A Bay Area baseball fixture and treasure will make his pitch for NASCAR when the popular Toyota/Save Mart 350 weekend, the Valley’s most attended motorsports event, arrives at Sonoma Raceway for a Friday through Sunday, June 20 to 22, run over the famous 12-turn, 2.52-mile road course.
Lefty pitching great Vida Blue, a star for both the Oakland A’s and the San Francisco Giants, was recently named Grand Marshal of the Toyota/Save Mart 350 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series weekend at Sonoma Raceway.
On Friday, June 20, Blue will be honored at the Children's Champions Grand Marshal's Banquet at Cline Cellars in Sonoma, with the gala serving as a fundraiser for the Sonoma Chapter of Speedway Children's Charities. He will also take part in pre-race activities on Sunday, June 22, and participate in the official command of, “Drivers, Start Your Engines.”
A key starter for the A’s three consecutive World Series titles from 1972 to 1974, Blue then, after a cross-Bay trade, helped lead the resurgent Giants through their dramatic 1978 season and became the first pitcher ever to start the All-Star Game for both the American League (1971) and the National League.
In 1971, Blue’s first full season with Oakland, he went 24-8 with a 1.82 ERA, and earned both the Cy Young Award and Most Valuable Player Award. That year, he became the only player ever to be the starting pitcher in the league opener, the All-Star Game and the playoff opener in the same season.
During his 17-year career, Blue pitched for the Oakland Athletics (1969-77), San Francisco Giants (1978-81; 1985-86) and Kansas City Royals (1982-83).
“I'm delighted to be honored by the raceway during NASCAR weekend, and I'm really looking forward to heading out to the track. This will be my first time at a NASCAR race, and I know it's going to be something special,” said Blue, a 1995 Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame inductee.
Since retiring from the Giants in 1986, Blue has made a name for himself as a supporter of numerous charities, particularly youth causes, and he is especially involved with Oakland’s Northern Light School, a 165-student non-profit K-8 school for Oakland kids who couldn’t normally afford to go to a private school.
Blue is currently a baseball analyst for the San Francisco Giants TV home at Comcast SportsNet Bay Area.
“Vida is one of the greatest competitors ever to take the mound in either league, but he’s also one of the most engaging personalities in the industry and I know he’s going to be a big hit with our fans at the race, regardless of their team loyalties,” said Steve Page, Sonoma Raceway president and general manager.
For more information or to purchase a seat or table for the Grand Marshal’s Banquet, contact Cheri Plattner at 933-3950 or visit http://sonoma.speedwaycharities.org/events/grand_marshal_banquet/.
•••
Sonoma Raceway is offering Buy-Early-and-Save options for the four biggest major event weekends. By purchasing in advance of NASCAR, NHRA, IndyCar and WTCC, fans can save up to 20 percent on event tickets. In addition, all Toyota/Save Mart 350 weekend pass holders will receive a complimentary Friday and Saturday Cold Pit Pass.
The Valley raceway is also offering new levels of value for the Toyota/Save Mart 350, as tickets start at $49 for race day, and for the first time, the raceway is offering kids’ pricing for NASCAR weekend. Children ages 12-and-under are admitted free on Friday, June 20, for $10 on Saturday, June 21 and for half the price of regularly-priced tickets ($69 and above) for the Toyota/Save Mart 350.
Sonoma Raceway’s best ticket package is the 2014 Track Pass, which includes tickets to all major events; season-long VIP parking; a NASCAR Pre-Race Pit Pass; an INDYCAR garage/pit/pre-race pass; an NHRA Thunder Alley pass; and plenty of additional benefits.
•••
To purchase major event tickets, including the all-encompassing Track Pass and the Buy-Early-and-Save options for all four of the major event weekends, for details on the Wednesday Night Drags, or for general Sonoma Raceway information, call 800-870-RACE (7223), or visit racesonoma.com or ticketmaster.com. Camping is also available around the facility.
UPDATED: Please read and follow our commenting policy: