Sonoma Raceway -
NASCAR RaceWeather Forecast
Sonoma Raceway
NASCAR Weekend Forecast Discussion
Overall, an excellent weather weekend is expected at Sonoma Raceway. A typical early summer Northern California pattern will feature cool mornings with some patchy low clouds or fog before skies quickly become sunny. Afternoon temperatures will generally reach the upper 70s to near 80 degrees with comfortable humidity. A persistent west to southwest breeze will develop each afternoon, with occasional gusts of 20-30 mph, particularly on Friday. No rain or weather-related interruptions are anticipated, making for favorable conditions throughout the race weekend.
Sonoma Raceway
NASCAR Weekend Schedule
Fri June 26
10:40 AM ARCA Menards Series West Practice
12:10 PM ARCA Menards Series West Qualifying
1:00 PM NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series Practice
2:05 PM NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series Qualifying
3:20 PM ARCA Menards Series West Driver Introductions
3:30 PM ARCA Menards Series West – General Tire 150
Sat June 27
11:00 AM NASCAR Cup Series Practice – Group 1 (25 min)
11:30 AM NASCAR Cup Series Practice – Group 2 (25 min)
12:10 PM NASCAR Cup Series Qualifying
2:30 PM NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series – Pit Boss/FoodMaxx 250
Sun June 28
12:30 PM NASCAR Cup Series – Toyota/Save Mart 350
All times are PDT
More about Sonoma Raceway
Sonoma Raceway, originally opened in December 1968 as Sears Point Raceway (later Golden State Raceway and Infineon Raceway), is a hilly 12‑turn road course with about 160 ft of elevation change and dragstrip situated in the southern Sonoma Mountains north of San Francisco. The circuit has seen multiple configurations: the original full layout ran approximately 2.52 mi with the iconic “Carousel” (Turns 5–6), used for sports cars and early NASCAR races until 1997. Starting in 1998 NASCAR adopted a shorter “chute” layout bypassing the Carousel, measuring about 1.99 mi (re‑measured to 1.99 mi in 2002) and used through 2021, before briefly reverting to the full layout for the 50th anniversary in 2019 and again in 2021. As of the 2022 season onward, the Cup Series reverted permanently to the 1.99‑mile “chute” layout.
In NASCAR history, Sonoma Raceway debuted the Cup Series in June 1989, replacing Riverside—a loss when Riverside closed in 1988—attracting drivers like Ricky Rudd, who won that inaugural race in a Buick, leading 61 of 74 laps at about 76 mph average . Over 33 Cup events (excluding the 2020 cancellation), the venue has been home to numerous dramatic moments—including Dale Earnhardt’s only road‑course win in 1995 at the Carousel, Jeff Gordon’s record five wins and five poles at Sonoma (1998–2006), and unforgettable comebacks or controversies such as Ernie Irvan’s 1992 drive and the 1991 Rudd–Allison penalty reversal. The annual race currently runs as the Toyota/Save Mart 350—110 laps, 218.9 miles—on the NASCAR Cup schedule each July (usually paired with the Xfinity-series Pit Boss/FoodMaxx 250, which debuted in 2023).
To learn about sponsorship opportunities in IMSA and NASCAR at Sonoma Raceway, visit EC Sports Management. Click here to contact their sales team.