The familiar roar of engines returned to Northern California’s Wine Country, but this year’s Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway felt a little different. Usually a late spring affair, the race took place in the full heat of summer, a shift that didn’t deter the thousands of race fans who flocked to the iconic Sears Point campus. As luck would have it, the weather was unusually mild for this inaugural July event, with highs in the low 80s and cool breezes drifting off the north bay.
As the lone Northern California stop on the NASCAR Cup Series calendar, it’s a marquee event for local fans and drivers, and the 35th running of the race delivered a fresh set of stories and high-stakes drama.
What made this event particularly unique was its timing within the NASCAR schedule. Unlike previous years where it followed a traditional oval race, the Sonoma event was the third road course race in a single month for the Cup Series drivers. They arrived in Sonoma fresh off of a street race in Chicago and a race in Mexico City. This unusual three-race stretch tested the drivers and their teams, who are more accustomed to the oval-dominated calendar, and put a spotlight on the drivers with a knack for left and right turns.
For local race fans, all eyes were on Kyle Larson. The Elk Grove native and defending race champion was looking to secure his third career win at the track, which would have moved him up to third all-time on Sonoma’s win list. Larson and his team showed early speed, running strong through the first two stages and earning valuable points. However, a late-race twist of fate saw the No. 5 Chevrolet collected in a couple of on-track incidents. The tough breaks resulted in a frustrating 35th-place finish, a stark contrast to his triumphant victory just a year prior.
While Larson had a tough day, another driver with a knack for road courses emerged as the day’s dominant force. Shane van Gisbergen, the New Zealand native and former Supercars champion, put on a masterclass in road course racing. Driving the No. 88 Red Bull Chevrolet, he led a staggering 97 of 110 laps, setting a new record for the most laps led in a single NASCAR Cup Series event at Sonoma. The commanding performance was a statement, solidifying van Gisbergen’s reputation as a road course ringer and putting the rest of the field on notice that a new star has arrived.
The action wasn’t limited to the front of the pack. The race featured 12 lead changes, the most on the Sonoma road course layout since 2017. Late-race cautions created a series of dramatic restarts, allowing drivers like Chase Briscoe and Chase Elliott to fight their way into contention. Elliott, in particular, made a bold strategic move to pit for fresh tires under a late caution, which allowed him to charge from 12th to a third-place finish in a handful of laps, thrilling fans with his aggressive driving.
The excitement extended to pit road as well. During a round of green flag stops, the pit crews for Ty Gibbs and Brad Keselowski were involved in a heated confrontation. As Gibbs entered his pit stall, he drove dangerously close to Keselowski’s crew, clipping a tire and a crew member’s wrist. The incident quickly escalated into a shoving match that had to be broken up by NASCAR officials. While officials ultimately ruled that Gibbs was not at fault due to pit road rules, the dust-up showed just how high the tensions can get, even when the checkered flag hasn’t flown.
AJ Allmendinger qualified fifth for the Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway. Allmendinger reported his No. 16 Big Sipz Chevy was loose while he was stuck behind the No. 19, unable to make a pass. As the first stage went on, Allmendinger fell back three positions as he radioed to the team the rear tires had faded, and he needed information to help him save the tires for longer in the run. The team pit before the end of the first stage and restarted the second stage in eighth. On lap 31, Allmendinger spun on his own from fifth place as the car got loose. He fell back to 34th and battled his way back through the remainder of the race. He drove up to 10th place before coming to pit road on lap 82 for service to his Chevy. On the final restart of the day, Allmendinger was in 29th position and gained 11 spots in two laps to earn an 18th place finish.
“Frustrating day for out No. 16 team. I struggled with a very loose racecar all day and my mistake at the beginning of the second stage really put us behind. My team fought hard to get the best result and to make the car better as the day went on. Proud of their effort but we want more.”
– AJ Allmendinger
Beyond the race itself, the day had major implications for the season standings. While William Byron and Chase Elliott continue to hold the top two spots in points, every finish matters as the regular season winds down. For drivers on the playoff bubble, the pressure is immense. Bubba Wallace, for example, is clinging to the final provisional playoff spot with only a three-point lead over Ryan Preece. Each race is now a must-win or a must-finish-well scenario as they fight for their chance to compete for a championship.
The Sonoma race also served as a semi-final round for the new NASCAR in-season tournament. The event saw a number of high-stakes battles for advancement, including an incredible last-lap lunge by Ty Dillon to defeat Alex Bowman and secure his spot in the final four. Other drivers who advanced to the next round were Tyler Reddick and Ty Gibbs, adding an extra layer of competition and excitement for fans.
Once the dust settled, the Top Ten results told the full story:
- Shane van Gisbergen
- Chase Briscoe
- Chase Elliott
- Michael McDowell
- Christopher Bell
- Tyler Reddick
- Ty Gibbs
- William Byron
- Joey Logano
- Kyle Busch
