RANDLEMAN, N.C. – The Hendrick Motorsports pit department made its annual trip to Victory Junction on Tuesday to take part in the camp’s cherished “NASCARnival.”
Victory Junction, located on 84 acres in Randleman, North Carolina, was founded in honor of Adam Petty, the late grandson of seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Richard Petty and son of former driver Kyle Petty. Adam’s passion for children and his commitment to community shaped the mission of the camp. After his passing in 2000, the Petty family brought his vision to life. In 2004, Victory Junction opened its doors, dedicated to enriching the lives of children with medical challenges free of charge to the children or their families.
Each summer, the camp hosts the “NASCARnival,” a racing-themed celebration that brings campers face to face with the world of motorsports. The six-week event welcomes race teams from across the NASCAR community and includes pit crew demonstrations, carnival games and post-dinner dance parties.
“This is my fourth year at Victory Junction,” said Hendrick Motorsports head pit coach Jacob Claborn. “It’s a bit different this year with the weather raining us out a little bit, but we still got pit stops in which was fun, especially for our guys that are here for the first time. It opens their eyes to a whole new world and these kids were full of energy and it was a lot of fun to hang out with them during dinner and the dance party. Seeing our guys interact with them during the dance party, it’s an awesome experience and getting to come every year and being able to expose our guys to something that’s outside of NASCAR but still within their realm. It’s always good to represent Hendrick Motorsports at Victory Junction and have fun with the kids.”
Despite the weather interruptions, the athletes made the most of the visit. The energy and excitement from the campers made a lasting impression.
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“My first time visiting Victory Junction is a blessing,” said pit crew newcomer Al Blades. “The kids enjoy us, but we enjoy them even more. The pit demos were incredible. Seeing how pumped the kids (were), doing the chants before the stops, it was cool to be a part of that.”
Victory Junction remains a special place where the racing community and campers come together beyond the track. The Petty’s legacy and Adam’s passion continue to drive the mission forward, one camper at a time.