Kyle Petty To Be Honored as Father of the Year

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MOORESVILLE, N.C. -- Kyle Petty is being honored in June by the National Father's Day Council and the American Diabetes Association as a Father of the Year.

The Greater Greensboro Area Father's Day Council will present Petty with the award on June 6 at its annual Father of the Year awards dinner.

Petty, 47, is among several recipients being recognized for their ability to balance their personal lives, thus allowing them to serve as a role model for their children while also making a positive difference in their community.

"This award means so much to me because being a dad means so much to me," Petty said. "NASCAR drivers are on the road a lot. I'm traveling for so many months out of the year. So I really have to get the most out of my time at home. It makes me really appreciate spending time with my kids because my time with them is so valuable."

Petty has a daughter, Montgomery Lee, and a son, Austin. His oldest son, Adam, was killed in an on-track accident in May 2000. In Adam's honor, Petty and his wife, Pattie, started the Victory Junction Gang Camp in 2004. The camp offers children with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses the opportunity to have a life-changing camping experience that takes place in a safe and medically sound environment.

"I think this award is special because it focuses on fathers that are good dads, but who also help their community," Petty said. "Being a good dad isn't just about how you are with your kids, it's about teaching your kids how to be good people. I hope that my passion for the camp will help my kids understand the importance of helping others."

Held at the Grandover Resort in Greensboro on June 6, the Father of the Year awards dinner is designed to celebrate Father's Day while also benefiting the American Diabetes Association. The National Father's Day Council, which has raised more than $20 million to search for a cure for diabetes, is a volunteer group that annually honor individuals whose achievements and values enhance the meaning and stature of fatherhood.