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Road course racing is a nice changeup in the Sprint Cup schedule that features fastball after fastball. Cross-sport metaphors aside, these races give fans a chance to see drivers’ full repertoire for just over 352 kilometers (one of the only races on the schedule that is measured in kilometers). So who will be sipping wine in the winners’ circle on Sunday? Here is a look at the drivers to watch.

Kasey Kahne - Kahne surprised everyone when he claimed the pole for Sunday’s race. Teammate Boris Said has been playing the role of teacher on road courses. By Said’s own estimation, Kahne has learned his lesson. Whether that is true or not, we shall see. He has never finished higher than 14th in 8 road-course races and at Sonoma, he has never even cracked the top 20.

Jimmie Johnson - The defending Sprint Cup Champion will start the race 2nd. Last year Johnson had some rear end issues and finished 35th. Don’t expect a similar result on Sunday. However, he averages a 20th place finish at Infineon in his career. Road courses are generally unkind to NASCAR’s elite drivers.

Kyle Busch - This year’s Sprint Cup leader might be in for a long day on Sunday. Busch is starting 30th and his rubbing-is-racing mentality is not conducive to road course success. He did finish 7th last year, which is his best finish at Sonoma of his career. However, he has been more aggressive than usual this year so don’t expect a good finish for him.

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Kurt Busch - Kyle’s older brother, on the other hand, is on the short list of contenders to take home the checkered flag. He will start 3rd on Sunday and has had two top five finishes in his last 3 starts at Sonoma. This is a race that could make or break Busch’s season. He is currently 19th in the standings and on the outside looking in on the Chase for the Sprint Cup. He needs to make a statement on Sunday or the only Busch with a chance for a championship will be his brother.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. - Little E picked up a long-awaited victory last week and is looking to gain on Kyle Busch from 3rd in the standings. However, he has not finished in the top 10 in any of his starts at Sonoma in his career. With that 70-some-odd race drought over, Earnhardt might surprise some people on Sunday and turn a corner (no pun intended). Look for the 88 car to finish in the top five despite starting 15th.

Juan Pablo Montoya - Montoya’s only win of his short NASCAR career was at this very same race track last year. He still has some open-wheel racing tendencies in him which will help him at Sonoma. He was not impressive in qualifying (21st), but when it is all over on Sunday, he will be close to the front.

Marcos Ambridge - Ambridge is making his 1st Sprint Cup start in his career on Sunday. He has been the driver to watch this week by qualifying 7th and leading two of three practices. He will truly be a driver with nothing to lose and everything to gain, a very scary thing for opposing drivers.

Tony Stewart - No one in NASCAR has had more success at road courses recently than the man in the 20 car. Since 1975, Stewart has averaged about an 8th place finish at road courses. He has two wins at Sonoma, but he will have his work cut out for him if he wants to make it three victories. He qualified 39 th out of 43 drivers, but expect him to finish by guys like Kurt Busch, Earnhardt, and Gordon rather than guys like Kvapil, Simo, and Almirola.

Jeff Gordon - Speaking of the 24 car, Gordon has owned road courses. Stewart may have a better average finish, but The Rainbow Warrior (yes, I still call him that) has the wins. He will be looking for his 10th at a road course and 2nd at Sonoma. He is the odds-on favorite to be sipping that victory wine on Sunday.

Well, out of those guys, only one can be the winner. Will it be the defending champ, the rookie, the Sprint Cup leader, the pole sitter, or the man who has owned road courses? None of the above. Kurt Busch is my pick to get that checkered flag, sip on some vino, and most importantly, take a giant step towards getting back into The Chase For The Sprint Cup.

The flag drops at 5 pm on Sunday. Enjoy this one, because there are not many opportunities to see NASCAR’s finest truly be road warriors.

By Ryan Kaufman
Pro Racing Fans Guest Writer

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