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Bubba Wallace’s No. 23 team penalized for detached wheel at Naval Base Coronado

By
Andrew Kim
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Photo by Patrick Sue-Chan for SpeedwayMedia.com.

NASCAR penalized the No. 23 23XI Racing Toyota Camry XSE team piloted by Bubba Wallace for a detached wheel. The incident occurred during this past weekend’s NASCAR Cup Series’ Anduril 250 at San Diego’s Naval Base Coronado in San Diego, California.

On Lap 18 of 75, Wallace’s right-front wheel detached from the No. 23 Xfinity Toyota Camry XSE entry in Turn 10. The issue occurred after the reigning Brickyard 400 champion from Mobile, Alabama, made a green-flag pit stop prior to the first stage’s conclusion. Despite being held two laps in his pit stall as a penalty during Sunday’s event, Wallace recovered to notch a runner-up result as he finished more than 10 seconds behind his teammate and race winner, Corey Heim.

Due to the detached wheel, Wallace’s rear tire changer, Adam Hartman, and jackman, Nathan Ricketts, will not be allowed to participate in the next two Cup Series events at Sonoma Raceway (June 28) and Chicagoland Speedway (July 5). No points penalties were issued for Wallace’s No. 23 team, as Wallace is ranked in 11th place in the 2026 standings. He is also 62 points above the top-16 cutline to be in contention for the Chase with nine regular-season events remaining on this year’s schedule.

There were no additional penalties levied against the remaining teams that competed in Sunday’s Cup event at Naval Base Coronado. In addition, no O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and Craftsman Truck Series teams were penalized following their scheduled events at San Diego’s Naval Base Coronado on June 19-20. Layne Riggs and Austin Hill won the Truck and O’Reilly events, respectively.

The 2026 NASCAR season resumes with a doubleheader feature at Sonoma Raceway in Sonoma, California. The O’Reilly Auto Parts Series competes in the fourth annual Pit Boss/FoodMaxx 250 at Sonoma this Saturday, June 27, at 5:30 p.m. ET on the CW Network, PRN Radio and SiriusXM. The Cup Series competes in the 37th running of the Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma this Sunday, June 28, at 3:30 p.m. ET on TNT Sports, PRN Radio, SiriusXM and HBO MAX.

Enzo Fittipaldi Tops Open Test in First Trip to Milwaukee Mile

By
Official Release
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MILWAUKEE (Tuesday, June 23, 2026) – Enzo Fittipaldi felt right at home at Milwaukee Mile after his first visit to the fabled track Tuesday, leading a busy INDY NXT by Firestone Open Test.

Fittipaldi’s top lap was 152.012 mph in the No. 67 HMD Motorsports car as he and 23 other drivers prepared for the INDYCAR development series race Sunday, Aug. 30 on the 1.015-mile oval. Rookie Fittipaldi, grandson of two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Emerson Fittipaldi, is third in series points and has two victories this season.

“It was a really cool track to drive,” Fittipaldi said. “It’s very different to the other ovals that I’ve tested on, Nashville and Gateway. It just feels like two high-speed corners, and there’s not much banking, so there’s a lot you can do in your driving to extract the most from the car and the setup. So, it’s a really fun track.”

There were two surprises right behind Fittipaldi on the time sheet. Veteran Niels Koolen, 15th in points, was second at 151.779 in the No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing entry. His CGR teammate and fellow veteran James Roe, 21st in points, ended up third at 151.559 in the team’s No. 8 car.

Alessandro de Tullio, who leads the series with seven poles in 10 races this season, clocked in fourth at 151.494 in the No. 14 AJ Foyt Enterprises car. Rookie Jack Beeton rounded out the top five at 151.433 in the No. 45 HMD Motorsports machine.

There were two incidents with contact. In the morning, series veteran and three-time oval-race winner Myles Rowe hit the SAFER Barrier in Turn 2 with his No. 99 Abel Motorsports with Force Indy car. In the afternoon, rookie Carson Etter brushed the SAFER Barrier and continued in his No. 11 Chip Ganassi Racing entry. Neither driver was hurt.

Last year’s race was 90 laps on the historic oval, and every driver except Rowe easily exceeded that distance in the test. Fifteen drivers turned more than 200 laps, led by Lochie Hughes at 266 in the No. 26 Andretti Global car.

The next INDY NXT by Firestone event is a doubleheader July 4-5 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

Spire Motorsports NASCAR Cup Series Sonoma Race Advance

By
Official Release
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  • In 13 NASCAR Cup Series starts at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway, Spire Motorsports has logged one top-five and seven top-20 finishes. Michael McDowell owns the team’s best result, a forth-place effort, earned in last year’s annual visit to the popular northern California road course. Spire Motorsports fields the Nos. 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1s in the Cup Series with Daniel Suarez, McDowell and Carson Hocevar, respectively.
  • The NASCAR Cup Series race from Sonoma Raceway will be televised live on TNT Sunday, June 28 beginning at 3:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time and will mark the halfway point of the season. The 18th of 36 points-paying races on the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series calendar will also be broadcast live on the Performance Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

Daniel Suárez – Driver, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

  • Daniel Suárez will pilot Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Freeway Insurance Chevrolet ZL1 in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Sonoma Raceway.
  • Freeway Insurance was established in 1987 and is one of the largest and fastest-growing personal lines insurance brokers in the United States, offering coverage through a “click, call, or come in” approach that connects customers nationwide. The company continually researches, grows, and diversifies its product offerings to stay responsive to the evolving insurance market. Freeway provides a wide range of options – from basic to premium coverage – in auto, truck, commercial vehicle, homeowners, renters, small business, motorcycle, recreational vehicle, fire, and flood insurance. In 2008, Freeway Insurance became part of Confie, the nation’s leading personal lines insurance distribution company. Customers can access Freeway Insurance through neighborhood offices, online at www.freeway.com, or by calling (800) 300-0227.
  • As the 2026 season approaches the halfway mark this weekend, the 34-year-old driver sits eighth in the NASCAR Cup Series championship standings with 478 points. Over the last five weeks, Suárez has outscored nearly the entire field, posting the third-most points in the NASCAR Cup Series.
  • Suárez captured his first career NASCAR Cup Series victory at Sonoma Raceway in 2022, in his 195th start, to become the first Mexican-born driver to win a race in NASCAR’s premier division. He led 47 of 110 laps, to capture the checkered flag by a nearly four-second margin of victory.
  • Suárez earned his best road-course start of the season last weekend at Naval Base Coronado, where he qualified sixth. He collected four stage points in Stage 2 and went on to finish 13th in the Anduril 250 to record his 10th top-15 finish of the year.
  • Suárez owns 43 starts combined on roadcourses and street circuits where he’s recorded one win, six top fives, four top 10s and led a total of 85 laps. Over the past decade, across both configurations, he has posted a 12.25 average start and a 21.05 average finish.
  • Sonoma marks the fourth and final non-oval events on the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series schedule. The Monterrey, Mexico native opened the road course stretch with a 25th-place finish at Circuit of the Americas and went on to finish 13th at both Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International and Naval Base Coronado.
  • In NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series competition, Suárez won at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City, on June 14, 2025, coming from the tail of the field in a back-up car to earn a dramatic home-country victory.
  • The 2026 Coca-Cola 600 race winner is a veteran of 340 Cup Series starts and has notched three wins, 26 top fives and 80 top-10s in NASCAR’s premier division. Suárez has led 935 laps and earned three poles since making his series debut in 2017.

Daniel Suárez Quotes
When you think back to the moment you won at Sonoma, what does it mean to you?
“Sonoma is always special to me. It’s one of those road courses where you really have to earn everything you get. Nothing comes easy. When I first came into NASCAR, tracks like this were a big challenge, but over time I’ve learned how to be more patient and how to manage the race better. Every time I come back, I think about the journey – coming from Mexico, learning these tracks, and now competing and trying to win at this level. That means a lot to me.

How did your 2022 win at Sonoma Raceway change the way you think about strategy and patience on road courses?
“Sonoma is one of those places where you have to stay disciplined all day long. You’ve got to take care of your tires, be smooth, and make the most of every lap. Strategy is always important, so communication with the team makes a big difference. We’ve had some ups and downs at Sonoma over the years, but every time we come back, we learn something. Hopefully, we can put together a solid race, execute when it matters most, and be there at the end.”

Ryan Sparks – Crew Chief, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

  • Ryan Sparks is the Crew Chief of Spire Motorsports No. 7 Chevrolet Camaro in the NASCAR Cup Series.
  • Last week in San Diego at Naval Base Coronado, Sparks guided Suárez to his 10th top-15 finish of the season. Dating back to 2020, the veteran crew chief has called 33 road and street races. His best finish came in 2024 when he led former driver Corey LaJoie to an eighth-place showing at Wakins Glen (N.Y.) International.
  • Sparks has called 219 NASCAR Cup Series races since making his crew chief debut in 2020 and has recorded one victory, six top-five and 15 top-10 finishes. Sparks called his first career NASCAR Cup Series win at this year’s the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway.
  • Sparks joined Spire Motorsports in 2021, where he served as both Crew Chief and Competition Director, leading the organization’s competitive and technical efforts. In 2026, Sparks serves in a singular role as crew chief for Daniel Suárez. He brings more than a decade of experience across all three national series, highlighted by 13 seasons at Richard Childress Racing and contributions to title-winning campaigns in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (2011) and O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (2013).

Michael McDowell – Driver, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

  • Michael McDowell will pilot Spire Motorsports’ No. 71 Delaware Life Chevrolet ZL1 in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Sonoma Raceway.
  • Delaware Life is a life insurance and annuity company that empowers financial professionals with a wide array of customizable solutions. A subsidiary of Group 1001 Insurance, Delaware Life was born out of the advisor industry and understands how important it is to find the right fit for every client, every situation, and every individual need. Delaware Life is passionate about equipping its clients with annuities that give customers peace of mind and a successful future, allowing them to plan with confidence for whatever’s next.
  • McDowell owns 13 starts at the 10-turn, 1.99-mile road course, where he’s earned three top-five and four top-10 finishes in NASCAR Cup Series competition.
  • Over his last four starts at the famed northern California roadcourse, the 19-season Cup Series veteran has posted an average starting position of 9.75 and a stellar fourth-place average finish. Across that same stretch, McDowell has three top fives, including a 2024 runner-up effort, and hasn’t finished worse than seventh. His average finish marks the best average in the Series over the last four seasons.
  • Before making the move to the Charlotte, N.C., area, McDowell spent a portion of his young career in Sonoma and Northern California building his resume working in local race shops outside of Sonoma Raceway.
  • Cole Markle, tire specialist and engineer for Spire Motorsports’ No. 71 team, is a former Golden State resident. Markle spent his childhood four hours south of Sonoma Raceway in Hanford, Calif., and returns to Sonoma looking for a win in his home state.
  • The 2021 Daytona 500 Champion will have a familiar voice on the spotter stand this week where McDowell’s cousin, Jason Noll, will assist primary spotter Michael Fisher during the Cup Series’ second leg of the west coast swing.
  • Last weekend at Naval Base Coronado, McDowell qualified ninth and finished 10th to notch his fourth top-10 of the season.
  • McDowell has 56 combined Cup Series road and street course starts over his career where he’s logged one win, nine top-five and 19 top-10 finishes. He owns a 16.7 average start paired with a 19.1 average finish, a career-best at any track configuration for drivers with a minimum of 50 attempts.
  • In his four most recent starts on street courses, the 41-year-old has tallied an average starting position of fifth paired with an average finish of 13.5, on the strength of one top-five and three top-10 finishes.
  • McDowell collected the 2016 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series win at Road America, where he led 24 of 48 laps, before collecting the checkers in his lone start behind the wheel of Richard Childress Racing’s No. 2 Chevrolet.
  • Sonoma marks the start of NASCAR’s second annual In-Season Challenge, where McDowell will be matched against Bubba Wallace.
  • After 17 points-paying races on the 2026 calendar, McDowell currently sits 21st in the Cup Series standings. With nine races remaining before “The Chase”, McDowell sits just 34 points below the cutline on the strength of two top-five and four top-10 finishes.
  • Across his last six points-paying races, the 19-year Cup Series regular holds an average finish of 14th, while pacing the field two times for eight laps (Watkins Glen/Charlotte)

