Presentation Among The Highlights Of Wednesday’s 2006 Southern Sports Awards Ceremony

Kyle Petty

DAVIDSON, N. C. (Dec. 7, 2006) – A special “Impact Athlete Award” presentation by 2004 NASCAR champion Kurt Busch to popular veteran driver/humanitarian Kyle Petty was among the highlights of Wednesday night’s 2006 Southern Sports Awards. The two-hour made-for-TV ceremony was held at the Duke Family Performance Hall here at Davidson College.

“Kyle Petty personifies not only the best sports has to offer, but is a true superstar in the game of life,” Busch said in making the presentation. “Far too seldom is professional greatness ever surpassed or even matched off the field of play, but that is certainly not the case with Kyle. The efforts of Kyle and Pattie Petty in their creation and operation of the Victory Junction Gang Camp have allowed children suffering from chronic and life-threatening illness to be treated to a true camp experience in a medically sound environment. In other words, they have given these children a chance to put their cares aside for a while and just be kids.

“He’s been a worthy adversary, a respected opponent and a trusted friend,” said Busch, who campaigns the Miller Lite Dodge out of the Penske Racing stable along the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup circuit. “But more than anything else, Kyle Petty has been and always will be an inspiration.”

A devoted supporter of the VJGC, Busch announced last May that his Kurt Busch Foundation had donated $1 million to the camp to create a 28,000-square-foot, climate-controlled athletic facility at the 72-acre camp located in the Piedmont Triad of North Carolina.

Included among the other 2006 Southern Sports Awards luminaries announced on Wednesday night were Carolina Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers (Fan Favorite), Wake Forest head football coach Jim Grobe (Coach of the Year), NASCAR rookie competitor Denny Hamlin (Newcomer of the Year), the Columbus (Ga.) Little League All Stars (Amateur Team of the Year) and the Hendrick Motorsports No. 48 NASCAR Team (Pro Team of the Year).

Hosted by James Carville, Finesse Mitchell and Jon Reep, the 2006 Southern Sports Awards two-hour TV special will air in 45 markets and affiliates beginning Saturday (December 9). Visit www.SouthernSportsAwards.com for a complete list of markets, stations and air times.