Victory Junction's growth proof of national support

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- The way that Pattie and Kyle Petty see it, God cracked the door in Kansas City, and the communities surrounding the city kicked it wide open.

The Pettys, two of the more dynamically bundled fountains of energy you'll ever meet, were only too happy to ride the wave into a place that Kyle Petty says has "embraced" the concept of the Victory Junction Gang Camp.

And what's the result? There's a very good chance that Victory Junction Gang Camp II will break ground somewhere in the area, possibly as soon as this summer.

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That's a great thing. It's like a fairy tale -- the stuff of movie scripts.

"Build it and they will come." It's what the Pettys did earlier this decade, with the original Victory Junction Gang Camp that was built on 80 acres of land donated by Kyle Petty's father -- The King of NASCAR, Richard Petty -- in Randleman, N.C.

But reality, obviously, is no fairy tale and critical childhood illness is a harsh and all-too-common fact of life for many children and families in this country, and around the world.

The Victory Junction Gang Camp, like Paul Newman's Hole in the Wall Gang camps before it, is trying to make a difference.

The success rate has been stunning, but at the same time nearly overwhelming. Victory Junction, which operates year-round, hosted nearly 4,000 children and their families in 2007 -- virtually the camp's capacity, Pattie Petty said last week.

So the Pettys had to begin looking for a possible location to expand the Victory Junction concept. Kansas City was only one location they initially considered, but after an invitation mailing went awry last year, and some 200 guests that were supposed to attend an informational meeting never were informed, divine providence might have gotten involved.

Kansas City Star sports columnist Randy Covitz authored a piece that appeared right after last fall's Cup race at Kansas Speedway. And thus began the groundswell of support that turned into an avalanche that will result in the camp locating in the heart of the Midwest.

"I guess we're going to Kansas," Kyle Petty said through a grin, after his wife had made some opening remarks at a news conference during Speedweeks to put their latest idea officially on the table.

The exact location is still up in the air, with another meeting scheduled in Kansas City this week. But the locale's reaction -- including offers to donate nine separate parcels of property, each in the neighborhood of 150 acres -- is pretty overwhelming evidence Kansas City wants the camp.

"When we went there and started talking, barriers that we thought may be there were not there," Kyle Petty said. "And opportunities were galore there, so we're very excited."

The Pettys were familiar with the Kansas City area even before NASCAR racing hit there with both feet in 2001, with the opening of Kansas Speedway. The Sprint telecommunications company sponsored Adam Petty, their late teenaged son, in the early stages of his racing career. (Continued)