Daytona 500 winner Trevor Bayne says he’s been cleared to race without medication or lifestyle changes to manage his condition.
A 22-year-old NASCAR driver says he won’t be taking medication or changing his lifestyle after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
NASCAR officials announced Tuesday that Roush Fenway Racing driver Trevor Bayne has been cleared to finish the 2013 racing season, where he sits sixth in the NASCAR Nationwide Series standing.
“There are currently no symptoms, and I’m committed to continuing to take the best care of my body as possible,” Bayne said in a statement on his team’s website. “I will continue to trust God daily and know that His plan for me is what is best.”
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In 2011, Bayne became the youngest person to ever win the Daytona 500 after being sidelined for two months when he complained of numbness in his arm. He was treated by doctors at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., for what was then believed was Lyme disease.
Bayne’s diagnosis at 22 is not a rare occurrence. Diagnosis for multiple sclerosis—an autoimmune disorder in which the body’s immune system attacks the protective covering surrounding nerve cells in the brain—typically occurs between the ages of 20 and 40, according to the Mayo Clinic.
“We are 100 percent supportive of Trevor and his ability to compete in a race car,” Roush Fenway owner Jack Roush said in a statement. “I have full confidence in Trevor, and his partners have all expressed the same confidence and support. As with all of our drivers, we look forward to standing behind Trevor and providing him with all of the tools he needs as he continues to develop in his young career.”
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Image courtesy of Royalbroil via WikiCommons.