| The question is often asked: When will Kyle Petty | | | | time to running Victory Junction Gang Camp, a |
| retire from racing? The main reason he has lasted | | | | race-themed medical camp built in Adam's memory |
| this long is the same motive he has for carrying on. | | | | for young people ages 7 - 15 who have special |
| When 19-year-old Adam Petty was killed in 2000 | | | | needs. VJGC houses and treats children and teens |
| during a practice run at New Hampshire, Kyle and | | | | with chronic and life-threatening illnesses, physical |
| Pattie Petty lost a beloved son, and Petty | | | | infirmities, and other handicaps. The $24 million, |
| Enterprises lost its future. The fourth-generation | | | | 65-acre facility in Randleman, N.C., was founded in |
| driver was being primed to take the lead for the | | | | October '00 and opened around June '04, offering |
| team, and to progressively replace his father in the | | | | eight one-week sessions free of charge. Millions in |
| then-called Winston Cup Series after another year of | | | | seed money have been donated by NASCAR drivers, |
| seasoning in the Busch Series. | | | | race teams, various businesses and corporations, and |
| The kill switch was mandated by NASCAR after | | | | by race fans. |
| Adam's death, which preceded Dale Earnhardt's fatal | | | | The camp was Adam's idea. He and his mother |
| crash at Daytona by nine months, six days. | | | | discussed the venture almost a year before his |
| Filled with grief but strengthened by his Christian | | | | death. His parents are carrying out his wishes as they |
| faith, Kyle, already a full-time driver in the Cup series, | | | | honor his ongoing legacy. With the majority sale of |
| stepped in the No. 45 Sprint Pontiac and finished the | | | | the race team, Kyle can now devote more time and |
| '00 Busch schedule to allow Adam's crew to keep | | | | energy to overseeing VJGC, building more camps, |
| their jobs for that season. Today, Kyle drives the No. | | | | and becoming more active in the Richard Petty |
| 45 Dodge in the Sprint Cup Series, a car that was | | | | Driving Experience schools. |
| designed with Adam in mind. Great-grandfather Lee | | | | When Kyle stops racing for good, for the first time in |
| drove the 42, grandfather Richard the 43, and Kyle | | | | 60-plus years there will not be a Petty driving for |
| had driven the 44. The Wells Fargo sponsored 45 car | | | | Petty Enterprises. Having someone else direct the |
| is painted black whenever Kyle drives at New | | | | business side of the company frees him up to build |
| Hampshire Motor Speedway, in memory of Adam. | | | | another VJGC in Wyandotte County near Kansas |
| For the second time in two years, Kyle is on hiatus | | | | City, he says. If that works out, more camps may |
| from NASCAR racing while he covers six races on | | | | come. Tony Stewart recently donated $1 million in |
| television for TNT. The 45 is being shared by | | | | proceeds for construction costs in Kansas City after |
| un-retired former champion Terry Labonte and raw | | | | he won the Prelude to the Dream, an exhibition race |
| rookie Chad McCumbee. With the majority sale of | | | | at his Rossburg, Ohio, track in early June. |
| Petty Enterprises to Boston Ventures, Kyle has | | | | In the meantime, Kyle continues to drive for his |
| stepped down as company CEO and devotes more | | | | first-born son. He races for Adam. |