By Mark Brumley

• Introduction
• A Petty family project
• Big hearts helped build it
• For more information
• Download the full article as a

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Introduction

The Petty racing family hopes their new Victory Junction Gang Camp will provide “empowering” experiences for children ages 7 through 15 who are fighting chronic and life-threatening illnesses.

But before the $25 million motor sports fantasy camp could open on June 20, 2004, it had to have real power. That’s where Randolph Electric Membership Corp. stepped in.

The camp is located in Randleman, between Greensboro and Asheboro, an area also served by Duke Power, but Victory Junction’s developers chose Randolph Electric as its electric utility. That included installing the camp’s underground electric lines and related equipment, then supplying it with power.

“I cannot say enough good things about working with Randolph Electric,” said Brian Collier, Victory Junction’s executive director. “They made a commitment to help us and stuck by it despite all types of bad weather, a very tight construction deadline and numerous unanticipated surprises. ”

Even though it’s a year-round camp, the kids aren’t roughing it. In many cases, the children’s medical needs demand that the electricity stay on.

“They can’t afford to be without power,” said Dave Rowe, Randolph Electric’s manager of member and public relations. “Those children are in such critical need.”

Randolph Electric employees say they are confident that the cooperative won’t disappoint Victory Junction.

All told, Randolph Electric installed 5.04 miles of underground power lines at Victory Junction, Lowe said. Even though the crew that installed the lines hit a lot of rock during the project, they kept moving.

Although Victory Junction isn’t the largest project Randolph Electric has tackled, it’s the most special. Before Victory Junction opened, Sherrill Lowe took groups of his co-workers on tours of the camp. “It’s touched basically every employee at Randolph Electric,” he said.