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Statistical Advance: Analyzing the Toyota / Save Mart 350

June 5, 2024 at 2:30 AM

Below is a look at some of the top statistical performers at Sonoma Raceway in Sonoma, California going into the Toyota / Save Mart 350 on June 9 at 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

2024 Top 34 In Points 2024 Driver Playoff Outlook Following Race No. 15
Rank Driver Pts Ldr. Rank Driver Points Wins Stages Playoff Pts Pts From Cutoff
1 Denny Hamlin 534 0 1 Denny Hamlin 534 3 3 18 In On Wins
2 Kyle Larson 513 -21 2 William Byron 488 3 1 16
3 Chase Elliott 507 -27 3 Kyle Larson* 513 2 7 17
4 Martin Truex Jr. 490 -44 4 Christopher Bell 437 2 6 16
5 William Byron 488 -46 5 Chase Elliott 507 1 1 6
6 Tyler Reddick 473 -61 6 Tyler Reddick 473 1 2 7
7 Ty Gibbs 465 -69 7 Brad Keselowski 437 1 0 5
8 Christopher Bell 437 -97 8 Austin Cindric 305 1 2 7
9 Brad Keselowski 437 -97 9 Daniel Suarez 290 1 0 5
10 Alex Bowman 417 -117 10 Martin Truex Jr. 490 0 2 2 132
11 Ross Chastain 417 -117 11 Ty Gibbs 465 0 2 2 107
12 Ryan Blaney 405 -129 12 Alex Bowman 417 0 0 0 59
13 Bubba Wallace 371 -163 13 Ross Chastain 417 0 1 1 59
14 Chris Buescher 368 -166 14 Ryan Blaney 405 0 1 1 47
15 Chase Briscoe 358 -176 15 Bubba Wallace 371 0 0 0 13
16 Joey Logano 354 -180 16 Chris Buescher 368 0 1 1 10
17 Kyle Busch 348 -186 17 Chase Briscoe 358 0 0 0 -10
18 Austin Cindric 305 -229 18 Joey Logano 354 0 1 1 -14
19 Daniel Suarez 290 -244 19 Kyle Busch 348 0 0 0 -20
20 Josh Berry # 264 -270 20 Josh Berry # 264 0 0 0 -104
21 Carson Hocevar # 259 -275 21 Carson Hocevar # 259 0 0 0 -109
22 Todd Gilliland 258 -276 22 Todd Gilliland 258 0 0 0 -110
23 Noah Gragson 255 -279 23 Noah Gragson 255 0 0 0 -113
24 Michael McDowell 255 -279 24 Michael McDowell 255 0 1 1 -113
25 John H. Nemechek 228 -306 25 John H. Nemechek 228 0 0 0 -140
26 Erik Jones 228 -306 26 Erik Jones* 228 0 0 0 -140
27 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 223 -311 27 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 223 0 0 0 -145
28 Daniel Hemric 217 -317 28 Daniel Hemric 217 0 0 0 -151
29 Ryan Preece 211 -323 29 Ryan Preece 211 0 0 0 -157
30 Austin Dillon 210 -324 30 Austin Dillon 210 0 0 0 -158
31 Justin Haley 205 -329 31 Justin Haley 205 0 0 0 -163
32 Corey LaJoie 194 -340 32 Corey LaJoie 194 0 0 0 -174
33 Harrison Burton 155 -379 33 Harrison Burton 155 0 0 0 -213
34 Zane Smith # 131 -403 34 Zane Smith # 131 0 0 0 -237
Note: Kyle Larson and Erik Jones have received a waiver from NASCAR to be eligible for the Playoffs.

SONOMA RACEWAY-SPECIFIC STATISTICS

(Driver stats in the below section are from 2005-Present)

AJ Allmendinger (No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet)

  • Three top 10s; one pole
  • Average Finish of 22.083, 13th-best
  • Average Running Position of 19.063, 13th-best
  • Driver Rating of 83.5, eighth-best
  • 658 Laps in the Top 15 (49.6%), 11th-most

Ryan Blaney (No. 12 Team Penske Ford)

  • One top five, four top 10s
  • Average Finish of 16.571, ninth-best
  • Average Running Position of 15.950, 10th-best
  • Driver Rating of 76.8, 12th-best
  • 394 Laps in the Top 15 (53.8%), ninth-most

Chris Buescher (No. 17 RFK Racing Ford)

  • Two top fives, two top 10s
  • Average Finish of 14.143, fifth-best
  • Average Running Position of 15.294, seventh-best
  • Driver Rating of 81.9, ninth-best
  • 415 Laps in the Top 15 (56.7%), seventh-most

Kyle Busch (No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet)

  • Two wins, seven top fives, nine top 10s
  • Average Finish of 14.778, seventh-best
  • Average Running Position of 15.081, sixth-best
  • Driver Rating of 93.3, fourth-best
  • 1,198 Laps in the Top 15 (61.5%), fourth-most

