NASCAR Sonoma

[tommahawk]

Road racin'

Infineon Raceway is one of the premier road racing venues in the country, and one of the few on the Nextel Cup Series circuit. The facility first opened in 1968 and serves as the gateway to the beautiful and scenic Sonoma Valley, which serves as one of the top wine-producing regions in the world.

http://i.cnn.net/nascar/races/tracks/spr/images/trk_diag_199x142.gif

There's just one problem. It's too early in the year. The Dodge/Save Mart 350 belongs in the season's final 10 races. The facility is awesome, requires skill and grace of its suitors and is the most gracious of hosts. I don't know anyone in the industry who doesn't circle this weekend on the calendar. There is currently no road course race in the Chase for the Nextel Cup, and none was scheduled during the final 10 events of 2005, either. That needs to change. Road courses are demanding on drivers, teams and equipment, and merit representation in the new championship format. Every type of track on the Nextel Cup tour - short tracks, intermediates, superspeedways and road courses - should be represented in the Chase. And considering that Sears Point makes Watkins Glen look paltry, Bruton Smith gets the nod.
source (http://www.nascar.com/2004/news/opinion/smith/06/22/lastlap_road/index.html)

I think a road race should be one of the last ten races, but I wouldn't wan't it to replace Martinsville.

[padraic]

I would not be supprised if you see a complet redoing of the last ten races if they decided to keep the format that they took on this year, i know alot of drivers would not like to see a road caurse in the final ten most are not that good at roadcaurse racing but the guy makes a good piont that all forms of tracks should be in place for the final ten race's of the year. I love the fact tha richmond is the last race befor the final ten, what a race that will be and i will be there.

[bfauble83]

Nascar goes to two road racing tracks, they should not put one of them in the last ten because the series is based on oval tracks and the championship should be determined on who wins at oval tracks, not road courses.

[tommahawk]

Road racin is the roots of NASCAR to be a true champion he should need to do good on a road track. Thats why there should be a road track in the race to the end.

[tommahawk]

fantasy preview (http://www.nascar.com/2004/games/06/24/fantasy_sonoma/index.html)

Specialized skills are required to navigate the twisty tracks. Shifting, braking and variable apexes require immense concentration to hit many more marks during the event. One mistake will send a driver off the course and into the hard packed hills of Sonoma.

[tommahawk]

Starting grid (http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2004/16/data/lineup.html)

I sure would like to see Ricky Rudd do good this race.

[tommahawk]

Jeff Burton just can't buy a break

SONOMA, Calif. (AP) -- NASCAR has rejected Roush Racing's bid to sign a hard liquor company as primary sponsor for Jeff Burton's No. 99 Ford.

http://www.nascar.com/2004/news/headlines/cup/06/25/bc.car..nascar.spirits.ap/index.html