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.(Sonoma Raceway)(7-3-2015)