William Byron (No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)

  • One top 10
  • Average Finish of 20.400, 12th-best
  • Average Running Position of 15.525, eighth-best
  • Driver Rating of 76.7, 13th-best
  • 280 Laps in the Top 15 (54.7%), eighth-most

Chase Elliott (No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)

  • Three top fives, five top 10s
  • Average Finish of 12.143, second-best
  • Average Running Position of 11.005, series-best
  • Driver Rating of 97.9, third-best
  • 513 Laps in the Top 15 (70.1%), second-most

Denny Hamlin (No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota)

  • Four top fives, seven top 10s; one pole
  • Average Finish of 19.000, 11th-best
  • Average Running Position of 16.595, 12th-best
  • Driver Rating of 84.9, sixth-best
  • 907 Laps in the Top 15 (49.3%), 12th-most

Brad Keselowski (No. 6 RFK Racing Ford)

  • One top five, three top 10s
  • Average Finish of 16.077, eighth-best
  • Average Running Position of 16.372, 11th-best
  • Driver Rating of 79.6, 11th-best
  • 734 Laps in the Top 15 (52.7%), 10th-most

Kyle Larson (No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)

  • One win, one top five, three top 10s; four poles
  • Average Finish of 14.333, sixth-best
  • Average Running Position of 11.714, third-best
  • Driver Rating of 92.2, fifth-best
  • 664 Laps in the Top 15 (69.7%), third-most

Joey Logano (No. 22 Team Penske Ford)

  • Four top fives, six top 10s; one pole
  • Average Finish of 12.929, third-best
  • Average Running Position of 14.052, fifth-best
  • Driver Rating of 84.0, seventh-best
  • 907 Laps in the Top 15 (60.2%), sixth-most

Daniel Suarez (No. 99 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet)

  • One win, one top five, one top 10
  • Average Finish of 13.833, fourth-best
  • Average Running Position of 15.730, ninth-best
  • Driver Rating of 81.8, 10th-best
  • 291 Laps in the Top 15 (46.8%), 13th-most

Martin Truex Jr. (No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota)

  • Four wins, six top fives, seven top 10s
  • Average Finish of 16.706, 10th-best
  • Average Running Position of 13.996, fourth-best
  • Driver Rating of 98.5, series-best
  • 1,122 Laps in the Top 15 (61.0%), fifth-most

The NASCAR Cup Series 2024 Top 16 in the Driver Standings at Sonoma Raceway

Rank Driver Races Poles Wins Top Fives Top 10s DNFs Average Finish Driver Rating
1 Denny Hamlin 17 1 0 4 7 2 19.0 84.9
2 Kyle Larson 9 4 1 1 3 0 14.3 92.2
3 Chase Elliott 7 0 0 3 5 1 12.1 97.9
4 Martin Truex Jr 17 0 4 6 7 3 16.7 98.5
5 William Byron 5 0 0 0 1 1 20.4 76.7
6 Tyler Reddick 3 0 0 0 0 0 29.0 70.4
7 Ty Gibbs 1 0 0 0 0 0 18.0 76.2
8 Christopher Bell 3 0 0 0 1 0 20.0 76.2
9 Brad Keselowski 13 0 0 1 3 1 16.1 79.6
10 Alex Bowman 7 0 0 0 2 0 17.6 70.2
11 Ross Chastain 4 0 0 0 3 0 14.2 76.3
12 Ryan Blaney 7 0 0 1 4 0 16.6 76.8
13 Bubba Wallace 5 0 0 0 0 1 24.4 45.0
14 Chris Buescher 7 0 0 2 2 0 14.1 81.9
15 Chase Briscoe 3 0 0 0 0 0 19.7 63.3
16 Joey Logano 14 1 0 4 6 0 12.9 84.0

* – Based on last 19 races at Sonoma Raceway (Loop Data from 2005-Present).

 Sonoma Raceway – Statistics & Tidbits:

TRACK DATA

Season Race #: 16 of 36 (06-09-24)

Purse: $8,426,274

Track Size: 1.99-miles

Number of Turns: 12

Track: Multi-Elevational Paved Road Course

Race Length: 110 laps / 218.9 miles

Stage 1 Length: 25 laps

Stage 2 Length: 30 laps (ends on Lap 55)

Final Stage Length: 55 laps (ends on Lap 110)

 QUALIFYING / RACE RECORDS

Track qualifying record (1.99-miles):                                        

Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, 96.568 mph, 74.186 secs. June 27, 2015, (Set in Round 1 of 2)

Track race record (1.99-miles):

Clint Bowyer, Toyota, 83.624 mph, (02:39:55), June 24, 2012

2023 pole winner (most recent race/ 1.99-miles):

Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 92.178 mph, 77.719 secs. June 10, 2023

 2023 race winner (most recent race/ 1.99-miles):

