From a press release issued by the AMA:

AMA PRESENTS “BRIGHTER IMAGE AWARD” TO NASCAR DRIVER KYLE PETTY

PICKERINGTON, OHIO — The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) has announced that Kyle Petty is the latest recipient of the AMA Hazel Kolb Brighter Image Award. The presentation took place this morning in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

The award, presented to Petty for his commitment to a wide range of charitable causes, is the AMA’s highest honor for activities that generate positive publicity for motorcycling.

An avid motorcyclist, Petty is best known as the driver of the #45 Georgia-Pacific/Brawny Dodge in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series. In 1995, he founded the Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America to benefit children’s charities. Since then, the event has logged over 24,000 miles, involved over 3,000 riders, and generated over $3.5 million for children’s hospitals across the country.

“Motorcyclists, as a group, are among the most active and generous Americans,” said Robert Rasor, President of the AMA. “Through his Charity Ride Across America, Kyle Petty has shown extraordinary leadership, showing what can be accomplished through commitment and passion, and he’s most deserving of this award.”

In October 2000, Kyle and his wife, Pattie, partnered with actor Paul Newman to launch The Victory Junction Gang Camp, a medical camp for children and their families living with chronic and/or life-threatening illnesses. The project was founded in honor of the Pettys’ son Adam, who was killed five months earlier during practice for a NASCAR Busch Grand National Series race.

Petty, 43, also works with numerous other charities, including the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Winston Cup Racing Wives Auxiliary. In 2000, he was named, along with his father, Richard, as “Persons of the Year” by NASCAR Winston Cup Illustrated magazine for their charitable work.

For more information about the Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America, visit www.kylepettycharityride.com or call (704) 714-4545.

The American Motorcyclist Association, founded in 1924, is a non-profit organization with more than 250,000 members. The Association’s purpose is to pursue, protect and promote the interests of motorcyclists, while serving the needs of its members. For more information, visit the AMA website at www.AMADirectlink.com, or call 1-800-AMA-JOIN.