Kyle Petty’s Pit Stop in Bowling Green on his Charity Drive
A Memorable Stopover
On a sunny Tuesday in Bowling Green, former NASCAR driver Kyle Petty, made a memorable pit stop leading hundreds of motorcyclists as part of his charity drive across America. Joining him on the tour was his father, Richard Petty, a celebrated NASCAR Hall of Fame driver. Their visit to the city included a tour of the National Corvette Museum among other activities.
Paying Tribute to American Icon
Expressing his admiration for the American Corvette, Kyle Petty shared, “There’s nothing more iconic as a sports car than the American Corvette,”. The father-son duo’s visit wasn’t purely recreational though.
Riding for a Noble Cause
Their main aim was to raise awareness for their camp, Victory Junction. This is a unique camp that provides special experiences for children with chronic medical conditions. The camp was started as a tribute to Adam Petty, Kyle’s son, whose life was prematurely cut short in 2000. “For us, that’s the important part, is just to send more and more kids to camp,” said Kyle Petty, underlining the purpose of their ride.
Funding the Dream
Besides awareness, the ride across America also raises funds for the camp. Starting from 1995, the charity ride has collected more than $21 million for Victory Junction and similar children’s charities. “When the kids come there, they pay nothing. Parents don’t have to pay anything, so it takes a lot of money to make it work,” Richard Petty said, explaining the need for the funds.
Welcome and Farewell
The Petty family received a warm welcome in Bowling Green, even signing autographs and interacting with fans. The icing on the cake was definitely when they were presented the key to the city by Mayor Todd Alcott. “To be able to hand that in a handshake, and say thank you for coming to our city, thank you for recognizing us, and thank you letting us be a part of your group, that’s what it’s about,” said an elated Mayor Alcott.
The Journey Continues
Though the stay in Bowling Green was brief, Petty and his team continued their ride on Thursday, heading towards Bristol, Virginia. Their epic charity drive covers over 2,000 miles, stretching all the way from South Dakota to North Carolina. Their journey is not just about the miles covered but about the lives they hope to touch and change in the process.
Every Signature Counts
Among the scores who turned up to get an autograph from the NASCAR royalty that day was Ronald Mink. Ronald, who has voluntarily worked with Victory Junction, also believes in the importance of camps like these for children with health challenges. “It means a lot, and, to have a kid with a disability go to camp, that’s awesome,” Ronald Mink said clearly moved by the initiative.