Martin Truex Jr., Toyota, 81.989 mph, (02:40:12), June 11, 2023

HISTORY

  • The track known today as Sonoma Raceway, was opened as a 2.52-mile, multi-elevational paved road course and drag strip in 1968 located just outside of Sonoma, California. The track also has a 1.99-mile configuration of the road course and that is what the NASCAR national series currently compete on.
  • Over the course of the existence of the facility, it has held a few different names – Sears Point Raceway, Sears Point International Raceway and Infineon Raceway prior to being renamed Sonoma Raceway.
  • The first NASCAR Cup Series race at Sonoma Raceway was held on June 11, 1989 and was won by Ricky Rudd driving a Buick for car owner Kenny Bernstein. Rudd ran the race at an average speed of 76.088 mph. He led 61 of 74 scheduled laps.
  • The first nine NASCAR Cup Series races at Sonoma Raceway were 300 kilometers and then switched to a 350k format in 1998.
  • The track was reconfigured to 1.949-miles in 1998 with the installation of an 890-foot chute between the original Turns 4 and 7.
  • The track was reconfigured to 2.0 miles in 2001 and re-measured at 1.99 miles in 2002.
  • In 2019 and 2021, the track was reconfigured back to the original 2.52-mile configuration with races being 90 laps – 226.8 miles.
  • Starting in 2022, Sonoma Raceway returned the track configuration back to the 1.99-mile configuration with the return of the ‘chute’.
  • In total there have been 34 NASCAR Cup Series races at Sonoma Raceway since the inaugural race there in 1989 – one race per season, until the 2020 season due to the pandemic the series did not compete at Sonoma Raceway.

STARTS

  • A total of 243 different drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Cup Series race at Sonoma Raceway; 171 have competed in more than one.
  • NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon leads the NASCAR Cup Series in starts at Sonoma Raceway with 23 starts.
  • Top Five All-Time in Sonoma Cup Starts: Jeff Gordon (23), Kevin Harvick (22), Bobby Labonte (21), Kurt Busch (21), Mark Martin (21) and Terry Labonte (21).
  • Kyle Busch leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in starts at Sonoma Raceway with 18 starts.
  • Top Five Active in Sonoma Cup Starts: Kyle Busch (18), Denny Hamlin (17), Martin Truex Jr. (17), Joey Logano (14) and Brad Keselowski (13).
  • A total of 50 different drivers have made their first series start at Sonoma Raceway; the most recent was Grant Enfinger on June 11, 2023.
Rank First-Time Drivers Date Rank First-Time Drivers Date Rank First-Time Drivers Date
1 Grant Enfinger 6/11/2023 18 Marcos Ambrose 6/22/2008 35 Dirk Stephens 5/16/1993
2 Ben Rhodes 6/6/2021 19 Max Papis 6/22/2008 36 P.J. Jones 5/16/1993
3 Alon Day 6/25/2017 20 David Gilliland 6/25/2006 37 Rick Carelli 6/7/1992
4 Billy Johnson 6/25/2017 21 Chris Cook 6/26/2005 38 Rick Scribner 6/7/1992
5 Josh Bilicki 6/25/2017 22 Brandon Ash 6/27/2004 39 Ron Hornaday Jr 6/7/1992
6 Kevin O’Connell 6/25/2017 23 Klaus Graf 6/27/2004 40 R.K. Smith 6/9/1991
7 Tommy Regan 6/25/2017 24 Johnny Miller 6/22/2003 41 Robert Sprague 6/9/1991
8 Dylan Lupton 6/26/2016 25 Austin Cameron 6/23/2002 42 Scott Gaylord 6/9/1991
9 Alex Kennedy 6/23/2013 26 Jim Inglebright 6/23/2002 43 Butch Gilliland 6/10/1990
10 Justin Marks 6/23/2013 27 Brian Simo 6/25/2000 44 Jack Sellers 6/10/1990
11 Paulie Harraka 6/23/2013 28 Sean Woodside 5/4/1997 45 Mike Chase 6/10/1990
12 Victor Gonzalez Jr 6/23/2013 29 Tom Hubert 5/4/1997 46 Bill Cooper 6/11/1989
13 David Mayhew 6/24/2012 30 Jeff Krogh 5/5/1996 47 Darin Brassfield 6/11/1989
14 Tomy Drissi 6/24/2012 31 Larry Gunselman 5/5/1996 48 Dick Johnson 6/11/1989
15 Andy Pilgrim 6/26/2011 32 Dan Obrist 5/7/1995 49 Terry Fisher 6/11/1989
16 Jan Magnussen 6/20/2010 33 Doug George 5/7/1995 50 Troy Beebe 6/11/1989
17 Mattias Ekstrom 6/20/2010 34 Ken Pedersen 5/7/1995

Average Starting Position

  • Kyle Larson leads the NASCAR Cup Series in average starting position at Sonoma Raceway with a 3.667 in nine starts.

