Infineon Raceway will honor the memory of the late NHRA driver Eric Medlen with the 3rd annual Eric Medlen Nitro Night Charity Dinner at the Fior d’Italia Restaurant in San Francisco.

Medlen, a native of Oakdale in the San Joaquin Valley, won the Funny Car championship at Infineon Raceway, his home track, in 2006. He died in March 2007 due to injuries sustained from a testing accident. Medlen was a member of John Force Racing.

Funny Car drivers Ashley Force-Hood and Jack Beckman will attend, as will Top Fuel driver Morgan Lucas.

The night will include a cocktail reception at 6:30 p.m., followed by a three-course meal at the Fior d’Italia.

Bob Frey, the long-time announcer for the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, will serve as the master of ceremonies for the evening and host a Q & A session with the drivers in attendance. There will also be a charity drawing.

The event, which has been sold out each of the first two years, typically boasts a healthy contingent from Medlen’s hometown of Oakdale, including his mother, Mimi, and his father, John, who is the crew chief for Funny Car driver Mike Neff of John Force Racing.

The cost is $125 and all proceeds will go to qualified youth groups in Sonoma County in Medlen’s name through Speedway Children’s Charities, the charitable arm of Infineon Raceway.

To reserve a seat for the dinner, contact Denise Silver at 933-3950 or dsilver@infineonraceway.com.