Fans, NHRA Full Throttle Racers Compete in Sonoma for Charity

Infineon Raceway SONOMA, Calif. (March 30, 2010) NHRA drag racing fans have the opportunity to battle on the Infineon Raceway kart track with racers from the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series at the 8th annual NHRA Tour de Charity.

Infineon Raceway will host the charitable event on Saturday, April 24, with all proceeds benefiting Speedway Children’s Charities. The event has raised more than $70,000 for needy youth groups in Sonoma County since its inception in 2003. Funny Car driver Ron Capps (NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge), an accomplished karter, will be one of the featured NHRA competitors at the three-quarter mile kart track. He will be joined by racer Cory McClenathan (FRAM Top Fuel dragster), who placed fourth in points last year and won in Sonoma in 1997. The event is open to the first 50 fans who register; cost is $325 and includes a day of karting with the drivers, autographs, lunch and the chance to compete in a 10-lap timed race for a grand prize. This will mark Capps’ fifth time participating in the event. He will compete against McClenathan in a 10-lap timed race at the end of the day. Capps has been crowned “King of the Track” each time he has attended the NHRA Tour de Charity (2003, 2005, 2006-2007). Capps, a California native, placed second in the Funny Car standings in 2009 and won in Sonoma in Funny Car in 1997. McClenathan was crowned “King of the Track” in 2004. The Jim Russell Racing Drivers School, which operates the karting center, will provide the karts, racesuits, classroom instruction and on-track pointers for all competitors. There will be giveaways during the day, and the top 10 qualifiers (race fans) will compete in a 10-lap timed race at the end of day for the NHRA Experience. This package includes two tickets to the FRAM Autolite NHRA Nationals (July 16-18). To reserve your seat in the NHRA Tour de Charity, please call 707-933-3950 or e-mail dsilver@infineonraceway.com.