This year’s ride begins May 1st after the NASCAR race in Sonoma, CA at Infineon/Sears Point road course and starts in Indian Wells, CA and ends May 9th, when riders cruise into the VJGC facility in NC. http://www.victoryjunction.org/
Riders pay BIG bucks for the trip and the Pettys have attracted sponsors along the way to defray the costs and the expenses of overnight stops in N LasVegas, NV; Richfield, UT; Durango, CO; Amarillo, TX, Texarkana, TX; Choctaw, MS, Chatanooga, TN; Ashville, NC.
"When you catch us on the road, it's like a parade, with all the support vehicles and everything," Petty said. "We've got two big trucks that haul bikes and a pace car that paces us. It almost looks like a parade coming through town. The only difference is, it's a parade that goes about 400 miles a day."
Victory Junction Gang Camp is patterned on Paul Newman’s Hole In The Wall Gang camps and since it's opening in 2004, it has served children from 47 states and 3 countries since its opening. The children do not pay for their camp experience which is why fundraising is so important. The Pettys inspiration is their son, Adam, who was killed during NASCAR practice in New Hampshire in 2000.
Kyle’s family gave the original land for the camp and subsequent NASCAR drivers and foundations have provided funds for the camp’s continued operation.
The latest NASCAR driver to step up to assist the Pettys is Dale Earnhardt Jr who has pledged $1million to the camp to build the Dale Jr. Corral and Amphitheater. In announcing his pledge, Jr. indicated "Adam and I met each other at an early age, and from that point on our lives and careers were virtually parallel. He was as genuine as they get and a great friend. If I can play a small part in helping Kyle and Pattie keep his dream alive, it doesn't require a second thought."
The Pettys have delayed opening a second camp in the Kansas City area because of lack of funds and it is their hope that the events surrounding NASCAR DAY in May scheduled for Kansas City will highlight the need for a camp in their area.
Comments (3)Subscribe to CommentsComment