More than 150 motorcyclists, led by NASCAR legend Kyle Petty, roared into North Platte on Saturday, May 4.

The annual Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America began in Deadwood, S.D. earlier in the day, and made its first stop in North Platte.

The ride will end on Friday, May 10 at the Victory Junction Gang Camp in Randleman, N.C.

The ride is a fundraiser for the Victory Junction Camp, a camp for children with serious medical issues. The camp was founded by Kyle Petty in memory of his son, Adam, who died in 2000 at the age of 19 at a practice session accident before a NASCAR race.

Adam Petty stated his intention of creating a camp for disabled children and his father carried on. In 2004, Victory Junction opened.

Petty was joined in North Platte by fellow NASCAR drivers Ken Schrader, Kenny Wallace, Mike Wallace and David Ragan.

NASCAR announcer Rick Allen, a native of Grand Island, and announcer Rutledge Wood, plus football star Herschel Walker, were also there.

Schrader and Kenny Wallace were the headliners for NASCAR Night at the Lincoln County Raceway that night. About 1,400 people attended.

Tami Tinsley was the Lincoln County Raceway representative in charge of getting Schrader and Wallace to the track. The riders were scheduled to be in North Platte by 7 p.m. But things often run late when on the road and Tinsley spent an hour texting back and forth, getting updates on how close they were from town.

Tinsley said the Kyle Petty Ride stop in North Platte was due to the work of Raceway Promoter Joe Bellm and BST Promotion. She said it was Bellm’s connection with Schrader and Wallace that made the stop possible.

“He is personal friends with Kenny Schrader and Kenny Wallace. He was able to coordinate the charity ride with them coming out and racing at the track,” Tinsley said. “It’s great to bring the community together for such a great event at such a wonderful track.”

At about 7:45 p.m., the motorcycles came in from the north on U.S. Highway 83. They appeared to be in formation, with the bikes evenly spaced from each other as they crossed the I-80 overpass.

The riders were greeted by members of the Guardians of the Children and the Patriot Guard Riders of Nebraska, with each rider holding an American flag. Behind them were about 100 fans and autograph seekers.

Kenny Wallace was the first to meet the fans.

“How y’all doing?” he said to them. “I saw all the people coming around the corner and I thought it was like the ol’ NASCAR days again.”

Mayor Brandon Kelliher met Petty and awarded him the key to the city.

“We’d like to thank you for all you do for children,” Kelliher told Petty. “Children are our future.”

Before he could sign autographs, Petty announced to the fans he had to use the bathroom. Everyone understood. Then, he met the fans.

He couldn’t wait to eat after the first day of the ride.

“Hungry, that’s how I feel,” he said. “It’s been a good day. The weather’s been good and so has everyone.”

This is the 28th year of the ride, which predates the founding of Victory Junction, which the event now supports.

“A bunch of us wanted to ride motorcycles from California to North Carolina,” Petty said. “We wanted to do it for charity, and that’s what we did,”

This is the first time the riders have stopped in North Platte. They take a different route west to North Carolina every year.

At the end of each ride, they are greeted by the kids at the camp.

“We’re going to have a big party when we get there,” Petty said. “All the kids from the camp will be there. That’s what it’s all about, raising money for the camp and we’ll all see them.”

A lot of famous names have come along with Petty but not everyone in the crew is a celebrity. Most of them are just people Petty met on the road who want to help the cause.

“It’s a lot of good people I’ve met in my life. It’s a Charity Ride family and it’s just a bunch of good people,” Petty said.

Petty said he’s encountered just about every conceivable weather condition on the annual ride, but meeting people and helping kids are the most memorable things about it.

“We’ve had fun. We’ve been through rain, tornadoes, snow, sleet and all kinds of weather. It’s also the people you meet along the way. Those are the best stories,” he said.

After all these years, Petty said his bike has never broken down on the ride because it is well-prepared and fine-tuned for the road ahead of time.

There’s just one obstacle Petty encounters.

“The only trouble is getting food,” he said.

Photo (above): The riders roll into the Holiday Inn Express and are greeted by members of the Guardians of the Children motorcycle club.

Photo (below): Mayor Brandon Kelliher awards the key to the city to Kyle Petty. (Photos by James Parrish)

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