The California hills aren’t just home to vineyards and vistas—they also host one of the most technical road courses on the NASCAR Cup Series calendar. Sonoma Raceway, with its 12-turn layout and over 160 feet of elevation change, always pushes drivers to the edge. While one race can crown a winner, it’s consistency that reveals who truly masters this circuit. Since 2022, a few drivers have quietly built reputations as Sonoma specialists. The stats don’t lie—and they might shape what’s coming next.
Key Highlights
Chris Buescher leads all Cup drivers with a 3.0 average finish at Sonoma since 2022
Michael McDowell holds a 4.0 average finish, including a runner-up result last year
Kyle Larson, the 2024 winner, carries an 8.0 average finish over the past three races
Chase Elliott boasts the best average starting position at 5.3
Ross Chastain has finished top ten in all three recent starts at the track
Chris Buescher
Chris Buescher sits atop the list with a remarkable average finish of third at Sonoma Raceway over the last three races. Though he hasn’t cracked Victory Lane at the California circuit, Buescher’s performance has been nothing short of elite. He has three consecutive top-five finishes and has led 36 laps in that span, proving he’s no fluke on road courses. His most recent result was a strong third-place effort, further establishing his consistency. Currently 11th in the 2025 Cup Series standings, Buescher is still chasing his first win of the season—but if history holds, Sonoma could be his breakthrough.
Michael McDowell
Spire Motorsports driver Michael McDowell has become a legitimate road course threat, particularly at Sonoma. With an average finish of fourth over the last three races, he’s proving his craft on twisting layouts. McDowell placed second in 2024, just behind Kyle Larson, and has racked up two top-five and three top-ten finishes in that time. His average starting spot at Sonoma sits at 6.3, underlining how his speed carries over from qualifying to race day. Despite a rough outing in Chicago, where he finished 32nd, McDowell remains a driver to watch whenever road courses are on the schedule.
Chase Elliott
Chase Elliott has long been regarded as one of NASCAR’s best road course drivers, and his recent numbers at Sonoma back that up. With an average finish of 5.7 and an average starting position of 5.3, the Hendrick Motorsports driver has been in the mix every time. He’s tallied two top-five and three top-ten finishes over the last three visits to the track. Elliott enters Sonoma ranked second in the current Cup Series standings, looking to build on a solid season despite a 16th-place run last weekend in Chicago.
Ross Chastain
Ross Chastain may not dominate headlines at Sonoma, but he’s delivered when it counts. The Trackhouse Racing driver has an average finish of 7.3 across the last three Sonoma races, backed by a top-five and three top-ten results. Chastain finished fifth in last year’s event and has maintained strong pace with an average starting spot of 10.3. He’s only led one lap in that stretch, but his consistency keeps him in the hunt. Currently eighth in the 2025 Cup standings with 490 points, Chastain’s strong form at Sonoma could boost his playoff position.
Kyle Larson: The Returning Winner
No list of Sonoma contenders is complete without Kyle Larson. The 2024 race winner and native Californian carries an average finish of eighth over the last three races. Larson has led 45 laps at the track since 2022 and earned two top-ten finishes. His average qualifying position of 7.3 means he starts up front regularly, and once he’s there, he’s hard to shake. Larson is currently third in the 2025 standings, and with another win at Sonoma, he could strengthen his championship campaign further.
News in Brief: NASCAR Drivers Own Best Average Finish Sonoma Raceway
Sonoma Raceway remains a key fixture in the Cup Series schedule, offering a unique challenge with its elevation changes and technical layout. Chris Buescher leads all drivers in average finishing position at Sonoma since 2022, with three straight top-five finishes. Michael McDowell’s consistency at the road course continues, despite setbacks in recent races elsewhere. Chase Elliott, Ross Chastain, and Kyle Larson round out the top five, each showing strong qualifying pace and race-day results. The 2025 Toyota/Save Mart 350 could be a playoff-shaping event for several of these road course standouts
ALSO READ: 43-Year-Old NASCAR Veteran Prepares for a Bold New Beginning This July
