Sonoma Raceway raises more than $72,000 for North Bay fire relief recovery

Sonoma Raceway raised over $72,600 with its Laps of Appreciation fundraiser for Wine Country wildfire relief.

NASCAR contributed $10,000 of the earnings alongside Save Mart's contributions, all going towards the Sonoma County Resilience Fund and the Redwood Valley and Santa Rosa Community Recovery Fund.

"Our goals were to raise some money and to provide a fun environment for community members to interact and thank representatives of the agencies who did so much on all of our behalf during the recent fires" said Steve Page, president and general manager of Sonoma Raceway, in a press release. "The event was a success on both fronts."

The Laps of Appreciation benefit allowed the public to ride the two-mile course in emergency vehicles like fire engines, ambulances and more. The event also included log and lumber truck displays, a 13-foot tall motorized shopping cart from Save Mart called "Big Red," a race car display, music, themed t-shirts, a community mural coloring station and a thank you note center to give thanks to the first responders.

Over 200 people participated while the Sonoma Raceway company put up $50,000 toward relief.

"We just rode in an ambulance and a fire truck, and it was awesome, I've never been in an emergency vehicle (before)," said Holly Wildey from Portland, Oregon. "We come down for the NASCAR races and were notified of this fundraiser and wanted to come down from Oregon to participate and to give back."

"It's great to see the community coming out and supporting us and all the different agencies that are here and having us come together to support the community, as well," said Brian Clarke, fire captain for the Lakeville Fire Department.

For more information on upcoming Sonoma Raceway events, visit www.SonomaRaceway.com or call 800-870-RACE.