CONCORD, N.C. – The off-week is over and Hendrick Motorsports haulers are California-bound.
This weekend the cars will not only be turning left, but also right as they race in the midst of wine country at Sonoma Raceway.
The 1.99-mile track is one of only two road courses on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule.
Over the years Sonoma has provided Hendrick Motorsports with many special memories and before the race begins on Sunday let’s take a look at three very memorable moments at the unique track.
June 10, 1990 – Ricky Rudd was in his first season driving for Hendrick Motorsports when he headed to Sonoma to drive the No. 5 Chevy. After posting a qualifying speed of over 90 mph, Rudd earned the pole position and started the race leading the field. When the green flag dropped he led 13 laps, but after a caution ended the race he finished third.
June 28, 1998 - Hendrick Motorsports had yet to win at Sonoma Raceway, but that changed in 1998 with Jeff Gordon. Gordon not only won his first pole at the road course, but after leading 48 of 112 laps he pulled his No. 24 Chevrolet into Victory Lane for the first time at that track. He finished the 1998 season on top with his third championship.
June 20, 2010 – In 2010 Jimmie Johnson made the trip to his home state of California and dominated the race at Sonoma. He started the event from the outside pole and led exactly half of the race. After a tough battle of road-course racing, Johnson was the first to cross the finish line and captured his first Sonoma victory. He went on to win his fifth of six championships that season.
