Nascar

NASCAR’s Sonoma Showdown: Records, Rivalries, and a Road‑Course Finale

From ARCA’s kickoff to the Cup Series’ Toyota/Save Mart 350, the weekend promises high stakes and historic moments

The Sonoma Raceway will host a full NASCAR weekend this July, featuring the ARCA Menards Series West on Friday night, the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series on Saturday, and the premier Cup Series finale on Sunday.

Fans can expect a slate of on‑track action that stretches from early evening practice to the final checkered flag, with each series bringing its own narrative of competition and strategy.

On Friday, the ARCA Menards Series West will kick off its season on the iconic 2.52‑mile road course, marking the first of four road‑course events scheduled for the series this year.

Saturday’s O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race will showcase veteran talent, including Kyle Larson, who has captured two Cup victories at Sonoma in 2021 and 2024, and Joey Logano, the youngest pole sitter in Cup history at the venue, who will start from the front at just 21 years old.

The pole position record books also note Rusty Wallace, the oldest driver to claim a Cup pole at Sonoma, having set the time at 43 years, 10 months, and 11 days, while Chase Elliott continues to demonstrate consistency with top‑10 finishes in his last five road‑course outings.

Historic Milestones

Records tumble as the weekend unfolds: Denny Hamlin tops the active driver list with 19 career starts at Sonoma, while Jeff Gordon remains the all‑time leader with 23 starts, reflecting the track’s enduring appeal.

Sunday’s Toyota/Save Mart 350 will close the weekend, offering a final chance for drivers such as Shane van Gisbergen and Connor Zilisch — who have dominated recent road‑course events — to add their names to the Sonoma ledger.

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