ASHEBORO N.C. – Kyle Petty is scheduled to share his own original music and probably a few remarkable stories at the Historic Sunset Theater in early September, as part of the Sunset Signature Series.
Kyle Petty is best known for his NASCAR career, either through his work as an analyst and cast on ”NASCAR America,” pre- and post-race NASCAR Cup and Xfinity coverage on NBC and USA Network; his weekly radio show, “Fast Talk” on the Performance Racing Network, or his past as a NASCAR Driver with eight wins and 173 top ten finishes in the NASCAR Cup Series.
He also leads his annual Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America, one of the country’s most popular charity motorcycle rides, which raises money and promotes Victory Junction – a camp for children with chronic and serious medical conditions located here in Randolph County, created by the Petty family in honor of Kyle’s late son, Adam.
Petty also found success as an author. He co-authored his best-selling memoir Swerve or Die: Life at My Speed in the First Family of NASCAR Racing with Ellis Henican in 2022, which received positive renews and became a Wall Street Journal, Southern Indie, and Publishers Weekly Bestseller.
What is lesser know is his career in music which started after he received his first guitar at twelve-years-old from a traveling preacher at the racetrack.
Petty began writing his own music, finding creative influences in Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, Carole King, James Taylor, Harry Chapin and Jim Croce.
In the 1980s, Kyle took to the stage for a brief period after signing with RCA Records. He has opened up for acts such as Randy Travis, The Oak Ridge Boys and Hank Williams, Jr., and has performed on the Grand Ole Opry.
Today, Kyle frequently performs his original music in intimate shows across North Carolina and surrounding states.
This September, as part of the Sunset Signature series, you can hear for yourself as Kyle performs a selection from his personal songbook at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, September 9, at the historic Sunset Theatre in downtown Asheboro.
Started in 2018, the Sunset Signature Series brings high profile speakers and performers to the Sunset Theatre. In the past events have featured speakers such as Ken Jennings from Jeopardy! fame. The series is sponsored by the Heart of North Carolina Visitors Bureau, the City of Asheboro, and the Friends of the Randolph County Public Libraries.
The event is free and open to the public with seating on a first-come first-served basis. The Sunset Theatre is located at 234 Sunset Avenue, in downtown Asheboro.
For more information, contact the Heart of North Carolina Visitors Bureau at 800-626-2672.
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Some portions of this article are provided by the Randolph County Public Library.