2017 NASCAR Week 16: Sonoma

Toyota/Save Mart 350

Sonoma Raceway

By Richard Tix

15 down, 11 to go. 11 more races until the NASCAR Playoffs get started. This weekend is as important as any for drivers still looking to lock in a spot in the top 16. Road courses open up opportunities for a few drivers to peak into the spotlight for a bit, but will it end up with a surprise trip to Victory Lane? The odds are we won't see a crazy winner, but you never know. So, buckle up and get ready for this weekend at Sonoma. Take a look at a few things worth following this weekend.

What to watch for?

Will Truex Jr. or Larson create some separation in the points?

• Only five points separate the 42 and 78 (42 with the lead) heading into Sonoma. Both drivers have been the head of the field in 2017 and will look to keep it going. Truex Jr. has recently won here (2013) and Larson has steadily shown improvement (28th, 15th, and then 12th). The perfect storm could be coming if these two can battle for the lead late on Sunday.

The battle for 16th place in the standings

• The battle for number one isn't the only one to watch. "But if you're not first, you're last!" (pipe down in the back Ricky Bobby) As it stands right now, Joey Logano and Matt Kenseth are in a tie for the 16th spot with Bowyer just missing the cut. Even though it is for 15th and 16th (not 16th and 17th), it will be fun to watch two drivers with a past history try and stay off the bubble spot at number 16.

Can AJ Allmendinger tame Sonoma?

• Allmendinger's name is always the first one brought up when NASCAR heads to road course and for good reason as he has won at Watkins Glenn (Cup), Elkhart Lake (Xfinity), and Mid-Ohio (Xfinity). However, Sonoma hasn't been his track yet at the Cup level. AJ has managed a pole and two other front row starts in his last three races here, but the finishes haven't come as easy. With the Playoffs quickly coming up on the horizon, it is go time for the No. 47 team this weekend.

**This section is just a quick look at some of Cup drivers latest finishes. This is not a tool for fantasy purposes and NBTW only is looking at end results. No deep statistic's are involved, but rather it is just a quick way to get ready for the race and get caught up on who has finished well at each track**

The Good

• Kyle Busch- Rowdy has back to back top tens here at Sonoma including a win in 2015. He also runs really well at Watkins Glenn, so he know hows to wheel it to the left and right.
• Clint Bowyer- Eight top tens in eleven career starts at Sonoma. Bowyer also has a win here in 2012. Bowyer could really use a win as he sits 17th in points right now.
• Martin Truex Jr- Truex won here back in 2013, had a couple rough finishes, and then finished fifth last season.

The Middle

• Jimmie Johnson- When you think of JJ you don't normally think of road course racing, but he actually has fared really well here at Sonoma. In his last eight starts here he has seven top tens, three top fives, and a win (2010).

The Bad

• Ricky Stenhouse Jr- Ricky only has one top 20 in his first four career starts here at Sonoma. He also has the same amount of top 25's, not, good. 
• Denny Hamlin- Last year Hamlin finished second, but before that he had zero top 15's in his previous six races and only one top 20.
• Matt Kenseth- 17 career Sonoma starts and one top ten, Kenseth's struggles here have been well documented. His last top 15 was 2012.

About the Track: Sonoma

Track Stats

• 18 total drivers have won a Cup race at Sonoma. Only six have multiple wins (Gordon, Stewart, Busch, Ricky Rudd, Rusty Wallace, and Ernie Ervan).
• Of those six, two have more than two wins (Jeff Gordon- 5 and Tony Stewart- 3)
• Gordon also has the most top 5's (14) and top 10's (18) in a career
• Gordon has the most career poles (5) and Ricky Rudd the second most (4)
• Gordon has the best career average finish (8.3) followed by Dale Earnhardt (8.6)
• Rusty Wallace had an average start position of 6.9 over 17 career starts
• Sonoma has been won by the Pole 5 times in 28 Cup races
• The last Pole win was 2004- Jeff Gordon (11 races ago)

Track Info

• Surface- Asphalt
• Length- 1.99 miles
• Turns- 12