The stars of NASCAR are back in wine country next weekend, June 9-11, to deliver a thrilling race weekend in 2023. Here’s a look at five can't-miss storylines fans should keep an eye on at NASCAR weekend in Sonoma:
Larson’s Pole to Lose
2021 Toyota/Save Mart 350 winner and Elk Grove, Calif. native Kyle Larson will be aiming to capture the pole award for the sixth (that’s right!), sixth consecutive time at Sonoma Raceway dating all the way back to 2017.
No Stage Break Cautions, No Problem
Before the 2023 season, NASCAR made the decision that there would be no stage breaks for Cup Series road course events. Teams will still score stage points based on when the stage ends on a designated lap, but a caution won’t come out and racing under green will continue.
This year’s Toyota/Save Mart 350 will be run without stage breaks for the first time since 2016, limiting the amount of time that the field will be running pace laps and, ultimately, more time enjoying the exciting racing action.
Cup -> Xfinity
In 2023, there will be no shortage of NASCAR Cup Series talent that will also race in the FIRST-EVER NASCAR Xfinity Series DoorDash 250 race on Saturday, June 10. Among those include Kyle Larson and Ross Chastain among others.
Hasta Luego, Daniel
Daniel Suarez will return to defend his 2022 win, cheered on by Daniel’s Amigos who joined him on track for the celebration of the first NASCAR Cup Series win by a Mexican-born driver.
Home Track Racin’
Plenty of NASCAR Cup Series drivers call NorCal home and Sonoma Raceway their home track. Kyle Larson, an Elk Grove native, won the big race in 2021; AJ Allmendinger, a native of Los Gatos, grew up racing on Sonoma Raceway’s karting track; Tyler Reddick is a native of Corning and looks to claim his second win of 2023 at his home track.
California native (Bakersfield) Kevin Harvick will also turn his final laps racing in the NASCAR Cup Series in 2023 with Sonoma being his last time racing in his home state.
TICKETS:
Weekend and single-day tickets to NASCAR weekend in Sonoma start at just $59. Kids 12 and under get in for FREE on Friday and Saturday and only $10 on Sunday. For more information, visit sonomaraceway.com or call 800-870-RACE (7223).