Michael McDowell Quote
What are the keys to getting around Sonoma?
“Sonoma is a lot of fun. It’s one of those tracks where I have a lot of seat time. I spent a lot of time there before moving to North Carolina. Before going NASCAR racing, my wife and I actually lived not too far from there for a season of life. When I was young and coming up through formula cars, I worked outside of Turn 11. For me, the track is super straightforward. It’s one line, there’s not a lot of tricks, you have to manage your tires and be technical to be fast. So, I enjoy it, and it’s been good for us across the last couple of years. I think we finished second and third the last few years and picked up a top-five finish last year. I think we are close. So, it’s just a place that I am comfortable with, which is great after San Diego, where there were a lot of unknowns. I know my marks, I know my rhythm, and it all comes together well. I do think it’s still one of the tracks if you save your tires, it will pay off. At Watkins Glen now, every lap is like qualifying, just hammering down, which is fun, too. Sonoma is its own fun where you still have that technical aspect of managing everything pretty well to have a shot at the end.”

Travis Peterson – Crew Chief, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

  • Travis Peterson is the crew chief for Michael McDowell and Spire Motorsports’ No. 71 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in the NASCAR Cup Series.
  • Peterson has called three Cup Series races for McDowell at Sonoma Raceway, where the potent duo has combined for a solid 10.0 starting average and an even-more-impressive 4.3 average finish.
  • In addition to calling McDowell’s second-place finish in 2024, Peterson played a key role in Chris Buescher’s 2022 runner-up effort while serving as a race engineer for RFK Racing.
  • The Wisconsin native has earned nine Cup Series top fives, eight of which have come on roadcourses.
  • Peterson called McDowell’s win in the 2023 Verizon 200 at the Brickyard on the roadcourse at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Carson Hocevar – Driver, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

  • Carson Hocevar will race Spire Motorsports’ No. 77 Classic Collision Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in Sunday’s 110-lap race at Sonoma Raceway, his third start at the 1.99-mile racecourse in NASCAR’s premier division.
  • Classic Collision, founded in 1983 in Atlanta, Ga., is built on a foundation of quality, integrity, and honesty. With a skilled team and unwavering standards, Classic Collision delivers exceptional service to its customers and partners. As one of the largest privately held auto body repair providers in the U.S., Classic Collision operates 350 state-of-the-art facilities nationwide. For over 40 years, safety has been our top priority. Our highly trained technicians, cutting-edge equipment, and manufacturer certifications make us a leader in collision repair.
  • Drifter, a feature film set to release later this year, will be featured on the tail and decklid of Hocevar’s No. 77 Chevy this weekend. Written, directed and starring Sung Kang, Drifter is a high-octane underdog story that follows a lonely racetrack janitor whose hidden gift for drifting catapults him into the adrenaline-fueled world of professional motorsports. As the stakes rise on and off the track, he must outrun his past, embrace an unlikely family and risk everything for a shot at redemption and glory.
  • Hocevar will face Zane Smith in the opening round of this year’s In-Season Challenge. He’s outperformed Smith in 11 races this season, as well as 54 of the 90 Cup Series races where the former teammates competed head-to-head.
  • Through 17 races, the Portage, Mich., native sits ninth in points, just one marker out of eighth. His one win, four top fives, seven top 10s, 476 points scored, average starting position of 11.3 and 14.8 average finish are all career highs through the first 17 points-paying races of the season. The team’s average starting position has improved by seven spots while its average finish is nearly eight positions better compared to this point in 2025.
  • Hocevar has made two Cup Series starts at Sonoma, highlighted by a 17th-place finish in 2024.
  • Hocevar captured his first and only CRAFTSMAN Truck Series pole position at Sonoma Raceway in his lone appearance at the venue in 2022, just one week removed from sustaining a leg injury at World Wide Technology Raceway near St. Louis. He was ultimately relieved during a Lap 11 pit stop by current Spire Motorsports teammate Daniel Suárez. Despite falling a lap down due to the driver swap, Suárez drove the truck to a sixth-place finish, which was ultimately credited to Hocevar in the history books.
  • Last Sunday on the streets of Naval Base Coronado, the 23-year-old driver earned a career-best qualifying effort on a road course with a second-place showing. Hocevar maintained his footing in the top-10 most of the afternoon and led twice for four laps. With 12 laps remaining, Hocevar was turned by a fellow competitor while racing for the lead, leaving him with a disappointing 19th-place finish.
  • The 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Rookie of the Year registered his first-career victory earlier this season at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway. He survived a late-race restart with three laps remaining with help from his Chevrolet teammates and brought home the checkered flag. Hocevar became the 13th driver to earn his inaugural series victory at Talladega, and registered Spire Motorsports’ first win since the 2019 Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway with driver Justin Haley.

Carson Hocevar Quotes
While you didn’t get the finish you were hoping for last week, you put together, arguably, the strongest road course performance of your career. How do you build off that momentum heading into Sonoma?
“I am excited. I probably wasn’t super excited heading into San Diego from a performance standpoint. I was looking forward to the event and everything around it, but we were a straight-up contender throughout the weekend. Going to Sonoma, I have two great teammates to lean on. Michael (McDowell) really loves that place and is arguably one of his best tracks and Daniel (Suarez) has won there. So, I have some good data points with them, a good idea for the car, and a good setup. We had a really fast car last weekend, and I know our team will have a fast Classic Collision Chevy this week. It makes me excited that we can run strong there.”

Luke Lambert – Crew Chief, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

  • Luke Lambert is the crew chief of Spire Motorsports’ No. 77 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in the NASCAR Cup Series.
  • Lambert is in his third season at Spire Motorsports and fourth with driver Carson Hocevar. The duo has logged two pole awards, one win, seven top-five and 22 top-10 finishes in 97 races.
  • In 10 NASCAR Cup Series events at Sonoma Raceway, the Mount Airy, N.C., native earned a venue-best eighth-place finish in 2016 with driver Ryan Newman.
  • The 16-year veteran crew chief has called 45 Cup Series road and street course races, earning a best finish of third at Watkins Glen with Hocevar in 2024.

About Spire Motorsports …
Spire Motorsports fields full-time entries in the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series and Interstate Batteries High Limit Racing.

The team, co-owned by longtime NASCAR industry executive Jeff Dickerson and TWG Motorsports CEO Dan Towriss, earned its inaugural NASCAR Cup Series victory in its first full season of competition when Justin Haley took the checkered flag in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway July 7, 2019. Less than three years later, William Byron drove Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado its first NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series win April 7, 2022, at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. The team’s most recent victory came May 24, 2026, when Daniel Suárez won the NASCAR Cup Series Series’ Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway.

In 2026, Spire Motorsports campaigns the Nos. 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1s in the NASCAR Cup Series and the Nos. 7 and 77 Chevrolet Silverado RSTs in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. The Mooresville, N.C., organization also fields the No. 77 410 sprint car in Interstate Batteries High Limit Racing competition.

ALEX LABBÉ, NIKKI & BRIE GARCIA, AND BONITA BONITA WINES TEAM UP AT SONOMA RACEWAY

By
Official Release
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MOORESVILLE, NC, June 23, 2026 – NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Alex Labbé announced today that he is partnering with entertainment icons Nikki and Brie Garcia and their wine brand Bonita Bonita to give a turbo boost of style, flavor and star power to the Pit Boss/FoodMaxx 250 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race at Sonoma Raceway this weekend.

Indiana-based Lube-A-Boom will join Bonita Bonita as a secondary marketing partner.

“We’re mixing speed, sparkle, and a splash of Wine Country,” said Nikki Garcia.

This isn’t just another race – it’s a full-throttle celebration.  Fans can expect roaring engines, celebrity meet-and-greets, and exclusive Bonita Bonita wine tastings that pair perfectly with the adrenaline of race day.

“Alex brings the racing edge, and Bonita Bonita brings the flavor. It’s the ultimate race-weekend recipe,” added Brie Garcia.

“I was really excited when my team presented this opportunity to me. Nikki and Brie will bring a fun energy to the race,” said Labbé. “I’m looking forward to celebrating a strong run after the race with Bonita Bonita Grand Cuvée.”

The Garcias will record an episode of their podcast, The Nikki & Brie Show, on the Fan Zone stage at 10:30 a.m. before the race on June 27. They’ll be joined by special guests Labbé and pitmaster Erica Blaire. After the podcast, fans will be welcome to sample Bonita Bonita wines and meet Nikki and Brie. The Garcias will also host a tasting of Bonita Bonita wines in the Turn 3 Chalet with Pit Boss and Blaire.

The 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race at Sonoma Raceway promises to be the most stylish, sip-worthy race weekend of the year — where the wine flows and the memories last long after the checkered flag.

The Pit Boss/FoodMaxx 250 (79 laps | 156.95 miles) is the 19th of 33 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series races on the 2026 schedule. Practice starts on Friday, June 26 at 1:00 p.m., followed immediately by qualifying. The field is set to take the green flag the next day at 2:30 p.m. with live coverage on The CW, the Performance Racing Network (Radio), and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90. All times are Pacific Daylight Time.

For more information on Alex Labbé, follow him on X (https://twitter.com/AlexLabbe36) or Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/AlexLabbe36/).  

About Nikki & Brie Garcia

WWE icons turned wine moguls Nikki and Brie, “The Bella Twins”, are global entertainment stars, WWE Hall of Famers, and co-founders of Bonita Bonita Wine.

With a combined reach of over 40 million social media followers and more than 700K monthly podcast downloads, Nikki and Brie continue to inspire across industries—from wrestling rings to wine country. Bonita Bonita reflects their roots as daughters of farmers, proud Latina entrepreneurs, and passionate creators.

About Bonita Bonita Wines

Bonita Bonita by Nikki and Brie is a Napa-based wine brand that’s shaking up the traditional wine scene. With a mission to make wine more inclusive, approachable, and expressive, the brand has already earned acclaim from Wine Enthusiast, Somm Journal, and The Tasting Panel. Selections include their Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Grand Cuvee, all of which will be available during the event.

Michael Roberts Construction Returns with Zane Smith and the No. 38 Team at the Sonoma Raceway

By
Official Release
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No. 38 Ford Mustang Dark Horse to Showcase Mike Avila’s New Book

 MOORESVILLE, N.C. (June 23, 2026) – Michael Roberts Construction (MRC) will return with Zane Smith and the No. 38 Ford Mustang Dark Horse team at Sonoma Raceway on June 28th, with a special scheme celebrating a new book written by the company’s founder and chief executive officer, Mike Avila, titled NOT TODAY: The Secret to Never Giving Up.

Avila has been a longtime supporter of Smith, helping kick-start the Huntington Beach native’s career and served as the primary partner on his NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series championship-winning truck at Phoenix Raceway, in 2022. Avila built a thriving construction business, MRC, and is a devoted mentor, coach, and family man, whose greatest pride lies not in his trophies, but in the lives, he has helped transform.

To go with his successful business ventures, Avila is one of the most decorated water ski racers in history. Over a career spanning multiple decades, he accumulated 27 National Championships, 31 High Point Championships, five World Team Championships and eight consecutive Marathon Series Championships, during the most competitive era in the sport’s history.

In 2002, Avila became the first racing-only athlete ever inducted into the Water Ski Hall of Fame, a distinction achieved despite suffering three separate career-ending injuries, including breaking his neck three times and experiencing paralysis. Each time that he experienced setbacks, he returned to competition and continued to win.

“Mike’s story is one that everyone needs to hear,” said Smith. “He wasn’t going to let his accident define who he was, and, by taking it one day at a time, he overcame something that most people couldn’t. He helped kick-start my career, too, and has always been someone that I can lean on. Hopefully, I can repay him with a solid run in Sonoma.”

NOT TODAY: The Secret to Never Giving Up is not a sports memoir, it is a manual for the human condition.The premise is simple – you do not have to win forever; you only have to win today. Avila applies this across every arena in which people break down – addiction, grief, career failure, and broken relationships. After his 1991 crash, he refused prescription painkillers, despite having chronic pain. “I preferred to take it one day at a time,” said Avila. “Not today. I’m not going to rely on drugs today.”

Fans can order NOT TODAY: The Secret to Never Giving Up on Amazon in eBook, paperback and hardback. The No. 38 MRC / NOT TODAY: The Secret to Never Giving Up Ford Mustang Dark Horse will be in action at Sonoma Raceway on Sunday, June 28th, at 3:30pm ET, on TNT Sports.

