Cup Category

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer SONOMA, California — The era of “road ringers” are a thing of the past according to Justin Marks, who will be piloting the No. 15 Sufferfest Beer Company Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in Sunday’s Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway. “The ‘road course ringer’ is not really a thing anymore because every point and every race in the Cup Series are so important for these guys running for the championship that they spent a lot of time on the road course program,” Marks told Motorsports Tribune. “ItRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer SONOMA, California — The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers began conquering the scorching 91 degree weather for Friday’s opening practice, and to no surprise, Clint Bowyer begins where he left off at Michigan, topping the practice session. Bowyer’s No. 14 One Cure Ford set the fastest lap of 76.547 seconds, with a speeds of 93.590 mph with 12 minutes to go in the session. Ryan Blaney was 0.036 seconds short of being the top man in practice. At the last minute, Joey Logano putRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer SONOMA, California — Daniel Suarez enters Sonoma Raceway looking to turn things around this season after finishing outside the top-15 in three out of the last four races, some involving unfortunate circumstances which have put him 21st in points. Suarez told Motorsports Tribune that good results on road courses, such as Sunday’s Toyota/Save Mart 350 are important because it’s one of only three road courses on the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series calendar. “We don’t have a lot of (road course) races throughout the year,” said Suarez.Read More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer SONOMA, California — In a sport where a driver’s words can come out the wrong way from the eyes of the fans, Kyle Larson discussed his comments regarding his passion for sprint car racing such as the World of Outlaws during Friday morning’s press conference before the first of two Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practices at Sonoma Raceway. Known to be one of the last pure versatile drivers in the states, Larson opened up about fans criticizing him for being avid for sprint carRead More

By David Morgan, NASCAR Editor After getting to enjoy a much needed week off, the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series is back in business with a little road course racing. This week, the series makes the trek out to California wine country to take on the 1.990 mile Sonoma Raceway, a 12-turn technical road course situated about 30 miles north of San Francisco. This week’s Toyota/Save Mart 350 consists of 110 laps, which calculates out to 218.9 miles, or 350 kilometers. Over the years, the course at Sonoma Raceway has goneRead More

By David Morgan, NASCAR Editor Throughout his NASCAR career, Robby Gordon was never one to shy away from controversy and in June 2003 at Sonoma Raceway, his path to victory included a bit of controversy and a stellar battle with Jeff Gordon to see who would take home the trophy. Robby Gordon, who last won on the Cup Series circuit back in November 2001 at New Hampshire, was one of the most feared drivers when it came to road course racing as he always found himself in the mix for theRead More

By Seth Eggert, Staff Writer As the revolving door of drivers continues at StarCom Racing, the team has recruited 2009 Trans-Am Champion Tomy Drissi for Sonoma Raceway. Drissi will pilot the No. 00 GoShare Chevrolet Camaro SS in the Toyota / Save Mart 350. Sunday’s race will mark the fifth start in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series for Drissi and his first since 2014. In those four starts, he has a best career finish of 38th (three times), and three starts at Sonoma. The 59-year-old also has 11 starts inRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer Parker Kilgerman is set to make his second Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series start for Gaunt Brothers Racing, piloting the No. 96 Toyota Camry at Sonoma Raceway in Sonoma, California June 24 for the running of the Toyota/Save Mart 350. It’ll be both GBR’s and Kilgerman’s first Cup attempt on a road course, and their first since the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway May 27, where Kligerman finished 27th in his first start since 2014. Car owner Marty Gaunt said he’s happy to bringRead More

By Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service BROOKLYN, Mich. – Clint Bowyer gambled. Then he made sure he cashed the winning ticket with a determined charge on two new tires as rain threatened Michigan International Speedway. Bowyer got the lead under caution at the end of Stage 2 of Sunday’s Firekeepers Casino 400 when crew chief Mike Bugarewicz opted for two tires on the No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford. Bowyer had to do the rest, holding off teammate Kevin Harvick after a restart on Lap 126, barely preventing Harvick, who had freshRead More

By Seth Eggert, Staff Writer  An alternate strategy and Mother Nature proved to be the best-case scenario for Paul Menard. The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver was up front when it counted in the FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway. Menard jumped to the front in the No. 21 Menard’s / Jack Links Ford Fusion when crew chief Greg Erwin called an audible. While the bulk of the field pitted midway into Stage 2, Menard stayed on track. He led a handful of laps before slipping backward andRead More