Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America Announces 30th Anniversary Ride Route

The 30th Anniversary Ride will take place from May 1 – May 9, 2026, starting in Sonoma, California, and ending in Charlotte, North Carolina, crossing 11 states in just nine days.

 

Former NASCAR driver and current racing analyst Kyle Petty officially announced the complete route and overnight stops for the 30th Anniversary Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America (KPCRAA). For the milestone edition, the 30th Anniversary KPCRAA will truly cross the United States, starting in Sonoma, California, on May 1, 2026, and concluding in Charlotte, North Carolina, on May 9, 2026.

 

The 30th Anniversary Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America will be book-ended by trips to two iconic Speedway Motorsports (SM) racetracks, Sonoma Raceway and Charlotte Motor Speedway, and will see Petty lead roughly 150 motorcycles over 3,400 miles across 11 states in just nine days to raise funds and awareness for Victory Junction – a camp dedicated to providing life-changing camping experiences for children with serious and chronic medical conditions. Since 1995, more than 9,575 riders have logged 13.3 million cumulative motorcycle miles and raised more than $23 million for Victory Junction and other children’s charities.

 

In celebration of America’s 250th birthday, the 30th Anniversary KPCRAA will ride historic Highway 50, the ‘Loneliest Road in America,’ and parts of the original Route 66, both of which are celebrating their Centennial in 2026. The Ride is working closely with America 250 to highlight iconic stops along the way, and contribute to the “Our American Story,” program in which stories of everyday Americans will be recorded for posterity.

 

The Ride will also make stops at the original Bass Pro Shops in Springfield, Missouri; tour Elvis Presley’s home and museum Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee; explore the Coker Museum in Chattanooga, Tennessee; ride the famous 318-curve and 11-mile Dragon through the Appalachian Mountains; visit Wheels Through Time Motorcycle Museum in Maggie Valley, North Carolina; capped off with a trip to Victory Junction before heading to Charlotte Motor Speedway.

 

“The reason I am so excited about this year’s Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America is because this is our 30th year,” Petty said. “America 250 – the anniversary of our great country’s independence, the 100th anniversary of Highway 50 – the ‘Loneliest Road in America,’ the 100th anniversary of Route 66 – another iconic highway. There is just so much to celebrate this year. The places we are stopping – Bass Pro Shops, Coker Museum, Graceland, riding the Dragon - just like the kid’s book says, ‘Oh the places you’ll go!’ I feel like a kid and I’m ready to do it.”

 

Rutledge Wood, NASCAR Race Mom and Kyle Petty 2014 Carlsbad KPCR
Spectators and Race fans along the 2026 route will have loads of fun! 

 

Spectators and race fans along the 2026 route are encouraged to attend one of the Ride’s nine overnight stops or daily pit stops to greet Petty and the riders, purchase memorabilia, collect autographs and make donations to Victory Junction.

 

The 2008 KPCRAA took us from Traverse City, MI to Savannah, GA, with some incredible stops along the way. We lapped Road America, visited the new Harley-Davidson Museum and even had a talent show! pic.twitter.com/IuEPwjftH5

— KylePettyCharityRide (@KPCharityRide) February 20, 2026

Full 30th Anniversary Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America Schedule:

• Day 1, Friday, May 1 – Sonoma, CA to Ely, NV
• Day 2, Saturday, May 2 – Ely, NV to Moab, UT
• Day 3, Sunday, May 3 – Moab, UT to Colorado Springs, CO
• Day 4, Monday, May 4 – Colorado Springs, CO to Wichita, KS
• Day 5, Tuesday, May 5 – Wichita, KS to Springfield, MO
• Day 6, Wednesday, May 6 – Springfield, MO to Memphis, TN
• Day 7, Thursday, May 7 – Memphis, TN to Chattanooga, TN
• Day 8, Friday, May 8 – Chattanooga, TN to Asheville, NC
• Day 9, Saturday, May 9 – Asheville, NC to Charlotte, NC

The start and end points for the 30th Anniversary Ride also replicates the first route taken by Kyle Petty and friends during the initial Ride in 1995. The first Ride kicked off May 8, 1995, following the NASCAR Cup Series race at Sonoma Raceway, and wrapped up in Charlotte eight days later.

 

Among the celebrities participating in this milestone 30th Anniversary Ride are NASCAR Hall of Famer and seven-time NASCAR champion Richard Petty; NASCAR Hall of Famer and NASCAR Cup Series champion Matt Kenseth; NASCAR Vice Chairman Mike Helton; former NASCAR drivers Clint Bowyer, David Ragan, Ken Schrader, and Kenny Wallace; former Formula 1, Champ Car, and NASCAR driver Max Papis; former IndyCar driver JR Hildebrand; TV personalities Rick Allen and Rutledge Wood; and great-grandson of William A. Davidson, one of the Harley-Davidson founders, VP & Global Brand Ambassador Bill Davidson.

