Fallon became the first major stop on the Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America on Friday, May 1, as more than 150 riders, two NASCAR Hall of Famers, and other NASCAR celebrities pulled into Fox Peak for lunch and fan meet‑and‑greets.
This year’s ride also coincides with the 250th anniversary of American Independence and the 100th anniversary of U.S. Highway 50.
Motorsports is all about numbers — car numbers, laps, positions, and engineering — and this year’s Charity Ride brought plenty of memorable ones to Fallon.
The stop marked the beginning of a milestone year for the ride, now celebrating its 30th anniversary. The event is a yearly fundraiser for Victory Junction Gang Camp, a year‑round camp created to “give kids living with complex medical and physical needs opportunities to participate in activities, free from barriers they may face in their daily lives.” The Petty family founded the camp after the 2001 death of Adam Petty, Kyle’s son and Richard’s grandson, who passed in a practice crash at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in May 2000. Since opening in 2004, Victory Junction has hosted more than 150,000 children.
The Charity Ride began in 1995, a year after Kyle rode his motorcycle from North Carolina to a Phoenix NASCAR race. That 1994 trip started with Kyle and three friends and ended with more than 30 riders. Seeing the potential to raise money for charity, Kyle turned the cross‑country ride into an annual event that originally raised money for children’s hospitals. The ride has now raised more than $23 million overall. The 2020 edition was canceled due to COVID, making this year’s ride the official 30th running.
Kyle Petty said he was glad to see the crowd in Fallon and spoke warmly about U.S. 50 in Nevada. “I just love this ride, the towns on the way, and this highway,” he said at Fox Peak. “I’ve been here a few times over some other rides, and each time it has been spectacular.” He noted the loss of the famous shoe tree and the beginnings of a new one forming, adding with a laugh that he forgot to bring shoes to contribute. “I don’t think my cowboy boots will work.”
With Fallon enjoying chamber‑of‑commerce weather, Petty was asked about the forecast for the rest of the trip. “Doesn’t matter to us, we will ride on no matter what it is. We have a schedule to keep.” The first day of the ride was ending in Ely, a town Petty said he loves for its scenery and character.
That appreciation for rural Nevada was echoed by other riders. Kenny Wallace, retired NASCAR driver, television commentator, and active dirt‑track racer, had never been to Northern Nevada outside of Reno. He and his wife, Kim, were struck by Lake Tahoe’s beauty and the number of casinos, saying they want to return soon. When Wallace learned that Rattlesnake Raceway was just a short distance from Fox Peak, he immediately wished he had time to visit. Now in his fourth year on the ride, Wallace said, “You know, I used to think it was about the motorcycle ride. And I realized the Charity Ride is all about other people: the campers and the fans along the way who come see us and support the camp.”
Richard Petty, NASCAR’s Cup Series winningest driver with 200 victories and a NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee, was also glad to stop in Fallon. The 88‑year‑old traveled from Sonoma, California, and signed hundreds of autographs in the midafternoon sun — a Petty family tradition. After crossing the Sierra Nevada, he said he was looking forward to the long, straight stretches of the Great Basin. “It is a really beautiful drive, but I am looking forward to some long, straight highway.” He recalled previous visits to Fallon and said, “To see all this support for Adam and the camp again is great. We really appreciate it.”
Other NASCAR luminaries on the ride included NASCAR Cup Series champion and Hall of Famer Matt Kenseth, racers Ken Schrader and David Ragan, and announcer Rick Allen. All spent time signing autographs, talking with fans, and grabbing lunch before the group continued toward Ely.
The Charity Ride fuel stop is a choreographed event. The fueling team of a dozen or so arrives ahead of the other cyclists, clears the pumps of non‑ride vehicles, and then the main group files into the station. Riders fuel up without dismounting, then move to a staging area where they park, dismount, eat, and socialize before a warning siren signals five minutes to departure.
As the riders left the Fallon Fox Peak lot, former Rattlesnake Raceway flagman R.D. Goetz waved a green flag to send them on their way — a fitting end to a beautiful day in Fallon that won’t soon be forgotten by those in attendance.
To support Victory Junction Gang Camp, go to www.kylepettycharityride.com or www.victoryjunction.org.
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