Kyle Larson came into Sonoma needing a miracle. The defending race winner sat 19 points behind teammate William Byron in the championship hunt, and with Byron running like he’s got something to prove, Larson’s window for a comeback was getting smaller by the race. What happened next left his fans wondering if that window just slammed shut.

Why Did Kyle Larson’s Sonoma Race Start So Poorly?

Kyle Larson hasn’t been in top form lately in the 2025 season. While he has managed three top 10s in the last six races, he hasn’t led a single lap in those races. The Sonoma race offered an opportunity to bounce back and maybe take the points lead, now that the regular season championship is in question.

However, the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports driver did not have the best start to his race, leaving fans frustrated.

Entering the 1.99-mile road course, Larson was third in the points table, 19 points behind points leader and teammate William Byron. While 19 points isn’t a lot, Byron has been in top form, so trying to take that lead from him in Sonoma wasn’t going to be a walk in the park.

Still, Larson managed to get a P11 start in qualifying, and coming in as the track’s defending winner, fans hoped for him to get a good finish in the race. However, things went south quickly after the race was green-flagged. Rather than climbing positions, the No. 5 dropped down, having some car troubles.

Read More: ‘Haven’t Been as Sharp’ – Kevin Harvick Digs Into the Quiet Collapse of Kyle Larson’s NASCAR Momentum

The No. 5 team wrote in an X post, “Larson slipping back in the runner order, Crew Chief Cliff Daniels getting a plan together to fix up their No. 5 @HendrickCars Chevy on a pit stop. Currently 19th.” [CAN’T VERIFY — NEED TO MANUALLY VERIFY | Google: | StatMuse: | Perplexity: ]

Larson slipping back in the runner order, Crew Chief Cliff Daniels getting a plan together to fix up their No. 5 @HendrickCars Chevy on a pit stop. Currently 19th.

— No. 5 Team (@Hendrick5Team) July 13, 2025

How Did Fans React to Larson’s Early Struggles?

Naturally, this left fans enraged, as Larson needed to finish better than Byron to close the points gap. But Byron ran in the top five in the race, while Larson dropped back.

One angry fan wrote, “Sebastian is correct. This is garbage.” Another fan echoing the same emotion wrote, “Pack it up. Car’s junk. Just zero winning speed since Charlotte.” This rings true, as the last time Larson led laps was seven races ago at the Charlotte Motor Speedway. Attempting the double, Larson had a P2 start to the race and led 34 laps before getting into a wreck and getting a DNF.

Some fans even sympathized with Larson as he continues to be in this slump. One fan wrote, “Looks like Kyle Larson is really struggling right now.” Another fan wrote, “Larson is terrible today, already going to the back.” Even Larson recently admitted to not being in top form lately.

In the pre-race interview, he said, “Yeah, it’s really tight. Hopefully, we can kind of get back on a run of being consistent and getting stage points. I feel like, you know, we’ve still kind of been consistent. We just haven’t finished as high as we have early in the year, and then we’ve been missing out on stage points.”

If things continue as they are in the Sonoma race, Larson could fall further back in the points standings. One disappointed fan already eyeing this possibility wrote, “Someone teach Larson how to drive.”

Larson tried to win Stage 2 over Shane van Gisbergen, who took back the lead in 17 seconds after a slight contact. But in the end, it’s a road course, so anything can happen. Only time will tell where Larson finishes in the race.

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Shane van Gisbergen is threatening to win the inaugural In-Season Challenge as this chaotic portion of the NASCAR Cup Series schedule continues with the Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway today.

SVG qualified on the pole once more, and the money is pouring in on the No. 88 Chevrolet pilot ahead of the 3:30 p.m. ET green flag time on TNT.

Will van Gisbergen pick up another road course win? Our Toyota Save Mart 350 predictions and free betting picks for Sunday, July 13 will clue you in.

Odds to win 2025 Toyota Save Mart 350

Odds as of 7-13.

Toyota Save Mart 350 field

We’ll see 37 cars take to the track at Sonoma Raceway this Sunday, with Katherine Legge (No. 78) joining the 36 chartered drivers.

The money came in fast and furious for road course specialist Shane Van Gisbergen for the Grant Park 165 last week, and he rewarded his backers with a dominant victory. Oddsmakers have stamped him as a clear-cut favorite once more, with Kyle Larson being the only other driver listed at single-digit odds.

Toyota Save Mart 350 expert picks and predictions

Odds listed below courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook as of 7-12.

Toyota Save Mart 350 pre-qualifying favorites

Shane Van Gisbergen (+140)
Shane Van Gisbergen swept the Chicago weekend with poles and victories in the Xfinity Series and Cup Series on the street circuit. Last year, SVG won the Xfinity Series race at Sonoma, one of three road course wins in 2024.

