By: Ashley McCubbin

For the first time ever, the NASCAR Xfinity Series will join the NASCAR Cup Series in wine country with a race of their own at Sonoma Raceway. We have seen the second-tier division put on some of the best road course events in recent history, and should expect no different despite this being the inaugural event. If anything, it just increases the anticipation.

There will be a few drivers in the field who have experience at Sonoma Raceway, via the Cup Series.

One of those being Cole Custer, whom proved his ability at turning left and right via visiting victory lane at Portland International Raceway last weekend. He also enters the weekend with one finish outside the top-five in the last seven races (a seventh at Dover International Speedway), proving momentum on his side. The only concern you may have is knowing those Cup Series finishes were 20th and 21st.

Daniel Suarez will be making his first appearance of 2023 in NASCAR’s second-tier division with SS-Green Light Racing. hoping to find the same magic that led him to victory lane in the Cup Series at Sonoma Raceway last year for his first career victory.

AJ Allmendinger is obviously someone you need to keep an eye on, knowing he scored the victory at Circuit of the Americas in his lone series appearance thus far in 2023. If that’s not enough, six of his most recent seven series victories over the last couple years have come on road courses. Oh, and he has experience at Sonoma Raceway as well, including a pole in the Cup Series in 2015.

John Hunter Nemechek does not have that previous experience, but that should not stop you from looking towards the current points leader for a trip to victory lane – even following a 10th-place finish at Portland. Why? Just look at his career as a whole on road courses in both NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and Xfinity Series competition in knowing he always puts himself in a position to challenge for the win.

JR Motorsports has been fast on a weekly basis this year, and that has translated to the road courses with Justin Allgaier placing second at Portland, with his teammates Sam Mayer and Josh Berry right behind him. Allgaier knows what it takes to get a checkered flag, with three of his series victories coming on road courses. He also has two Cup Series starts at Sonoma Raceway, both resulting in finishes outside the top-30.

Austin Hill has been consistent when not picking up checkered flags, as evident by currently being second in points behind Nemechek. After seeing his race at COTA cut short with engine issues, he rebounded at the second road course of 2023 with a fifth at Portland. Notably, that was his fourth straight top-five as he seems to be hitting a good stretch this summer.

Chandler Smith is in the conversation on a weekly basis, thanks to his quiet consistency which places him sixth in points following a ninth at Portland Raceway.

Kyle Larson is a factor to win no matter what he is driving, and a road course does not change the theory. After all, he has scored the pole in wine country in his last five Cup Series appearances, and picked up the checkered flag in 2021. He also scored a win in the Xfinity Series earlier this year in his lone showing of 2023 thus far at Darlington Raceway.

Sheldon Creed has not scored an Xfinity Series victory yet, but he has come close – and on road courses with strong performances at Daytona International Speedway and Circuit of the Americas. He could use a win to boost his season following a seventh at Portland to place him seventh in the standings.

Sammy Smith is the rookie that shocked the world with a win at Phoenix Raceway, but proved he could road course with the best of them at Circuit of the Americas by placing fourth. He enters this weekend looking for a run to turn his year around after placing 30th at Portland.

Defending series champion Ty Gibbs make a return to the series after placing third at COTA and fifth at Charlotte Motor Speedway. He is a previous road course winner, though, having done so on three previous occasions.