Food Drive Sets Record
Infineon Raceway donated a single-year record of nearly 2,300 pounds of non-perishable food items to Friends in Sonoma Helping (FISH) and the Napa Valley Food Bank following the facility’s 7th annual Thanksgiving Food Drive. The amount marked one of the largest single donations either food bank will receive this holiday season. The donation was raised with the help of 12 Northern California Mary’s Pizza Shack locations, as well as Destination RKA in Windsor. Sonoma Gourmet of Cotati also made a generous donation of one pallet of gourmet food items.

Infineon Raceway has donated more than 10,000 pounds of non-perishable food items since 2000 to FISH, which will assist needy Sonoma Valley residents during the holiday season with food baskets and daily meals. For more information on FISH, which has served the Sonoma Valley since 1970, please call (707) 996-0111.

“FISH is always appreciative of those people who help with donations, especially during the holidays,” said Vicki Schnurpfeil, coordinator for FISH. “We’re just delighted with the outreach that Infineon Raceway does because they have such a huge following and it shows that people care all over.”

New for 2007, Infineon Raceway also donated food to the Napa Valley Food Bank, which works to assist people in becoming and/or remaining self-sufficient and lessening the stress of meeting the basic need for food. For more information, call (707) 253-6128.

"This just makes a huge difference because we’re feeding people all year round and an influx of food now is really helpful,” adds Shirley King, director for the Napa Valley Food Bank.

Rockingham Tickets On Sale
Race fans that have missed the sounds of engines at “The Rock” will not have to wait any longer with racing to resume in 2008 after a four year absence. Rockingham Speedway will host the ARCA RE/MAX Series on May 4th with the inaugural Carolina 500 for the ARCA Series and will also host the season-ending Hooter’s Pro Cup event on November 1st. Gene McLaurin, Mayor of Rockingham, NC was the first in line to purchase tickets. “I am proud to be the first purchaser to the inaugural race at Rockingham Speedway,” said Mayor McLaurin. “Andy Hillenburg and staff are off to a great start and I hope race fans will join me as we get ready to return to The Rock.”

Tickets for both events are now on sale to the public, just in time for the Holidays. The Carolina 500 ticket prices are $35 for all seats in the Front Stretch Rockingham Grandstands and $30 for all seats in the Turns 1 and 2 Grandstands. Infield General Admission is $20 per person for the 312-lap event on Sunday. Saturday May 3rd will feature two qualifying sessions to determine the race field for the 50-car starting grid. Saturday tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children 12 and under as well as free admission for service men and women in uniform in each grandstand and for the infield General Admission. Practice on Friday May 2nd will be open free to the public.

Ticket prices for the American 200, the first race for the Hooter’s Pro Cup Series at the Rockingham Speedway are $25 for reserved seats located in the Turns 1 and 2 Grandstands, $28 for reserved seats in the Rockingham Grandstands and $20 for infield General Admission.

Practice and qualifying for the 200-lap Hooter’s Pro Cup event will be held on Friday October 31st. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children 12 and under and free for kids dressed in costume as well as service men and women in uniform. Fans can also purchase Combo Tickets for both events at a price of $58 for reserved seats in the Rockingham Front stretch and $50 for reserved seats in the Turns 1 and 2 Grandstands.

Rockingham Speedway will also offer special sections reserved for families in both grandstands that are free of smoke and alcohol. To order tickets, please call Rockingham Speedway at (910) 205-8800 or by going to the speedway’s website at (rockinghamracewaypark.com).

College Honors Richard Petty
Randolph Community College’s Board of Trustees announced today that the new 20,000-square-foot building that will house RCC’s Autobody Repair and Automotive Systems programs will be named the “Richard Petty Education Center.” President Robert S. Shackleford Jr. stated, “We want to honor Richard Petty’s legacy. This tribute symbolizes the positive and winning attitude that Mr. Petty, a native son of Randolph County, brings to his work. That’s the same attitude demonstrated by our students and our faculty. We look forward to a long-term relationship with Mr. Petty and appreciate very much his interest in and support for the college.”

Opening in the fall of 2008, the modified U-shape building consists of almost 15,000 square feet of new space, providing 10 work stations in addition to a state-of-the-art paint booth and additional work space. The front of the building, one of the “legs” of the U, comprises over 5,000 square feet of renovated classroom, office and computer lab space. Petty Enterprises has agreed to donate Petty memorabilia to be placed in the lobby area to enhance the building and to honor Mr. Petty.

Don Ashley, program head and instructor for Automotive Systems Technology, stated, “Our students will benefit from this spacious facility and will be inspired by meeting in the Richard Petty Education Center to take automotive systems technology and autobody repair classes.”

Dan Moore, program head and instructor for Autobody Repair, commented that “Mr. Petty’s association with our automotive programs will not only raise the profiles of these fine programs but will add greatly to the pride we already feel at RCC about being an important part of Randolph County.”

Those interested in the Automotive Systems Technology program may contact Don Ashley at Don Ashley or 633-0320. Those interested in the Autobody Repair program should contact Dan Moore at Dan Moore or 633-0322.

Sprint Nextel Sponsors Most Dramatic Moment Award
Sprint Nextel announced it will continue its mission to bring fans closer to the sport by sponsoring the NEXTEL Most Dramatic Moment Award for the fourth consecutive year. The award is the only honor presented at the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Awards Ceremony in New York City that is decided solely and exclusively by the fans. The ceremony will be broadcast on ESPN Classic from the Waldorf=Astoria, Nov. 30.

Throughout the 2007 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series season race fans were able to log on to www.nascar.com to vote for the most dramatic moments from each weekend’s race. This list was then narrowed down to five moments that fans began voting for on Nov. 20. Votes can be cast on the website or by texting NASCAR to number 7777 from any Sprint or Nextel handset and following the received instructions. Fans can vote as often as they like to increase their favorite driver’s chances of winning. Voting concludes on Nov. 30 at 7 p.m. ET. Standard text messaging charges apply.

“The NEXTEL Most Dramatic Moment Award is a great way for us to celebrate our passion for the sport while showcasing our technological capabilities through handset voting,” said Dean Kessel, director of NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series marketing for Sprint Nextel. “We appreciate the concept of the award because it allows fans to have a direct impact and leave their mark on the 2007 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Season.”

The 2007 NEXTEL Most Dramatic Moment Award finalists are: