The NASCAR Cup Series has descended on Sonoma Raceway for the Toyota/Save Mart 350, marking the official start of the In‑Season Challenge. The event, held on the 12‑turn, 1.99‑mile road course in California, sets the stage for a season‑long battle where the 32 highest‑ranked drivers will be paired off in a series of knockout matchups.
At the center of the conversation is Shane van Gisbergen, the New Zealand‑born road‑course virtuoso who has won all seven of his Cup Series victories on circuits that twist and turn. Last year he captured the Sonoma pole, led 97 of 110 laps, and drove to a dominant win. This weekend he enters as the clear favorite, confident that the smooth, high‑grip surface will again favor his skill set, though he acknowledges the experience will differ from the recent San Diego street race.
A Fresh Match‑up Format
The new In‑Season Challenge format pits the top 32 drivers in head‑to‑head contests, creating a knockout bracket that will determine the eventual champion. Notable pairings include Denny Hamlin versus Ty Dillon, a rivalry rekindled from last year’s elimination, and Chase Briscoe taking on AJ Allmendinger, who is celebrating his 500th series start. Both matchups promise high stakes and unexpected drama.
Kyle Larson, a two‑time Sonoma winner with four poles to his name, and Michael McDowell, who has cracked the top‑10 in all four Next‑Gen races at the track, are among the contenders eyeing an upset. Meanwhile, Chase Briscoe, the 2023 runner‑up at Sonoma, is seeded 12th and will face Allmendinger, while Ty Gibbs, the defending In‑Season Challenge champion, enters the weekend seeded fifth and eager to repeat his success.
For Denny Hamlin, the weekend holds a particular challenge. Sonoma is his weakest track in the Next‑Gen era, with an average finish of 31.25 over the past four seasons, and he currently trails Tyler Reddick by nine points in the standings. The pressure is compounded by the fact that Ty Dillon, who knocked Hamlin out in last year’s bracket, now stands between him and another deep run.
Beyond individual storylines, the In‑Season Challenge adds a layer of narrative that could reshape the playoff picture. With each matchup eliminating half the field, the points earned — or lost — can have outsized effects on the championship battle. As the series moves forward, the blend of road‑course expertise, strategic bracket play, and the ever‑evolving Next‑Gen package promises a compelling chapter for fans and drivers alike.