At the recent NASCAR Cup Series event held at Sonoma Raceway, San Francisco 49ers cornerback Upton Stout stepped onto the track not as a player but as an honorary official, adding a splash of NFL flair to the weekend’s pre‑race ceremonies.
Stout was not alone; actress Jane Lynch, MLB legend Dusty Baker and former Golden State Warriors forward Festus Ezeli also took part in the festivities, blending the worlds of football, basketball and baseball under the California sun.
The appearance marks the latest chapter in a series of 49ers participants lending their presence to the NASCAR weekend, a tradition that has seen players like Fred Warner and Malik Mustapha assume similar roles in past editions.
Van Gisbergen’s Historic Repeat
On the track, Shane van Gisbergen claimed his second straight Toyota/Save Mart 350 victory, leading 59 of the 110 laps and becoming the first driver to repeat at Sonoma since 2019.
His triumph extended the event’s growing profile, while Stout’s involvement offered the defensive back a chance to engage with the Northern California sports community ahead of the team’s July 25th training‑camp kickoff.