RIO LINDA, CA – When many think of NASCAR, images of cars flying around banked ovals likely come to mind. But just down the road in wine country lies a different beast: Sonoma Raceway, a track that demands more than just speed, and one where a legendary driver with Rio Linda ties, Jeff Gordon, truly cemented his legacy.

Before he became a household name and NASCAR Hall of Famer, Jeff Gordon spent formative years racing right here in the Rio Linda area, honing the skills that would make him a racing icon. And while Gordon conquered tracks across the country, Sonoma Raceway was his playground. With a record five Cup Series wins at this challenging road course, Gordon demonstrated the incredible finesse, strategy, and car control required to succeed where left and right turns rule the day.

Sonoma isn’t your typical NASCAR venue. Its twisting, 1.99-mile layout (sometimes using the 2.52-mile “Carousel” configuration) features 10 demanding turns and a significant 160-foot elevation change – the most on the NASCAR circuit. Forget simply mashing the gas; drivers here battle their 3,400-pound machines through sharp hairpins, technical esses, and elevation changes, requiring precision braking and masterful shifting more reminiscent of international sports car racing.

“Sonoma has always been a very technical flowing road course,” notes Denny Hamlin, driver of the No. 11 Toyota. Current drivers echo the sentiment, appreciating the unique challenge. “It’s a great racetrack and all the drivers and teams enjoy a changeup even from other road courses we have on the schedule,” adds Aric Almirola, who competes in the Xfinity Series.

So, why should Rio Linda fans make the short trip? Beyond the local Gordon connection, road courses like Sonoma deliver pure, unadulterated action. The tight corners and narrow straights mean close-quarters racing. Contact isn’t just possible; it’s practically guaranteed. As the saying goes, “rubbin’ is racin’,” and Sonoma often delivers fender-bending duels and dramatic last-lap moves, especially heading into the infamous Turn 11.

“Turn 11 will be seeing a lot of smoke,” predicts Cup Series driver Austin Dillon. “It’s going to be an exciting race.”

Recent track improvements have only upped the ante. “With the most recent repave, it allows drivers to go all-out, all the time,” says former champion Kyle Busch.

These tracks also shake things up. Drivers with diverse racing backgrounds often excel, leading to unexpected winners and thrilling championship implications. It’s a chance to see raw talent shine on a uniquely challenging stage.

Imagine it: The roar of V8 engines echoing through the Sonoma hills, the smell of tires and race fuel hanging in the air, and the sight of colorful stock cars sliding and battling just inches apart. It’s a full-sensory experience unlike any other in motorsports.

Whether you cheered for Rio Linda’s own Jeff Gordon back in the day or you’re new to the excitement of NASCAR, witnessing the drama unfold on a road course is a must. And there’s no better place to do it than at the iconic Sonoma Raceway.

Don’t Miss Out: NASCAR storms into Sonoma Raceway for the Toyota/Save Mart 350 weekend from July 11–13. Get your tickets, camping spots, and upgrades now at SonomaRaceway.com or call (800) 870-RACE [7223]. Experience the thrill that made a local legend a road course king!

NASCAR playoff standings after Texas Motor Speedway

On Sunday NASCAR raced at Texas Motor Speedway. The overtime finish put Joey Logano in victory lane.

View the NASCAR point standings below.

Logano picked up his first win of the 2025 season. He’s now added his name to the seven drivers locked into the 2025 playoffs.

NASCAR Cup Series
Point Standings

Pos | Driver | Wins | Points

1. Christopher Bell
3 Wins

2. Kyle Larson
2 Wins

3. Denny Hamlin
2 Wins

4. William Byron
1 Win

5. Joey Logano
1 Win

6. Austin Cindric
1 Win

7. Josh Berry
1 Win

8. Chase Elliott
+110

9. Tyler Reddick
+109

10. Ryan Blaney
+85

11. Bubba Wallace
+78

12. Alex Bowman
+56

13. Ross Chastain
+53

14. Chris Buescher
+27

15. Chase Briscoe
+17

16. Ricky Stenhouse Jr
+12

— Playoff Cutline —

17. Kyle Busch
-12

18. Carson Hocevar
-21

19. Ryan Preece
-23

20. AJ Allmendinger
-23

Links

Texas Motor Speedway | NASCAR

NASCAR fans will vote one driver into the NASCAR All-Star Race

North Wilkesboro Speedway is set to host the NASCAR All-Star Race. Fans will be able to vote in their favorite driver who is not already qualified for the race

NASCAR has released the current top 10 drivers as the voting is underway.

Fans are allowed to vote up to 5 times per day. The vote will close at 11:59 p.m. ET on May 17. The race takes place on May 18.

The winner will be announced directly following the All-Star Open.

NASCAR Fan Vote: Top 10

List in alphabetical order:

AJ Allmendinger

Ty Dillon

Ty Gibbs

Shane van Gisbergen

Noah Gragson

Carson Hocevar

Erik Jones

Michael McDowell

Ryan Preece

Bubba Wallace.

Other eligible drivers who are not in the top 10

Justin Haley

Todd Gilliland

Riley Herbst

Zane Smith

Cole Custer

John Hunter Nemechek

Cody Ware

Links

North Wilkesboro Speedway | NASCAR

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Contact: Shawn Miller

Inside Line Promotions

[email protected] | (541) 510-3663

Big Game Motorsports and Gravel Sweep World of Outlaws Show at Eldora Speedway

Inside Line Promotions – ROSSBURG, Ohio (May 5, 2025) – David Gravel guided Big Game Motorsports to a sweep of a World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series race last Friday for the third time this season.

Gravel set quick time during qualifying before he won a heat race, the dash and the main event at Eldora Speedway.

“It was a great night,” he said. “We qualified really good. We heat raced well and the dash was pretty good. The track at Eldora is always a little different. I didn’t really know where to run in the feature. I felt I needed to run the top and our car was good there. I didn’t feel as good down the track.

“You just don’t know what lanes will be best. You get the jump early and aren’t able to search. You have to sense your speed and what kind of pace you have. Traffic did slow me up some, but I was able to get by most of them and get the job done.”

The win was Gravel’s series-best sixth of the season and increased his lead in the World of Outlaws championship standings to 80 points.

“It’s definitely a confidence boost,” he said of sweeping the night. “It’s always nice getting a good dash draw, which we have the last couple of times. And at Eldora we have a bunch of confidence and we’ve won a decent amount of races there.”

Saturday’s weekend finale at Eldora Speedway rained out.

Next up will be a three-race week in Central Pennsylvania with the Gettysburg Clash on Tuesday at Lincoln Speedway in Abbottstown before the HVAC Distributors Morgan Cup on Friday and Saturday at Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg.

“Mother Nature will be tough for Tuesday at Lincoln, but it’s a track we’ve been good at,” Gravel said. “We didn’t qualify too good there last year so we’ll focus on our qualifying effort, try to get in dashes and hopefully win a couple of races this week.”

Gravel has produced two World of Outlaws victories at Lincoln Speedway and nine – tied for the sixth most – at Williams Grove Speedway in his career.

QUICK RESULTS –

May 2 – Eldora Speedway near Rossburg, Ohio – Qualifying: 1; Heat race: 1 (1); Dash: 1 (2); Feature: 1 (1).

SEASON STATS –

19 races, 6 wins, 17 top fives, 19 top 10s, 19 top 15s, 19 top 20s

UP NEXT –

Tuesday at Lincoln Speedway in Abbottstown, Pa., for the Gettysburg Clash and Friday and Saturday at Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, Pa., for the HVAC Distributors Morgan Cup with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series

ILP PR