Charity Challenge closing Sonoma Raceway’s major events season

Sonoma Raceway’s Big O Tires 2014 major event season opened in May, and will, again, close in October, with historic car event weekends. But this year there will be a one-month gap between the monthly major events.

Scheduled to follow the recent IndyCar Grand Prix of Sonoma was the FIA World Touring Car Championship, which was slated for Sonoma Raceway on Sept. 14, until it was moved to China because of the cancellation of a shipping route scheduled to leave the Port of Oakland on Sept. 17 to transport cars and parts to Shanghai.

The next vessel, leaving on Sept. 21, would not arrive at Shanghai until Oct. 7, which would not allow enough time for teams to prepare for the next World Touring event on Oct. 12.

So Sonoma Raceway’s shortened major events season wraps up with the Classic Sports Racing Group’s Charity Challenge – benefiting the Sonoma Chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities, the charitable arm of the raceway – set for Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 4 and 5, on the Valley’s 12-turn, 2.52-mile road course.

Continuing every Wednesday evening through Nov. 13 is Sonoma Raceway’s popular Wednesday Night Drags program, which includes the motorsport of drifting and the featured “Top the Cops.”

For CSRG Charity Challenge and Wednesday Night Drags details, or for general Sonoma Raceway information, call 800-870-RACE (7223), or visit racesonoma.com or ticketmaster.com. Camping is also available for all major events.