Statistical Advance: Analyzing the Toyota / Save Mart 350

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 July 13 at 3:30 p.m. ET on TNT, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Sonoma Raceway – Statistics & Tidbits:

TRACK & RACE DATA
Season Race #: 20 of 36 (July 13, 2025)
Purse: $11,055,250
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):
Joey Logano, Ford, 97.771 mph, 73.273 secs., June 8, 2024

Track race record (1.99-miles):
Clint Bowyer, Toyota, 83.624 mph, (02:39:55), June 24, 2012

2024 pole winner (most recent race/ 1.99-miles):
Joey Logano, Ford, 97.771 mph, 73.273 secs., June 8, 2024

2024 race winner (most recent race/ 1.99-miles):
Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, 74.526 mph, (02:56:14), June 9, 2024

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 Sonoma 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 its existence, the facility 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 35 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 250 different drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Cup Series race at Sonoma Raceway.
• A total of 174 drivers have competed in more than one Cup race at Sonoma Raceway.
• 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 19 starts.
• Top Five Active in Sonoma Cup Starts: Kyle Busch (19), Denny Hamlin (18), Joey Logano (15) and Brad Keselowski (14) and AJ Allmendinger (13).
• A total of 52 different drivers have made their first series start at Sonoma Raceway; the most recent were Cam Waters and Will Brown on June 9, 2024.

• The best starting position by a driver making their NASCAR Cup Series career debut at Sonoma Raceway, was a 12th-place finish by Jan Magnussen on June 20, 2010. He started from the 32nd starting spot.
• The best finishing position by a driver making their NASCAR Cup Series career debut at Sonoma Raceway, was a seventh-place starting position by Marcos Ambrose on June 22, 2008. He ultimately finished 42nd in the event due to transmission failure.

Average Starting Position

• Kyle Larson leads the NASCAR Cup Series in average starting position at Sonoma Raceway with a 3.800 in 10 starts.

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

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.
• 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).
• Of the 19 NASCAR Cup Series Sonoma Raceway pole winners all-time, four are entered this weekend:

• 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: The series did not race at Sonoma in 2020, and qualifying was canceled in 2021).
• Only one NASCAR Cup Series driver has posted his first series career pole at Sonoma – Boris Said (June 22, 2003).
• 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).
• 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.

• Hendrick Motorsports leads the NASCAR Cup Series in poles at Sonoma Raceway with 10 poles 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 (eight), Toyota (four), Pontiac (three) and Dodge (two).
• Five drivers have won NASCAR Cup Series poles at Sonoma in two different manufacturers; see chart below:

• NASCAR Hall of Famer Darrell Waltrip leads the Cup 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.
• NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon leads the NASCAR Cup Series in wins at Sonoma Raceway with five victories (1998, 1999, 2000, 2004, 2006).
• Kyle Busch (2008, 2015) and Kyle Larson (2021, 2024) lead all active drivers in wins at Sonoma Raceway in the NASCAR Cup Series with two victories each.
• Of the 21 NASCAR Cup Series Sonoma Raceway winners, three are entered this weekend:

• Only two drivers have posted consecutive NASCAR Cup Series wins at Sonoma Raceway:
  • Jeff Gordon (1998 and 1999 were each from the pole and the 2000 win was from the fifth starting position).
  • Martin Truex Jr. (2018 was from the outside front row and 2019 was from eighth starting position).
• The longest stretch of different winners without a repeat in the NASCAR Cup Series at Sonoma Raceway was 10 different winners from 2005-2014.
• The last three Sonoma Cup Series races have been won by three different drivers – Suarez (2022), Truex Jr. (2023), Larson (2024).
• 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 35 NASCAR Cup Series races at Sonoma Raceway.
• The pole or first starting position is the most proficient starting position in the field, producing more wins (six) than any other starting position at Sonoma Raceway.
• In total six of the 35 (17.14%) 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.
  • Jeff Gordon – leads the series with three victories from the pole (1998, 1999 and 2004)
  • Ernie Irvan (1994)
  • Mark Martin (1997)
  • Kyle Larson (2021)

NASCAR Cup Series Wins by Starting Positions at Sonoma Raceway

• The deepest in the field that a race winner has started at Sonoma is 32nd, by Juan Pablo Montoya in 2007.
• The deepest in the field that an active race winner has started at Sonoma is 30th, by Kyle Busch in 2008.
• Seven of the last eight Sonoma Cup races have been from a top-10 starting position.
• 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 18 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, six are active this weekend.

• Hendrick Motorsports leads the NASCAR Cup Series in wins at Sonoma Raceway with eight victories among three drivers: Jeff Gordon (five: 1998, 1999, 2000, 2004, 2006), Kyle Larson (two: 2021, 2024) and Jimmie Johnson (one: 2010).
• Hendrick Motorsports also leads the Cup Series in consecutive wins at Sonoma Raceway with three straight from 1998-2000.
• Six different manufacturers have won in the NASCAR Cup Series at Sonoma Raceway; led by Chevrolet with 14 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:

• 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-2; Charlotte ROVAL-2; Daytona R.C.-1; COTA-1; Road America-1).
• 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 22 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 (2019, 2023).

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

Top-Five Finishes:

• A total of 58 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)  

Top-10 Finishes:

• A total of 87 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)

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)

LAP LEADERS

• A total of 79 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 out of 2,343 laps completed (19.5%) in 23 starts.
• Denny Hamlin leads all active Cup Series drivers in laps led at Sonoma Raceway (eighth-most all-time) with 135 laps led out of 1,791 laps completed (8%) in 18 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)

Top 10 in Laps Led at Sonoma Raceway (Active)

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

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

• 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 35 NASCAR Cup Series races at Sonoma Raceway have been shortened due to weather conditions.
• None of the 35 NASCAR Cup Series races at Sonoma Raceway have been postponed to a later date.
• There have been four NASCAR Cup Series races resulting in Overtime at Sonoma Raceway:

• The most leaders in a NASCAR Cup Series race at Sonoma Raceway is 10 (June 25, 2017).
• The fewest leaders in a NASCAR Cup Series race at Sonoma Raceway is three (June 11, 1989).
• The most lead changes in a NASCAR Cup Series race at Sonoma Raceway is 13, and it has happened twice (June 25, 2017 and June 6, 2021).
• The fewest lead changes in a NASCAR Cup Series race at Sonoma Raceway is three (June 11, 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:
  • Ricky Rudd passed Jerry Nadeau with three laps to go to win the 2002 NASCAR Cup Series race at Sonoma Raceway.
  • Dale Earnhardt passed Mark Martin with two laps to go to win the 1995 NASCAR Cup Series race at Sonoma Raceway.
  • Davey Allison passed Ricky Rudd on the final lap of the race to win the 1991 NASCAR Cup Series race at Sonoma Raceway.
• Last season’s Sonoma Cup race produced the final lead change of the event with nine laps to go. Kyle Larson passed Martin Truex Jr. en route to the victory.

FEMALE COMPETITORS

• Danica Patrick is the only female driver in the NASCAR Cup Series to compete at Sonoma Raceway.

NASCAR IN CALIFORNIA

• There has been a total of 217 NASCAR national series points-paying races held in the state of California among 17 different tracks.
• The NASCAR Cup Series has also competed in two special non-points events at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum from 2022-2023.

• 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).
• The NASCAR Cup Series visited 12 different tracks in the state of California in the 1950s.

CALIFORNIA DRIVERS IN NASCAR

• A total of 464 drivers in NASCAR national series history have their home state recorded as California.
• Of the 464 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 —