Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America announces details for 30th Anniversary Ride
Former NASCAR driver and current racing analyst Kyle Petty today officially announced the complete route and overnight stops for the 30th Anniversary Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America (KPCRAA). For the milestone edition, the 30th Anniversary KPCRAA will truly cross the United States, starting in Sonoma, California, on May 1, 2026, and concluding in Charlotte, North Carolina, on May 9, 2026.
The 30th Anniversary Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America will be book-ended by trips to two iconic Speedway Motorsports (SM) racetracks, Sonoma Raceway and Charlotte Motor Speedway, and will see Petty lead roughly 150 motorcycles over 3,400 miles across 11 states in just nine days to raise funds and awareness for Victory Junction – a camp dedicated to providing life-changing camping experiences for children with serious and chronic medical conditions. Since 1995, more than 9,575 riders have logged 13.3 million cumulative motorcycle miles and raised more than $23 million for Victory Junction and other children’s charities.
In celebration of America’s 250th birthday, the 30th Anniversary KPCRAA will ride historic Highway 50, the ‘Loneliest Road in America,’ and parts of the original Route 66, both of which are celebrating their Centennial in 2026. The Ride is working closely with America 250 to highlight iconic stops along the way, and contribute to the “Our American Story,” program in which stories of everyday Americans will be recorded for posterity.
The Ride will also make stops at the original Bass Pro Shops in Springfield, Missouri; tour Elvis Presley’s home and museum Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee; explore the Coker Museum in Chattanooga, Tennessee; ride the famous 318-curve and 11-mile Dragon through the Appalachian Mountains; visit Wheels Through Time Motorcycle Museum in Maggie Valley, North Carolina; capped off with a trip to Victory Junction before heading to Charlotte Motor Speedway.
“The reason I am so excited about this year’s Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America is because this is our 30th year,” Petty said. “America 250 – the anniversary of our great country’s independence, the 100th anniversary of Highway 50 – the ‘Loneliest Road in America,’ the 100th anniversary of Route 66 – another iconic highway. There is just so much to celebrate this year. The places we are stopping – Bass Pro Shops, Coker Museum, Graceland, riding the Dragon - just like the kid’s book says, ‘Oh the places you’ll go!’ I feel like a kid and I’m ready to do it.”
Spectators and race fans along the 2026 route are encouraged to attend one of the Ride’s nine overnight stops or daily pit stops to greet Petty and the riders, purchase memorabilia, collect autographs and make donations to Victory Junction.
Full 30th Anniversary Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America Schedule:
· Day 1, Friday, May 1 – Sonoma, CA to Ely, NV
· Day 2, Saturday, May 2 – Ely, NV to Moab, UT
· Day 3, Sunday, May 3 – Moab, UT to Colorado Springs, CO
· Day 4, Monday, May 4 – Colorado Springs, CO to Wichita, KS
· Day 5, Tuesday, May 5 – Wichita, KS to Springfield, MO
· Day 6, Wednesday, May 6 – Springfield, MO to Memphis, TN
· Day 7, Thursday, May 7 – Memphis, TN to Chattanooga, TN
· Day 8, Friday, May 8 – Chattanooga, TN to Asheville, NC
