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NASCAR drivers in test session today at Infineon Raceway for Toyota/Save Mart 350 weekend

 

In preparation for the popular Toyota/Save Mart 350 weekend, which will be held for the 23rd time at Infineon Raceway from Friday, June 24, through Saturday and Sunday, June 25 and 26, four NASCAR drivers will take place in today’s test session from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Infineon’s 1.99-mile road course.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers David Ragan, David Reutimann and Michael McDowell, as well as West Series driver and Hayward native Jessica Brunelli, will pilot late-model stock cars during today’s test.

Ragan (No. 6 UPS “We Love Logistics” Ford) is currently 17th in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series point standings with two top-five finishes this season.

Reutimann (No. 00 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota) is 23rd in the point standings with one top-10 finish this season. 

McDowell (No. 66 HP Racing Toyota) last raced at Infineon Raceway in 2008, when he finished 21st.

The 18-year-old Brunelli (No. 88 Stephanie Bellotti Foundation Chevrolet) is part of NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity (D4D) Program and she will compete in the Thunder Valley Casino Resort 200 Pro Series West Race at Infineon on Saturday, June 25.

Returning to defend his 2010 Toyota/Save Mart 350 title is Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet), who was the sixth different winner in six years in Sonoma.

Also racing is Vallejo native Jeff Gordon, who is the undisputed king of Infineon Raceway, with five victories (1998-2000, ’04, ’06); five pole positions (1998-99, ’01, ’04, ’05); 11 top-five finishes; and 14 top-10 finishes, which is the most of any driver.

On Sunday, Gordon won the NASCAR event at Pocono, which was the 84th Spring Cup victory of his career and moved him into third-place in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series standings.

The Toyota/Save Mart 350 weekend will also feature the Thunder Valley Casino Resort 200 NASCAR Pro Series West race on Saturday (June 25) and a 25-minute air show by Discovery Bay's Patriots Jet Demonstration Team during pre-event ceremonies on Sunday (June 26).

Actor John “Cliff Clavin” Ratzenberger is this year’s Toyota/Save Mart 350 grand marshal.

Single-day NASCAR tickets range from $25 to $130, with weekend passes from $99 to $180, parking is free and there are discounts for military.

Also available is Infineon’s most inclusive ticket package, the Track Pass, which costs $399 and includes tickets to all major events, plus season-long VIP parking, a Pre-Race Pit and Track Pass for NASCAR, a garage pass for IndyCar and more.

Following NASCAR, the Infineon Raceway’s 2011 Big O Tires major events season continues with the NHRA Division 7 Drag Racing weekend of July 22 to 24; the FRAM Autolite NHRA Nationals from July 29 to 31; the Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma weekend of Aug. 26 to 28; and the Classic Sports Racing Group Charity Challenge on Oct. 1 and 2.

To purchase NASCAR and other major event tickets, the Track Pass or other special ticket packages, or for details on Wednesday Night Drags, Top the Cops, Drifting or for more general information, visit www.infineonraceway.com, www.ticketmaster.com or call 800-870-RACE (7223).

 

INFINEON’S NASCAR SCHEDULE/TV COVERAGE

Friday, June 24 (Pick-n-Pull Pole Day): NASCARSprint Cup Series practice, noon to 1:30 p.m. (SPEED); NASCAR West Series qualifying, 1:50 p.m.; Pick-n-Pull Pole Day NASCAR Sprint Cup Series qualifying, 3:40 p.m., on SPEED at 8 p.m.

Saturday, June 25: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice, 9:30 to 10:15 a.m., SPEED, 11:30 a.m.; DenBeste Happy Hour NASCAR Sprint Cup Series final practice, 10:45 a.m. to noon, SPEED, 12:30 p.m.; Thunder Valley Casino Resort 200 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West race, 12:45 p.m.

Sunday, June 26: Toyota/Save Mart 350, noon – TV-TNT, radio – KNBR 1050 AM (San Francisco), KHTK 1140 AM (Sacramento).