 

Since the inaugural year in 1995, the KPCRAA has had 10 total NASCAR Hall of Fame members and two Landmark Award winners participate in the Ride including: Richard Petty, David Pearson, Terry Labonte, Ray Evernham, Robert Yates, Tony Stewart, Matt Kenseth, Herschel McGriff, Donnie Allison, Harry Gant, NASCAR Vice Chairman Mike Helton, and NASCAR Chairman and CEO Jim France.

“Once you go on the Kyle Petty Charity Ride, you become part of the Charity Ride family,” Petty said. “It’s hard to explain to somebody that doesn’t understand it. We have around 50 people who have gone 20 years or more on this Ride.

 

“This year we have 150 motorcycles going with us, and we still had to turn people away. It is the hardest thing to tell people it didn’t work out for this year’s Ride.” he said. “We tell those people to come back next year, get on the list, and we will look at those people first. We have two doctors and two nurses that go with us, paramedics that follow the bikes, retired Highway Patrol motor officers who act as our Ride Motor Marshals, we have a hotel and luggage team, a media team, Coca-Cola sends a team and truck with products, Harley-Davidson sends a truck and technicians – there are an additional 30+ people that go with us just to make sure we can ride every day. The level of commitment from our team, our valued partners and many volunteers is really something special.”

  

source: Kyle Petty Charity Ride Media

Eleven-Year-Old Supports Victory Junction with Hand Drawn RPM Bubba Poster

Wallace's #43 Darlington Poster Honoring Adam Petty Auction

Mitchell is an eleven-year-old who loves NASCAR, everything Petty, and Bubba Wallace! He goes to lots of NASCAR races with his dad and always make posters to show support for his driver, Bubba Wallace, driver of the #43 and his team, Richard Petty Motorsports. 

For the Darlington race, Bubba drove a throwback scheme, designed to honor Adam Petty's win in the ARCA series, and the sponsor of the car, Victory Junction Camp. Mitchell made the poster in honor of Adam Petty, his legacy, and the camp.

Winner of the Best in Show for #NASCARThrowback weekend, @BubbaWallace accepts the award on stage with the late Adam Petty’s pit crew 🏆 #BojanglesSo500 pic.twitter.com/GnDHu05FDd

— Darlington Raceway (@TooToughToTame) September 1, 2019

That poster (pictured above) is autographed by Bubba Wallace, Kyle Petty, and the King of NASCAR - Richard Petty.  You can bid on this NASCAR artwork with all the proceeds of the sale to benefit Victory Junction Gang Camp Inc.

Interview of Mitchell by his Father

1) Mitchell, why did you make this poster?

Answer: To support Bubba Wallace and Richard Petty Motorsports. In memory of and honor of Adam Petty because of how good of a person he was. I am just happy Bubba got to drive that car.

2) Mitchell, why do you want to auction this poster off?

Answer: Because that is what Adam Petty would do. He would donate money to Victory Junction and he would do everything he could to make kids smile and I think something I dedicated to him should help a camp he wanted to make. I am just happy that my poster is gonna go for money that I can donate to get somebody to go to camp. My goal is to try to do the same thing that Adam would do. I want to be able to help that camp. I want to be a counselor when I turn 18. I want to help as much as I can to honor Adam Petty.

3) Why is Victory Junction special to you?

Answer: Because it is Adam Petty's legacy. It is what he wanted to make. I have been to Victory Junction Camp twice (not as a camper). When I was there I felt proud to be a 43 fan and to know about Adam Petty. It is a special place, just for kids who might not be able to go to camps like 4h or other camps I can go to.

4) What makes Adam Petty special to you?

Answer: He was just a great person. Everything he did for everybody was remarkable. There are not many people like that and I think that's pretty awesome.

Darlington marked Mitchell's 7th NASCAR race of the season and his 7th #43 poster this season. He makes them all for Bubba Wallace and the #43 team. He wanted to give the poster to the camp, but I made the suggestion that he auction it off for proceeds to go to Victory Junction Camp. He jumped all over it. He is so excited! His goal is no small one. He wants to raise enough money to send one camper to camp ($1,500-$2,500!). While I understand he likely won't reach his goal, I hope we can raise some funds for Victory Junction and some exposure as well! Mitchell's Dad

Click Here to Bid on Poster

 

Adam Petty

Adam Kyler Petty was an American professional racing driver. He was the fourth generation from the Petty family to drive in races in the highest division of NASCAR racing. He is believed to be the first fourth-generation athlete in all of modern American professional sports.

