During Friday’s NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series practice at Sonoma Raceway, Shane van Gisbergen set the fastest lap, while Austin Green ran near the 22nd position after completing ten laps.
A Brake Failure Sends Green Into the Barrier
Green’s car suffered a sudden brake failure, sending it careening into the tire barrier and pushing the concrete wall backward. The impact caused significant damage to the barrier, but the driver walked away unharmed.
He quickly climbed out of the cockpit, was examined at the infield care center, and cleared for release after a brief medical check.
Cleanup and Session Resumption
NASCAR crews worked for almost 30 minutes to clear debris and repair the damaged barrier before the session was restarted.
Green thanked NASCAR for the safety built into modern stock cars and praised the medical team for their swift response.
A Strong Road‑Course Resume
The incident comes after a string of strong performances on road‑course layouts; Green has posted seven top‑ten finishes in the last nine such events, including a runner‑up at the Charlotte Roval last fall.
This summer he will share the No. 87 car with Nick Sanchez, adding another layer of competition to his schedule.
A Recurring Barrier Issue
The crash marks the second consecutive week that an O'Reilly Auto Parts car has breached a barrier, following a restart melee at San Diego that required wall repairs.