The highly anticipated NASCAR Cup Series Sonoma race 2025 will take place on Sunday, July 13 in Sonoma, where Shane van Gisbergen leads the grid after a strong qualifying performance. The New Zealander, a recent Chicago Street Race winner, is looking to make history by clinching consecutive victories at one of the most challenging tracks on the circuit.
Shane van Gisbergen Secures Pole Position at Sonoma
Shane van Gisbergen, who raced to victory from pole last weekend, dominated this Saturday’s qualifying session at Sonoma, beating Chase Briscoe by a quarter of a second. Van Gisbergen’s command at the front puts Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet in a favorable spot as the event kicks off, and the spotlight now turns to whether he can add another win to his rapidly growing Cup Series legacy.
Chase Briscoe, racing for Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota as car number 19, will start alongside van Gisbergen on the front row after a competitive session. William Byron, representing Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, is set for the third starting position, followed closely by Ross Chastain of Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet and AJ Allmendinger from Kaulig Racing Chevrolet, who completes the top five.
Ty Gibbs, also representing Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, will start sixth and stands as the leading In-Season Challenge contender on Sunday. The remainder of the top ten is filled by Ryan Blaney (Team Penske Ford), Tyler Reddick (23XI Racing Toyota), Alex Bowman (Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet), and Christopher Bell (Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota).
Katherine Legge to Start at the Rear Due to Technical Problems
Katherine Legge will begin the race from the rear of the field after experiencing a brake problem during practice that prevented her from setting a qualifying time. Unlike the recent Chicago event, no cut line existed at Sonoma due to the reduced field of 37 drivers, ensuring Legge secures her place on the starting grid despite her practice setback.
Complete Starting Grid for Sonoma
Below is the official starting order for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series Sonoma race:
1. Shane van Gisbergen (Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet #88)
2. Chase Briscoe (Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota #19)
3. William Byron (Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet #24)
4. Ross Chastain (Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet #1)
5. AJ Allmendinger (Kaulig Racing Chevrolet #16)
6. Ty Gibbs (Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota #54)
7. Ryan Blaney (Team Penske Ford #12)
8. Tyler Reddick (23XI Racing Toyota #45)
9. Alex Bowman (Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet #48)
10. Christopher Bell (Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota #20)
11. Kyle Larson (Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet #5)
12. Zane Smith (Front Row Motorsports Ford #38)
13. Chase Elliott (Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet #9)
14. Chris Buescher (Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford #17)
15. Michael McDowell (Spire Motorsports Chevrolet #71)
16. Denny Hamlin (Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota #11)
17. Kyle Busch (Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet #8)
18. John Hunter Nemechek (Legacy Motor Club Toyota #42)
19. Daniel Suarez (Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet #99)
20. Ryan Preece (RFK Racing Ford #60)
21. Brad Keselowski (Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford #6)
22. Joey Logano (Team Penske Ford #22)
23. Carson Hocevar (Spire Motorsports Chevrolet #77)
24. Austin Cindric (Team Penske Ford #2)
25. Josh Berry (Wood Brothers Racing Ford #21)
26. Ty Dillon (Kaulig Racing Chevrolet #10)
27. Cole Custer (Haas Factory Team Ford #41)
28. Riley Herbst (23XI Racing Toyota #35)
29. Justin Haley (Spire Motorsports Chevrolet #7)
30. Bubba Wallace (23XI Racing Toyota #23)
31. Erik Jones (Legacy Motor Club Toyota #43)
32. Noah Gragson (Front Row Motorsports Ford #4)
33. Austin Dillon (Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet #3)
34. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (HYAK Motorsports Chevrolet #47)
35. Todd Gilliland (Front Row Motorsports Ford #34)
36. Cody Ware (Rick Ware Racing Ford #51)
37. Katherine Legge (Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet #78)
Broadcasting and How to Watch the Race Globally
Fans in the United States can watch the NASCAR Cup Series Sonoma race 2025 live on TNT Sports, with radio transmissions available through SiriusXM and PRN. Viewers in Australia will tune in on Fox Sports Australia, while Viaplay Group holds the rights in the United Kingdom. Canadian coverage is provided by TSN and RDS. For audiences in Spain, DAZN delivers live race action, and French motorsport enthusiasts can follow along with Mediawan (AB Moteurs/Automono).
Other broadcast options include More Than Sports and Sport1 for Germany, Ziggo Sport for Belgium and the Netherlands, Bandriantes in Brazil, Abu Dhabi Media for the MENA region, Mola TV in Italy and Singapore, Gaora in Japan, Huya and Bilibili in China, PCCW in Hong Kong, Network4 for Hungary, and Saran Media International in Turkey. These arrangements ensure global audiences can experience the excitement of Sonoma as it happens.
Race Length and Event Details
The event at Sonoma Raceway spans 110 laps, equating to a total race distance of 218.9 miles, or approximately 352.3 kilometers. The green flag is scheduled to wave at 3:30pm Eastern Time, with all eyes on Shane van Gisbergen and the rest of the Cup Series field as the action begins.
Looking Ahead: What’s at Stake at Sonoma?
With stars like van Gisbergen, Chase Briscoe, William Byron, Ross Chastain, and AJ Allmendinger among the front runners, the NASCAR Cup Series Sonoma race 2025 promises a blend of strategy, speed, and high drama. For van Gisbergen in particular, the event represents an opportunity to solidify his status and potentially move closer to the greatest-of-all-time conversation within the Cup Series ranks. As the green flag approaches, teams, drivers, and fans alike anticipate a fiercely contested race that could have major implications for the rest of the NASCAR calendar.
Our Reader’s Queries
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