Charitable events combined to raise more than $140,000 for Sonoma County youth groups during the Toyota/Save Mart 350 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series weekend at the raceway in Sonoma, June 22-24. Most of the proceeds will benefit the Sonoma Chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities, the charitable arm of the raceway, which has distributed more than $4.1 million to qualified youth groups in Sonoma County since 2001. The Children’s Champions Grand Marshal’s Banquet generated $100,000, while the 10th annual eBay Motors Charity Auction, which was hosted in the Wine Country Winner’s Circle on NASCAR Sunday, raised more than $30,000. More than $14,000 was also generated through various donations throughout the weekend, including $5,000 garnered from Great Clips haircuts for charity and a $5,000 donation on behalf of the Transporter Drivers of Motorsports Association (TDMA), who participated in the 2nd annual NASCAR Hauler Parade in Sacramento on June 21. The top-selling item at the eBay Motors Charity Auction was a signed helmet by several NASCAR drivers, which netted $4,500. Other top selling items included a Jeff Gordon Ride of a Lifetime experience ($3,200) and a Kevin Harvick-signed Budweiser helmet and case ($1,700).(Sonoma PR)(7-3-2012)
