Fund-raising efforts by Pilot and its employees sent Kyle Petty to victory lane.

Pilot raised $250,000 for the 2005 Chick-fil-A Kyle Petty Charity Ride that rolled into Knoxville on June 30. The 4,000-mile charity ride benefited Victory Junction Gang Camp, a camp in Randleman, N.C., for children and families coping with chronic or life-threatening illnesses.

The donation was a result of a Pilot's internal employee fund-raising campaign that generated nearly $10,000 and proceeds from the auctions at Leather & Diamonds, a welcome reception for the 2005 Chick-fil-A Kyle Petty Charity Ride hosted by Pilot at the Knoxville Convention Center.

"It's the largest donation ever given to Victory Junction Gang Camp from a single auction," said Mark Hazelwood, executive vice president of Pilot.

Three-time NASCAR champion and Fox sports announcer Darrell Waltrip was the emcee of Leather & Diamonds, which included dinner, silent and live auctions and entertainment by comedian James Gregory. Waltrip also led a roast of Kyle Petty, NASCAR driver and founder of the charity ride. In addition to Waltrip and Petty, seven-time NASCAR champion Richard Petty also attended Leather & Diamonds.

This year, 250 motorcycle enthusiasts and celebrities participated in the charity ride that covered 11 states in nine-days. It started July 23 in Lake Oswego, Ore., and continued across the country to Knoxville, where the riders spent their last night before riding to Victory Junction Gang Camp on Sunday, July 31.

"Pilot is proud to support such a worthwhile endeavor and is thankful to our employees and so many others who took part in this charitable journey," said Hazelwood, who built Jessie's Horsepower Garage at the camp with his wife, Suzie, in memory of their daughter, Jessie.

Formed in 1995 by NASCAR driver Kyle Petty, the Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America features NASCAR celebrities, sponsors and fans traveling cross-country to raise money for children's charities.

To learn more about Victory Junction Gang Camp or to make a contribution, please visit http://www.victoryjunction.org or call 1-877-VJG-CAMP.

Pilot Travel Centers LLC operates 262 travel centers in 39 states and licenses 13 locations throughout Kansas, Montana, Iowa and Nebraska. The company employs approximately 13,000 people nationwide.