The NASCAR cup series made its way to Sonoma Raceway for the annual Toyota/Save Mart 350 this past weekend, with race day on Sunday, June 11. Martin Truex Jr., in his #19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota, scored his fourth win at the road course in Wine Country. Truex started in the eighth spot and worked his way to the front of the field. He took the lead from pole sitter Denny Hamlin in his #11 Sport Clips Toyota on Lap 33 and led for the next 17 laps when the first caution of the day came out. During the cycle of pit stops Kyle Busch took over the lead in his #8 McClaren Custom Grills Camaro and Truex fell to the 10th spot. Busch led the next 19 laps until Truex had worked his way back to the front from 10th spot. In turn 7, Truex made a move to the inside of Busch and regained the lead. Truex made his next pit stop and relinquished the lead to Chase Elliot in the #9 Napa Camaro. On lap 92 Denny Hamlin spun at the exit of turn 12 and hit the front stretch wall ending his day and bringing out the second caution of the day. On lap 96 Elliot led the field to the green and Truex rolled off in the third spot. By turn 7 on lap 97 Truex made his move and retook the lead and never looked back. Busch made a strong effort to catch him but could not get it done.

Truex finished first followed by Busch, Joey Logano, Chris Buescher, and Chase Elliot in the top five. Local Elk Grove native, 2021 NASCAR champion Kyle Larson finished in the eighth spot with his Valvoline #5 Camaro.

On Saturday, June 10, it was NASCAR’s Xfinity Series making its inaugural showing at the road course in Sonoma for the Door Dash 250. Kyle Larson qualified on the pole in his Hendrickscars.com #17 Camaro (Larson ran both the Xfinity Race and the Cup Race). Larson led most of the race and at one point stretched his lead to over 11 seconds. But a late race caution bunched the field back up and pit stops cycled Larson started behind Alex Labbe and Daniel Suarez. As the green flag dropped Larson’s line did not take off as well as Aric Almirola’s. Larson made a lot of ground up and got to Almirola’s bumper when in turn 11 he bumped one of the tire barriers on the inside of the turn, damaging the suspension. Larson managed to bring home a third-place finish as Almirola scored the win followed by AJ Allmendinger.

Next stop for the NASCAR Cup series is the Ally 400 at the Nashville Superspeedway in Tennessee.

The Xfinity Series will also be at Nashville Superspeedway for the Tennessee Lottery 250.