He’s scored three overall Cup wins, each on road courses. Two came this season, including Mexico City. He also finished sixth this spring at COTA. 

Ty Gibbs (+1100)
Ty Gibbs qualified sixth but finished 18th in 2023 and qualified 10th but fell to 37th last year. He finished third in Mexico City and second in Chicago.

Michael McDowell (+1100)
He has two Top-3 finishes in the last three years, including a runner-up last year. McDowell also finished seventh in 2023.

He led every lap of the opening stage at Chicago before a broken throttle cable took him out of contention. 

Toyota Save Mart 350 sleepers

Chris Buescher (+1400)
Chris Buescher was runner-up in 2022, fourth in 2023, and led the second-highest laps (32) en route to a third-place finish last year. He’s finished seventh, 12th, and 18th on road courses this season. 

Christopher Bell (+1400)
Christopher Bell was ninth the last two years, won at COTA this spring, and was runner-up in Mexico City prior to a 24th in Chicago. 

Chase Elliott (+1400)
Chase Elliott is eventually going to win at Sonoma, right? Elliott has six Top-8 finishes in his last seven tries, including his last four finishes being second, eighth, fifth, and fourth. He finished fourth at COTA in March, 15th in Mexico City, and 16th in Chicago. 

Ross Chastain (+2200)
Ross Chastain finished fifth last year and has a road course win at COTA a few years ago. That’s the same year teammate Daniel Suarez won this race. Chastain improved six spots from 12th at COTA this season to sixth in Mexico City. He was 10th last week in Chicago. 

Kyle Busch (+2200)
Kyle Busch is a two-time Sonoma winner and has scored six Top-5 finishes in his last nine wine country starts, including 2023’s runner-up finish. He finished 12th last year and fifth last week in Chicago. 

Ryan Blaney (+2500)
For these odds, despite finishing 19th in COTA, 32nd in Mexico City and 12th in Chicago, it’s worth the risk on Ryan Blaney. He has four Top-10 finishes in his last five Sonoma starts. 

Toyota Save Mart 350 fades

Kyle Larson (+500) 
Kyle Larson has two Sonoma wins (2021, 2024), his only Top-5 finishes on this track. Despite five poles, just one resulted in a Top 5 here, the 2021 victory.

William Byron (+1200) 
William Byron has no Top-5s in six Sonoma starts with finishes of 25th, 19th, 35th, ninth, 14th, and 30th. He also finished 28th in Mexico City and 40th in Chicago. 

AJ Allmendinger (+1800) 
Interesting odds, but AJ Allmendinger is 0-for-13 in terms of Top-5 finishes at Sonoma with a best finish of sixth over the last two years. He finished 30th, 17th, and sixth on road courses this season. 

Denny Hamlin (+6500)
Longer odds seem enticing here but finishes of 31st, 36th, and 38th, respectively, the last three years and 0-for-18 mark on this track is a fade for me. 

Toyota Save Mart 350 prop pick: Ryan Preece (+175) vs. Tyler Reddick

Call me crazy, but I like Ryan Preece as the underdog here.

For starters, the In-Season Tournament has provided some wild upsets, so why stop now? Plus, Preece finished 15th and seventh in his last two road course starts this season, and 13th and 18th in his last two Sonoma starts.

While that’s nothing to get crazy about, all he has to do is cross the finish line ahead of Tyler Reddick on Sunday to win this matchup.

While Reddick has finished third in two of the three road course events this season, he’s largely been a bust at Sonoma with finishes of 19th, 35th, 33rd, and eighth, respectively.

Pick: Ryan Preece (+175 at DraftKings) vs. Tyler Reddick

Sonoma Raceway track analysis

Last year’s race is the most indicative with the return to the 1.99-mile layout and a newly repaved track. Prior to 2024, the old racing surface was aged and chewed up tires, making it a tire conservation event. Once again, without that worry and a smooth surface, this could become a sprint race with pit strategy involved. 

Statistically, Toyota has been the top manufacturer here with three wins in the last six trips, including four of the last nine overall. However, this Next Gen car has halted their momentum.

Chevrolet is the top team on road courses with this Next Gen car, while Ford has slipped to be arguably even worse than Toyota. They have just two wins in the last 21 Sonoma races, too.

Toyota Save Mart 350 trends

• Kyle Larson (2021) is the only pole winner to go on to win the race at Sonoma since 2004 (Jeff Gordon).  
• Just three times in the last 12 years has the winner come from the top two rows of the starting lineup, with three of the last five Sonoma winners having started eighth. Larson started fifth last year.  
• The driver to lead the most laps has won the race in five of the last six years.

Toyota Save Mart 350 betting splits

Highest Ticket%

• Kyle Larson 8.0%

• Shane van Gisbergen 7.4%

• Michael McDowell 7.1%

Highest Handle%

Biggest Liabilities

• Michael McDowell

• Shane van Gisbergen

• Kyle Busch

Data courtesy of BetMGM.

Toyota Save Mart 350 info

Previous Toyota Save Mart 350 winners

Chevrolet has won three of the previous four editions of this race.

How to make Toyota Save Mart 350 picks

NASCAR betting is a nuanced process that can take any number of factors into account, and spans several different types of bets. Fortunately, our How to Bet NASCAR guide walks you through the basics, including how to read odds, different markets that are available, and what to consider when making your bets.

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SONOMA, Calif. (July 13, 2025) – Sonoma Raceway proud announces the induction of seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson into its Wall of Fame today, recognizing his remarkable contributions to the sport and his achievements at the historic 1.99-mile road course.

Johnson, a NASCAR Hall of Famer, recorded one victory (2010) and nine top-10 finishes in 18 career starts at Sonoma Raceway. His 2010 victory in wine country was the one and only road course victory of his illustrious career.

“We are honored to celebrate Jimmie Johnson’s incredible legacy by inducting him into the Sonoma Raceway Wall of Fame,” said Brian Flynn, Executive Vice President and General Manager at Sonoma Raceway. “Jimmie’s accomplishments, both at our track and across his storied career, embody the spirit of excellence that defines this sport. As a California native, his impact resonates deeply with our fans and community.”

The El Cajon native was honored with a permanent placement on the Wall of Fame at Sonoma Raceway.

“What an honor,” said Jimmie Johnson, Legacy Motor Club Team Co-owner. “I have this forever up in Sonoma Raceway history. Thank you so much for this amazing surprise.”

Sonoma Raceway’s Wall of Fame has been a staple of the racetrack since 2005 where the very first NASCAR inductees were Rusty Wallace and Mark Martin. There are a total of 29 inductees, making Jimmie Johnson the 30th inductee. The wall 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 their likeness. The engraving is also added to the Wall of Fame, which is located behind the main grandstand.

Johnson, who returned to the NASCAR Cup Series for select races in 2025 with LEGACY MOTOR CLUB, notched his 700th career start at this year’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The winner of 83 Cup Series races, tied for sixth all-time, drove the No. 48 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports for 19 seasons, securing seven championships to match NASCAR legends Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt. His five consecutive titles from 2006 to 2010 remain unmatched in the sport’s history.

Beyond racing, Johnson has made significant contributions through the Jimmie Johnson Foundation, which he co-founded with his wife, Chandra, in 2006. The foundation has donated over $13 million to support K-12 public education across the United States.

Sonoma Raceway tickets, camping, upgrades, premium options and much more are all available at SonomaRaceway.com or by calling (800) 870-RACE [7223].

Sonoma Raceway is a 2.52-mile, 12-turn road course and quarter-mile drag strip located at Sears Point in Sonoma County, California. Built in 1968 the track is carved into rolling hills with 160 ft of total elevation change. It is host to one of the few NASCAR Cup Series races each year that are run on road courses. It is one of the world’s busiest racing facilities, with track activity scheduled an average of 340 days a year. A complete and versatile motorsports complex, it is home to one of the nation’s only high-performance automotive industrial parks with approximately 70 tenants.

As the NASCAR Cup Series makes its annual trip to the West Coast to Sonoma Raceway, the entire field is looking to beat Shane van Gisbergen — the winner of the last two road course events — at his own game.

It’s not going to be an easy task, though, as the Trackhouse Racing driver beat Chase Briscoe for the pole position by a quarter-second, and finished runner-up in Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series event to Connor Zilisch.

Sunday’s 110-lap contest will mark the first NASCAR Cup Series start at Sonoma Raceway for the three-time Supercars champion, potentially leaving the door open for another driver (one without a victory this season) to pounce and lock themselves into the postseason.

POINTS EARNED ON ROAD COURSES (2025):

135: Shane Van Gisbergen
107: Tyler Reddick
105: Alex Bowman
101: Ryan Blaney
100: Christopher Bell
100: Chase Elliott
94: Michael McDowell
88: Kyle Busch
86: Ross Chastain
93: Chase Briscoe#NASCAR | ?: @JoshCalloni, @TobyChristieCom pic.twitter.com/YQKGCrq9gs

— Joseph Srigley (@joe_srigley) July 13, 2025

A.J. Allmendinger

It has been a solid season for AJ Allmendinger in his return to full-time competition in the NASCAR Cup Series, sitting 15th-place in series point standings with Kaulig Racing on the strength of one top-five and five top-10s.