ABOUT MICHAEL ROBERTS CONSTRUCTION, INC.

MRC (Michael Roberts Construction, Inc.) is one of Northern California’s preeminent commercial contractors with expertise in private and public general construction projects from new, ground up buildings to commercial building tenant improvements and renovating existing facilities in all building categories. For more information, visit https://mrcbuilt.com/.

ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS

Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization competing in the NASCAR Cup Series and the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. Founded in 2004 by entrepreneur Bob Jenkins, FRM has earned top honors including a 2021 Daytona 500 victory and the 2022 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series championship. Based in Mooresville, N.C., FRM fields the No. 4, No. 34, and No. 38 entries in the NASCAR Cup Series, along with the No. 34 and No. 38 teams in the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. For more information, visit teamfrm.com and follow Front Row Motorsports on social media — X: @Team_FRM, Instagram: @teamfrm, Tik Tok: @Team_FRM, YouTube: @FrontRowNASCAR, and Facebook: facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.

ARCA Menards West at Sonoma Raceway: General Tire 150 Pre-Race Notes

By
Official Release
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  • The ARCA Menards Series makes its first of two road course stops in Friday’s General Tire 150 at Sonoma Raceway. It will be the series’ 154th race all-time on a road course, and the 47th at Sonoma Raceway.
  • Former ARCA Menards West winners at Sonoma Raceway include Ray Elder (1969), Jack McCoy (1969), Jim Insolo (1978 – 2, 1979), Bill Schmitt (1981, 1988, 1989), Roy Smith (1982), Hershel McGriff (1983, 1985, 1987), Jim Bown (1984), Jim Robinson (1986), Butch Gilliland (1996, 1997), Kevin Harvick (1998, 2017), Brian Vickers (2006), David Gilliland (2007, 2012), Jason Bowles (2008, 2009), Andrew Ranger (2010), Joey Logano (2011), Derek Thorn (2013), Kyle Larson (2014), David Mayhew (2015), Chase Elliott (2016), Will Rodgers (2018), Noah Gragson (2019), Chase Briscoe (2021), Jake Drew (2022), Ryan Preece (2023), Sam Mayer (2024), and William Sawalich (2025).
  • Sawalich’s victory in a three-wide photo finish over NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series star Christian Eckes and European road racing ace Alon Day was – and still is – the closest-ever stock car finish in Sonoma Raceway history at 0.066 seconds. Despite being credited with leading every lap, Sawalich had dropped as far back as fourth on the final lap before charging through the field to retake the lead in the final turn.
  • Trevor Huddleston (No. 50 High Point Racing / Racecar Factory Ford) leads the ARCA Menards West championship standings by 24 points over Mason Massey (No. 19 NAPA Auto Care Chevrolet). Both drivers will be looking for their first-ever West series road course victory; Huddleston has 12 career road course starts with three top-five finishes – one each at Portland International Raceway, Utah Motorsports Campus, and a career-best fourth at Sonoma last season. Massey will be making his first touring series start on a road course.
  • The Jan’s Racing teammates Robbie Kennealy (No. 1 Jan’s Towing Ford) and Cole Denton (No. 71 Jan’s Towing Ford) both look to continue their respective run of good finishes in the season’s first road course race. Kennealy comes into the General Tire 150 trailing Huddleson by 51 points in the championship standings, but on a four-race top-five streak including a season-best second at Colorado National Speedway two races ago. Denton has yet to find the consistency Kennealy has, but has made the most of his good days with two victories at Tucson Speedway and the last race at Tri-City Raceway. Denton is third in the standings 39 points out of the lead.
  • Taylor Mayhew (No. 17 MMI Services Chevrolet) will make his first start since he finished eighth in the second round of the season at Phoenix Raceway. Mayhew’s father David is a former Sonoma winner, visiting victory lane in 2015.
  • Todd Souza (No. 13 Central Coast Cabinets Toyota) returns to the cockpit for the first time since 2025 at Madera Speedway. Souza, with 138 career West starts, is the most experienced driver in the field and is a former road course winner with a win at Utah Motorsports Campus in 2008.
  • NTT Data Indycar Series driver Sage Karam (No. 72 Shelby Park Management / Fireside RV Rentals Chevrolet) will make his ARCA Menards West debut in the General Tire 150. Karam has two previous NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series starts at Sonoma, finishing 34th in 2023 and 36th in 2025.
  • This year’s race at Sonoma Raceway is scheduled for 47 laps, 18 laps shorter than last year’s 65-lap race distance.
  • The race will be run under the Modified Live pit stop format; every caution is an opportunity to pit but teams cannot add fuel prior to lap 20. There will be no scheduled tire changes; any tire changes must be for a damaged tire and must be approved by an ARCA official. There will be a scheduled caution at or near lap 24.
  • Sam Mayer holds the ARCA Menards West track qualifying record at Sonoma Raceway, set in 2024, at 77.137 seconds / 92.873 miles per hour.
  • William Sawalich holds the ARCA Menards West track race record at Sonoma Raceway, set in 2025, at 1:50:02 / 70.246 miles per hour.
  • The General Tire 150 at Sonoma Raceway is set for 6:30 pm ET/3:30 pm PT on Friday, June 26. The race will be streamed live on FloRacing. Live timing & scoring data and live race audio will be available on ARCARacing.com; for up-to-the-minute updates please follow @ARCA_Racing on X (formerly known as Twitter).

About ARCA 

The Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA), founded in 1953 by John and Mildred Marcum in Toledo, Ohio, and acquired by NASCAR in April 2018, is the leading grassroots stock car sanctioning body in the United States. Bridging the gap between NASCAR’s top three national touring series and weekly and regional tour racing all across the country, the organization sanctions over 100 races per year in the ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East, ARCA Menards Series West, ASA STARS National Tour, ASA CRA Super Series, ASA Midwest Tour, ASA Southern Super Series plus weekly racing at Toledo and Flat Rock Speedways. For more information about ARCA visit www.arcaracing.com, or follow ARCA on Facebook (@ARCARacing) and Twitter (@ARCA_Racing).  

