With the motorsports big three – NASCAR, NHRA, IndyCar – along with vintage-car racing serving as history bookend weekends, making for an exciting and memorable 2014, Sonoma Raceway will welcome more of the same electrifying action for its 2015 major event season.
For racing’s big three in 2014 at Sonoma Raceway, the Valley’s largest attended motorsports event, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series’ Toyota/Save Mart 350, took place in June and Carl Edwards became the 10th different driver to win on the challenging 11-turn, 1.99-mile road course in as many years.
Then, with July temperatures hovering in the 90s, Sonoma Raceway hosted the NHRA’s annual Sonoma Nationals on the Valley’s famous drag strip, and Courtney Force made Funny Car history by beating her legendary father, 16-time Funny Car world champion John Force, to win the event.
Other NHRA title winners included three-time world champ Eddie Krawiec in Pro Stock Motorcycle; Khalid alBalooshi in Top Fuel; Jason Line in Pro Stock; Alan Ellis in Competition Eliminator; and Jeff Taylor in Super Stock.
In the wake of the devastating earthquake that struck on a Sunday morning in August, the Verizon IndyCar Series’ annual GoPro Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma was held at Sonoma Raceway and Scott Dixon provided some end-of-the-race dramatics en route to his victory on the demanding 12-turn, 2.38-mile road course.
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A variety of ticket packages are being offered by Sonoma Raceway for the Valley’s 2015 major events season that is highlighted by the Buy-Early-and-Save options for the big three of motorsports – NASCAR, NHRA and IndyCar.
As always, Sonoma Raceway’s most inclusive ticket package is the 2015 Track Pass, which includes tickets to all major events, plus season-long VIP parking, a NASCAR pre-race pit and track passes; IndyCar garage and pit passes; and an NHRA Thunder Alley pass.
Also for the Toyota/Save Mart 350 weekend, Sonoma Raceway is offering tickets that start at $49 for race day, and will continue to offer kids’ pricing and free admission for all three major event weekends.
Sonoma Raceway’s 2015 season will start with the Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival on May 30 and 31, and ends with the Classic Sports Racing Group’s Charity Challenge on Oct. 3 and 4.
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series – the Valley’s largest attended motorsports event – will hold its 110-lap Toyota/Save Mart 350 weekend on June 26 to 28.
Back-to-back NHRA weekends on the Valley’s famous drag strip will feature the 28th annual Sonoma Nationals from July 31 to Aug. 2, preceded by the annual Division 7 Drag Races taking place from July 24 to 26.
The Verizon IndyCar Series championship will be decided on a road course for the first time with the 11th annual GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma weekend slated for Aug. 28 to 30.
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To purchase major event tickets and ticket packages, including the 2015 Track Pass, or for drift weekend or general Sonoma Raceway information, call 800-870-RACE (7223) or visit racesonoma.com, sonomadrift or ticketmaster.com. Camping is also available for all major events.
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