Top 10 in Average Starting Position at Sonoma Raceway (All-Time and Active)

Rank All-Time Drivers Avg. Start Races Rank Active Drivers Avg Start Races
1 Kyle Larson 3.667 9 1 Kyle Larson 3.667 9
2 Tyler Reddick 5.667 3 2 Tyler Reddick 5.667 3
3 Chase Elliott 6.429 7 3 Chase Elliott 6.429 7
4 Rusty Wallace 6.941 17 4 Daniel Suárez 10.833 6
5 Marcos Ambrose 7.143 7 5 AJ Allmendinger 10.917 12
6 Jeff Gordon 7.696 23 6 Joey Logano 11.643 14
7 Ricky Rudd 9.056 18 7 William Byron 11.800 5
8 Mark Martin 9.952 21 8 Kyle Busch 13.222 18
9 Alan Kulwicki 10.500 4 9 Martin Truex Jr 13.647 17
10 Jerry Nadeau 10.600 5 10 Chris Buescher 14.571 7

  • A total of seven different manufacturers have made starts at Sonoma Raceway in the NASCAR Cup Series – Chevrolet, Ford, Toyota, Buick, Dodge, Oldsmobile and Pontiac.

POLES

  • A total of 19 different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have won at least one pole at Sonoma Raceway since 1989.
  • NASCAR Hall of Famer Rusty Wallace won the inaugural NASCAR Cup Series pole at Sonoma Raceway in 1989 with a speed of 90.041 mph driving a Pontiac for car owner Raymond Beadle.
  • Of the 19 NASCAR Cup Series Sonoma Raceway pole winners, four are entered this weekend.
Active Pole Winners Poles Seasons
Kyle Larson 4 2022, 2019, 2018, 2017
Denny Hamlin 1 2023
AJ Allmendinger 1 2015
Joey Logano 1 2011

  • NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon leads the NASCAR Cup Series in poles at Sonoma Raceway with five poles (1998, 1999, 2001, 2004, 2005).
  • Kyle Larson leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in poles at Sonoma Raceway with four poles (2017, 2018, 2019, 2022).
  • Four drivers have won consecutive NASCAR Cup Series poles at Sonoma Raceway: Ricky Rudd (three: 1990, 1991, 1992), Jeff Gordon (1998, 1999 and 2004, 2005), Jamie McMurray (2013, 2014) and Kyle Larson (four: 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022 – Note: series did not race at Sonoma in 2020 and qualifying was canceled in 2021).
  • Youngest Cup Series Sonoma pole winner: Joey Logano (June 26, 2011 – 21 years, 1 month, 2 days).
  • Oldest Cup Series Sonoma pole winner: Rusty Wallace (June 25, 2000 – 43 years, 10 months, 11 days).
  • Only one NASCAR Cup Series driver has posted his first series career pole at Sonoma – Boris Said (June 22, 2003).
  • A total of 13 different organizations have won at least one pole in the NASCAR Cup Series at Sonoma Raceway; six of the 13 are active this weekend.
Rank Active Organizations Poles Seasons
1 Hendrick Motorsports 10 2022, 2005, 2004, 2001, 1999, 1998, 1996, 1992, 1991, 1990
2 Joe Gibbs Racing 4 2023, 2016, 2011, 2002
3 RFK Racing 2 2007, 1997
4 Team Penske 2 2006, 2000
5 JTG Daugherty Racing 1 2015
6 Richard Childress Racing 1 1993
  • Hendrick Motorsports leads the NASCAR Cup Series in poles at Sonoma Raceway with 10 among four drivers: Jeff Gordon (five: 1998, 1999, 2001, 2004, 2005), Ricky Rudd (three: 1990, 1991, 1992), Kyle Larson (2022), Terry Labonte (1996).
  • Five different manufacturers in the NASCAR Cup Series have won a pole at Sonoma Raceway; led by Chevrolet (17 poles), followed by Ford (seven), Toyota (four), Pontiac (three) and Dodge (two).
  • Four drivers have won NASCAR Cup Series poles at Sonoma in two different manufacturers; see chart below:
Drivers Poles
Ricky Rudd 3 (Chevrolet) 1 (Ford)
Jamie McMurray 2 (Chevrolet) 1 (Ford)
Kasey Kahne 1 (Dodge) 1 (Ford)
Rusty Wallace 1 (Ford) 1 (Pontiac)

  • NASCAR Hall of Famer Darrell Waltrip leads the series in road course poles (all-time) with nine poles – all at Riverside International Raceway (1980, three-race sweep in 1981, 1982, two races in 1983, 1985 and 1986).
  • William Byron leads all active drivers in road course poles in the NASCAR Cup Series with five poles (Charlotte ROVAL 2019, Road America 2021, Indianapolis R.C. 2021, COTA 2023 and 2024).
  • Kyle Larson has the second-most road course poles among active drivers in the series with four poles; all at Sonoma Raceway (2017, 2018, 2019, 2022).

