From a press release issued by Infineon Raceway:

Infineon Raceway Employees Earn Promotions

SONOMA, Calif. – Infineon Raceway employees Michelle Norman and Rachal Pollen have recently earned promotions within the company, raceway officials announced.

Norman, who has been employed at Infineon Raceway since 1996, has been named Ticket Sales Manager. She will oversee the sale of season tickets, group tickets, raceway packages and individual tickets, with the efforts of a newly created inside sales team.

Norman began at Infineon Raceway as a Marketing Assistant, before being promoted to Executive Marketing Assistant and then to Marketing Manager in 2003. She is a graduate of Cal-State Northridge in Southern California with a degree in Marketing. She resides in Benicia.

Pollen has been named Marketing and Sponsorship Services Manager. Her responsibilities include management of the raceway’s signage program, as well as assisting on sales and sponsorship contracts and event-marketing execution. Pollen began at Infineon Raceway in 1999 as a Ticket Sales Representative and continued in that position until her recent promotion.

She is a graduate of Sonoma State University with a degree in Business Administration. Pollen resides in Vallejo.


More, from another press release issued by Infineon Raceway:

Sonoma Valley Cyclocross Event Comes to Infineon Raceway Nov. 15

SONOMA, Calif. — Racecars and dragsters will give way to bicycles on Saturday, Nov. 15, when Infineon Raceway hosts the Sonoma Valley Cyclocross on a temporary 1½-mile course.

Cyclocross is the latest cycling rage: a hybrid of mountain biking, road biking and running all in one race. Napa Valley Velo, an amateur club based in Napa, will host the event, which will be sanctioned by USA Cycling, the largest cycling sanctioning body in the country.

The course at Infineon Raceway will be laid out behind Turn 2 and include a variety of terrains and elevations, as well as barriers and stairs. Competitors will both race their bikes, as well as dismount and carry them over barriers and up stairs. It’s kind of like a merger between cycling and hurdling, all in one race.

Laps times are in the 5-7 minute range, and races range from 30 minutes for novices to 60 minutes for professionals. Bicycles are usually road bikes with more powerful brakes, custom gearing and meatier tires.

Approximately 150 cyclists are expected for the event, which will span from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 15. Entry fee is $20-25 depending on race category, and $5 for juniors (ages 14-18). There will be six categories in all, from novice to professional. Riders must have a USA Cycling license to compete — a one-day license may be purchased through Napa Valley Velo on the day of the event. For more information, visit www.sonic.net/napavalleyvelo/svcx Spectators are free.

“Infineon Raceway has all of the facilities that make for a great cyclocross event,” said Dave Carr, race director and president of Napa Valley Velo. “The terrain is great, and it’s unique with its elevation changes, as well. It should be very competitive.”

Top local competitors expected to compete include Berkeley’s Andy Jacques-Maynes, who placed fifth at last year’s national championships, and Los Gatos’ Jackson Stewart, who placed eighth. On the women’s side, San Anselmo’s Rachel Lloyd placed second in last year’s national championships, while Richmond’s Gina Hall was fourth. Other top female competitors include Mary McConneloug (Fairfax), Carmen D’Aluisio (Watsonville) and Christine Vardraros (Mill Valley). All three placed in the top 10 at the 2002 national championships.

Carr said the sport originated in Europe more than 50 years ago, but has enjoyed growth in the United States over the past five years. He estimated that there are approximately 5,000-10,000 competitive cyclocross riders in the country.