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| Tony LaRussa |
LaRussa will be honored on
Friday, June 22, of race weekend at the Children's Champions Grand Marshal's
Banquet at beautiful Cline Cellars in Sonoma. The gala is a fundraiser for the
Sonoma Chapter of Speedway Children's Charities. He will also take part in
pre-race activities on Sunday, June 24, and participate in the official command
of, "Gentlemen, Start Your Engines."
LaRussa, who still calls the
Bay Area home, posted three World Series victories during his 33-year
managerial career, one coming with the Oakland Athletics (1989) and two with
the St. Louis Cardinals, most recently in 2011. His other world championship
with the Cardinals came in 2006. He retired after the 2011 season.
He was named Manager of the
Year four times -- three in the American League -- and posted 2,278 victories
as a manager; third all-time behind Connie Mack and John McGraw. Overall, he
managed 5,097 games, joining Mack as the second manager or coach in American
sports history to reach 5,000 games. While with the Athletics, LaRussa guided
the team to three consecutive American League pennants and the one World Series
title in 1989. In 1988, led the Athletics to a 104-58 record.
"I appreciate the
opportunity to be a part of the Toyota/Save Mart 350 NASCAR weekend,” LaRussa
said. “Competition in sports has been at the heart of my professional life. The
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is an outstanding example of competition and I'm
excited to be able to observe it up close and personal at Infineon Raceway. I'm
also looking forward to raising awareness about the important ‘rescue’ work
that ARF provides."
In addition to baseball, LaRussa
and his wife, Elaine, founded the Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF), based in
Walnut Creek (Calif.) ARF saves dogs and cats that have run out of time at
public shelters and brings people and animals together to enrich each other’s
lives. ARF strives to create a world where every loving dog and cat has a home,
where every lonely person has a companion animal, and where children learn to
care. To find out more about ARF or to get involved, visit arf.net.
"Tony's a true Northern
California hero. Not only has he brought championships to the Bay Area, he has
been a tireless champion on behalf of lost and abandoned pets...including our
dog Grover. Tony will be a terrific grand marshal and great addition to the
race weekend,” said Steve Page, president and general manager of Infineon
Raceway.
Great ticketing options are
still available for the Toyota/Save Mart 350 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series weekend
in Sonoma. Visit www.infineonraceway.com/nascar or call 800-870-RACE (7223) for
details.
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