By Michael Dapper
VRA Page Webmaster Victory Rider and NASCAR racer Kyle Petty is a kind and patient man. That’s obvious because he actually allows our friend, Victory dealer Jeff Whaley of Victory of Cumming (GA) to work on his pit crew at several races each year.
Talk about being a good guy. It’s as if Kyle lost a bet or is doing penance for some terrible crime by allowing Dr. Whaley to go over the wall for the No. 45 team.
Actually, Jeff and Kyle are long-, long-time friends, and Jeff is Kyle’s Victory dealer, which will keep a guy busy because Kyle is really into the bikes. Jeff attends several NASCAR races each year, and when you hang around that much, somebody’s going to put you to work.
So the good Doctor actually has his NASCAR crew card – which required extensive drug testing and security checks. Whooda thunk Jeff would get clearance?
When Jeff’s at a race, he’ll be in uniform and going over the wall. Don’t worry, they don’t entrust him with tasks like tire changes or gas fills. As you can see in the photos here from Talladega, he’s the dude peeling off the windshield cover. Before races, NASCAR teams put several layers of plastic over the driver’s side of the windshield. It serves the same purpose as tear-offs on a dirt biker’s goggles: At pit stops, a crew member such as Jeff grabs the tabs at the edge of the dirty top sheet and peels it off, giving a driver like Kyle a clear view of the action.
Knowing Jeff as well as we do, we keep envisioning him getting a belt buckle or cell phone clip caught in the netting at Kyle’s window and getting dragged around the track like something out of an “I Love Lucy” episode or a Will Farrell movie.
Stay safe, Jeff, and peel well, man.
For Petty Racing info, go to:
Petty Racing. VOTE FOR KYLE Speaking of Kyle, your vote can help put him into this coming weekend’s NASCAR All-Star race, which would mean a nice financial shot in the arm for the Victory Junction Gang Camp.
Fans can vote online for an extra driver to be entered in its May 19 Nextel All-Star Challenge. Last year, with the backing of many Victory riders, Kyle Petty got voted in, and his appearance money and winnings were passed along to the camp that Kyle founded with his wife Pattie. Kyle finished eighth in last year’s All-Star race and raised over $750,000 for the Victory Junction Gang Camp for children with chronic illnesses.
To vote for Kyle, visit:
All-Star Challenge Voting In order to vote, you’ll have to register with NASCAR.com, but don’t fear an onslaught of NASCAR-tinged spam. We registered and voted last year and have received no mail at all from NASCAR.
The top vote-getters will be announced May 19, right before the All-Star race.
DIRT TRACKIN’ TO HELP THE CAMP Here’s another way to support the Victory Junction Gang Camp – while enjoying some interesting dirt track racing. Check out the link at the end of this paragraph to get details about what’s being called the “Prelude to the Dream,” a one-time pay-per-vide dirt track racing event scheduled for June 6 on HBO.
Prelude to the Dream NASCAR racers such as Tony Stewart, Juan Pablo Montoya, Jeff Gordon, Kasey Kahne, Kevin Harvick, Matt Kenseth, Mark Martin, Denny Hamlin, Bobby Labonte and more are expected to race 2,300-pound late model dirt trackers at the legendary Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio – with proceeds from the event going to the Victory Junction Gang Camp.
Check out the HBO link above for details and watch for this cool event.
GOOD REPORT FROM OMAHA We’re hearing good news from Omaha, home of Victory Ride Coordinator and all-around good guy Bill Konsel. Bill’s been fighting the good fight against some medical challenges and the reports we’re receiving are very positive. We’re hoping Bill will be riding soon, and no doubt he’ll be on hand to say hi to new and old Victory friends when riders stop in Omaha en route to the American Victory Rally in Spirit Lake, Iowa.
Keep it up, Bill.
EVENT SEASON IN FULL SWING Ah, summer’s here, which means riding and rallies. Check out the events section on the VRA Page for a full list of major rallies as well as a list of Victory Rides we’ve heard about from ride coordinators.
Get out and have some fun at events like these:
• The Southeast Victory Meet in Helen, GA, May 31-June 3
• Americade in scenic Lake George, NY, where the Victory display and demos opens at 9 a.m. on June 5
• Laconia (NH) Motorcycle Week, which starts for Victory on June 9
• The Honda Hoot, where Victory opens up on June 20
• The Rocky Mountain Victory Freedom Rally in Durango, CO, June 22-23
• The eighth annual V2V Relay runs from June 21 to July 4, going east to west this year and running an extra couple days to make the legs more fun than ever
• The American Victory Rally in Spirit Lake, IA, July 27-28
• The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, starting August 6; the VRA Party at Sturgis is August 8
Let’s see your smiling mugs aboard your beautiful bikes at several of these rallies and events this summer.