San Francisco 49ers safety Malik Mustapha will serve as the Honorary Pace Car Driver for the Toyota/Save Mart 350 NASCAR Cup Series race this Sunday at Sonoma Raceway, as announced today by track officials. Mustapha, a rising star in the NFL, will lead the 37-car field to the green flag at 12:30 p.m. PT, piloting the official Toyota Camry pace car around the iconic 2.52-mile Sonoma Raceway road course.
“We’re excited to welcome Malik as our Honorary Pace Car Driver,” said Brian Flynn, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Sonoma Raceway. “His passion and connection to Northern California will bring an incredible energy to the Toyota/Save Mart 350, making this a memorable weekend for all our fans.”
A native of Charlotte, North Carolina, Mustapha grew up in the heart of NASCAR country and has quickly become a fan favorite among the “49ers Faithful.” Selected in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft by the 49ers, Mustapha grew up rooting for the franchise and was inspired by playing as former 49ers running back Frank Gore in the Madden NFL video game. His journey from a lifelong 49ers fan to a key defensive player is a full-circle moment that resonates deeply with fans throughout Northern California.
Mustapha’s rookie season in 2024 included 12 games started, recording 72 tackles, five passes defended and his first career interception against the Seattle Seahawks. Despite a challenging ACL injury sustained at the end of the season, Mustapha’s recovery progress has him poised for a strong return in 2025.
Tickets for the July 11-13 Sonoma Raceway NASCAR weekend are on sale now at SonomaRaceway.com or by calling (800) 870-RACE [7223]. Three-day weekend packages for adults start at just $130, and kids 12 and under are only $10. Tickets for Sunday's Toyota/Save Mart 350 can also be purchased at the lowest available price at local Save Mart, Lucky California or FoodMaxx stores. For further details, please visit the Sonoma Raceway website.
