‘92-year-old and 80-year-old NASCAR Greats Ride for Victory Junction Charities’
Ken Clapp, Chairman and CEO
208 Montair Drive, Danville CA 94526
P 925-552-9887 / F 925-552- 9814 ckcdeee@gmail.com
Dateline: West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame members Hershel McGriff and Ken Clapp joined the Kyle Petty Charity Ride to benefit Victory Junction Gang Camp. McGriff, 91 and Clapp, 80 participated for the second year in a row.
McGriff ran the entire approximately 3,700-mile trek starting in Seattle, Wash. with Clapp joining the 25th annual ride in Shreveport, La. and participated to the end of the event in Key Largo, Fla.
“This is my fourth year (on the Kyle Petty Charity Ride) and of course I know the Pettys and I know it is a good cause,” McGriff said. “I’ve always been looking forward to the day since I drove for Lee Petty, Richard and then Kyle (Petty) that I’d drive sometime with Adam (Petty) and unfortunately that wasn’t to be. I’ve always liked kids, I have kids and I think it is a great cause so that is why I like to support it. I’ve been to the Camp (Victory Junction) it is a great deal! Man, the kids can do anything – horseback to whatever. I think this run is great; you meet so many nice people. They aren’t here to be competitive or anything and is a great way to raise money.”
“This event is amazing,” Chairman and CEO of the West Coast Stock Car of Fame Clapp said. “It is the second year in a row I’ve been a part of the Kyle Petty Charity ride. Everyone gets along, no arguments, at the end of the day no matter what the hardships is – the heat, the rain or whatever, it is worth it. It is all about the Victory Junction Camp.”
McGriff, born Dec. 14, 1927 in Bridal Veil, Ore. has exhibited a competitive passion that lasted longer than any driver in NASCAR history. His first race was the 1950 Southern 500, in the NASCAR premier series’ sophomore season, at the age of 22. His final NASCAR race was at Tucson Raceway in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West event last May at the age of 90.
In 1991, McGriff was the recipient of the Bill France Award of Excellence. He was named one of NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers in 1998. He has been on the NASCAR Hall of Fame ballot four consecutive years.
Both McGriff and Clapp will be on hand to enshrine the 11 inductees at the 2019 West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame induction ceremony presented by World Wide Technology Raceway at the Meritage Resort & Spa in Napa, Calif. June 20.
The West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame was conceived in 2001 as a means of recognizing significant contributors and contributions to the sport of stock car racing. The mission of the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame is founded to preserve history and heritage of the important role west coast stock car competitors have played in the sport’s development and continuation and to recognize, through annual enshrinement, of outstanding individuals and groups within the sport such as, but not limited to, designers, engineers, mechanics, drivers, race track owners, promoters, publicists and members of the motorsports media.
For more information on the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame visit: www.WestCoastStockCarHallofFame.com.
Media Contacts:
Owen A. Kearns
okearns@bak.rr.com
661-342-2983
Sandra Vorse
sandravorse@gmail.com
704-264-9548
About World Wide Technology Raceway
World Wide Technology Raceway is the home of INDYCAR, NASCAR and NHRA racing in the St. Louis region. Located just five minutes from downtown St. Louis and covering more than 340 acres, Gateway Motorsports Park is the largest outdoor entertainment facility in the area. World Wide Technology Raceway’s facilities include a 1/4-mile drag strip, 1.25-mile superspeedway, 1.6-mile road course, a state-of-the-art karting facility and a 14-acre, multi-purpose dirt off-road venue. World Wide Technology Raceway was the recipient of the 2017 Outstanding Facility of the Year Award from the Race Track Business Conference and the 2017 Spirit of St. Louis Award from St. Louis Attractions Association. In 2018, owner and CEO Curtis Francois received the Innovator Award from the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission in recognition of his work for restoring World Wide Technology Raceway (known then as Gateway Motorsports Park) to prominence.
Contact: John Bisci
John.Bisci@wwtraceway.com
(618) 215-8888 ext. 11