About Menards

A family-owned and run company started in 1958, Menards is recognized as the retail home center leader of the Midwest with 236 stores in 15 states.  Menards is truly a one-stop shop for all of your home improvement needs featuring a full-service lumberyard and everything you need to plan a renovation or build a home, garage, cabin, shed, deck, fence or post frame building.  You’ll find a large selection of lumber, roofing, siding, construction blocks, trusses, doors and windows, plus cabinets, appliances, countertops, flooring, lighting, paint, plumbing supplies and more.  To complete the job, Menards has quality hand tools, power tools, fasteners, electrical tools plus storage options and supplies for everyone from the weekend warrior to the pro! 

Menards has what you need to complete your outdoor projects and keep your yard in tip-top shape including mowers, trimmers, blowers, pressure washers and more, plus a beautiful garden center stocked with plants, shrubs, trees, landscaping tools, grass seed, fertilizer options, outdoor décor and patio furniture.  Menards also has everyday essentials like health & beauty products, housewares, pet and wildlife supplies, automotive items and even groceries.  And at Christmas, an Enchanted Forest display area with impressive trees, lighting, decorations, ornaments, inflatables and more.   

Menards is known for friendly Customer Service and as the place to “Save Big Money” with low prices every day, and sales too!  For more information, please visit Menards.com to learn about our store locations, offerings and services. 

​

NORWALK NHRA NATIONALS: ELITE MOTORSPORTS EVENT PREVIEW

By
Official Release
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NORWALK, Ohio (June 23, 2026) – Elite Motorsports hits the halfway mark of the Mission Foods NHRA Drag Racing Series season with this weekend’s Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Motorsports Park (SMP).

Family Affair

Competing in Norwalk, Ohio means a home race for the Coughlin family and the JEGS brand. Founded in 1960 by drag racing legend Jeg Coughlin Sr., JEGS is headquartered in Delaware, Ohio. Jeg Coughlin Jr., who handles the wheel of the classic yellow and black JEGS Pro Stock machine and Troy Coughlin Jr. who occupies the seat of the midnight black and yellow JEGS Pro Stock entry, both reside just minutes from the headquarters. In fact, Troy Jr., is an employee in the marketing department for JEGS.

“Ohio is a very big state for drag racing/ The number of racers, fans, & hot rodders are incredible,” said Troy Jr. “I am looking forward to seeing many of our great customers and even associates from JEGS out at the track. A win here would be majestic.”

“The week’s stop on the NHRA tour is in our home state and I couldn’t be more excited and energized to compete in front of this crowd,” said Jeg Jr. “We have a lot of family, friends, sponsors and fans out at this event and that always makes it more fun.”

In addition to wheeling JEGS Pro Stock car, Jeg Jr. will also have to play cheerleader for his wife, Samantha, who will be competing in Super Comp.

“On top of everything that’s taking place this weekend, Samantha, my wife, will be racing in Super Comp in her dragster. She started running today (Tuesday),” Jeg Jr. said. “So, there is lots going on with some great opportunities to celebrate.”

Keeping it Local

With one of their largest service centers just across the street, R+L Carriers will have a strong presence at the SMP. They’ll be out in full force as they cheer on Tony Stewart and the rest of the Elite camp.

“It’s a big weekend for R+L. With the service center right across the street, we should have an impressive turnout this weekend. I’m looking forward to hanging out with them in hospitality,” said Stewart, driver of the R+L Carriers Top Fuel dragster. “Hopefully all the pieces come together this weekend, and we can get them another win.

“Summit Motorsports Park is an awesome facility. The Bader family has done an amazing job. The fans and the energy at the track are really impressive. They help make the weekend a success. We want to put on a good show, go some rounds and end up in that winner’s circle on Sunday afternoon.”

Stewart is coming off a semi-final finish at the Thunder Valley Nationals in Bristol, Tennessee, the final event of a three race Eastern swing that consisted of two first-round losses for the new team. The motorsports icon is looking to take it one round further this weekend as he battles for his second win of the season, fourth overall in Top Fuel.

“After three in a row, having that weekend off, it feels like it’s been way too long. I’m eager to get back in the seat. I’ll get the competitive juices flowing this week with a little racing back home against my dad,” said Stewart who will spend the next week in a race car. “We’ll be in three-quarter midgets racing at our local fairgrounds tonight (Tuesday) and tomorrow. Then I’ll head over to IRP (Indianapolis Raceway Park) for Thursday Night Thunder. It’s a chance to return to my midget car roots and see some friends from across different motorsports disciplines. It’s a good time.”

Pro Stock All-Star Callout

Stewart won’t be the only Elite Motorsports driver looking to do a little extra driving. The Summit Racing Equipment Nationals will once again play host to the GETTRX Pro Stock NHRA All-Star Callout on Saturday. The unique callout-style race pits the top eight Pro Stock drivers against each other with a bonus purse and bragging rights on the line.

Elite Motorsports makes up half the field with Greg Stanfield, Erica Enders, Aaron Stanfield and Jeg Coughlin Jr. all qualifying for the specialty event.

“I absolutely love racing at America’s Racetrack. From the time you pull in the gate, it’s a different feel than any other facility we race at. The Bader family provides a racetrack and experience for racers and fans unlike anywhere else. They are the absolute best in the game,” said Erica Enders, driver of the Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage / Melling Performance / R+L Carriers Pro Stock car. “There is a little extra on the table this weekend with the Callout. We feel like we have turned the corner with our performance and we are coming for those KB boys.

“It’s an added bonus; the Callout contested on Saturday,” Jeg Jr. said. “The best eight qualified cars from the past year, it’s exciting and I’m glad we are able to be a part of it.”

The GETTRX Pro Stock NHRA All-Star Callout kicks off on Friday at 3 p.m., where the drivers will make their first-round picks for the Saturday showdown. The first round of the Callout is Saturday at 11:30 a.m., followed by the semifinals at 1:15 p.m. The finals will take place at 4 p.m., with the winner set to collect a check, specialty trophy and championship belt.

