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Sprint Cup Preview: Sonoma

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 20, 2008

Road racing is the most popular form of auto racing in the world. NASCAR's top-level drivers do it only twice a year: this weekend at Sonoma, Calif., and in August at Watkins Glen, N.Y. Tribune motor sports writer Tony Fabrizio takes a look at what's topical heading into Sunday's Save Mart 350.

Will Zephyrhills' Brian Pattie get his first victory as a Sprint Cup crew chief this weekend?

He could, because his driver is former Formula One star Juan Montoya, who won last year at Sonoma with Donnie Wingo as his crew chief. Montoya didn't dominate on road courses last year, as some thought he might. But after starting 32nd at Sonoma, he showed his skill by working his way through the field, saving his tires and stretching his fuel, and he beat Kevin Harvick by 4.1 seconds. Pattie and Montoya have been together for four races and, though they have yet to finish in the top 20, they should be a force this weekend.

Who are the other drivers to watch?

Jeff Gordon has a record five victories at Sonoma. Last year he started from the back of the field because his car (and teammate Jimmie Johnson's) failed inspection, and he still finished seventh. Tony Stewart is one of the circuit's best road racers - he won at Sonoma in 2001 and 2005 - and he is due for a victory. Robby Gordon is a strong road racer and a former Sonoma winner. Both Busch brothers could be factors: Kurt because he has been strong at Sonoma, and Kyle because he is having a great year. There are several dark horses, including rookie Patrick Carpentier, a former open-wheel standout who finished second in the Busch/Nationwide Series race at Montreal last year.

The road-course races always bring out the road-course "ringers" - specialists who come in for one or two races. Who are this year's hired guns?

First, it should be pointed out that a road-course ringer hasn't won a Cup-level race in more than 30 years. The last to do so was Mark Donohue at Riverside International Raceway in 1973. But several have been competitive, including Scott Pruett, who replaces Reed Sorenson in Chip Ganassi Racing's No. 41 Dodge. Boris Said, a road-racing ace well known in NASCAR circles, will drive his No. 60 Ford. Max Papis is driving Haas CNC Racing's No. 70 Chevy, and Ron Fellows has replaced Regan Smith in Dale Earnhardt Inc.'s No. 01 Chevy.

Keeping Up With The Locals

The toughest thing about Aric Almirola's job as part-time driver of DEI's No. 8 Chevy is that he is running the races Mark Martin doesn't want to run - many of the toughest on the circuit, such as this weekend's road race.

"I'm not going to sugarcoat the degree of difficulty, it's going to be a tough race," Almirola said.

Almirola's only competitive road-course experience came in last year's Busch/Nationwide race at Montreal. He did a commendable job, finishing 11th in Joe Gibbs Racing's No. 20 car.

This will be his fourth start in a 12-race schedule. He debuted with an eighth-place finish at Bristol, then struggled with mechanical problems at Martinsville and had a flat tire at Talladega.

Zephyrhills' David Reutimann also will make his first Sprint Cup start on a road course. P.J. Jones subbed for him in last year's races at Sonoma and Watkins Glen, finishing 12th and 25th.

Reutimann tested at Sonoma in March and received coaching from Chris Cook, an experienced road racer.

Tampa's Michael Cherry, competing in NASCAR's Drive for Diversity program, is leading the Rookie of the Year points at Motor Mile Speedway in Radford, Va. He is scheduled to race Saturday night.

Tony Fabrizio

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