Earnhardt is 'Keeping the Dream Alive' at Victory Junction

RANDLEMAN, N.C. (March 1, 2010) – Victory Junction kicked off its “Keeping the Dream Alive” campaign today by announcing that Dale Earnhardt Jr. will join the elite list of Victory Junction Founders, as he commits to donate $1 million to build and maintain The Dale Jr. Corral and Amphitheatre at the Randleman, N.C., camp for children with serious illnesses. Victory Junction began with a dream, Adam Petty’s dream. His passion for helping children drove him to think of new ways to directly change the lives of children with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses. During a NASCAR Nationwide Series practice session in 2000, tragically, Petty lost his life -- but not his dream. His dream now lives on in the lives of more than 13,000 children and families that have suffered from over two dozen diseases such as cancer, hemophilia, spina bifida, physical disabilities and sickle cell. Earnhardt is keeping Petty's dream alive. On March 27, during The Dale Jr. Foundation Physical Disabilities Weekend at Victory Junction, Earnhardt will join the Victory Junction family as a Founder and will break ground on a one-of-a-kind project, The Dale Jr. Corral and Amphitheatre. Eighty-eight members of The JR Nation Crew, The Official Fan Club of Earnhardt Jr., will be selected randomly to be special guests for this private ground breaking ceremony. To become a part of the free JR Nation Crew fan club and be eligible to attend, go to www.dalejr.com/jrnation. “There are many reasons why we wanted to get involved with Victory Junction and build this amphitheatre, and it starts with the tremendous impact the camp has on these kids. It’s incredible how one week changes lives,” said Earnhardt, driver of the No. 88 AMP Energy/National Guard Chevrolet “Just as important to me is my friendship with Kyle and Pattie Petty, and the memory of my buddy, Adam Petty. Adam and I met each other at an early age, and from that point on our lives and careers were virtually parallel. He was as genuine as they get and a great friend. If I can play a small part in helping Kyle and Pattie keep his dream alive, it doesn’t require a second thought.” This unique, interactive and accessible outdoor amphitheatre will provide campers, the opportunity to sing a song, act in a play, tell a joke, play an instrument, watch a movie or even get their face pictured on an old, western “Wanted” poster along with the infamous outlaw, “Junior.” “Pattie and I are extremely humbled by Junior’s kindness and generosity. We’ve known Junior since he was a kid and it means the world to us that he is honoring our son, Adam, by helping change the lives of these kids,” said Kyle Petty. “Adam is definitely smiling.” Victory Junction is extremely proud and humbled by the generosity and hard work of all of the individuals who not only believed in Adam’s dream, but helped make it a reality. Now it is time to keep that dream alive. You, too, can join Earnhardt and Victory Junction in their mission to help this very deserving group of children. Go to www.victoryjunction.org to donate toward the project and to learn about Victory Junction’s new Dream Team Challenge. Sign up as a crew chief, start your own Dream Team and join us in honoring the young man who had the vision to make us all feel our hearts race.