New 60-Minute Original Documentary Chronicles 2017 Kyle Petty Charity Ride and Impact of Victory Junction

NBCSN presents Ride to Victory: Stories of the Kyle Petty Charity Ride, an inspirational documentary that chronicles NASCAR on NBC analyst and auto racing icon Kyle Petty's annual cross-country motorcycle trek, Thursday, June 29 at 10 p.m. ET.

The 60-minute documentary follows Kyle Petty, along with 200 other bikers, on their 2,400-mile journey from Portland, Ore., to Milwaukee, Wis. The annual Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America raises funds and awareness for Victory Junction, a year-round camping environment for children, ages six to 16, with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses.

Ride to Victory showcases the riders who participate each year, along with their stories and personal connections. In addition, the documentary includes interviews with numerous families, children and drivers who have personally been affected and found purpose in THE RIDE and the work of Victory Junction. The stories of those involved illustrate the importance of selflessness, and include first hand examples of how small acts of kindness have facilitated life-changing opportunities for those in need.

Thursday's special features interviews with current NASCAR drivers Dale Earnhardt Jr., Aric Almirola and Joey Logano, plus NASCAR Hall of Famer and seven time champion Richard Petty, as well as former NFL great and Heisman Trophy Winner Herschel Walker. Each discusses the effect THE RIDE and Victory Junction have had on them personally, and within the motor racing community.

Below are excerpts from Ride to Victory: Stories of the Kyle Petty Charity Ride:

Kyle Petty on the Ride: "I never thought it would make it past the first year, much less 23-years. I never thought it would grow to be the well-oiled machine that it is today. Every year it gets better."

Joey Logano on Victory Junction: "I wish more people got to witness Victory Junction. The kids are so wise beyond their years, because of the battles they have gone through. They are able to go there and just forget about things and be happy."

Dale Jr. on Victory Junction: "When Kyle started Victory Junction, I think that was the most ambitious undertaking any driver had ever done before. I think it showed a lot of people what was possible."

Charity Rider Gary Johnson: "There is a gift in charity, that feeling that you get when you have done something to make a difference. Everybody really likes that feeling. They just do not all know it yet."

Ride to Victory: Stories of the Kyle Petty Charity Ride accompanies NBCSN's #NASCARThrowback social media special, airing this Thursday at 7 p.m. ET.

NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app - NBC Sports Group's live streaming product for desktops, mobile devices, tablets, and connected TVs - stream all of NBC Sports Group's NASCAR coverage. The NBC Sports app will stream coverage via "TV Everywhere," giving consumers additional value to their subscription service, and making high-quality content available to MVPD customers both in and out of the home and on multiple platforms. Powered by Playmaker Media, the NBC Sports app is available on Apple iOS, Android and select Samsung devices, as well as on Amazon Fire, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, Win10, and Xbox.

About Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America

Led by former NASCAR driver and racing analyst Kyle Petty, the Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America is an annual cross-country motorcycle trek that raises funds and awareness for Victory Junction. THE RIDE is one of the most successful and popular charity events in the country. Now in its 23rd year, more than 8,175 riders have logged 11.9 million cumulative motorcycle miles and raised more than $18 million for Victory Junction and other children's charities.

About Victory Junction

Victory Junction is a year-round camping environment for children, ages six to 16, with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses. Co-founded by Kyle Petty and his family in honor of their son Adam, the camp is located in Randleman, North Carolina. Victory Junction exists to provide life-changing camping experiences that are exciting, fun and empowering, in a safe and medically-sound environment, always free of charge. As a not-for-profit organization, the camp operates solely through the support of generous individuals, foundations, organizations and corporations to provide this experience at no charge to children and their families. Since the camp's inception, more than 25,314 children and families have received not only a circle of support but experiences thought to only be possible by healthy children. Victory Junction is a member of the SeriousFun Children's Network of Camps founded by Paul Newman, and is accredited by the rigorous guidelines of the American Camping Association. To learn more, please visit victoryjunction.org.

To post a comment, you must register and login.