NASCAR weekend nets $237k for local nonprofits
Charitable programs combined to raise more than $236,000 for Sonoma County youth groups during the Toyota/Save Mart 350 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series weekend at Sonoma Raceway, June 26-28.
The proceeds from the majority of events will benefit Sonoma County youth organizations through the Sonoma Chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities, the charitable arm of the raceway, which has distributed more than $4.8 million to local youth-serving non-profit groups since 2001.
The Children’s Champions Grand Marshal’s Banquet generated over $150,000, while the Ride-of-a-Lifetime Charity Auction, which was hosted online this year, raised almost $9,000. A special live auction was held the night of the banquet for a Ride-of-a-Lifetime experience with Jeff Gordon, which pulled in $10,000; the largest donation ever for a Ride-of-a-Lifetime in Sonoma. High bidders in the Ride of a Lifetime promotion accompany NASCAR drivers around the track on race-day as part of the driver introduction ceremonies.
The Grand Marshal’s Banquet was held on Friday, June 26, at Cline Cellars in Sonoma and featured Grand Marshal Kevin Jorgeson, a Sonoma county native who captured the world’s attention with his free climb of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park earlier this year. The sold-out sit-down dinner also featured a race preview by FOX’s NASCAR broadcast team, including Mike Joy, Larry McReynolds, Darryl Waltrip and Michael Waltrip. An additional $17,000 was raised through an auction for autographed bottles of Jeff Gordon Cellars wine. Proceeds from the banquet will be split between Speedway Children’s Charities and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Sonoma Valley.
Nearly $30,000 was also raised through various donations throughout the weekend, including a $5,000 donation on behalf of the Transporter Drivers of Motorsports Association (TDMA), who participated in the 5th annual NASCAR Hauler Parade in Sacramento on June 25. Great Clips, which set up a hair salon in the main paddock, raised over $7,000 in donations throughout the weekend.
“We are grateful to all of the fans, sponsors and contributors who helped generate these terrific results,” said Steve Page, president and general manager of Sonoma Raceway. “Their generosity will work to the benefit of young people throughout our county.”
-PHOT BY SCOTT KNIGHT
