The NASCAR Cup Series rolls into Sonoma Raceway this weekend for the Toyota/Save Mart 350, a 2.2‑mile road course that has become a favorite for road‑racing specialists. Action kicks off on Saturday, June 27, with practice and qualifying before the main event on Sunday, June 28, at 3:50 p.m. Eastern, 12:50 p.m. Pacific.
Thirty‑six drivers are on the entry list, a full‑time roster without part‑time entries, ensuring a deep field of competitors. Among them are past Sonoma winners Kyle Larson, Daniel Suárez and Shane van Gisbergen, each of whom has tasted victory on the Californian circuit.
The In‑Season Challenge returns this year, resetting points for the second half of the season and introducing a knockout‑style bracket that will see 32 drivers compete in a single‑elimination format. The stakes have turned the weekend into a strategic showcase, with teams weighing risk against reward.
Shane van Gisbergen enters as the heavy favorite to capture back‑to‑back wins, but Kyle Larson and Tyler Reddick are also viewed as strong contenders. Adding intrigue, rookie Connor Zilisch has been highlighted as a sleeper pick who could disrupt the established hierarchy.
The lineup will also feature a notable substitution: Austin Hill is slated to fill in for Kyle Busch at Richard Childress Racing, bringing fresh energy to the No. 18 entry.
Historic momentum
Larson, Suárez and van Gisbergen have all stood atop the Sonoma podium in previous years, a record that fuels optimism for repeat performances. The track’s mix of elevation changes and tight corners continues to reward drivers with road‑course pedigree, making this edition especially unpredictable.