NASCAR is roaring back into the Bay Area this month for a three-day takeover of Sonoma Raceway, capped by the Toyota/Save Mart 350 on Sunday, June 28. The Cup Series and a full slate of support events will be turning laps on the 1.99-mile road course from Friday, June 26 through Sunday, June 28, drawing race fans from across Northern California. Drivers and teams are already rolling into town, and organizers say the weekend will feature camping, fan experiences and premium upgrades. Local commuters are being warned to brace for heavy traffic on the highways feeding the track.
According to NASCAR, the race weekend includes ARCA and O’Reilly/Pit Boss support races on June 26 and 27, followed by the Cup Series Toyota/Save Mart 350 on June 28. The posted schedule features multiple practice and qualifying sessions before Sunday’s main event. Credentials and garage access rules are detailed with the track’s official event credentials, and NASCAR reminds credentialed guests to follow all series-specific access policies.
Pre-race access and fan experiences
Sonoma Raceway is selling a limited Pre-Race Track Pass that lets ticket holders head right onto the start/finish line for driver introductions, pre-race ceremonies and the Patriots Jet Team air show, the track says. "This is one of the most exciting ways fans can experience NASCAR at Sonoma," Executive Vice President and General Manager Brian Flynn said in the announcement. The same news release and an accompanying visitor guide spell out camping options, parking plans and gate assignments so fans can sort out their arrivals and exits, including directions for Highway 121 arrivals and reserved parking choices.
Where to stay and getting there
Local tourism pages note that hotels in Sonoma and Napa tend to fill up quickly for race weekend, so booking early is recommended to avoid sold-out nights and sticker-shock rates. As Visit Marin points out, downtown Sonoma is usually the closest home base for most fans, while Napa and Marin offer alternate lodging and driving routes that can make the commute a little easier for Bay Area attendees.
Driver preview
Cup driver Ross Chastain recently gave Bay Area viewers a preview of the Sonoma weekend in a local TV segment, offering a broad look at what fans can expect from a road-course challenge. That interview aired on KTVU, which posted the video preview on June 12.
TV, timing and what to expect on race day
The Toyota/Save Mart 350 is scheduled for Sunday afternoon with a listed start time of 3:30 PM ET (12:30 PM PT) and television coverage on TNT, according to race listings. Radio coverage is set for PRN and Sirius XM so fans staying home can follow every lap in real time, per the weekend schedule.
If you are heading to the track, plan for extra travel time on Highway 121 and Highway 37, look into reserved parking or on-site camping, and keep an eye on real-time traffic apps. Check official event pages and your ticket confirmation for final gate times and any last-minute updates before you go.
