AVONDALE, Ariz. (May 7, 2018) – The West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame’s annual induction dinner has become one of motorsports’ largest celebrations of excellence – and good times for more than 400 attendees.
But the enshrinement is more than just a party. Over the past three years, the induction has helped raise more than a quarter-million dollars for charitable causes. The West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization which hopes to see charitable giving reach the $500,000 mark in the coming years.
The group’s current list of charities and foundations – expected to increase – counts 25 different groups. They include charities dedicated to health, including autism research, children’s cancer, breast cancer and Parkinson’s; education; history; animal rescue; homelessness and military and veterans’ assistance.
For a complete list of the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame’s charity partners please go to http://westcoaststockcarhalloffame.com/our-charities/.
“Our board of directors is extremely supportive of the charitable giving component in our mission statement,” said Ken Clapp, the organization’s chairman. “Our annual induction event, since moving to Northern California, has grown to the point we’re able to give back to a host of worthy causes.
“We’re pleased to be able to partner with local, state and national organizations including the NASCAR Foundation, ISM Raceway Charities and Sonoma Raceway Charities, as well as several Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver-directed foundations.”
The Class of 2018 will be enshrined June 21, 2018 at the Meritage Resort and Spa in Napa, Calif. The event, presented by Gateway Motorsports Park, again accompanies the annual Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR K&N Pro Series West weekend at nearby Sonoma Raceway.
This year’s inductees are Joe Garone, president and general manager of 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Champion Furniture Row Racing; Southern California racing legend Oren Prosser; two-time NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Champion Greg Pursley; Bryan R. Sperber, president of ISM Raceway in Phoenix and NASCAR and open-wheel car owner Richard “Dick” Woodland. The late Larry Albedi, a five-decade-long public-address announcer, will be inducted as a member of the media.
Five Heritage figures also are being enshrined: Freddie Agabashian, a pre-World War II stock car racer and Indianapolis 500 veteran; George Bignotti, car owner and chief mechanic for multiple Indianapolis 500 winners; Bill Cheesbourg, Tucson, Ariz. stock car champion and Indianapolis 500 veteran; Clyde Prickett, NASCAR K&N Pro Series West winner from Fresno, Calif. and Mickey Thompson, land speed record holder and pioneer drag racing and off-road driver and promoter. All but Prickett are deceased.
For additional information about the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame, please visit WestCoastStockCarHallofFame.com or contact Owen A. Kearns at 661-342-2983. To obtain details about table sponsorship for the 2018 awards dinner, contact Jenniffer Wentzel at 623-463-5400. A limited number of tickets will be make available to the public beginning April 1, 2018. Inquiries should be forwarded to jwentzel@ismraceway.com.
About the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame:
The West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame was conceived in 2001 as a means of recognizing significant contributors and contributions to the sport of stock car racing. The mission of the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame is founded to preserve history and heritage of the important role west coast stock car competitors have played in the sport’s development and continuation and to recognize, through annual enshrinement, of outstanding individuals and groups within the sport such as, but not limited to, designers, engineers, mechanics, drivers, race track owners, promoters, publicists and members of the motorsports media.
About Gateway Motorsports Park
Gateway Motorsports Park is the home of INDYCAR, NASCAR and NHRA racing in the St. Louis region. Located just five minutes from downtown St. Louis and covering more than 340 acres, Gateway Motorsports Park is the largest outdoor entertainment facility in the area. Gateway Motorsports Park’s facilities include a 1/4-mile drag strip, 1.25-mile superspeedway, 1.6-mile road course, a state-of-the-art karting facility and a 14-acre, multi-purpose dirt off-road venue. Gateway Motorsports Park was the recipient of the 2017 Outstanding Facility of the Year Award from the Race Track Business Conference and the 2017 Spirit of St. Louis Award from St. Louis Attractions Association.
Contact:
West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame
Owen A. Kearns
661-342-2983
okearns@bak.rr.com
Gateway Motorsports Park
John Bisci
(618) 215-8888 ext. 119
John.Bisci@Gatewaymsp.com