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Sonoma Raceway hosts 24 Hours of LeMons

Event benefits Speedway Children’s Charities

A one-of-a-kind endurance race for $500 cars is returning to the Valley this weekend as Sonoma Raceway hosts the annual 24 Hours of LeMons event, which takes place from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. tomorrow, Saturday, March 23, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. this Sunday, March 24, and 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Monday, March 25.

Instead of the usual stock cars or high-performance open-wheel machines, this endurance road-racing series, which will host 20 events coast-to-coast in 2013, was founded on the “particularly questionable concept” that all cars must be bought and prepared for no more than $500, with drivers and crews dressed to fit the theme.

Primarily done in the name of fun – winners receive cash prizes in sacks of nickels – the event is being held in the name of charity, with a portion of the proceeds benefitting Speedway Children’s Charities, the charitable arm of Sonoma Raceway.

The weekend will feature racing with spectator tickets costing $20-a-day or $30 for a weekend pass. Kids ages 16-years-old-and-under are admitted free. For more information on this wild and wacky series, visit 24hoursoflemons.com.

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Sonoma Raceway recently introduced three season-long ticket packages designed for all types of motorsports fans, covering the six major events and are highlighted by the “big three” of NASCAR, NHRA and IndyCar.

Sonoma Raceway’s 2013 Big O Tires major events schedule will  feature the Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival on May 18 and 19; the 25th annual Toyota/Save Mart 350 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, which is the Valley raceway’s largest attended motorsports weekend, from June 21 through 23; the NHRA Division 7 Drag Races from July 19 to 21; the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Sonoma Nationals weekend from July 26 through 28; the IndyCar GoPro Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma weekend on Aug. 23 through 25; the second-annual FIA World Touring Car event on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 7 and 8; and the Classic Sports Racing Group Charity Challenge on Saturday, Oct. 5, and Sunday, Oct. 6.

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Sonoma Raceway’s most inclusive ticket package is the Track Pass for $395, which includes tickets to all major events, plus a choice of one ticket package for either NASCAR pre-race pit and track passes; IndyCar garage and pit passes; an NHRA Thunder Alley pass; or the World Touring Car Championships garage pit-pass.

The second ticket package is the General Admission Track Pass for $249 and includes general admission tickets to all six major events, as well as a choice of a NASCAR pre-race pit and track pass; an IndyCar garage and pit pass; and a NHRA Thunder Alley pass or a WTCC garage/pit pass.

Available for $95 is the Summer Fun Family Pass which is good for an entire family all season long and includes either Friday or Saturday admission to any of the Historic Sports Car Racing; NASCAR Sprint Cup Series; NHRA Division 7 Drag Races; INDYCAR Racing; and World Touring Car (sports cars) Racing.

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To purchase tickets and ticket packages or for more information, including costs and details on the “Drag and Drift” program, call 800-870-RACE (7223), visit racesonoma.com or ticketmaster.com. Camping is also available for all major events.