Allmendinger, a native of Los Gatos, California, is no doubt a specialist when it comes to the road courses, collecting all three of his victories in the NASCAR Cup Series on non-oval racetracks (two at Charlotte’s ROVAL and one at Watkins Glen).

It’s a big weekend for a 43-year-old driver, as this weekend at Sonoma marks the second-to-last road course event before the start of the post-season, marking one of the last major opportunities for the No. 16 to find Victory Lane.

Allmendinger will roll from the fifth position in Sunday’s Toyota / Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway, and looks to have a quick racecar after his No. 16 Big Sipz Chevrolet was fastest in practice on Saturday.

Ty Gibbs

Will the 107th NASCAR Cup Series start for Ty Gibbs be the lucky one?

The grandson of championship-winning NASCAR Cup Series team owner Joe Gibbs is still searching for his first career victory at NASCAR’s top level and has had momentum on his side in recent weeks, including a runner-up finish at the Chicago Street Course.

Gibbs was also the closest adversary to Shane van Gisbergen at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in June but saw his No. 54 Toyota Camry XSE fade prior to the finish, costing him a shot at the victory or even a top-five result.

The Charlotte, North Carolina-native has a best finish of 18th at the Sonoma, California road course, but Gibbs is looking to break into the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs with a victory on Sunday. Can Gibbs defeat Shane van Gisbergen and AJ Allmendinger, amongst others?

We’ll have to wait and see. The No. 54 was fast in practice and will start sixth.

Michael McDowell

At Chicago last weekend, Michael McDowell looked to have the pace to hang with Shane van Gisbergen, but a mechanical issue knocked him out of contention to win the Grant Park 165.

McDowell will roll from 15th on Sunday at Sonoma Raceway, which isn’t optimal for capturing a victory, but with some strong pace and great strategy by crew chief Travis Peterson, it could happen — but he’ll have to fight against Shane van Gisbergen once again.

The Avondale, Arizona-native finished runner-up at the 1.99-mile road course last season with Front Row Motorsports, so there has been some past success to help boost the driver’s confidence heading into the penultimate road course of the regular season.

It’s been a solid and consistent season for McDowell, but a win would put Spire Motorsports in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs for the first time ever.

Kyle Busch

It’s been more than two years since Kyle Busch has been to Victory Lane in the NASCAR Cup Series.

In his third year driving for Richard Childress Racing, the two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion has struggled to find traction to earn solid finishes, only having a pair of top-five results this season, both of which have come on the road courses.

The last time Busch finished in the top five on an oval? The 2024 Southern 500, the final race of the regular season last season. This is possibly one of the best opportunities for Busch to collect a victory and get himself in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, and potentially stop the suffering.

Busch, a native of Las Vegas, Nevada, will be starting mid-pack, rolling from 17th in the No. 8 Zone Nicotine Pouches Chevrolet.

Carson Hocevar

It’s a bit of a long shot, but Carson Hocevar could find himself as a contender in Sunday’s Toyota / Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway. The Spire Motorsports driver definitely has the pace on road courses; he’s shown that during his career, but execution will be critical.

Last weekend in Chicago, Hocevar qualified inside the top-10 and looked to have some decent pace, but a crash on the fourth lap of the race (derived from a simple mistake of pushing too hard) ended his afternoon, and the afternoon of several others.

At Watkins Glen last September, Hocevar got lost during qualifying (literally), but somehow, someway, drove through the pack to finish in third place.

It’ll have to be a mistake-free afternoon, but should things go exactly right and the cards fall in the proper manner, maybe Hocevar could put Spire Motorsports in the NASCAR Playoffs for the first time.

NEWTON, Iowa (AP) — IndyCar driver Nolan Siegel was not cleared to race Sunday at Iowa Speedway because of a mild concussion suffered in a crash one day earlier.

The 20-year-old Arrow McLaren driver crashed in the first race of Iowa’s two-day IndyCar doubleheader. Arrow McLaren teammate Pato O’Ward won Saturday’s race for his first win of the season, as well as the first for McLaren this year and first for Chevrolet.

McLaren chose not to run the No. 6 Chevrolet that Siegel qualified fifth for Sunday. The team said Siegel will continue to be evaluated ahead of next weekend’s race in Toronto.

“There’s no place I’d rather be than out there driving today, especially from one of my best starting positions of the season,” Siegel said. “I know I’m in good hands with the IndyCar medical team and thank them for the great care they provide us drivers.”