NASCAR odds: NASCAR may have its roots in the southeastern United States where beer and barbeque is king but one of the most popular destinations on the Sprint Cup circuit is the wine and cheese country of northern California where the Sonoma Raceway road course will host the Toyota Save Mart 350 with coverage on TNT starting at 3 PM ET. Martin Truex was the winner at Sonoma last year with Clint Bowyer winning in 2012, Kurt Busch winning in 2011, Jimmie Johnson taking the checkers in 2010, and Kasey Kahne winning in 2009.
Sonoma Raceway
The Sonoma Raceway is a 2.52 mile asphalt road course that has a total of 12 turns. The lap record is 1:15.203 by Marcos Ambrose in 2012.
Top Sonoma Drivers
The resurgent Jeff Gordon has posted dominant numbers at Sonoma with 21 career starts, 5 wins, 13 top 5 finishes and 17 top 10 finishes with an average finish at Sonoma of 8.2.
Clint Bowyer has 8 career starts at Sonoma with 1 win, 5 top 5 finishes and 6 top 10 finishes with an average finish at Sonoma of 9.1.
Marcos Ambrose has 6 career starts on the road course of Sonoma with 0 wins but 2 top 5 and 5 top 10 finishes with an average finish at Sonoma of 11.8.
It would only stand to figure that Tony Stewart would have strong numbers at Sonoma, Stewart has 15 career starts at Sonoma with 2 wins, 5 top 5 finishes, and 9 top 10 finishes with an average finish of 12.0. Stewart is among the most versatile and passionate drivers in any circuit of racing.
Ryan Newman has 12 career starts at Sonoma with 0 wins, 2 top 5 and 9 top 10 finishes with an average finish at Sonoma of 13.1.
Gordon’s Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson has had good success at Sonoma with 12 career starts, 1 win, 4 top 5 finishes and 7 top 10 finishes.
The Pick
Gordon has been forgotten in recent years as a truly skilled contender and we’ll take his great experience at Sonoma. Jeff Gordon!