Star-Studded Weekend Lineup
The stars will be out all weekend at Sonoma Raceway as NASCAR returns to Wine Country. Saturday's festivities feature several high-profile guests, including ESPN reporter and host Marty Smith, along with WWE Hall of Famers and Bonita Bonita Wine founders Nikki & Brie Bella.
On Sunday, former San Francisco Giants ace Matt Cain and legendary baseball manager Dusty Baker will help kick off race day by delivering the invocation and the most famous words in motorsports. NBA Champion and media personality Festus Ezeli will then lead the field to green, adding even more star power to an already packed weekend.
Champion's Goblet Gets an All-Star Pour
One of NASCAR's most distinctive trophies returns to Sonoma Raceway this weekend. The iconic Champion's Goblet, handcrafted by a local glassblower and unique to Sonoma's NASCAR events, will be awarded to each race winner throughout the weekend.
Adding to the tradition, the goblet will be filled with wine from Ones by Sabonis, a premium Napa Valley wine brand co-founded by three-time NBA All-Star Domantas Sabonis and Shashana Sabonis, creating a true celebration of Northern California's racing and wine culture.
AJ Allmendinger Reaches 500 NASCAR Cup Series Starts at His Home Track
California native AJ Allmendinger returns to Sonoma Raceway with a major career milestone on the horizon. The Los Gatos, California, driver is set to make his 500th NASCAR Cup Series start at the track he considers home, celebrating the achievement in front of family, friends, and hometown fans.
Long regarded as one of NASCAR's premier road-course racers, Allmendinger will look to add another memorable Sonoma performance to his impressive résumé.
Back-to-Back California Road Course Showdowns
Road-course racing takes center stage in California this summer as NASCAR visits two challenging road courses on consecutive weekends. Following the inaugural event at Naval Base Coronado in San Diego, the series heads north for the Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway.
With two vastly different road courses back-to-back, teams and drivers will be tested like never before, creating added intrigue and an opportunity for some of NASCAR's best road racers to shine.
Sonoma Launches the NASCAR In-Season Challenge
Sonoma Raceway will play a pivotal role in the second annual NASCAR In-Season Challenge. The historic Toyota/Save Mart 350 on Sunday, June 28, serves as the opening race of the tournament bracket, raising the stakes for every competitor.
Drivers will face Sonoma's demanding elevation changes, technical corners, and strategic pit-road decisions while simultaneously fighting to advance in the challenge, adding another layer of drama to an already intense weekend.
Celebrating 36 Years of the Toyota/Save Mart 350
The 2026 season marks the 36th running of the Toyota/Save Mart 350, one of NASCAR's most enduring and recognizable race partnerships.
The event stands among the sport's longest-running entitlement sponsorships, alongside marquee races such as the Coca-Cola 600 and Food City 500. For more than three decades, the Toyota/Save Mart 350 has become a cornerstone of NASCAR's annual visit to California and one of the premier road-course events on the schedule.
Fourth NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series Visit to Sonoma
The 2026 season marks the fourth NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series race held at Sonoma Raceway since the series expanded west in 2023.
Historically concentrated on tracks east of the Mississippi River, the addition of Sonoma introduced a unique challenge to the schedule and expanded the series' reach to a passionate West Coast fanbase. The demanding road course has quickly become a proving ground for emerging talent seeking to make a name for themselves on one of NASCAR's most historic venues.
Conquering NASCAR's Most Blind Turn
Sonoma Raceway's elevation changes and technical layout create challenges unlike any traditional oval track. One section stands out above the rest: Turn 3A.
According to Christopher Bell and many other drivers on the tour, Turn 3A may be the blindest corner on the NASCAR circuit. Drivers crest a hill before committing to a right-hand turn with limited visibility as they dive into the chute, requiring precision, confidence, and trust in their instincts. It's one of the many features that makes Sonoma Raceway one of the most demanding road courses in NASCAR.
