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Kyle Petty

NASCAR star Kyle Petty answered your questions as Weekly Reader's February celebrity.

Ask This Month's Celebrity: Kyle Petty

On the Fast Track

Kyle Petty grew up around race tracks, stock cars, and drivers of the NASCAR Nextel Cup circuit. Entering the family business as a driver, though, he had some pretty big shoes to fill. His father, Richard Petty (AKA "The King,") is the most successful driver in the history of the sport. His grandfather, Lee Petty, was one of the most successful pioneers of NASCAR racing. Kyle didn't disappoint. His first time in a major league stock car race he crossed the finish line first, winning the 1979 Daytona ARCA 200. Winning races is just what the Pettys do. With eight victories on the NASCAR Nextel Cup circuit to date, Kyle is gearing up for the start of the 2007 racing season. Once again, he'll be behind the wheel of the No. 45 Dodge. Catch him if you can!

Fast Facts about Kyle Petty

Kyle Petty was born June 2, 1960, in Randleman, N.C.
He grew up in Level Cross, N.C., which is where Petty Enterprises is located. Kyle is the Chief Executive Officer of Petty Enterprises.
He and his wife Pattie live in Randleman, N.C., and have three children: Adam, Austin, and Montgomery Lee
Kyle's first car was a 1950 Plymouth which he used to drive to school. (His grandfather used to race a 1950 Plymouth.)
In 1995, Kyle founded the Chick-Fil-A Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America to benefit children's charities across America. Every year hundreds of fans, drivers, and crew members jump on their motorcycles to join Petty in visiting local children's hospitals and other local charities. Today, the Petty charity ride is the most successful event by any person in the NASCAR garage.
In 2004, Kyle opened the Victory Junction Gang Camp near his home in Level Cross, N.C. The camp is the sixth in the "Hole in the Wall Gang" camps for children founded by actor Paul Newman.
Kyle's commitment to charity led to him being named NASCAR Winston Cup Illustrated "Person of the Year" in both 1999 and 2000, marking the first time that any one person has won it in consecutive years. He has also won the 2000 and 2004 Myers Brothers Award, the highest award presented by the National Motorsports Press Association. In 2002, Petty was awarded the True Value Person of the Year Award for his humanitarian efforts.
Kyle's all-time favorite film is Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

Want to learn more? Go to www.nascar.com