When it comes to family legacies in NASCAR, the Pettys are as iconic as they come. Lee Petty, with 3 championships and 54 wins, set the foundation. Even though he retired in 1964, he still ranks as the 12th-winningest driver of all time. And of course, Richard Petty, “The King,” is the face of NASCAR domination, with 200 Cup Series wins and 7 championships, a record that seems untouchable. But it doesn’t stop there. Richard’s son, Kyle Petty, also had a successful NASCAR career, with 829 starts and 8 wins, though his legacy has grown into something bigger than just race victories.

Kyle didn’t reach the championship heights his father did, but he’s carried on the Petty family legacy in a way that holds a lot of heart—through Victory Junction. This camp was the brainchild of Kyle’s late son, Adam, who tragically passed away in 2000. After Adam’s death, Kyle and Richard made it their mission to bring his vision to life, turning it into a place that’s meant so much to so many. In fact, Richard once said, “When I look at the Pettys’ 75 years of racing, I think it brought the camp into play. The bigger legacy, what it will hopefully be, is more about the Victory Junction Camp than anything about racing.”

Kyle Petty’s heartfelt gratitude!

Adam Petty’s life was cut short on May 12, 2000, after a devastating crash during a practice session at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Adam, just 19 years old, had his throttle stick as he entered turn 3, sending him crashing head-on into the outside wall. The impact resulted in a skull fracture, and he tragically passed away. He had only made his second Cup Series start, but Adam showed incredible promise, with top-5 finishes in the Xfinity Series and two ARCA wins. Many believed he was on track to continue the Petty legacy on the track.

Though Adam didn’t get to race as much as he dreamed, his legacy lives on through Victory Junction. Known for his compassion, Adam’s idea for the camp sparked when he visited Paul Newman’s Camp Boggy Creek, which helps children with serious illnesses. After the visit, Adam asked his grandfather Richard, “Why not start something similar in North Carolina?” Richard Petty was all in, but Adam’s career took off first.

After Adam’s tragic passing, the Pettys decided to bring his dream to life. In 2004, they launched Victory Junction, a camp that provides life-changing experiences to kids with serious illnesses, all at no cost to them or their families. This year, Victory Junction celebrated 20 years of making dreams come true, touching over 136,000 lives along the way. Kyle recently took to Victory Junction’s Instagram to thank everyone who helped make the dream a reality.

In the video, Kyle said, “I don’t believe you all found your way here by accident. I think Adam sent each one of you here in some way, shape, or form. He sent all of you because you guys are the dream makers. And you’ve made dreams come true for so many kids for 20 years.”

Kyle’s wish is for Victory Junction to continue flourishing and helping as many children as possible for years to come. “So thank you for everything you’ve done—for the camp, for our family, for Adam. We’ll have you back in another 20 years, and we’ll talk about it again. How about that?” It’s clear that Victory Junction will continue to grow, thanks to everyone involved, all driven by the shared goal of helping children and honoring Adam’s memory.

‘Victory Junction’ is a shared goal!

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Celebrating 20 years, Kyle posed a question to all involved in making the dream possible, Why did you contribute? The answer was simple for all “for Adam.” The foundation could not have been made possible if Richard Petty had not given his land, but when Kyle asked him for it, it was a no-brainer!

When Richard told his friend Hugh Hawthorne, the grading contractor on the project, it did not take much convincing. “Richard and Lynda (Richard’s wife), we were talking, and he said I’m going to give the Fres Lineberry Farm to build a camp in Adam’s name. And I said well count me in. I’ll bring the equipment down, and we’ll move the dirt and whatever’s in the way to build the camp… for the love of Adam.” he said. 

Even the seasoned architect of the project, despite having made all kinds of high rises in his career, boasts about Victory Junction as his most-priced creation. The architect, Stephen Overcash, said, “It’s about creating a phenomenal experience for the kids, and that’s where all the colors come from and all the curves, and give the kids what they could not find in their towns. I’ve been doing this for 45 years…the question of what building I’m most proud of? I always say Victory Junction because of what it meant to the kids…best building we have done in my career.”

What do you think about Victory Junction? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.