Notable:

  • In addition to JEGS and R+L, Melling Performance, based in Jackson, Michigan less than three hours away, will also have numbers out supporting the Elite Motorsports camp.
  • Driver of the JHG / Melling Performance / Janac Brothers Racing machine, Aaron Stanfield, will once again be pulling double-duty for Elite. He’ll also be competing in the JBS Equipment Pro Modified Series presented by Elite Motorsports. This means the young drag racing phenom has an opportunity to win the All-Star Callout, be No. 1 qualifier in both Pro Stock and Pro Mod and get a pair of diamond Wallys on Sunday.
  • With the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence approaching the July 4th, Elite Motorsports will pay special tribute with custom shirts designed by Troy Coughlin Jr. The shirts will be one of what will sure to be many homages being paid to American’s milestone birthday. The journey toward this historic milestone is an opportunity to pause and reflect on our nation’s past, honor the contributions of all Americans, and look ahead toward the future we want to create for the next generation and beyond.

Competition at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Motorsports Park begins with four rounds of qualifying Friday at 5 and 7:30 p.m. and Saturday at Noon and 2:30 p.m. with the Callout at 11:30 a.m., 1:15 and 4:00 p.m. Eliminations are slated for Sunday at 11:00 a.m. Television coverage of the event will be on Sunday with a Callout show at 11 a.m. ET on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) followed by a qualifying show at noon ET on FS1. Eliminations will air Sunday at 5:30 p.m. ET on FOX.

NHRA ON FOX, NHRA SOCIAL TEAMS EARN SIX TELLY AWARDS FOR TELEVISION VIDEO EXCELLENCE

By
Official Release
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INDIANAPOLIS (June 23, 2026) – The NHRA announced today that its broadcasting team has been honored with six prestigious Telly Awards, including a Gold Telly award for its Chasing Speed documentary.

The six overall Telly Awards, which honor excellence in video and television across all screens, mark another stellar achievement for the broadcasting team and add to an impressive milestone total. The team has now received more than 50 Telly Awards over the past decade.

This year’s total includes one Gold Telly for the NHRA Chasing Speed and five Bronze Tellys.

“Earning six Telly Awards, including a Gold Telly for Chasing Speed, is an incredible achievement for our teams,” NHRA Vice President of Broadcasting Steve Reintjes said. “Their commitment to delivering compelling content and innovative storytelling continues to elevate how fans experience NHRA across every platform. We’re honored to receive this recognition and proud of the work our teams produce throughout the year.”

NHRA’s highly successful Chasing Speed documentary premiered this season on Vice, spotlighting some of the sport’s biggest names and brightest future stars. Episode 106, which focused on motorsports legend and NHRA Top Fuel driver Tony Stewart and his wife, Leah Pruett, earned a Gold Telly in the General Sports category, while also earning a Bronze Telly in the General Documentary: Long Form category.

NHRA also earned Bronze Telly Awards in the General Sports category, including honors for coverage of the prestigious Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis, the Texas NHRA FallNationals in Dallas, and its Chasing Speed promotional video.

For the first time, NHRA received a Telly Award for its social media video series NHRA Driven, which gives fans a behind-the-scenes look at the daily lives of NHRA drivers at the racetrack. The Bronze Telly was given for a Driven highlighting two-time Top Fuel world champion Brittany Force.

Founded in 1979, the Telly Awards were created to honor excellence in local, regional and cable television commercials with non-broadcast video and television programming added soon after. With the recent evolution and rise of digital video (web series, VR, 360, and beyond), the Telly Awards today also reflects and celebrates this exciting new era of the moving image online and offline.

The Telly Awards annually showcases the best work created within television and across video, for all screens. Receiving tens of thousands of entries from all 50 states and five continents, Telly Award winners represent work from some of the most respected advertising agencies, television stations, production companies, and publishers from around the world.

For more information on NHRA, including the 2026 schedule, please visit www.NHRA.com.

About Mission Foods

MISSION®, owned by GRUMA, S.A.B. de C.V., is the world’s leading brand for tortillas and wraps. MISSION® is also globally renowned for flatbreads, dips, salsas and Mexican food products. With presence in over 112 countries, MISSION® products are suited to the lifestyles and the local tastes of each country. With innovation and customer needs in mind, MISSION® focuses on the highest quality, authentic flavors, and providing healthy options that families and friends can enjoy together. For more information, please visit https://www.missionfoods.com/

About NHRA

NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. NHRA presents 20 national events featuring the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series and NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, as well as the JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Elite Motorsports and NHRA Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown™ at select national events. NHRA provides competition opportunities for drivers of all levels in the NHRA Summit Racing Series and NHRA Street Legal™. NHRA also offers the NHRA Jr. Street® program for teens and the Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League® for youth ages 5 to 17. With more than 100 Member Tracks, NHRA allows racers to compete at a variety of locations nationally and internationally. NHRA’s Youth and Education Services® (YES) Program reaches over 30,000 students annually to ignite their interest in automotive and racing related careers. NHRA’s streaming service, NHRA.tv®, allows fans to view all NHRA national events as well as exclusive features of the sport. In addition, NHRA owns and operates three racing facilities: Gainesville Raceway in Florida; Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park; and In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Southern California. For more information, log on to www.NHRA.com, or visit the official NHRA pages on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

The Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway Outlook and Picks

By
SM Staff
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SONOMA, CALIFORNIA - JULY 13: Shane Van Gisbergen leads the field during the NASCAR Cup Series Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway on July 13, 2025 in Sonoma. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

The NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) heads to Sonoma Raceway for the Toyota/Save Mart 350 on Sunday, June 28 at 3:30 p.m. ET on TNT, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90).

In 2025, Shane van Gisbergen captured the pole with a lap of 96.040 mph (74.594 secs.), and Shane van Gisbergen led six times for a race-high 97 of 110 laps and scored a dominant NCS victory in the Toyota/SaveMart 350 on Sunday, July 13, 2025, from pole position.

Track & Race Information for the Toyota/Save Mart 350

Season Race #: 18 of 36 (June 28, 2026)
Purse: $11,233,037
Track Size: 1.99 miles
Number of Turns: 12
Track: Multi-Elevational Paved Road Course

Length and Race Stages for the Toyota/Save Mart 350

Race Length: 110 laps / 218.9 miles
Stage 1 Length: 25 laps
Stage 2 Length: 30 laps (ends on Lap 55)
Final Stage Length: 55 laps (ends on Lap 110)

Who and what should you look out for at Sonoma Raceway?

