Victory Junction Gang Camp

Victory Junction Gang Camp is a nonprofit, year-round camp facility in Randleman, North Carolina, dedicated to children living with complex medical and physical needs. It was built by the Petty family — NASCAR driver Kyle Petty and his wife Pattie — to honor the life and legacy of their son Adam Petty, who died in 2000 during practice for a NASCAR Busch Grand National Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Adam had dreamed of creating a place where children facing medical challenges could experience the freedom and adventure of simply being a kid, and his family spent four years raising funds and constructing the camp, which opened its gates on June 20, 2004. The camp is part of the Hole in the Wall Gang Camps network, a group of camps founded by Paul Newman, who helped the Petty family realize Adam's vision. Victory Junction offers adaptive, fully accessible programs designed to remove barriers so campers can explore, connect, and thrive. Activities include zip lining, archery, fishing, swimming, and more, all in a medically safe environment with an on-site clinic. The facility is intentionally small — accommodating roughly 100 children at a time — so that staff can give individual attention to each camper. It operates year-round and is provided at no cost to families. Funding comes largely from donations. NASCAR driver Kurt Busch was one of the first major donors, contributing one million US dollars, and many other NASCAR drivers, team owners, and sponsors followed. Revenue from special NASCAR events, such as the Prelude to the Dream, also supports the camp. The camp's address, 4500 Adam's Way, is a tribute to Adam Petty, who drove the number 45 car; after Adam's death, his father Kyle drove the number 45 in his honor. Victory Junction has received notable recognition, including a visit from President George W. Bush on October 18, 2006, who toured the camp with campers and met NASCAR drivers Michael Waltrip and Jimmie Johnson. The camp continues to serve thousands of campers and families, carrying forward Adam Petty's dream of a place where children with medical needs can just be kids.

Victory Junction Gang Camp was born from the vision of Adam Petty, son of NASCAR driver Kyle Petty and great-grandson of NASCAR pioneer Lee Petty. Adam dreamed of building a camp for children with serious medical conditions, but his life was cut short in 2000 when he died during practice for a NASCAR Busch Grand National Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. In the same year, Kyle Petty, his wife Pattie, and Paul Newman — founder of the Hole in the Wall Gang Camps — began working to realize Adam's idea. Over four years, the Petty family raised funds and oversaw construction of the camp, which opened on June 20, 2004, in Randleman, North Carolina. The camp was designed to be small, accommodating around 100 children at a time, so that counselors could give individual attention to each camper. It operates year-round and offers a wide range of activities, including a large swimming pool, a game room, a computer room, and a small clinic for accidents. The address, 4500 Adam's Way, honors Adam Petty, who drove the number 45 car; after Adam's death, Kyle Petty drove the number 45 in his memory. Victory Junction is part of the Hole in the Wall Gang Camps group, a network of camps founded by Paul Newman for children with serious illnesses. Funding comes primarily from donations. NASCAR driver Kurt Busch was one of the first major donors, giving one million US dollars, and many other NASCAR drivers, team owners, and sponsors followed. Proceeds from special NASCAR events such as the Prelude to the Dream also benefit the camp. On October 18, 2006, President George W. Bush visited Victory Junction Gang Camp. He participated in activities with campers and met with NASCAR drivers Michael Waltrip and Jimmie Johnson, later praising the camp's work. The camp has continued to serve thousands of campers and families, maintaining its mission to provide medically safe, fully accessible camp experiences at no cost.

• 2006

  President George W. Bush visits the camp on October 18, meeting campers and NASCAR drivers Michael Waltrip and Jimmie Johnson.

• 2004

  Victory Junction Gang Camp opens on June 20 in Randleman, North Carolina.

• 2000

  Adam Petty dies during practice for a NASCAR Busch Grand National Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway; Kyle and Pattie Petty begin planning a camp in his honor.

A fully accessible, medically safe camp where children with complex medical and physical needs can experience adventure, friendship, and independence at no cost to families.

• Year-round camp sessions

  Fully accessible, medically safe camp programs for children with complex medical and physical needs, offered at no cost to families.

• Adaptive outdoor activities

  Activities such as zip lining, archery, fishing, and swimming, adapted so all campers can participate.

1. 1Victory Junction Homevictoryjunction.org
2. 2About - Victory Junctionvictoryjunction.org
3. 3Victory Junction Gang Camp - Wikidatawikidata.org
4. 4Victory Junction Gang Camp - Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org