Kyle Petty coming to Flathead
The Daily Inter Lake
Chairity ride and lunch in Columbia Falls Saturday
NASCAR fans, Kyle Petty is coming through the Flathead Valley.
He, along with more than 200 motorcylists - including other NASCAR personalities, are taking part in a charity ride across the country and are expected to be in Columbia Falls Saturday between 2:15 and 2:30 p.m. for lunch.
The riders will enter town via U.S. 2 into Columbia Falls and stop at Town Pump Food Store to get fuel. Residents are invited to help welcome the riders into town.
The Chick-fil-A Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America will be on day one of a nine-day trip.
The riders will begin their day in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, and travel through Libby and Columbia Falls. After lunch, they will continue through Saint Mary and stop in Many Glacier. The riders will travel to Butte Sunday morning to complete the next leg of their cross-country trek.
"The Charity Ride has become an incredibly popular event and a major fundraiser for the Victory Junction Gang Camp," Petty said. "We are thrilled that this year we are traveling through many beautiful and scenic cities that our nation has to offer."
The 2006 Chick-fil-A Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America will make overnight stops in Many Glacier; Butte; Sheridan, Wyo.; Boulder, Colo. Salina, Kan.; Springfield, Ill.; Cincinnati, Ohio; and Ashville, N.C. before reaching its final destination in the Victory Junction Gang Camp in Randleman, N.C.
Petty combined his passion for helping others and love of motorcycles to create The Chick-fil-A Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America. Formed in 1995, the Kyle Petty Charity Ride has become one of the most successful and popular charity events in NASCAR. The annual trek features NASCAR celebrities, ride sponsors and motorcycle enthusiasts traveling cross-country to raise money for The Victory Junction Gang Camp and other children's charities. Now in its 12th year, the Charity Ride has logged more than 41,000 miles, encompassed more than 5,000 riders and donated more than $8 million.
The Victory Junction Gang Camp is a not-for-profit organization founded by Petty and his wife Pattie in honor of their son Adam. Located on 72 acres in Randleman the camp opened its doors in 2004 to enrich the lives of children with chronic or life-threatening illnesses by creating camping experiences that are memorable, exciting, fun, empowering, physically safe and medically sound. More information about the camp is available at www.victoryjunction.org.