Victory Junction Gang Camp
Encyclopedia
The Victory Junction Gang Camp is a camp for terminally ill, and chronically ill
children located in Randleman, North Carolina
, USA. It is part of the Association of Hole in the Wall Camps
.
The mission of Victory Junction is to enrich the lives of children with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses by providing life-changing camping experiences that are exciting, fun and empowering, in a safe and medically sound environment.
, who was a teenage stock car driver (as well as the son of veteran Kyle Petty
, the grandson of seven-time champion Richard Petty
, and great-grandson of three-time champion Lee Petty
). The Pettys were also inspired by their visits to Camp Carefree, a camp in Stokesdale, North Carolina that utilized the same concept, but originated in the 1980's. In 2000, the Pettys began talks with Hole in the Wall founder Paul Newman
about the new venture.
On May 12, 2000, Adam Petty was killed in a crash during practice at New Hampshire International Speedway
. Kyle and his wife, Pattie (Huffman) Petty, carried on Adam's vision and spent four years raising money for, and building, the camp. On June 20, 2004, Father's Day
in the U.S., the VJGC welcomed its first campers.
driver Kurt Busch
. Other drivers, team owners, team sponsors, and NASCAR itself have given substantial donations to the camp.
Complete list of the camps current facilities:
The VJGC is open year-round and can accommodate about 100 campers at a time. The size of the camp is kept relatively small to allow the children more personal attention. Most campers live in the Southeast United States, but the number of participants that live in other parts of the country has grown over the time it has been open.
te for Camp Carefree
Terminal illness
Terminal illness is a medical term popularized in the 20th century to describe a disease that cannot be cured or adequately treated and that is reasonably expected to result in the death of the patient within a short period of time. This term is more commonly used for progressive diseases such as...
children located in Randleman, North Carolina
Randleman, North Carolina
Randleman is a city in Randolph County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 3,557 at the 2000 census. It is the home of NASCAR's Petty family, the Richard Petty Museum, and the Victory Junction Gang Camp.-Geography:...
, USA. It is part of the Association of Hole in the Wall Camps
Hole in the Wall Camps
The Association of Hole in the Wall Camps is a nonprofit organization that unites the world's largest family of camps for children with serious and life-threatening medical conditions. Hole in the Wall Camps are free of charge to all campers and their families regardless of their ability to pay and...
.
Mission
MISSION STATEMENT:The mission of Victory Junction is to enrich the lives of children with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses by providing life-changing camping experiences that are exciting, fun and empowering, in a safe and medically sound environment.
History
The idea for the camp came from Adam PettyAdam Petty
Adam Kyler Petty was a professional racing driver. He was the first fourth-generation driver in NASCAR history.-Early life:...
, who was a teenage stock car driver (as well as the son of veteran Kyle Petty
Kyle Petty
Kyle Eugene Petty is a former American NASCAR driver and is currently a co-host for NASCAR RaceDay and panel member for NASCAR Smarts which are both on SPEED. He also commentates for TNT in the summer. He is the son of racer Richard Petty, grandson of racer Lee Petty, and father of the late Adam...
, the grandson of seven-time champion Richard Petty
Richard Petty
Richard Lee Petty is a former NASCAR driver who raced in the Strictly Stock/Grand National Era and the NASCAR Winston Cup Series...
, and great-grandson of three-time champion Lee Petty
Lee Petty
Lee Arnold Petty was an American stock car driver in the 1950s and 1960s. He was one of the pioneers of NASCAR, and one of its first superstars. He was born near Randleman, North Carolina.-Career:...
). The Pettys were also inspired by their visits to Camp Carefree, a camp in Stokesdale, North Carolina that utilized the same concept, but originated in the 1980's. In 2000, the Pettys began talks with Hole in the Wall founder Paul Newman
Paul Newman
Paul Leonard Newman was an American actor, film director, entrepreneur, humanitarian, professional racing driver and auto racing enthusiast...
about the new venture.
On May 12, 2000, Adam Petty was killed in a crash during practice at New Hampshire International Speedway
New Hampshire International Speedway
New Hampshire Motor Speedway is a oval speedway located in Loudon, New Hampshire which has hosted NASCAR racing annually since the early 1990s, as well as an IndyCar weekend and the oldest motorcycle race in North America, the Loudon Classic...
. Kyle and his wife, Pattie (Huffman) Petty, carried on Adam's vision and spent four years raising money for, and building, the camp. On June 20, 2004, Father's Day
Father's Day
Father's Day is a celebration honoring fathers and celebrating fatherhood, paternal bonds, and the influence of fathers in society. Many countries celebrate it on the third Sunday of June but it is also celebrated widely on other days...
in the U.S., the VJGC welcomed its first campers.
Facilities
Facilities include a swimming pool, a recreational game room, a computer lab, an outdoor recreation area with open space, and a medical clinic. In 2006, work began on a "superdome" that would host indoor sporting facilities. It was begun with a $1 million seed donation from fellow NASCARNASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
driver Kurt Busch
Kurt Busch
Kurt Thomas Busch is an American NASCAR and NHRA driver. He drives the No. 22 Shell Oil Company/Pennzoil Dodge Charger in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and will race on an "opportunity permitting" basis in the Pro Stock division of NHRA...
