The Petty name is synonymous with NASCAR, but Pattie Petty has given even more meaning to her famous last name—charity. We see her as inspiration.

To call Pattie gracious is an understatement. She possesses great strength with humility, and is a role model in giving back to those in need. If you dream it; it can happen—this we know from Petty’s own quest. But the dream of Victory Junction Gang Camp wasn’t just her own—it was a crusade that belonged to her son, Adam Petty, as well. Adam was a fourth-generation driver for NASCAR. Tragically, his life was cut short in 2000 after an accident during a practice lap at the track in New Hampshire. He was 19.

How can a mom grieve when it seems like the world is watching? Even though they were emotionally devastated, Pattie and her husband, NASCAR driver Kyle Petty, along with their children Austin and Montgomery Lee, found strength in God and family. The family was focused on not only helping themselves cope, but others as well—a true testament to their giving ways. Pattie says that as mom who lost a child, she was granted something unique: the ability to “help others through [my] pain.”

Facing the biggest hardship of her life, Pattie channeled her thoughts to realize a dream of her late son’s. Adam wanted to open a camp for children with chronic medical conditions and serious illnesses in order to give them “a haven of normalcy and life-changing camping experiences.”

First, the Petty’s joined with Paul Newman’s Association of the Hole in the Wall Camps. Under Newman’s guidance, they utilized their relationship with NASCAR to raise funds. Victory Junction Gang Camp in North Carolina opened in June 2004. Pattie is also the camp’s Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board. Another location is planned in Kansas. To date, over 9000 children and families have been welcomed into the camp, where there are handmade quilts and Teddy Bears on beds. It’s those kinds of special touches that show the spirit Pattie possesses, and the philanthropic ways that Adam dreamed about fulfilling. “After the loss of Adam, my destiny was clear. It’s been a driving force every since,” she says.

With a Master’s degree in Child Developmental Psychology and an undergraduate degree in Early Childhood Development, Pattie knows exactly what is needed to make this camp the best it can be. “I want to help and make a difference,” she told us. “I recognized God’s success when Victory Junction opened and is still successful. [It’s] a dream come true and still growing. Our mission is to provide life-changing camping experiences to children with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses. What we didn’t expect was the impact we also would have on the parents’ lives. It’s amazing.”

She admits that balancing life and work will always present unique challenges to women, but she tackles it “day by day.”

Her daughter Montgomery Lee is 22, and son Austin is 26. “My daughter is so kind and positive,” Pattie shares. “My son is a ‘fly by the seat of his pants, no worries’ type of guy. I need a little of both!”

Montgomery Lee is a world champion with quarter horses. And Austin “will probably be a FBI secret service agent ‘someday,’” Pattie tells us. But they do sometimes all work together to better the camp. “We all worked the horses and animals together to have them ready,” she says. That’s a big difference from how life once was when the young family was on the NASCAR circuit traveling together. “The kids no longer travel with us, but did when they were little. I only go to a select number of races now,” Pattie says.

Pattie tells us that her mother was her mentor, but she passed away when Pattie was 21. Still, she sees beacons of light even in the darkest times. She shares, “Love your husband and tell your children how much they are loved. Dwell on the positive not the past.”

Adam lives on through his dream to help the children of Victory Junction Gang Camp. And his lessons live on in Pattie. “He taught me to be true to yourself and you’re never too old to say your prayers!” she says. A mantra we can all learn from as well. 

To learn more about Victory Junction Gang Camp, click here.

Photo of Pattie and daughter, Montgomery Lee.