NASCAR announced that the 2026 season will showcase a Cup Series race at Sonoma Raceway in June, continuing the series' long‑standing tradition of road‑course competition in Northern California. The event, officially titled the Toyota/Save Mart 350, promises a fresh approach to on‑track preparation.
The new qualifying procedure splits the field into Groups A and B, with each driver permitted a single flying lap to set their best time. The fastest lap recorded across both groups will determine the starting order for the race, adding a strategic twist to the weekend schedule.
Shane van Gisbergen captured the pole position at Sonoma in 2025 and is expected to be a strong contender for the 2026 pole as well, bringing international attention to the event.
Qualifying Groups
Group A will feature a mix of emerging talents and veteran drivers, including Connor Zilisch, Noah Gragson, Austin Hill and Cole Custer. Group B will host a separate set of competitors such as Ty Dillon, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Christopher Bell and Josh Berry, each aiming to secure a favorable starting position.
Beyond the qualifying participants, the full entry list for the Toyota/Save Mart 350 includes the entire Cup Series roster: Brad Keselowski, Alex Bowman, Cody Ware, William Byron, Austin Dillon, Todd Gilliland, Austin Cindric, John Hunter Nemechek, Erik Jones, Joey Logano, Tyler Reddick, Carson Hocevar, Chase Briscoe, Michael McDowell, Riley Herbst, Ty Gibbs, Ryan Preece, Ross Chastain, Daniel Suarez, Denny Hamlin, Chase Elliott, Zane Smith, AJ Allmendinger, Ryan Blaney, Chris Buescher, Bubba Wallace and Kyle Larson.
The split‑group format often reshuffles the grid in surprising ways, meaning fans can anticipate a dynamic race weekend where strategy and timing play crucial roles. With a full field of competitive drivers and a historic venue to challenge them, the 2026 Sonoma event is shaping up to be a highlight of the NASCAR calendar.