Vroom Vroom Vroom
Sonoma-based Infineon Raceway brought top drivers from the National Hot Rod Association POWERade Drag Racing series to the Fior d’Italia on Thursday, July 26 to a sold out dinner.
The evening featured funny car drivers Ron Capps (Brut Racing Dodge), Ashley Force (Castrol/Auto Club Mustang), Robert Hight (Auto Club Mustang), Jack Beckman, Gary Scelzi (Mopar/Oakley Dodge) and Top Fuel driver Cory McClenathan (FRAM Dragster). Bob Frey, long-time NHRA announcer hosted the gala for the 150 participants.
A charity dinner that was introduced last year, this year’s event had any certain poignancy. Since the untimely death of Eric Medlen, an Oakdale native who succumbed in March to injuries sustained during a test session in Gainesville Florida, this event has been renamed in his honor. When this event debuted last year, the then 32 year old Medlin was one of the featured guests.
“The Eric Medlen Nitro Night at the Fior Charity Dinner” raised nearly $16,000 for needy youth groups in Sonoma County to be channeled through the Speedway Children’s Charities.
Unfortunately, the only participant that did not enjoy the evening was the lonely Jagermeister chariot standing outside the restaurant.
All photos courtesy of Bernhard Knaus.
