Photo Credit: Greg Capillupo
Sonoma County native Kevin Jorgeson, who captured the world’s attention with his free climb of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park earlier this year, has been named Grand Marshal of the Toyota/Save Mart 350 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event at Sonoma Raceway.
Jorgeson, a Santa Rosa resident, and his climbing partner Tommy Caldwell accomplished the first-ever free climb of El Capitan’s Dawn Wall in Yosemite, completing the 3,000-foot ascent after 19 days on the wall and six years of preparation. The duo scaled what is widely considered the most difficult rock climb in the world, using only their hands and feet, utilizing ropes and gear only to stop a fall.
Jorgeson will be honored on Friday, June 26, 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 28, and participate in the official command of, “Drivers, Start Your Engines.”
“I’ve sometimes joked that if I were not a climber, I’d be a race car driver. So, it’s an honor to come experience the sport first hand as Grand Marshal. I’m truly honored,” said Jorgeson.
Jorgeson discovered rock climbing at age 10, when he attended the grand opening of Vertex Climbing Center in Santa Rosa. By age 19, he was the top-ranked climber for his age in the country. He then turned his focus toward tackling the most beautiful and dangerous boulders in the world. In 2009, Jorgeson began working on the Dawn Wall with Caldwell and the rest is history.
“Kevin is truly a hometown hero, but his and Tommy’s achievement this year was headline news around the world,” said Sonoma Raceway President Steve Page. “We are honored to welcome Kevin as our NASCAR grand marshal and give our fans a chance to celebrate his remarkable achievement.”
For more information or to purchase a seat or table for the Grand Marshal’s Banquet, contact Cheri Plattner at 707-933-3950 or cplattner@racesonoma.com. Great ticket options are also available for the Toyota/Save Mart 350 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series weekend in Sonoma. Visit www.racesonoma.com/nascar or call 800-870-7223 for details.
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