NASCAR weekend at Sonoma Raceway

One of Sonoma Raceway’s biggest weekends is upon us, the Toyota/Save Mart 350 NASCAR Sprint Cup series.|

One of Sonoma Raceway’s biggest weekends is upon us, the Toyota/Save Mart 350 NASCAR Sprint Cup series from Friday June 24 through Sunday, June 26. Which means lots of race car action, special events, flag-waving, musical interludes, special culinary treats and the inevitable traffic tie-ups.

The Toyota/Save Mart 350 is measured in kilometers. The race distance is 218.9 miles or 110 laps around the 12-turn, 1.99-mile road course. The final race itself will be held Sunday, June 26, but two days of qualifying races and special events leading up to the climactic race are planned for the Sonoma County automotive landmark.

Some highlights include the addition of Tony Stewart and Ernie Irvan as newest members of the raceway’s Wall of Fame, joining fellow NASCAR stars Rusty Wallace (2005), Mark Martin (2005), Jeff Gordon (2006), Ricky Rudd (2007) and Rick Hendrick (2010).

The Sonoma Raceway Wall of Fame is designed to honor those who have excelled not only in their form of motor racing, but more importantly, in Sonoma. Each inductee is recognized during a ceremony with a marble plaque engraved with his/her likeness. The engraving is also added to the Wall of Fame, which is located behind the main grandstand.

“I have a long history at Sonoma and a lot of memories there, and to be inducted into the Wall of Fame is a real honor,” said Stewart, who made his first Sonoma start in 1999. “I’ve always loved the challenge of road-course racing and I’m proud of all that we’ve accomplished at Sonoma. Hopefully we can put a third win on the board this weekend.”

“It’s a real honor to be inducted to the Wall of Fame,” agreed Irvan. “It’s basically my home track and I always loved going home to race there.” Irvan has posted six top-10 finishes and one pole position in 10 Sonoma starts. In 1992, Irvan claimed his first Sonoma win in the Save Mart Supermarkets 300 after being black-flagged at the start for crossing the starting line ahead of pole winner Ricky Rudd. He came back to pass 41 cars to take the checkered flag.

Also to be honored is Sonoma State University president Ruben Armiñana, who will retire as the longest-tenured president of the California State University system on June 30, has been named Grand Marshal of the Toyota/Save Mart 350 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event at Sonoma Raceway.

Armiñana will be honored on Friday, June 24, at the Children’s Champions Grand Marshal’s Banquet at Cline Cellars in Sonoma, a fundraiser for the Sonoma Chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities. He will also take part in pre-race activities on Sunday, June 26, and participate in the official command of, “Drivers, start your engines.”

The weekend will include two Chevys Fresh Mex 200 practice sessions on Friday, with qualifying on Saturday morning before the green flags falls on the 64-lap Chevys Fresh Mex 200 at 1 p.m. The NASCAR K&N Pro Series West returns to Sonoma Raceway for its 36th consecutive visit, with a full field of up-and-coming stars, as well as NASCAR Sprint Cup Series regular Chase Elliott.

Race day itself, Sunday, will kick off with pre-race entertainment beginning at 8:30 a.m. Music concerts, aerial acrobatics and more comprise the pre-race show, powered by Friedman’s Home Improvement. Included are a pre-race concert by singer-songwriter Jackson Michelson, a drivers’ meeting concert by Toree McGee, aerial stunts by Utah’s Brad Wursten, and a 25-minute air show from the Patriots Jets Team.

The national anthem will be performed by Broadway star Qiana “Q” Smith, followed by a fly-over of two F15C jets from the 114th Fighter Squadron out of Kingsley Field in Klamath Falls, Oregon.

Actor Luke Wilson will then take the wheel of the 2016 Toyota Camry pace car for a couple laps, then pull over before the green flag drops and the race begins.

Tickets, parking and transportation options are all still available for the Toyota/Save Mart weekend, June 24-26. For more information, call 800-870-7223, visit www.sonomaraceway.com

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