Dirt
Down but Not Out
Pro Mod pioneer Charles Carpenter determined to race again after surviving massive stroke By Nate Van Wagnen
On October 12 , what was set to
be a usual busy Monday morning after a race , Charles Carpenter wasn ’ t feeling well . He admits he ’ s one to “ work through anything ,” so it was a surprise when he asked his girlfriend , Lori , to take him to the emergency room .
After listing his symptoms and undergoing a scan , the ER doctors determined the Pro Modified pioneer was in the middle of a massive stroke . The stroke was caused by blockages in his right
carotid artery .
The doctors and nurses were surprised to learn that just two days prior , Carpenter had been driving a 200-mph Pro Modified Camaro . He was racing at PDRA DragWars at GALOT Motorsports Park that weekend without any major issues . He had a headache for a few days that he assumed was just sinus pain , and he was a little more tired than usual between passes , but nothing that seemed worthy of concern .
“ I had lots of symptoms that I should ’ ve known ,” says Carpenter , who lost his wife , Teresa , following a severe stroke in October of 2010 . “ I just missed them and didn ’ t react properly .”
Carpenter remained in the hospital until October 23 , when he was moved to an inpatient rehab center . There he completed three hours a day of occupational , speech and physical rehabilitation exercises . He was released to go home on November 17 , where he continues the recovery process through in-home rehab .
Nearly two months after the stroke , Carpenter is reflecting on the experience . He urges his family , friends , fans and fellow racers to study up on stroke symptoms and take the warning signs seriously .
“ My whole mission out of this is to make everybody as stroke-aware as can be ,” Carpenter says . “ If you have weird things like this going on , go online and see what the signs are . Don ’ t end up like this . I was a little lax on my physicals and stuff . I think I can work through everything and I just kept trying to work through this . Like I told a couple people , I guess I ’ ve finally worked myself to death .”
Carpenter ’ s doctors believe a past injury may
PHOTO : TARA BOWKER
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