It’s been a productive, progressive and highly popular two decades of motorsports in the Valley under the dedication, leadership and big-event savvy of Sonoma Raceway President and General Manager Steve Page, who will soon be recognized for his long list of achievements.
Taking the Valley raceway’s helm in 1991 after 11 years working in marketing and special events for baseball’s Oakland A’s, and also serving as chief coordinator for the 1987 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, Page will be inducted into the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame next week.
Along with four other honorees, Page will be inducted during a gala event at the Meritage Resort in Napa on Thursday, June 19, which will be followed by his overseeing the Valley’s most attended major event.
The NASCAR Toyota/Save Mart 350 weekend takes place on Sonoma Raceway’s famous 12-turn, 2.52-mile road course from Friday through Sunday, June 20 to 22.
As the principal advocate for a $100-million modernization project, Page guided the transformation of Sonoma Raceway it into one of the premier motor-racing venues in the United States. Page is also involved with numerous community activities, as well as serving on the board of directors of Speedway Children’s Charities.
Being inducted along with Page are Bob Bondurant, founder of the Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving; Marshall Chesrown, owner of several championship racing teams; Ron Eaton, driver/owner in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West; and Mike Skinner, NASCAR Sprint Cup and NASCAR Nationwide Series driver.
“It is an honor to be included among the individuals who pioneered and built this sport in our part of the country, particularly considering that I came to this industry relatively late in my career,” said Page. “I consider it a reflection of our tremendous raceway team and the unparalleled support we receive from our chairman Bruton Smith and the rest of our corporation. I am grateful to the Hall of Fame board for this recognition.”
Founded in 2001, The West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame, memorializes significant contributors to the sport’s development and history, including designers, engineers, mechanics, drivers, racetrack owners, promoters, publicists and members of the motorsports media.
For details about table sponsorship for the 2014 awards dinner, contact Jenniffer Wentzel at 623-463-5400, and for more information about the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame, visit westcoaststockcarhalloffame.com.
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Speaking of Steve Page formerly working for the Oakland A’s, their onetime left-handed pitching great Vida Blue, who also starred for the San Francisco Giants, will be the 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, and will also take part in pre-race activities on Sunday, June 22.
For more details or to purchase a seat or table for the Grand Marshal’s Banquet, contact Cheri Plattner at 933-3950 or visit sonoma.speedwaycharities.org/events/grand_marshal_banquet.
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Tickets for NASCAR’s Toyota/Save Mart 350 weekend are $25 to $140 for a single day, and $95 to $180 for the weekend, with parking free, and kids ages 12-and-under get free admission on Friday (June 20). Discounts are available for military.
Sonoma Raceway is also 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.
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Sonoma Raceway’s 2014 Big O Tires major events schedule continues after NASCAR with the annual NHRA Sonoma Nationals the weekend of July 25 through 27, which are preceded by the NHRA Division 7 Drag Races July 18 through 20.
The IndyCar Series, featuring the GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma, arrives in the Valley the weekend of Aug. 22 through 24, with the FIA World Touring Car Championship taking place Sept. 13 and 14, and the Classic Sports Racing Group Charity Challenge on Oct. 4 and 5.
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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, racesonoma.com/nascar, or ticketmaster.com. Camping is also available around the facility.
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