Kyle Petty charity motorcycle ride making stop in Corbin on May 9

Even the most casual NASCAR fans know the name Kyle Petty. Son of the legendary race car driver Richard Petty, Kyle established his own legacy in the sport over the course of his near 30-year career, and he continues to contribute to this day as a racing analyst and commentator.

While racing is certainly in his blood, Petty is also passionate about charity work. His annual Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America has helped raise millions of dollars since its inception in the mid-nineties, and this year, Petty and company will be making a special stop in Corbin as the event celebrates its 28th anniversary.

From May 4-10, Petty will lead 150 motorcycles across nine states on a seven-day trek, covering more than 2,100 miles in an effort to raise funds and awareness for Victory Junction, a camp dedicated to providing life-changing camping experiences for children with serious and chronic medical conditions.

This year’s ride will kick off on Saturday, May 4, in South Dakota. Stops in Nebraska, Iowa and Indiana will lead up to a scheduled arrival in Bowling Green on Wednesday, May 8. The following day, riders will depart for Bristol, Tenn., stopping in Corbin from noon to about 2 p.m. to grab lunch and meet supporters at David’s Steakhouse and Buffet.

“This year marks the 20th Anniversary of Victory Junction, so I knew we had to bring the Ride back to camp to celebrate this incredible milestone,” Petty said in a recent press release regarding the event. “After all, the Ride has been there since Victory Junction’s inception, as a founding supporter in 2004, and has remained the largest cumulative donor.”

Victory Junction served as the Ride’s primary beneficiary since its establishment by Petty and his family in 2004 in honor of his late son, Adam. Since it first began in 1995, the Ride has raised more than $21 million for Victory Junction and other children’s charities. As a result, the Ride has helped Victory Junction mobilize resources to provide over 115,000 camp experiences for children of all levels of abilities who are living with complex medical conditions at no cost to their families.

Celebrity riders scheduled to participate in this year’s ride, including the stop in Corbin on May 9, include NASCAR Hall of Famers Richard Petty and Hershel McGriff, former NASCAR drivers Max Papis, David Ragan, Ken Schrader and Kenny Wallace, former NFL great Herschel Walker and TV personalities Rick Allen and Rutledge Wood.

For more information on the Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America, visit www.kylepettycharityride.com. For more information on Victory Junction, visit www.victoryjunction.org.