Tragically, on May 12, 2000, in a practice session for the Busch 200 race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Petty's throttle stuck wide open going into turn three, causing the car to hit the outside wall virtually head on. Petty was killed instantly when he suffered a basilar skull fracture. He was just nineteen years old.

The Petty family founded Victory Junction in honor of their son and to honor his dream of helping children.

A tribute to Adam Petty ❤️💛💙💚

Such a special moment for the Petty family! pic.twitter.com/OS4geMMNCe

— KylePettyCharityRide (@KPCharityRide) August 6, 2019

100% of the sale of this item will benefit Victory Junction Gang Camp Inc.

Victory Junction enriches the lives of children with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses by providing life-changing camp experiences that are exciting, fun and empowering; all in a medically-safe environment at no cost to the camper or their family. Located in the hills of Randleman, North Carolina, Victory Junction is spread across 84 acres, allowing children to do what they do best - be kids, play, imagine, make friends and enjoy the adventures and experiences of camp life.

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Happy Birthday Adam

Happy Birthday Adam
You are missed & You are remembered 

When Victory Junction opened in Randleman, N.C., in 2004 in honor of their son, Adam, Kyle and Pattie Petty envisioned a place of happiness, joy and life-changing camping experiences that would be free of charge to children and families. From this vision, Victory Junction was formed.

Victory Junction is a year-round camping facility that serves children, ages 6 to 16, with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses. During the summer, Victory Junction offers disease-specific sessions with up to 128 children per session. During the fall, winter and spring, family weekends are offered to up to 32 families per weekend.

Victory Junction is a member of the SeriousFun Network founded by Paul Newman and is accredited by the rigorous guidelines of the American Camping Association. 

Click here to check out Victory Junction.

Father's Day is a day honoring fathers and celebrated on the third Sunday of June. This special day celebrates both fatherhood and the importance of male parenting. Of course my favorite NASCAR Father / Son Duo would have to be my very own husband and son.

Moses Smith and his father Paul

"My earliest memories are of my dad working on his street/drag car or building his sand rail in the garage," Moses said. "He was always involved in motorsports as a hobby and I thought it would be cool if I could do it for a living," Smith said.

Paul has always been an all-encompassing family man and constant source of support for his two sons. Moses started working with his father, in a race team garage by the age of three.

However, for second place, the Earnhardts and Pettys tie as favorite NASCAR Fathers and Son.

Dale Earnhardt Sr. & Dale Earnhardt Jr. 

(photo credit = msn.foxsports.com)

Dale Sr. won a record-tying seven NASCAR championships during his career; his 76 wins place him fourth of all time. His career was highlighted by his memorable first victory at the Daytona 500 in 1998. (Sadly, the driver of the No. 3 car died after a crash on the final lap at Daytona in 2001.)

Dale Jr. has carried on his father's driving legacy, making his debut on the Winston Cup circuit in 2000. In 2003, he finished third in the championship standings, and in 2004, Dale Jr. won the Daytona 500 six years to the day after his father's victory there.

Cool fact: When Dale Sr. and sons Dale Jr. and Kerry all competed in the 2000 Pepsi 400, it marked just the second time a father had raced against two sons.

Lee & Richard Petty

Lee, Richard, Kyle, and Adam Petty
(photo credit = nascar.speedtv.com)

Lee Petty was NASCAR's first real superstar, winning three drivers' championships between 1954 and 1959. He also won the inaugural Daytona 500 in 1959. He was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1990.

Richard Petty shares the record for most drivers' championships, having won seven between 1967 and 1979. He retired in 1992 with 200 career wins (the most ever) and joined his dad in the Hall of Fame in 1997. (Sadly, the Pettys suffered the loss of Adam Petty, NASCAR’s first fourth-generation driver on May 12, 2000. The young driver was practicing for the Nationwide Series at the New Hampshire International Speedway when his throttle stuck wide open, causing the car to hit the outside wall.)

Cool fact: Both Pettys were named among the Top 50 NASCAR drivers of all time in 1998.

Honorable Mention

Butch Gilliland, the 1997 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West champion and winner of 13 victories in the division. His then-crew chief, son David Gilliland, currently competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. David Gilliland still runs an occasional K&N Pro Series race. Butch must have raised him right, because David is one of the most polite and approachable drivers I have had the pleasure of meeting.

NASCAR Race Mom with a very nice David Gilliland at Sonoma Raceway (6/24/2011)

Cool fact:  David Gilliland, driver of the No. 38 Ford Fusion for Front Row Motorsports in the Sprint Cup Series, had a career-best second-place finish at Talladega Superspeedway in April 2013, pushing his teammate David Ragan to a surprising win.

Child, you outgrew my lap,
but never my heart.
Happy Father’s Day!