 WINS

  • A total of 21 different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have won at Sonoma Raceway since 1989.
  • NASCAR Hall of Famer Ricky Rudd (Class of 2025) won the first NASCAR Cup Series race at Sonoma Raceway on June 11, 1989 driving a Buick for car owner Kenny Bernstein.
  • Of the 21 NASCAR Cup Series Sonoma Raceway winners, four are entered this weekend.
Active Sonoma Winners Wins Seasons
Martin Truex Jr 4 2023, 2019, 2018, 2013
Kyle Busch 2 2015, 2008
Daniel Suárez 1 2022
Kyle Larson 1 2021
  • NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon leads the NASCAR Cup Series in wins at Sonoma Raceway with five victories (1998, 1999, 2000, 2004, 2006).
  • Joe Gibbs Racing’s Martin Truex Jr. leads all active drivers in wins at Sonoma Raceway in the NASCAR Cup Series with four victories (2013, 2018, 2019, 2024).
  • Only two drivers have posted consecutive NASCAR Cup Series wins at Sonoma Raceway:

o   Jeff Gordon (1998 and 1999 were each from the pole and the 2000 win was from the fifth starting position).

o   Martin Truex Jr. (2018 was from the outside front row and 2019 was from eighth starting position).

  • Youngest Cup Series Sonoma Raceway winner: Kyle Busch (June 22, 2008 – 23 years, 1 month, 20 days).
  • Oldest Cup Series Sonoma Raceway winner: Ricky Rudd (June 23, 2002 – 45 years, 9 months, 11 days).
  • Two drivers have posted their first career NASCAR Cup Series win at Sonoma Raceway – Juan Pablo Montoya (2007) and Daniel Suárez (2022).
  • A total of 15 different starting positions on the grid have led to victories in the 34 NASCAR Cup Series races at Sonoma Raceway.
  • The pole or first starting position is the most proficient starting position in the field, producing more series wins (six) than any other starting position at Sonoma Raceway.
  • In total six of the 34 (17.6%) NASCAR Cup Series races at Sonoma Raceway have been won from the pole or first starting position; the most recent was Kyle Larson in 2021.
  • In total four different drivers have won a NASCAR Cup Series race at Sonoma Raceway from the pole or first starting position.

o   Jeff Gordon – leads series with three victories from the pole (1998, 1999 and 2004)

o   Ernie Irvan (1994)

o   Mark Martin (1997)

o   Kyle Larson (2021)

NASCAR Cup Series Wins by Starting Positions at Sonoma Raceway

Starting Position Wins Winning % Starting Position Wins Winning %
1 6 17.65% 10 1 2.94%
2 4 11.76% 11 4 11.76%
3 2 5.88% 12 1 2.94%
4 3 8.82% 13 1 2.94%
5 2 5.88% 14 1 2.94%
6 1 2.94% 30 1 2.94%
7 3 8.82% 32 1 2.94%
8 3 8.82%
Stats Winning % Wins
Winning from the First Starting Position: 17.6% 6
Winning from the Front Row: 29.4% 10
Winning from a Top-Five Starting Position: 50.0% 17
Winning from a Top-10 Starting Position: 73.5% 25
Winning After Starting Outside the Top 10: 26.5% 9
Winning After Starting Outside the Top 20: 5.9% 2

  • The deepest in the field that a race winner has started at Sonoma is 32nd, by Juan Pablo Montoya in 2007.
  • Only one other time has a NASCAR Cup Series race been won from a starting position outside the top 15 at Sonoma Raceway – Kyle Busch’s 2008 win; he started from 30th.
  • Denny Hamlin leads the series among active drivers this weekend with the most NASCAR Cup Series starts at Sonoma Raceway without visiting Victory Lane at 17 appearances.
  • In total 17 different organizations have won in the NASCAR Cup Series at Sonoma Raceway.
  • Of the 17 organizations that have won in the NASCAR Cup Series at Sonoma Raceway, seven are active this weekend.
Rank Active Organizations Sonoma Wins Seasons
1 Hendrick Motorsports 7 2021, 2010, 2006, 2004, 2000, 1999, 1998
2 Joe Gibbs Racing 6 2023, 2019, 2015, 2008, 2005, 2001
3 Stewart-Haas Racing 2 2017, 2017
4 RFK Racing 2 2014, 1997
5 Team Penske 2 2011, 1996
6 Richard Childress Racing 2 2003, 1995
7 Trackhouse Racing 1 2022
  • Hendrick Motorsports leads the NASCAR Cup Series in wins at Sonoma Raceway with seven victories among three drivers: Jeff Gordon (five: 1998, 1999, 2000, 2004, 2006), Jimmie Johnson (one: 2010) and Kyle Larson (one: 2021).
  • Six different manufacturers have won in the NASCAR Cup Series at Sonoma Raceway; led by Chevrolet with 13 victories; followed by Ford with eight, Toyota (seven), Dodge (three), Pontiac (two) and Buick (one).
  • Chevrolet holds the record for the longest streak of consecutive NASCAR Cup Series wins at Sonoma Raceway at four straight from 2003-2006.
  • Four drivers have won in two different manufacturers in the NASCAR Cup Series at Sonoma; see chart below:
Drivers Wins
Tony Stewart 2 (Chevrolet) 1 (Pontiac)
Ricky Rudd 1 (Buick) 1 (Ford)
Ernie Irvan 1 (Chevrolet) 1 (Ford)
Rusty Wallace 1 (Ford) 1 (Pontiac)
  • Jeff Gordon leads the NASCAR Cup Series all-time in road course wins with nine victories (Sonoma, five; Watkins Glen, four);
  • Tony Stewart has the second-most road course wins all-time with eight victories (Watkins Glen, five; Sonoma, three).
  • Hendrick Motorsport’s Chase Elliott leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in road course wins with seven victories (Watkins Glen, two; Charlotte ROVAL, two; Daytona R.C.; COTA; Road America).
  • NASCAR Hall of Famer Bobby Allison holds the NASCAR Cup Series record for the most wins at a single road course track – with six victories at Riverside International Raceway (1971, 1973, 1975, 1979, 1981-1, 1981-3).

