Q&A With Kyle Petty
Kyle Petty was born into NASCAR dynasty 60 years ago, and has since extended the family name beyond the race track and into a powerhouse of charitable causes. Petty took his last lap in his No. 45 Dodge Charger in 2008 after a successful racing career and now works as a racing commentator and gives back to those in need through his Victory Junction camp for children with chronic medical conditions and his annual Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America motorcycle ride.
We caught up with Petty to find out what he’s been up to lately in his neck of the woods in North Carolina and to take a drive down memory lane from his days spent in the fast lane in our area.
Q: Could you share any fond memories from your races at Darlington Speedway over the years and this area in general?
Kyle: Most of my memories from Darlington are more about the people and the community, the parades and the fans. I loved going to Darlington when I was a kid. However, I never had a lot of success on the track! It was also the first place I raced after breaking my leg and sitting out for almost five months.
Q: As an announcer now, what have you seen change in the landscape of NASCAR since your racing days – good and bad? What has stayed the same?
Kyle: NASCAR is a constantly evolving sport – from the drivers to the cars to the fans. It’s really hard to say what’s good and what’s bad because it changes so much. Darlington, for example, has been able to tap into the nostalgia of what the sport used to be with their throwback weekends, and at the same time present what the sport is now: showcasing the best of both worlds. And that’s the way I like to look at the sport.
Q: What does it mean to you to be able to reach out to those who are seriously ill at your Victory Junction Camp in tribute to your late son, Adam? How have things had to adjust since COVID?
Kyle: I was very blessed to grow up in NASCAR and to do what I wanted to do: drive a racecar. I was able to use that platform to help others. I always say, I lost one son, but I gained so many others through Victory Junction. I see Adam’s smile in the faces of every camper at Camp. Because of COVID, our normal summer week long sessions became ‘VJ@Home,’ a virtual camp. We had great success with the program and our teams did a fantastic job pulling everything together so quickly. And, this fall, Victory Junction developed a family-based programming model, where families are welcomed to camp for three-day-long retreats. This allows the camp staff to safely serve children and families, while safely social distancing and following other public health protocols. Also, through the Victory Junction REACH program, we mailed over 1,000 Magic Kits, which feature crafts, games, etc., to hospitals and Ronald McDonald Houses throughout the Carolinas in addition to hosting virtual events with partner hospitals, including Levine Children’s Hospital in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Shriner’s Hospital in Greenville, South Carolina. You can learn more about the happenings at Camp at www.victoryjunction.org.
Q: I saw that the Charity Ride was postponed until May 2021. Is that still a goal? Has anything with the ride had to change because of COVID?
Kyle: We are still planning to have our originally planned 2020 Ride in 2021 – same overnight stops just slightly different dates: May 1-7, 2021. Of course, with everything going on, that’s all subject to COVID and where all of that stands next spring. Our main concern is always for the safety of our riders and the fans who come out to see us along the route. To stay informed about the status of the Ride, you can follow the Ride on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter or visit our website at www.kylepettycharityride.com.
Q: Any other events or upcoming news you’d like our readers to know about?
Kyle: Right now, everything is on pause due to COVID. I had several concerts lined up for the year, but those are all now on hold. I’ve really enjoyed getting out and playing my guitar more in recent years. The Spinning Jenny in Greer, South Carolina has been a lot of fun to play. I go on Facebook Live – or #KPTV, as I like to call it – every Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m. ET to give updates about what’s happening with my family, NASCAR, Victory Junction, the Kyle Petty Charity Ride and more. We actually just celebrated my 100th episode of that a few weeks ago. Also, every Thursday night I share an original song in a series I call ‘Quarantunes with Kyle’ to my Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages. Since there were no fans at the races and all my shows and appearances are on pause, it’s been a fun way for me to interact with folks. Keep an eye on my social media pages and the Kyle Petty Charity Ride website to see when my concerts and appearances are rescheduled: www.kylepettycharityride.com/upcoming-appearances.
Q: Where do you and your beautiful family live right now? What do you keep yourself busy with or what do you like to do when you’re not working?
Kyle: I live in Charlotte with my wife, Morgan, and our two little boys: Overton is 2 and a half years old and Cotten was just born in August. I write music and play my guitar every day. Overton loves music, so he plays with me a lot. Any free time I get, I love to spend with Morgan and our boys – just being with them and doing whatever they want to do. Overton is at a really fun age, and each day is new and exciting with him.
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