Hold on, there, bikers. Kill those engines and put down those kickstands. To the surprise of almost nobody, the 26th annual Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America has been postponed for exactly one year.
On Monday morning, former NASCAR driver-turned-broadcaster Kyle Petty announced that this year’s upcoming fundraising motorcycle tour has been sidelined by the COVID-19 outbreak. The ride was scheduled to begin in Phoenix on May 2 and return to Phoenix on May 8 after visiting six cities in Arizona and Utah.
Next year’s rescheduled ride will also follow a seven-day time frame. But it will leave from Phoenix on Friday, May 1, and overnight in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. The 250 or so participants will stay in Flagstaff, Arizona, on May 2; in Bryce Canyon City, Utah, on May 3-4; in Monument Valley, Utah, on May 5; in Sedona, Arizona, on May 6; and back in Phoenix on May 7.
That short “Southwest Adventure” pussycat ride of just 1,500 miles compares to 2019’s rainy grind that crossed 10 states in nine days, 3,700 miles from Seattle to Key Largo, Florida. (A few bikers completed the “corner-to-corner” angle by riding another 101 miles from Key Largo to Key West).
Several of Petty’s previous rides have skirted the Southwest going eastward. Next year’s cruise will leave more time to see Grand Canyon and Bryce Canyon national parks, visit the Grand Staircase and Humphreys Peak, travel historic Route 66 and have a free day to explore southern Utah. Except for 1997’s “mini-ride” of only 1,100 miles from Texas Motor Speedway to Bristol Motor Speedway, this year’s will be the shortest and easiest of the 26 Charity Rides.
“Some of the places on our next ride are places we’ve been to before, but never really got the chance to explore,” said Petty, newly revealed as an expectant father in August. “We’ll take time next year to stop and really see the majestic places we’ve just ridden by in the past. Plus, we’ll throw in some new places, like Monument Valley, that have always been on our bucket list.”
As usual, Petty and former Cup star and longtime biker Harry Gant will lead the way. Hall of Fame driver Richard Petty still expects to do the entire ride, a first for him. “In the past, I wasn’t able to participate for the full duration,” said the seven-time NASCAR champion. “But when Kyle told me about the route, I said I’d clear my schedule to be there for the whole thing. I want to see all the places on the list. I’m excited to see them and share them with Kyle.”
Former drivers Donnie Allison, David Ragan, Max Papas and 92-year-old Hershel McGriff are expected to ride again, as well as 1982 Heisman Trophy winner Hershel Walker. NBC Sports personalities Rick Allen, Krista Voda and Rutledge Wood are expected to do parts of the trip. The 10 bikers who’ve done the 25 previous Rides are expected to make it back in 2021.
The first Charity Ride was in 1995, when 30-some riders managed to stumble their way from Santa Clara, California across the country to Charlotte, North Carolina, in eight days. Since then, upwards of 8,600 riders—that total includes many frequent returnees—have covered a cumulative 12.4 million miles and raised $19 million to support children’s hospitals and the Victory Junction Gang Camp. More than 8,200 kids have enjoyed a cost-free week at VJGC, which opened its 84-acre campus in 2004 near Randleman, North Carolina. It offers a medically monitored camping experience for kids 6-16 suffering from chronic or life-threatening diseases.
The Petty family created the camp in 2002, shortly after 18-year-old Adam Petty died during practice for a 2000 Xfinity Series race at Loudon, New Hampshire. As a nonprofit, VJGC operates through the financial support of individuals, organizations, foundations and corporations. Almost everyone associated with NASCAR supports the camp, and the Charity Ride is among its major benefactors. It has hosted children from all 50 states, Puerto Rico and four other countries, and is affiliated with the Paul Newman-founded SeriousFun Children’s Network of Camps.
This is how the camp describes its mission:
“Free from the confines of disease, illness or disability, children discover that they can just be kids! How does this happen? Victory Junction is a medically safe, yet exhilarating camp, that challenges children who have a serious medical condition to try things they never imagined possible. As they conquer activities like ziplining and archery or experience bowling, fishing or swimming, children build confidence that will shape how they view the rest of their lives.”
Kickstands … back down! But only for a year.