ADDITIONAL FINISHING POSITIONS

Runner-Up Finishes:

  • A total of 21 drivers have finished runner-up in the NASCAR Cup Series at Sonoma Raceway.
  • NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon leads the NASCAR Cup Series in runner-up finishes at Sonoma with five.
  • Kyle Busch leads all active drivers in the Cup Series in runner-up finishes at Sonoma Raceway with two.

Top Five in Runner-Up Finishes at Sonoma Raceway (All-Time & Active)

Rank All-Time Drivers Runner-Ups Rank Active Drivers Runner-Ups
1 Jeff Gordon 5 1 Kyle Busch 2
2 Mark Martin 4 2 Chase Elliott 1
3 Tony Stewart 3 3 Chris Buescher 1
4 Kevin Harvick 2 4 Denny Hamlin 1
5 Kyle Busch 2  
Ricky Rudd 2  
Robby Gordon 2  

Top-Five Finishes:

  • A total of 57 different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have finished in the top-five at Sonoma Raceway.
  • NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon leads the Cup Series in top-five finishes at Sonoma with 14 top fives.
  • Kyle Busch leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in top-five finishes at Sonoma with seven.

Top Five in Top-Five Finishes at Sonoma Raceway (All-Time & Active)  

Rank All-Time Drivers Top Fives Rank Active Drivers Top Fives
1 Jeff Gordon 14 1 Kyle Busch 7
2 Ricky Rudd 10 2 Martin Truex Jr 6
3 Rusty Wallace 9 3 Denny Hamlin 4
4 Clint Bowyer 8 4 Joey Logano 4
5 Kevin Harvick 7 5 Chase Elliott 3
Kurt Busch 7  
Kyle Busch 7  
Mark Martin 7  

 Top-10 Finishes:

  • A total of 85 different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have finished in the top-10 at Sonoma Raceway.
  • NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon leads the NASCAR Cup Series in top-10 finishes at Sonoma with 18.
  • Kyle Busch leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in top 10s at Sonoma with nine.

Top Five in Top-10 Finishes at Sonoma Raceway (All-Time & Active)

Rank All-Time Drivers Top 10s Rank Active Drivers Top 10s
1 Jeff Gordon 18 1 Kyle Busch 9
2 Mark Martin 13 2 Denny Hamlin 7
3 Kevin Harvick 11 3 Martin Truex Jr 7
4 Kurt Busch 11 4 Joey Logano 6
5 Ricky Rudd 11 5 Chase Elliott 5
Rusty Wallace 11

 

Average Finishes:

  • Jeff Gordon leads the NASCAR Cup Series in average finishing position at Sonoma with an 8.3 in 23 starts.
  • Chase Elliott leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in average finish at Sonoma with a 12.143 in seven starts.

Top 10 in Average Finishing Positions at Sonoma Raceway (All-Time & Active)

Rank All-Time Drivers Avg Finish Races Rank Active Drivers Avg Finish Races
1 Jeff Gordon 8.304 23 1 Chase Elliott 12.143 7
2 Dale Earnhardt 8.583 12 2 Daniel Suárez 13.883 6
3 Clint Bowyer 10.143 14 3 Joey Logano 12.929 14
4 Rick Wilson 10.500 4 4 Chris Buescher 14.143 7
5 Marcos Ambrose 11.286 7 5 Ross Chastain 14.250 4
6 Daniel Suárez 11.667 3 6 Kyle Larson 14.333 9
7 Ricky Rudd 11.722 18 7 Kyle Busch 14.778 18
8 Tony Stewart 11.778 18 8 Austin Cindric 15.000 2
9 Mark Martin 11.857 21 9 Daniel Hemric 15.000 1
10 Chase Elliott 12.143 7 10 Brad Keselowski 16.077 13

