This weekend the NASCAR Cup Series drivers will be racing to taste the wine in Victory Lane at Sonoma Raceway in the Toyota / Save Mart 350.

The celebration for winning the race at the track located in California’s wine country includes a big glass of wine produced locally. In order to taste that special victory liquid, a driver has to outperform the rest of the field on a road course that has 12 turns. It also has sections that go uphill and downhill. Winning on a road course in NASCAR’s top division requires both skill and a good strategy.

Here is what the drivers and teams will be dealing with this weekend.

Sonoma Raceway Track Data:
Track Size: 1.99-miles
Number of Turns: 12
Track: Multi-Elevational Paved Road Course

Toyota / Save Mart 350 Data:
Season Race #: 16 of 36 (06-11-23)
Race Length: 110 laps / 218.9 miles
Stage 1 Length: 25 laps
Stage 2 Length: 30 laps
Final Stage Length: 55 laps

These are the only five active drivers that have won a NASCAR Cup Series race at Sonoma Raceway.

All of the different turns give drivers many places to try to make a pass. However, it also gives drivers many places to make a mistake. Taking yourself out of contention with a mistake is bad enough. However, you can also ruin another driver’s day with your mistake resulting in anger and payback.

If your car just does not have the speed to race up front all day, your crew chief could come up with a strategy that might put you out front at the end. If you do have a car capable of winning, your strategy could play out wrong and take the chance of victory away.

No matter how good or bad the strategy is, a few cautions falling at certain times could completely change the result of your plan.

We will see which drivers and teams have the skill, car and strategy to be there in the end for a chance to win in the Toyota / Save Mart 350 starting at 2:30 p.m. central time (3:30 p.m. eastern time) at Sonoma Raceway Sunday, June 11th.

By: Buck Stevens