Racing in wine country: Local favorite Larson tries to defend title as NASCAR visits Sonoma
Motorsports enthusiasts from around the world will take over wine country when NASCAR returns to Sonoma Raceway this weekend.
This marks the 35th year NASCAR has raced at Sonoma. It’s also the only appearance of NASCAR in California this year, the raceway said.
The weekend starts Friday with the ARCA Menards Series West General Tire 200. ARCA is a feeder series for NASCAR — most of the participating drivers comprise the future generation of NASCAR drivers. The race is a chance to witness scrappy teams race with the hopes of being in the NASCAR Cup Series someday.
On Saturday, NASCAR Cup Series drivers will practice and qualify, followed by the nationally televised Xfinity series Pit Boss/FoodMaxx 250. The Xfinity series is one tier down from the Cup Series — it’s where the next NASCAR stars are made.
The big race happens Sunday when the stars of the Cup Series will battle it out during the Toyota/Save Mart 350, all with the hopes of chugging local wine from a crystal goblet in the winner’s circle.
Last year, Kyle Larson, who was born and raised in Elk Grove in Sacramento County, took home the goblet.
Crowds enjoy the Fan Zone before the start of the NASCAR Cup Series Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway on June 9, 2024. (Ray Saint Germain/Bay City News)
Larson is a fan favorite to win it again. He’s currently third in the NASCAR Cup Series championship standings and has won at Sonoma twice.
But Larson faces fierce competition.
Shane van Gisbergen of New Zealand is a star road course driver who comes to Sonoma hot off the heels of winning the inaugural road course Mexico City Cup race in June and at last weekend’s Chicago Street Course — twice. He not only won the Cup race in Chicago, but also the Xfinity race. He won last year’s Xfinity race in Sonoma and is champing at the bit to take home the crystal goblet.
But don’t count out A.J. “The Dinger” Allmendinger. Born in Santa Clara and raised in Los Gatos, the Bay Area native is known for his road course skills and is always a threat at Sonoma.
Zane Smith leads a pack of drivers on the Chute under a caution flag during the NASCAR Cup Series Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway on June 9, 2024. (Ray Saint Germain/Bay City News)
The race will also include one woman driver, Katherine Legge, a part-time Cup Series driver who earned her first top 20 finish in Chicago.
The Toyota/Save Mart 350 is also the third race in NASCAR’s first five-race In-Season Challenge, in which drivers compete head-to-head for the chance to win $1 million. Ty Gibbs and Alex Bowman are currently top contenders.
In addition to racing, the weekend features concerts, DJs, driver meet and greets, an air show featuring the Patriots Jet Team, camping and more.
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