Kyle Petty Charity Ride Triumphs Over Tragedy

The motorcyclists participated in the Chick-fil-A Kyle Petty Charity Ride across America. About 175 motorcyclists entered the mall parking lot for one last giant pit stop before heading to the charity ride's final destination in Randleman at the Victory Junction Gang Camp.

Created by NASCAR driver Kyle Petty, the charity ride is in its 12th year. This year, the 3,750-mile cross-country ride began in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, and made stops in Montana, Wyoming, and Ohio.

The ride is to raise money for children's charities, mainly the Victory Junction Gang Camp. Petty and his wife, Pattie, founded the camp for children with serious diseases in 2004 in honor of their son Adam, also a NASCAR driver, who died while practicing for a race in 2000.

When the charity ride began 12 years ago, Petty said he did not think it would last.

"I thought it would last about two years and people would get tired of it," Petty said. "It's grown bigger than we ever expected."

Petty attributed the success of the ride, which has raised more than $8 million for charity, to the dedication of the motorcycle riders, corporate sponsors and fans, who help spread the news about their events.

Local NASCAR fans and motorcycle enthusiasts gathered in the parking lot to greet the riders at the event, which also featured vendors, music by Brian Littrell, a former member of the Backstreet Boys, and autograph signings by racecar drivers.

Brenda Sidney of Clemmons said she has been a fan of Petty's for at least 10 years and came to the event to support Petty and his charity efforts.

"I think it's fantastic," she said. "He could have let the death (of his son) get the best of him, but he turned it into a good thing."

Dan Cathy, the president of Chick-fil-A Inc., said he believes that triumphing over tragedy is one of the major messages people can take from the charity ride and Victory Junction Gang Camp.

"All of us are going to have heartache and disappointment in life, but the question is how will we respond to it," Cathy said.

Chick-fil-A has been a title sponsor of the charity ride for three years. Cathy said that the sponsorship is a natural collaboration between two groups with similar backgrounds and goals.

He said that the Pettys' charity ride and Chick-fil-A are family enterprises with strong Christian roots.

Cathy, also a motorcycle rider, said he has participated in the cross-country journey for four years. This year, his sons accompanied him on the trip, which he described as a grand adventure.

Jim Jerele, a radiologist from Columbus, Ohio, also participated. This was Jerele's first time on the charity ride, but he said he felt right at home.

Jerele said he was impressed by the strong bond the riders had with each other, especially those who have been doing the charity ride for years. He said he would like to do the ride again if his wife agrees to it.

"I told my wife this was a once in a lifetime event. Now I have to come up with another excuse," he said.