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Race fans will get to rub shoulders with top drivers from the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, as well as honor the memory of the late Eric Medlen at the “Eric Medlen Nitro Night at the Fior Charity Dinner” in San Francisco on Thursday, July 26. The sit-down dinner will feature Ron Capps, Robert Hight, Gary Scelzi, and Cory McClenathan.

The gala will be hosted by long-time NHRA announcer Bob Frey and is being held in advance of the FRAM Autolite NHRA Nationals at Infineon Raceway, July 27-29.

The charity dinner had its debut last year, and Medlen was one of the featured guests. The native of nearby Oakdale, Calif., in San Joaquin County succumbed in March to injuries sustained from an accident during a test session at Gainesville (Fla.). He was 33. The event has since been renamed in his honor.

“I always agree to do the charity events not for anything other than I want to help,” Scelzi said. “The money always goes to a great cause and they are also really fun events. Whenever Infineon Raceway puts on an event you know it's going to be first-class.”

Tickets to the affair are available for purchase to the public and will include a sumptuous four-course dinner at legendary Fior d'Italia Restaurant in historic North Beach (www.fior.com), followed by a brief program with the drivers and a tribute to Medlen. Cost is $125 per person.

All proceeds benefit Speedway Children's Charities, the charitable arm of Infineon Raceway. The Sonoma chapter of Speedway Children's Charities has distributed more than $2.1 million to Sonoma County youth groups since 2002.

The evening will begin with a no-host cocktail reception at 6:30 p.m., followed by dinner and the program at 7:30 p.m. If interested in purchasing a ticket to this event, please email Denise Silver at dsilver@infineonraceway.com or call 707-933-3950. Only 100 seats are available, so act today.