In 1999, a lanky, wide-smiling teenager visited Camp Boggy Creek, a SeriousFun camp in Florida, with his dad and knew it was his calling to bring a similar camp to the hills of North Carolina where he grew up. This young man was up and coming racecar driver Adam Petty, son of NASCAR driver Kyle Petty, grandson of racing legend Richard Petty and great grandson of NASCAR pioneer Lee Petty. This fourth generation driver was just starting his own racing career while still sleeping under his parents’ roof— but Adam was wise beyond his years. Passion drove him both on the track and in his desire to help others. Between races, Adam was often found in pediatric hospitals visiting children with challenging medical conditions. He also began saving money and developing the plans for the children’s camp of his dreams. One year after his touching experience visiting children at Florida’s Camp Boggy Creek, Adam Petty tragically lost his life in a racing accident at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. He was only 19 years old.

To honor Adam’s memory, the Petty family gathered their strength and challenged themselves, their friends and the NASCAR community to build his inspired dream— a place where children with serious illness would be able to experience the joys of childhood and forget about being sick for a while. With land donated by Richard and Lynda Petty, the Petty family spearheaded a capital campaign in 2002 and dollar by dollar received donations from corporations, individuals and foundations to build what would become Victory Junction, a NASCAR-themed camp located in Randleman, N.C. Adam’s legacy of love was realized when we opened our gates to our first campers in June of 2004.