Week 16 Preview

Sonoma Raceway 2013

It's Saturday and I am watching the Nascar Nationwide race at Race America, so whats a better time to finally get to this weeks Pocono Preview? Since this is such a late article this week I will make it short and sweet, kind of makes sense when Nascar only makes two trips to tracks with right turns.

Last year Sonoma brought a surprise winner in Clint Bowyer and in 2011 Kurt Busch notched a win, whats in common? Both are still looking for a win in 2013. It wont be easy though, in the last 11 races at Sonoma we have had 10 different winner's. The only repeat winner in that time frame is one of the guys who use to dominate this course, Jeff Gordon.

But it seems Nascar has taken more interest into running these road courses and guys have tried to become more well rounded which will make this week at Sonoma a good one, especially because anyone can get that all important win. So who will it be? Lets look at Good, Middle, and Bad Drivers at Sonoma in the last 10 races.


The Good:

• Jeff Gordon- Lets just start with this stat, 20 career races at Sonoma and 16 top 10's. That means Gordon is almost a lock this weekend. He has 7 straight appearances in the top 10 and really the only thing that stops him is bad luck finishes of 37, 37, and 33rd. His other finish outside the top 10? 11th. Best Chance Forecast: Well heck, top 10. Gordon needs to get a win here and start getting hot, like Smoke just did.
• Tony Stewart- Speaking of Smoke he is also pretty good at Sonoma. Last time around he finished runner up to Bowyer. Best Chance Forecast: Another top 10 to keep his hot streak alive.
• Clint Bowyer- He may have been a surprise to win it, but his career finish position average in 7 races at Sonoma is 9.7 (2nd to Jeff Gordon) and he has 5 top 10's. Best Chance Forecast: He has been consistent this year so another top 10 looks likely.
• Marcus Ambrose- The Aussie is known to excel on road courses and won the Pole last year, he ended up 8th. In his 5 races at Sonoma only his first start has he not finished in the top 10 (transmission problem). Best Chance Forecast: I would say we have another top 10 contender on Sunday, and needs a win to turn his season around.

The Middle:

• Ryan Newman- Well Newman isn't amazing at Sonoma, but he finds ways to finish well. His Career Average finish position is 6th of current drivers yet he has zero wins, 2 top 5's and 5 top 10's (11 races). His problem, the last four races here his best finish is 16th. Could be trending down just like his season has.

The Bad:

• Dale Earnhardt Jr- Well Jr Nation can take a break this week and not have to get all worked up, because he most likely will not fight for a win. Crazier things have happened but in his 13 starts at Sonoma not once has he finished in the top 10. All he needs to do is find a nice spot in the top 15 and call it a day til next week.
• Matt Kenseth- With his feast or famine season this isn't where Kenseth would like to be. In 13 races he just one ups Jr with one top 10 finish. He is another guy who will be happy with a top 15 to not loose too much ground. At least he has just a few wins to fall back on (Sorry Jr Nation).

Better late then never right? Well lets get ready for right turns and a bunch of TNT commercials this weekend! I may miss some of Sundays race so the review may be short and sweet as well this week but I will be checking Twitter and Nascar online to stay tuned as much as possible! Lest have a good race.