. Other drivers, team owners, team sponsors, and NASCAR itself have given substantial donations to the camp.
Complete list of the camps current facilities:
| Facility | Donator/Sponsor | Usage/Activies |
|---|---|---|
| Sunoco Travel Center | Sunoco Sunoco Sunoco Inc. is an American petroleum and petrochemical manufacturer headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, formerly known as Sun Company Inc. and Sun Oil Co. .... |
Camp information center |
| Welcome Center Shop | Randleman Chamber of Commerce | Camp Store |
| Administrative Building | Wal-Mart Wal-Mart Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. , branded as Walmart since 2008 and Wal-Mart before then, is an American public multinational corporation that runs chains of large discount department stores and warehouse stores. The company is the world's 18th largest public corporation, according to the Forbes Global 2000... |
Camp offices |
| Catch Kiss and Release Marina | Bass Pro Shops Bass Pro Shops Bass Pro Shops is a privately held retailer of hunting, fishing, camping and related outdoor recreation merchandise. Bass Pro Shops is known for a large selection of hunting, fishing, and other outdoor gear.-History:The owner, John L... |
fishing, canoes and kayaking |
| Cabin Row Buildings | various sponsors | Campers home away from home |
| The Fab Shop | Ruth Lind | |
| The Harris Teeter Pit Stop | Harris Teeter Harris Teeter Harris Teeter is a chain of supermarkets based in Matthews, North Carolina, just outside Charlotte. , the chain operates 207 stores in eight Southern states: North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, Tennessee, Florida, Maryland, Delaware, and the District of Columbia.Harris Teeter is a... |
Camp Snack Shop |
| Kyle Petty Charity Ride Aquatic Center | Kyle Petty Charity | Swimming |
| Home Depot Tree House | Home Depot | Outdoor Tree House |
| Arts and Crafts Building | Sam and Priscilla McCall and David Moon | Arts and Crafts |
| Tony Stewart Maze | Tony Stewart Tony Stewart Anthony Wayne "Tony" Stewart is an American auto racing driver and owner. Throughout his racing career, Stewart has won titles in Indy cars and stock cars as well as midget, sprint and USAC Silver Crown cars, giving him the recognition of "one of the finest racers of his generation."Stewart... |
Outdoor Carnival Style Maze |
| Friends of Lee Ashburn and Davis Love III Miniature Golf Course | Various Donors | Miniature golf Miniature golf Miniature golf, or minigolf, is a miniature version of the sport of golf. While the international sports organization World Minigolf Sport Federation prefers to use the name "minigolf", the general public in different countries has also many other names for the game: miniature golf, mini-golf,... |
| Victory Lanes | Jimmie Johnson Jimmie Johnson Jimmie Kenneth Johnson is an American NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race car driver. He currently drives the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports.... |
Bowling |
| The Silver Theater | The Silver Theater | Stage Night and Other Theater Activies |
| Michael Waltrip Operation Marathon Sports Center | Michael Waltrip Michael Waltrip Michael Curtis Waltrip is a semi-former professional race car driver, co-owner of Michael Waltrip Racing, and a published author. He is the younger brother of three-time NASCAR champion and racing commentator Darrell Waltrip. Waltrip is a two-time winner of the Daytona 500; having won the race in... |
Sport Activies |
| The Alpine Adventure Tower and Zipline | Various Donors | Climbing and repelling |
| The Hendrick Fuel Stop | Hendrick Motorsports Hendrick Motorsports Hendrick Motorsports , originally named All Star Racing, is a current American auto racing team created in 1984 by Rick Hendrick. The team currently competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with Chevrolet Impalas... |
Camp Dinning Hall |
| Goody's Body Shop | GlaxoSmithKline GlaxoSmithKline GlaxoSmithKline plc is a global pharmaceutical, biologics, vaccines and consumer healthcare company headquartered in London, United Kingdom... |
Camp Medical Center |
| The Dale Jr. Corral and Amphitheatre | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Western Town Themed Amphitheatre |
| Kurt Busch Superdome | Kurt Busch Kurt Busch Kurt Thomas Busch is an American NASCAR and NHRA driver. He drives the No. 22 Shell Oil Company/Pennzoil Dodge Charger in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and will race on an "opportunity permitting" basis in the Pro Stock division of NHRA... |
Baseball, Kickball, and Other Games |
| Jessie's Horsepower Garage | Numerous Donors | Horseback Riding |
| Adam's Race Shop | The Petty Family | Sprint Cup Race Shop simulation |
The VJGC is open year-round and can accommodate about 100 campers at a time. The size of the camp is kept relatively small to allow the children more personal attention. Most campers live in the Southeast United States, but the number of participants that live in other parts of the country has grown over the time it has been open.
External links
te for Camp Carefree