Sonoma Raceway: Best 4 Bets to Win at Sonoma

The annual NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event at Sonoma Raceway is set go off on Sunday, June 26th at 1:30 pm E.T. The field will be mixing it up this weekend and racing on their first road course of the 2016 season. The sprawling 2.52 mile course features 12 turns that wind through the Sears Point hillside in the Southern Mountains of California. The track not only twists and turns, but it also rises and falls. Drivers will have to navigate their cars through a landscape that elevates to over 160 feet.

The track’s make-up poses all kinds of different kinds of challenges for NASCAR’s best drivers. Fuel mileage, breaking in the sharp turns, accelerating out into the chute and passing another driver all require absolute precision and great skill. Some veteran drivers struggle at this racing venue, while others seem to thrive. Here are your top four best bets to race on to glory at Sonoma Raceway this weekend.

Kyle Busch

The reigning and defending Sprint Cup Series title holder has guided his hot-rod to two wins at Sonoma Raceway. The last time he tasted victory here was in last year’s race on June 15th. The Joe Gibbs Racing stand-out has been struggling over the last month of competition and the Father’s Day break could be just what the #18 M&M’s team needed.

One key to Busch’s success here is his ability to suggest helpful on-track adjustments that he relays to his team for his next pit-stop. At Sonoma Raceway, the good communication between the driver and his crew chief can make or break the teams chance for a win. Busch seems to do this better than most of the experienced drivers on the circuit.

Re-starts are always a vital part to any NASCAR race, but more so at Sonoma Raceway compared to traditional ovals. Passing on the 2.52 mile winding oval is anything but easy. When the drivers get a chance to be grouped back together for re-starts, it increases their chances to make a critical move while their competitors are up close and personal. Nobody in the racing business is better at this than Kyle Busch. You’re getting a good bang for your buck at 10/1 for Busch to repeat as race winner.

Kurt Busch

Kurt Busch, older brother of Kyle Busch, is no stranger to success at this tricky road course. He rolled in his first ever victory here in 2011. In fact, since his last victory lane appearance at Sonoma Raceway, the veteran off-road driver hasn’t finished less than 12th. Busch has three other top five’s in that time span and finished two laps behind Jimmie Johnson for the most laps led in last year’s race.

Kurt Busch has guided his #41 Monster Energy race car to nine top ten finishes in the last ten contests. He also drove on to victory two races ago in Pocono and has four top fives in as many weeks. The California native tops the field in average running position 9.613, driver rating 109.3 and laps led 166, since the loop data was introduced to rank drivers at specific tracks. If momentum counts for anything, Busch driving into the winner circle seems like a likely outcome. Furthermore, at 5/1 odds, the crafty veteran is Las Vegas’s choice to win this weekend.

Jimmie Johnson

The six-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion feels like he is at home st Sonoma Raceway. Johnson was born and raised racing automobiles all through California. The speedster seems to step it up in his home state and the race this weekend shouldn’t be an exception. Johnson and his #48 Lowe’s Chevrolet have performed well at Sonoma Raceway in the past.

The Hendricks Motorsports racer won here in 2010 and reeled in 7 straight top ten performances. Last year no different, as he led a race high 45 laps on his way to a top five finish. In fact, he trails only Kurt Busch statistically here. Johnson ranks second in average running position 11.33, driver rating 101.0 and laps led 131, in the loop data era. NASCAR bettor might seriously consider placing their hard earned greenbacks on this 7/1 favorite.

A.J. Allmendinger

A.J. Allmendinger may scare away some bettors and fantasy players this weekend, especially if you placed your hard earned money on him last year and watched him finish 37th. Keep in mind, he did start from the pole position and is in the midst of his best year to date. He’s been out front for more than 20 circuits in three of the four road course races the last two years.

There is little doubt in his fellow competitor’s minds that he is one of the elite road-course racers in NASCAR. Allmendinger, his racing team, feel this is their best chance to clinch a spot in NASCAR’s Chase playoffs. I expect them to go “All-in” on Sunday as a 7/1 favorite to win at Sonoma Raceway.

Sonoma Raceway’s Past Winners: