Kyle Petty talks Charity Ride, Victory Junction Camp
Kyle Petty talks about his annual Charity Ride Across America benefiting Victory Junction Camp. The Ride will roll into Corning Wednesday, May 7.
His nickname, “The King,” is synonymous with his real name.
Someone who won a record 200 NASCAR Cup Series races and a record-tying seven tour championships.
Someone who transcended the sport with his sustained success.
Someone cited as an American icon.
Given such aura, what was it like growing up as Richard Petty’s son?
“How do I know?” Kyle Petty said. “He’s the only father I’ve ever had.”
Kyle Petty, 64, discussed his 87-year old NASCAR Hall of Fame dad in an April 21 interview with the Erie Times-News.
“I tell people all the time I was 7 or 8 years old before I realized not everyone’s father had a race car or raced for a living,” he said. “Once I started going to races and working in his pit crew in the early (1970s), that’s when I really realized who Richard Petty was to people.
“That was a pretty cool moment.”
Erie area residents, be they auto racing fans or not, have the chance to greet and meet the Pettys on May 5. They’ll lead Kyle Petty’s 29th annual Charity Ride Across America, a motorcycle caravan that’s scheduled to stop at 3 p.m. at Harborcreek Township’s TA Travel Center, 4050 Depot Road.
The event is free and open to the public.
Rally’s reasons
Harborcreek is the third of the caravan’s seven stops between Traverse City, Michigan, and Hot Springs, Virginia. Other notable riders scheduled in it are 1982 Heisman Trophy winner Herschel Walker; recently-retired NASCAR drivers Ken Schrader and Kenny Wallace; and Hershel McGriff, another NASCAR Hall of Famer.
The last time Kyle Petty rolled through the Erie area on two wheels was 2016. He was the grand marshal for that year’s Roar on the Shore motorcylce rally.
However, this will be the first time Petty’s charity event has a scheduled stop in northwestern Pennsylvania. The rally, as it has for nearly 30 years, raises money for Victory Junction and related children’s charities.
Victory Junction, located in Randolph County, North Carolina, is a camp for children with extreme medical issues. It provides them supervised outdoor life experiences largely unavailable elsewhere, and at no cost to their families.
More than 135,000 youths have benefitted from more than $22 million raised via the rallies, according to Petty. He’s also arranged them as a cathartic way to honor his late son.
Adam Petty, the family’s fourth-generation racer, died May 12, 2000, when he wrecked during a practice session at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. He was only 19.
“This is always a special week for me,” Kyle Petty said. “Adam was killed right after our (2000) ride, so this (rally represents) some of the last memories I have of him. We’re in a special position for us to be able to turn that around and help so many people through Victory Junction.
“We’re very blessed.”
Not above reproach
Kyle Petty also is humble not just because his famous father is still in his life, but he’s also still able to actively participate in the events like the rally.
That didn’t mean “The King” was above a good-natured verbal jab by his jester of a son.
“I told him I’d feel sorry for him still riding with me at 87,” Kyle Petty said, “but we’ve got another gentleman who’s riding with us (McGriff) who’s 97, so he’d better not play that old man card on me!”
Contact Mike Copper at mcopper@timesnews.com. Follow him on X @ETNcopper.
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