Speedway Children's Charities is the official charity of Sonoma Raceway.The mission of Speedway Children's Charities is to care for children in educational, financial, social and medical need in order to help them lead productive lives. The Sonoma Chapter of SCC has distributed more than $4.3 million to qualified Sonoma County youth groups since 2001. Much of the funds distributed by Speedway Children's Charities are raised at special events held throughout the year. Most Speedway Children's Charities events are geared around major event weekends at the Raceway.
CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO THE SONOMA CHAPTER
For more information on any of these events or to donate to Speedway Children's Charities, please contact:
Melinda Pahl, Community Relations Coordinator
(707) 933-3917
Grant Applications
The Sonoma Chapter of SCC funds youth organizations in Sonoma County. Grant applications are accepted once a year. Applications are sent out in mid August and must be completed and returned to the raceway by September 27, 2013 at 5 p.m. All completed applications must be mailed or hand delivered to the raceway. If you are interested in applying for a grant on behalf of a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in Sonoma County, please contact Melinda Pahl at or call 707-933-3950 or CLICK HERE.
Speedway Children's Charities 2013 Charitable Events
NHRA Tour de Charity karting day – March 23
24 Hours of LeMons – March 23-24
Classic Sports Racing Group – April 6-7
3J’s Motorcycle Track Day - May 1
Historic Race Car Festival - May 18
Children’s Champions NASCAR Grand Marshal’s Banquet - June 21
Ride of a Lifetime NASCAR Charity Auction - June 23
Speedway Children’s Charities Post-Race Track Walk (NASCAR Sunday) – June 23
Eric Medlen Nitro Night at NHRA - July 25
Eric Medlen Ice Cream Social (NHRA Sunday) – July 28
IndyCar® Grand Prix Salute – Aug. 23
Ride of a Lifetime INDYCAR Charity Auction - August 25
Classic Sports Racing Group Charity Challenge - Oct. 5-6
11th annual Tour de Charity Karting, March 23, 2013
Join top racers including Funny Car drivers Jack Beckman and Ron Capps from the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series for a day of karting on the lightning quick, 16-turn, three-quarter mile track. The event includes classroom instruction, karting with NHRA racers, autographs, lunch and the chance to compete in a 10-lap timed race for a grand prize.
3J's Motorcycle Track Day, May 1, 2013
Motorcyclists will enjoy a day of leisurely riding around the road course, complete with a T-shirt, full-catered lunch and a drawing. It's one of the few chances each year we let recreational riders get on our road course! For more information, visit www.3jsmotorcycledays.com.
Historic Race Car Festival, May 18, 2013
Locals and race fans alike will enjoy wine and food samplings from more than 20 Sonoma Valley purveyors at the Sebastiani Winery following great on-track action at the Sonoma Historics at Sonoma Raceway. Attendees can also enjoy a stroll throughout the winery and get an up-close look at more than 30 vintage race cars from the Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival. Tickets are $30 in advance or $35 at the door. Call 800-870-RACE (7223) to purchase.
Wine Country Pavilion, May 18-19, 2013
With the purchase of a ticket to the Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival, fans are granted access to the Wine Country Pavilion, which features samplings from several of the finest wineries and restaurants from the Sonoma and Napa valleys. A portion off each event ticket will benefit Speedway Children's Charities.
Children's Champions NASCAR Grand Marshal's Banquet, June 21, 2013
The Children's Champions Grand Marshal's Banquet is the highlight of the SCC schedule and is held on Friday night of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race weekend at beautiful Cline Cellars in Sonoma. The evening includes a reception and sit-down dinner, the introduction of the Toyota/Save Mart 350 Grand Marshal, NASCAR legend Darrell Waltrip as well as top NASCAR drivers. Tickets are $250 each and can be purchased by calling (707) 933-3950.
Ride of a Lifetime NASCAR Charity Auction, June 23, 2013
Join us on Sunday morning of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series weekend in the Wine Country Winner's Circle for the Speedwayd Children's Charities Auction. Last year's top-selling item was a Ride of a Lifetime with NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. during pre-race ceremonies, which netted $2,800.
Toyota/Save Mart 350 Post Race Track Walk, June 23, 2013
Don't miss the raceway's 8th annual Track Walk, following the Toyota/Save Mart 350 . You get to walk the same course driven by racers like Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart. Participants can also redeem specially designed lug nuts for great prizes. Fans are encouraged to make a donation to SCC.
Eric Medlen Nitro Night, July 25, 2013
The Eric Medlen Nitro Night takes place at nearby Stone Tree Golf Club and features several star drivers from the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, a sit-down dinner and a drawing for one-of-a-kind items. This special evening recognizes the life of Eric Medlen, a Funny Car driver who was from nearby Oakdale and called Sonoma his home track. Medlen succumbed in March, 2007 to injuries sustained from an accident during a test session at Gainesville (Fla.). Tickets for the evening are $125, and include wine/beer and dinner. All proceeds will go to qualified youth groups inSonomaCountyin Medlen’s name through Speedway Children’s Charities, the charitable arm of the raceway.
Eric Medlen Ice Cream Social, July 28 2013
Race fans will be treated to a free scoop of ice cream at the 6th annual Eric Medlen Ice Cream Social, which will take place on pit road following final eliminations of the NHRA Sonoma Nationals. The raceway has teamed with Dreyer's Ice Cream for this special event, which recognizes Medlen's favorite treat! Fans are encouraged to make a donation to SCC.
IndyCar Grand Prix Salute, Aug. 23, 2013
SCC partners with the Michael Andretti Foundation on this event at Andretti Winery in Napa, which includes a Q&A session with Andretti Autosport drivers, including defending series champion Ryan Hunter-Reay. There is also a reception, sit-down dinner and silent and live auction. The event is held Friday night of the GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma weekend.
Ride of a Lifetime INDYCAR Charity Auction, Aug. 25, 2013
Join us Sunday morning of the GoPro Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma weekend in the Wine Country Winner's Circle to bid on the chance to ride around the track with your favorite IZOD IndyCar® Series driver during pre-event ceremonies. The package includes a lap with your favorite driver, photo and pre-race pit & track pass.
Classic Sports Racing Group Charity Challenge, Oct. 5-6, 2013
The Classic Sports Racing Group (CSRG) donates all ticket proceeds from their Charity Challenge weekend to SCC. The weekend features vintage racing, a charity drawing as well as charity ride-arounds. For more information, visit www.csrgracing.org.
How Your Donation Helps
"We're deeply grateful for Speedway Children's Charities' donation, which will help COTS provide specially-trained teachers for over 100 homeless children, to support their emotional and social development."
-- John Records, Committee on the Shelterless
"Speedway Children's Charities is a significant partner in our initiatives to provide vital nutrition assistance to children at risk of hunger and malnourishment."
--David Goodman, Redwood Empire Food Bank
"Speedway Children's Charities' ongoing financial support provides critical opportunities for the children to have experiences that they will store in their memories for years to come."
-- Karla Fittapaldi, The Living Room, Mother and Child Program
