Published: July 16, 2008 11:01 pm         

Kyle Petty charity riders receive warm greeting

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS — can’t believe the turnout. It’s great to come back to a racing state,” said NASCAR driver Kyle Petty, as he stepped to the podium to greet fans who had turned out for the Chick-fil-A Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America on Wednesday.

Prior to the program, Petty warmed up the crowd by pretending to take their photographs with the camera he was carrying.

Excitement started mounting hours before Petty and the other riders converged on the Spa City.

Motorcycles from up and down the Eastern Seaboard began lining up on Main Street in the resort village during mid-morning in anticipation of getting a glimpse of Petty and his entourage.

There was only one disappointment, The King of NASCAR, Richard Petty and his wife, Linda, were a no show due to illness.

The motorcycle brigade arrived in mid-afternoon with Gov. Joe Manchin being one of the first cyclists in town.

“There are 80 kids who will go to camp because of this ride,” said Manchin, pointing to funds raised for the Victory Junction Gang Camp. Petty and his wife, Pattie, started the charity in honor of their late son, Adam. The younger Petty died when his Busch Series car wrecked in a practice run May 12, 2000 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

“It’s unbelievable,” said Manchin, in underlining the impact the Charity Ride has made in the lives of young children who are chronically ill.

For Petty, the charity ride is more than a fundraising event.

“It’s an opportunity to stop along the way and visit children’s hospitals and schools,” he noted.

“We’ve just come from Lexington, Ky., where we spent time at the Shriner’s Children’s Hospital,” Petty explained.

Petty had high praise for the approximately 250 cyclists who are part of the 14th Chick-fil-A Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America.

“The riders are what make this possible,” emphasized Petty, who races behind the wheel of a No. 45 Dodge.

According to Petty, most of the riders return each year to take part in the event. The ride can trace its roots to 1994 when he and four friends from North Carolina drove their bikes to a NASCAR race at Phoenix International Raceway

Thirty of his friends joined the foursome en route to Arizona.

“I was inspired, “ said Petty. “I decided to turn the event into something bigger,” he added.

Since the fundraiser was unveiled, it has drawn more than 5,700 riders and raised more than $10.5 million.

At the welcome ceremony for Petty and his riders, Chief of Police James Hylton, local chairman for the event, presented Petty with a check for $3,778.63 cents for the Victory Junction Gang Camp.

“There’s more to come,” said Hylton, noting that a donation would come after the 50/50 raffle later in the evening.