Auto Racing: Petty keeps his perspective

The death of his son, 19-year-old Adam Petty, in a racing accident in May of 2000, has changed his perspective and, to a large degree, his way of life.

Oh, sure. He still goes about the business of what he calls "runnin' around in circles" on Sunday afternoons as one of NASCAR's biggest stars.

But brightening the days of others and getting the Victory Junction Camp built in Randleman, N.C., are high up on his list of priorities.

The camp is expected to open this summer and will be free to children ages 7 through 15 with life-threatening illnesses and their families. Kyle and his wife, Pattie, founded the facility.

It may not put the youngsters behind the wheels of high-speed racecars. But it will give them a chance to enjoy such activities as archery, arts and crafts, boating, horseback riding, fishing, swimming and nature.

Pediatric specialists and a fully-equipped medical center will be available on-site 24 hours a day when the camp is in session.

Charity endeavors, like Petty's Key Lime Ride II motorcycle motorcade that stopped overnight in Naples on Tuesday, mean more to the 43-year-old Petty than his fans will ever know.

"I think they're more important in the big picture. Obviously, losing Adam put life back into a perspective. Anybody who loses a child or a loved one has a different perspective," he said.

After a long NASCAR season that ended Sunday in Homestead, he was heading for the pool.

"Realistically, what we do is ride around in circles. It's entertainment. It's a sport," he went on, paying no attention to his ringing cell phone. "But it's just like baseball, basketball or football. We don't change the world when the game's over with. It gives people enjoyment. It gives people excitement. It makes their day a little bit brighter.

"Hopefully, that's what happens with some of the charitable stuff I and most of the other Winston Cup guys do."

Oops. He was bound to slip.

The 33-year-long Winston Cup era, during which his father won seven championships and was crowned King Richard, is over.

From this point forward, it's Nextel Cup.

"Nobody's chargin' me a buck yet. But they will before long," Petty laughed of his unavoidable Winston reference.

Petty started his now-famous Ride Across America motorcycle excursion from California to Daytona Beach nine years ago.

The Key Lime Ride is a down-sized version of the main event he hopes to continue each fall to puncutate the racing season.

Roughly 150 cyclists departed Homestead on Monday, making their way to Key West. They stopped at the RaceTrack convenience store on Pine Ridge Road early Tuesday afternoon before bunking at the Registry Resort.

The ride ends today in Amelia Island.

Cyclists and race fans who enjoy motorcycles as much as Petty does pay generous amounts to participate. To date, the events have generated more than $3 million for the Victory Junction Gang camp.

"I thought it would last about two years and I thought everybody would get tired of it," Petty said of the motorcycle rides.

"There are so many events and so many things people try to do, golf tournaments and stuff like that. They usually run their course in three of four years then kinda fall by the wayside.

"The ride itself has grown by leaps and bounds and I think a lot of that is because of the camp.

That's been a big deal for us. And there are so many Winston Cup guys who have gotten involved with it. On the big ride this year, we had about 14 different Winston Cup champs with us. That's helped keep the ride alive too, the fact that so many Winston Cup drivers and team owners have been a part of it."

From the time his father bought Kyle his first motorcycle at the age of 5, he's been hooked.

"It's really relaxing. I like ridin' motorcycles and always have. I'm 43 now. It's just a lot of fun," he said.

When away from the demands of his demanding sport, Petty doesn't do the golf thing.

"I look at ridin' motorcycles and some of the other stuff I do like other people look at playing golf or tennis or something like that," he said. "Did you ever notice that no matter how busy they are, they can always make time for 18 holes. They'll squeeze in 18 somewhere, ya know what I mean? That's kind of the way the motorcycle stuff is for me."

On the track, it was an up-and-down season for Petty's No. 45 Georgia Pacific Dodge. He didn't qualify for the season-ending Ford 400 this past weekend and was out of provisionals, thus failing to make the field.

Petty was in 33 of the 36 events in 2003 and his average finish was 29.8.

"There are a lot of things we have to do," he said of his team's recent performance. "If you go back about 10 years, I'd be goin' crazy. But after Adam's accident, my perspective changed.

"It's frustrating when you go to the racetrack and don't make the race. But it's not the end of the world. I've seen the end of the world from my perspective before with Adam. That's a lot more devastating."