Kyle Larson leads all active drivers in wins at Sonoma in the NCS with two victories, and of the 22 winners, three are entered this weekend.

Active Sonoma Race WinnersWinsSeasons
Kyle Larson22024, 2021
Shane Van Gisbergen12025
Daniel Suárez12022

The pole or first starting position is the most proficient starting position in the field, producing seven wins, more than any other starting position. Seven of the 36 (19.4%) races have been won from the pole or first starting position, and the most recent was Shane van Gisbergen in 2025.

StatsWinning %Wins
Winning from the First Starting Position:19.44%7
Winning from the Front Row:30.56%11
Winning from a Top-Five Starting Position:52.78%19
Winning from a Top-10 Starting Position:75.00%27
Winning After Starting Outside the Top 10:25.00%9
Winning After Starting Outside the Top 20:5.56%2

The Driver Picks for the Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway

  • Christopher Bell has one top five, three top 10s, and an average finish of 14.800.
  • Ryan Blaney has one top five, five top 10s, and an average finish of 17.667.
  • Kyle Larson has four poles, two wins, two top fives, four top 10s, and an average finish of 15.000.
  • Tyler Reddick has two top 10s, and an average finish of 20.200.
  • Shane Van Gisbergen has one pole, one win, one top five, one top 10, and a series-best average finish of 1.000.

Fight to Contretemps: Going From San Diego Street Course to Sonoma Road Course is the Same, but Different

By
Official Release
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April 26, 2026: NASCAR races at the Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, Alabama. (HHP/Chris Owens)

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (June 23, 2026) – It was a street fight last Sunday. Despite being on an active United States military base with a significant law enforcement presence, the NASCAR Cup Series race at Qualcomm Circuit on Naval Base Coronado featured rooting, gouging and departures from the standards of polite society.

There were mangled fenders, bent walls and bruised feelings after the 75-lap race around the 3.4-mile, 16-turn temporary street circuit in San Diego. Spinning cars and seven caution periods consuming 11 laps in the 3-hour and 37-minute affair were the result of conduct more suited to the stables than the drawing room.

Certainly when the Cup Series heads a little more than 530 miles north to Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway for this Sunday’s Toyota/Save Mart 350k, decorum and civility will return. After all, it’s Wine Country, where table settings come with fine linens, refined soil grows the finest grapes, sophistication fills wine glasses, and good taste is an HOA requirement. Cup Series drivers will surely read the room, right?

If history is any indication, no. Fendered fisticuffs will continue unabated, as volume again supersedes persuasion. They are the bull in the proverbial china shop.

“NASCAR is a contact sport on road courses,” said Cody Ware, driver of the No. 51 Super.com Chevrolet for Rick Ware Racing. “We go into it with a have-at-it mentality, to where if there’s a racing surface that you can plant four tires on, you do it. Beating and banging is expected.”

Since the debut of the NextGen car in 2022, there have been an average of 6.5 cautions per race at Sonoma. Most stemmed from spins, stalled cars and drivers getting knocked into barriers. The “Big One” of superspeedway-style crashes doesn’t typically happen. A driver’s own mistake, and other drivers’ lack of patience with their counterparts, are the typical contributing factors.

“Every touch of the gas pedal has consequences that unfold as the race goes on,” Ware said. “You’re managing every decision.”

Ware and his Cup Series brethren are at least in road-course mode after racing at San Diego. Sonoma marks the fourth and final road-course race on the 2026 schedule. The other 32 races on the Cup Series calendar are all on ovals.

“Road racing is where I did a lot of my growing up and learning how to race,” Ware said. “There was a lot of back and forth between stock cars and GT cars and sports cars over the years as I found my place in NASCAR. So I’m always, ‘The more the merrier,’ when it comes to road racing.”

Ware won the 2019-2020 LMP2 championship in the Asian Le Mans Series with co-driver Gustas Grinbergas, and in a prelude to that title, Ware was the 2014 Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America Rookie of the Year. In January 2024 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway, Ware piloted a Ligier JS P320 to a podium finish in the IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge LMP3 class. He has also competed in Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup and the NTT IndyCar Series.

Even with a wealth of road-racing experience, Ware’s time on Sonoma’s 1.99-mile, 10-turn layout is limited. He has just five starts at the track, and his drive in last year’s Toyota/Save Mart 350k was his first since 2022.

“Sonoma has a lot of elevation changes and it presents some pretty good passing opportunities,” Ware said. “The layout makes for some really aggressive, tight racing. Anytime you put a stock car on a road course with that kind of elevation, it creates some really good racing. It’s one of the coolest road courses we go to, for sure.”

That Ware was turning left and right a few days prior in San Diego will help his cause in Sonoma.

“Having back-to-back road-course weekends – the steering feel, the braking feel, the power input – it’s all still relevant,” Ware said. “Track conditions between San Diego and Sonoma will obviously be very different, but when you only have a handful of road-course races a year, it’s hard to get into a rhythm. But at least with San Diego, we’re in a bit of a flow. It was a good refresher before tackling Sonoma.”

Ware starts tackling Sonoma at 11 a.m. PDT/2 p.m. EDT on Saturday during practice before qualifying at 12:10 p.m. PDT/3:10 p.m. EDT. TruTV and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio will provide live coverage of both. The Toyota/Save Mart 350k goes live at 12:30 p.m. PDT/3:30 p.m. EDT with flag-to-flag coverage delivered by TNT and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

About Rick Ware Racing:

Rick Ware has been a motorsports mainstay for more than 40 years. It began at age 6 when the third-generation racer began his driving career and has since spanned four wheels and two wheels on both asphalt and dirt. Competing in the SCCA Trans Am Series and other road-racing divisions led Ware to NASCAR in the early 1980s, where he finished third in his NASCAR debut – the 1983 Warner W. Hodgdon 300 NASCAR Grand American race at Riverside (Calif.) International Raceway. More than a decade later, injuries would force Ware out of the driver’s seat and into full-time team ownership. In 1995, Rick Ware Racing was formed, and with his wife Lisa by his side, Ware has since built his eponymous organization into an entity that competes full-time in the elite NASCAR Cup Series while simultaneously campaigning successful teams in the Top Fuel class of the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, Progressive American Flat Track, FIM World Supercross Championship (WSX) and zMAX CARS Tour.

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