LAP LEADERS

  • A total of 77 different drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series have led at least one lap at Sonoma Raceway.
  • NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon leads the NASCAR Cup Series in laps led at Sonoma Raceway with 457 laps led in 23 starts.
  • Martin Truex Jr. leads all active Cup drivers in laps led at Sonoma (second-most all-time) with 264 laps led in 17 Sonoma Raceway starts.
  • NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon has led the most laps at Sonoma Raceway in a single NASCAR Cup Series race and won with 92 laps led of the scheduled 110 laps (83.6%) on June 27, 2004.
  • NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin led the most laps at Sonoma Raceway in a single NASCAR Cup Series race and did not win (finished second) after leading 66 of the 74 scheduled laps (89.1%) on May 7, 1995.
  • The fewest laps led by a NASCAR Cup Series winner at Sonoma Raceway is two laps and it has happened twice: In 1991, Davey Allison led just two laps en route to the win at Sonoma and in 1995 Dale Earnhardt led just two laps en route to the win.

Top 10 in Laps Led at Sonoma Raceway (All-Time)

Rank All-Time Lap Leaders Races Led Completed % Led
1 Jeff Gordon 23 457 2,343 19.5%
2 Martin Truex Jr 17 264 1,692 15.6%
3 Kurt Busch 21 206 2,264 9.1%
4 Rusty Wallace 17 171 1,516 11.3%
5 Mark Martin 21 161 1,975 8.2%
6 Robby Gordon 15 158 1,499 10.5%
7 Jimmie Johnson 18 143 1,960 7.3%
8 Denny Hamlin 17 135 1,789 7.5%
9 Ricky Rudd 18 134 1,637 8.2%
10 Kyle Busch 18 132 1,901 6.9%

Top 10 in Laps Led at Sonoma Raceway (Active)

Rank Active Lap Leaders Races Led Completed % Led
1 Martin Truex Jr 17 264 1,692 15.6%
2 Denny Hamlin 17 135 1,789 7.5%
3 Kyle Busch 18 132 1,901 6.9%
4 Kyle Larson 9 94 951 9.9%
5 AJ Allmendinger 12 65 1,227 5.3%
6 Chase Elliott 7 49 702 7.0%
7 Daniel Suárez 6 47 312 15.1%
8 Brad Keselowski 13 27 1,386 1.9%
9 Joey Logano 14 27 1,505 1.8%
10 William Byron 5 26 495 5.3%

TRACK SPECIFIC STATS

  • Since the advent of electronic scoring in 1993, the closest margin of victory (MOV) in the NASCAR Cup Series at Sonoma Raceway is the June 27, 1999 race won by Jeff Gordon over Mark Martin with a margin of victory of 0.197 second.

Top Five Closest Margins of Victory at Sonoma Raceway in the NASCAR Cup Series

Margin of Victory Date Race Winner Runner-Up
0.197 6/27/1999 Jeff Gordon Mark Martin
0.320 5/7/1995 Dale Earnhardt Mark Martin
0.460 5/5/1996 Rusty Wallace Mark Martin
0.532 6/28/2015 Kyle Busch Kurt Busch
0.553 6/22/2003 Robby Gordon Jeff Gordon

Top Five Largest Margins of Victory at Sonoma Raceway in the NASCAR Cup Series

Margin of Victory Date Race Winner Runner-Up
10.513 6/24/2018 Martin Truex Jr Kevin Harvick
9.560 5/15/1994 Ernie Irvan Geoff Bodine
8.133 6/23/2013 Martin Truex Jr Jeff Gordon
4.101 6/25/2000 Jeff Gordon Sterling Marlin
4.097 6/24/2007 Juan Pablo Montoya Kevin Harvick
  • Qualifying has never been cancelled in the NASCAR Cup Series at Sonoma Raceway due to weather. But the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series event, set the starting lineups by Metric Qualifying due to the pandemic restrictions.
  • None of the 34 NASCAR Cup Series races at Sonoma Raceway have been shortened due to weather conditions.
  • None of the 34 NASCAR Cup Series races at Sonoma Raceway have been postponed to a later date.
  • There have been four NASCAR Cup Series races resulting in NASCAR Overtime at Sonoma Raceway:
Date MOV Scheduled Actual Difference Winner Runner-Up
6/6/2021 0.614 90 92 2 Kyle Larson Chase Elliott
6/24/2012 0.829 110 112 2 Clint Bowyer Tony Stewart
6/21/2009 0.748 110 113 3 Kasey Kahne Tony Stewart
6/22/2008 1.716 110 112 2 Kyle Busch David Gilliland
  • The most leaders in a NASCAR Cup Series race at Sonoma Raceway is 10, set in 2017.
  • The fewest leaders in a NASCAR Cup Series race at Sonoma Raceway is three, set in the inaugural event in 1989.
  • The most lead changes in a NASCAR Cup Series race at Sonoma Raceway is 13, and it has happened twice in 2017 and 2021.
  • The fewest lead changes in a NASCAR Cup Series race at Sonoma Raceway is three, set in the inaugural event in 1989.
  • Three times the final lead change of the race occurred in the final five laps of the NASCAR Cup Series race at Sonoma Raceway:

o   Ricky Rudd passed Jerry Nadeau with three laps to go to win the 2002 NASCAR Cup Series race at Sonoma Raceway.

o   Dale Earnhardt passed Mark Martin with two laps to go to win the 1995 NASCAR Cup Series race at Sonoma Raceway.

o   Davey Allison passed Ricky Rudd on the final lap of the race to win the 1991 NASCAR Cup Series race at Sonoma Raceway.

