my situation even worse. They didn’t understand what I was dealing with. At least that’s what I thought at the time. I was so frustrated I quit therapy. I went home and stayed on my back for two more weeks. From there I did my own therapy program and it worked.”

Kelley’s recovery was remarkably quick. Within a few months he was anxious to get back behind the wheel. Then in November of last year, just seven months after his accident, he made it happen by climbing in the cockpit racing at Buttonwillow Raceway Park. In January, 2008, Kelley was back on top when he collected a National GT1 win at California Speedway. “What a great victory that was,” continued Kelley. “Getting back on top so soon is a testimony to my
doctor. I was lucky to have Dr. Bhatia available when I needed to straighten out my situation. His trick surgical procedures no doubt speeded up my recovery. I’m sure of that.”

Dr. Nitan N. Bhatia was the key factor to Kelley’s amazing recovery. Dr. Bhatia's extensive training in state of the art techniques including minimally invasive surgery, endoscopic and microscopic discectomy, percutaneous fusions, x-stop lumbar stenosis treatment, bone
morphogenetic protein, and kyphoplasty help to cure his patients' problems with minimal recovery time and less discomfort than other methods giving Kelley the best chance possible to return to auto racing sooner than later.

Dr. Bhatia has been featured as a treating surgeon in the television show "Guardian Angels, MD" seen nationwide on The Learning Channel as well as programs on PBS. He has expertise in all areas of spinal pathology including spinal stenosis, disc herniations, spine trauma, scoliosis, complex cervical and lumbar reconstruction, and failed back syndrome. Dr. Bhatia has completed multiple spine surgery fellowships and has trained in both orthopedic and neurosurgical techniques.

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West Coast Road Racer Challenges NASCAR Regulars

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. (June 18, 2008) - Accomplished west coast Formula Atlantic road racer, Kyle Kelley, joins the Bennett Lane Winery 200 entry list this weekend as he takes on the challenge of his first NASCAR Camping World Series event in his #7 Team Kelley UPR Dodge Charger. Kelley, fresh off a spinal cord injury is anxious to get back behind the wheel and race his way to victory lane Saturday, June 21 at Infineon Raceway.

"I'm looking forward to the Bennett Lane Winery 200 after recovering from my 2007 back injury,” said Kyle Kelley. “That setback caused me to miss the 2007 Formula Atlantic event at Long Beach, one of my favorites, plus scratched most of our racing program from that year.

“But we’re back for sure. I’ve been getting quality seat time in a variety of stock cars on different road courses to get up to speed for this weekend’s race. I’m ready and confident. I plan on upsetting the competition with a good qualifying stint then follow that up with a win on race day.”

Kelley is known for shaking up the competition by performance on the track. His road racing resume is solid with wins and championships dating back to the day when he raced karts as a kid. He moved to full size cars in 2002 racing a Spec Racer Ford, the most competitive class in the Sports Car Club of America. At seasons end, he was awarded the prestigious SCCA Cal Club Lindley Bothwell Driver of the Year award as a rookie, an unheard of accomplishment and one usually reserved for veterans.

In 2003 he moved to open wheel racing in a Star Mazda formula car where he won the SCCA Cal Club regional championship supported with numerous poles and victories. Kelley moved to the pro level in 2004 and posted five wins and seven poles en route to the Star Mazda West Coast Redline Series championship.

The next step was Formula Atlantic where he contended on a limited schedule in 2005. He achieved success as a rookie in just two starts with a best finish at Portland of fourth. Kelley made a pair of Formula Atlantic starts in 2006 with a best result of 14th at the Grand Prix of Long Beach.

The owner of Team Kelley is confident his son will be a contender on race day in the Bennett Lane Winery 200. “We should do well as long as things go our way,” replied Robert Kelley. “This is a new car to us so we’re still getting up to speed. Our first time behind the wheel in this car was during the Infineon NASCAR test last week. Even though there were a hurdle of things to do and get done, Kyle was quick off the trailer and up to speed after 12 laps. He equaled the fastest time of the day so I feel good about where we stand.”

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