Petty charity ride to start after Sunday's race

FONTANA, Calif. (AP) -- Kyle Petty's ride home from California Speedway will be considerably longer than his trip to the track.

	Kyle Petty's charity ride starts Sunday and ends May 8. Credit: Autostock

Following Sunday's Auto Club 500, Petty will hop on his Victory Motorcycle and lead a caravan of more than 200 riders, including NASCAR drivers and officials, sponsor representatives and fans in a weeklong, 3,000-mile charity ride.

The 10th annual charity ride will begin in Palm Desert, Calif., and make overnight stops in Las Vegas, Flagstaff, Ariz., Roswell, N.M., Oklahoma City, Branson, Mo., Tupelo, Miss., and Atlanta before concluding May 8 with a private party at the soon-to-open Victory Junction Gang Camp in Randleman, N.C.

"This even has become bigger than I ever imagined possible," Petty said. "The charity ride just started out as a way for friends to get out on our bikes and enjoy the country while helping children's charities.

"Now it has become a hugely popular event for race fans and, more important, a major fund-raiser for the Victory Junction Gang Camp."

Kyle and Pattie Petty founded the camp for children with chronic- or life-threatening illnesses in memory of their son, Adam, who was killed in a racing accident in May 2000.

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The camp is scheduled to open this summer and will serve as a year-round retreat at no charge to the campers or their families.

"In the past, we've celebrated the end of the charity ride with a big concert," Petty said. "But, this year is going to be a little different. The ride will end with a private event at Victory Junction. It's an important way for us to honor Adam's memory, plus it will give all the riders who have supported the camp over the years a first look at the finished product."

This year's ride is sponsored by Atlanta-based Chick-fil-A restaurants.