 FEMALE COMPETITORS

  • Danica Patrick is the only female driver in the NASCAR Cup Series to compete at Sonoma Raceway.
Driver Starting Position Finishing Position Driver Rating Date
Danica Patrick 6 17 66.5 6/25/2017
Danica Patrick 11 19 69.8 6/26/2016
Danica Patrick 21 24 61.6 6/28/2015
Danica Patrick 11 18 69.6 6/22/2014
Danica Patrick 31 29 43.0 6/23/2013
Averages 16.0 21.4 62.1  

 NASCAR IN CALIFORNIA

  • There has been a total of 215 NASCAR national series points-paying races held in the state of California among 17 different tracks.
  • The NASCAR Cup Series has also competed at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in 2022 – 2024 – a special non-points event to start the season.

NASCAR Tracks in California City Cup Xfinity Truck Combined First Year
Auto Club Speedway Fontana 33 33 13 79 1997
Sonoma Raceway Sonoma 34 1 5 40 1989
Ascot Stadium Los Angeles 3 0 0 3 1957
Bay Meadows Race Track San Mateo 3 0 0 3 1954
California State Fairgrounds Sacramento 6 0 0 6 1956
Capitol Speedway Sacramento 1 0 0 1 1957
Carrell Speedway Gardena 4 0 0 4 1951
Marchbanks Speedway Hanford 3 0 0 3 1951
Merced Fairgrounds Merced 1 0 0 1 1956
Mesa Marin Raceway Bakersfield 0 0 9 9 1995
Oakland Stadium Oakland 3 0 0 3 1951
Ontario Motor Speedway Ontario 9 0 0 9 1971
Redwood Speedway Eureka 2 0 0 2 1956
Riverside International Raceway Riverside 48 0 0 48 1958
Santa Clara Fairgrounds San Jose 1 0 0 1 1957
Saugus Speedway Saugus 0 0 1 1 1995
Willow Springs Speedway Lancaster 2 0 0 2 1956
Totals 153 34 28 215

  • The first NASCAR national series event held in the state of California was a NASCAR Cup Series race on April 8, 1951 at Carrell Speedway – the race was won by Marshall Teague (Hudson).

CALIFORNIA DRIVERS IN NASCAR

  • A total of 463 drivers in NASCAR national series history have their home state recorded as California.
  • Of the 463 Californian drivers in NASCAR, 45 have posted at least one win in one of NASCAR’s three national series. The list of winners is below:
NASCAR Winners From California Cup Xfinity Truck Combined
Jeff Gordon 93 5 0 98
Jimmie Johnson 83 1 0 84
Kevin Harvick 60 47 14 121
Kyle Larson 25 15 3 43
Marvin Panch 17 0 0 17
Ernie Irvan 15 3 0 18
Dick Rathmann 13 0 0 13
Tyler Reddick 6 10 3 19
Dan Gurney 5 0 0 5
Eddie Gray 4 0 0 4
Parnelli Jones 4 0 0 4
Eddie Pagan 4 0 0 4
AJ Allmendinger 3 17 0 20
Robby Gordon 3 1 0 4
Ray Elder 2 0 0 2
Danny Letner 2 0 0 2
Marvin Porter 2 0 0 2
Dick Brooks 1 0 0 1
Marvin Burke 1 0 0 1
Jim Cook 1 0 0 1
Cole Custer 1 13 2 16
Lou Figaro 1 0 0 1
Danny Graves 1 0 0 1
Johnny Mantz 1 0 0 1
Casey Mears 1 1 0 2
Bill Norton 1 0 0 1
John Soares 1 0 0 1
Danny Weinberg 1 0 0 1
Ron Hornaday Jr 0 4 51 55
Jason Leffler 0 2 1 3
Ryan Reed 0 2 0 2
David Gilliland 0 1 0 1
Jesse Love 0 1 0 1
Justin Marks 0 1 0 1
Joe Ruttman 0 1 13 14
Boris Said 0 1 1 2
Mike Skinner 0 1 28 29
Matt Crafton 0 0 15 15
Zane Smith 0 0 9 9
Sheldon Creed 0 0 8 8
Tyler Ankrum 0 0 1 1
Matt DiBenedetto 0 0 1 1
Justin Lofton 0 0 1 1
Scott Speed 0 0 1 1
Brandon Whitt 0 0 1 1
Totals 352 127 153 632

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