NASCAR is set to return to Sonoma Raceway this weekend, bringing the Toyota/Save Mart 350 to the historic 1.99‑mile road course that has been a staple of the Cup Series since 1989, barring the pandemic‑shortened 2020 season.
The event doubles as the kickoff of TNT Sports’ broadcast window for the series, with live coverage beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, June 28, and the green flag dropping at 3:30 p.m. ET. Fans can watch the race on TNT and truTV, while a stream will be available through HBO Max.
Ty Gibbs will start from the pole position, a spot he has turned into a springboard for strong road‑course results in recent years. Analysts have labeled Shane van Gisbergen the early favorite, citing his victory at Sonoma last season and a track record of excelling on twisty layouts.
Tyler Reddick enters the weekend with a narrow eight‑point advantage over Denny Hamlin in the championship standings, adding a subtle layer of intrigue to a race that also features a $1 million In‑Season Challenge bracket format.
The competition pits drivers against one another in a single‑elimination style bracket, with the ultimate prize of a million dollars hanging over each strategic move. The format has sparked extra chatter among teams about risk versus reward in the early stages of the playoffs.
Honoring a Legacy
The weekend will include a tribute to the late Kyle Busch, who amassed three Sonoma victories and holds the record for the most consecutive seasons with at least one win. The ceremony will feature a special lap‑by‑lap dedication, a video montage of Busch’s most memorable moments at Sonoma, and remarks from fellow drivers and team owners who have worked closely with him over the years.
Beyond the on‑track action, the Sonoma weekend marks the first of several road‑course events this season, giving NASCAR a chance to blend tradition with fresh storytelling and deliver a mix of historic venues and modern competition structures to fans.