Shane van Gisbergen might’ve delivered one of the most commanding performances in recent NASCAR memory at Sonoma Raceway—but did it make for a good race? According to fans, the answer isn’t so simple. Jeff Gluck’s weekly post-race poll asked the same question it always does—“Was it a good race?”—and the results showed a divided audience.
Key Highlights
61.6% of fans said “Yes” to Sonoma being a good race; 38.4% said “No”.
Shane van Gisbergen led 97 of 110 laps en route to his third Cup win of 2025.
The win broke Jeff Gordon’s record for most laps led by a Sonoma winner.
Late-race drama, pit road altercations, and strategic battles energized the field.
Debate over SVG’s dominance vs broader on-track excitement drove fan opinion.
A Poll Divided: Fans Sound Off After the Race
While a majority (61.6%) agreed that the Toyota/Save Mart 350 was indeed a good race, nearly 4 in 10 disagreed. Many fans voiced strong opinions across social media and in Gluck’s replies—ranging from enthusiastic praise to thinly veiled frustration.
One fan fired off:
“NASCAR has the worst fan base—how do you say that’s not a good race? Tons of passing, fun battles, fight on pit road, Larson takes a swipe at SVG, Berry dumps Hocevar, the battle between Bubba and A. Dillon for the tournament. IT HAD EVERYTHING.” – a nascar fan
Others echoed that sentiment, pointing to the sheer amount of storylines:
“Great race. The ‘no’ people are just tired of SVG winning every time.” – a nascar fan
Even those wary of SVG’s dominance acknowledged the overall quality of action:
“I’d argue, other than SVG dominating, this was the best Next Gen road course race. Storylines all through, great battles all throughout. Blaney rage and a Josh Berry rampage.” – a nascar fan
Some fans even leaned into the humor:
“It was good. Only 1 rabbit casualty.” – a nascar fan
And several gave Goodyear a shoutout for finally giving road course setups a boost:
“There were several stretches where there was some peak drunk NASCAR road racing in the best way possible. Shoutout to Goodyear for helping alleviate some of the ‘NextGen is broken at RC’s’ allegations.” – a nascar fan
Was Sonoma a good race?
— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) July 14, 2025
The Race Itself: A Masterclass from SVG
Shane van Gisbergen delivered a near-perfect performance at the 2025 Toyota/Save Mart 350. Starting from the pole, the New Zealand native led 97 of the race’s 110 laps—shattering Jeff Gordon’s 2004 record for most laps led by a Sonoma winner.
While the field behind him was constantly shifting, SVG remained poised through every restart and tire strategy call. He eventually crossed the finish line 1.1 seconds ahead of Chase Briscoe, with Chase Elliott, Michael McDowell, and Christopher Bell completing the top five.
SVG’s win marked his third consecutive road/street course victory, a feat that ties Jeff Gordon’s iconic late-1990s streak. It also made him the fastest driver to reach four career Cup Series wins since Parnelli Jones in 1967—accomplishing it in just 34 starts.
Why Some Fans Still Said “No”
For many of the 38.4% who gave the race a thumbs-down, it wasn’t about the lack of action—but rather the predictability. Van Gisbergen’s road course dominance has been stunning, but that same dominance is making some races feel like foregone conclusions.
Others simply felt their favorite drivers never had a shot. Kyle Larson struggled again, while Ross Chastain and Denny Hamlin failed to make much noise. For fans craving a tighter, more suspenseful battle for the win, the race may have lacked late-race drama at the very front.
Still, even SVG’s skeptics seem to agree—what he’s doing is remarkable, if not always dramatic.
Big Picture: A Road Course Revival?
Beyond SVG, there’s a larger shift happening. Tire performance is improving. Strategy is more nuanced. And drivers like Josh Berry, Zilisch, and McDowell are consistently providing mid-pack fireworks.
One fan summed it up well:
“It was the best Sonoma race we’ve had in the Gen7 car IMO.” – a nascar fan
As more fans warm up to the evolving road course product, even a dominating figure like SVG may find himself getting more credit for the show—especially when the rest of the field puts on as much of a battle as they did Sunday.
Full Results: 2025 Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma
Shane van Gisbergen
Chase Briscoe
Chase Elliott
Michael McDowell
Christopher Bell
For the full finishing order, see our detailed results article from the 2025 Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma.
News in Brief: 2025 Sonoma Fan Poll Results
Shane van Gisbergen dominated the 2025 Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway, leading 97 of 110 laps and winning from the pole. Despite an action-packed race with late restarts, pit road incidents, and dramatic overtakes, Jeff Gluck’s post-race fan poll revealed a split verdict: 61.6% said it was a good race, while 38.4% disagreed. Fans praised the chaos and competitive battles but expressed mixed feelings about SVG’s continued road course dominance. The result ties van Gisbergen with Jeff Gordon for three straight wins from the pole on road courses and makes him the fastest to four Cup wins since 1967.
ALSO READ: 2025 Sonoma Cup Series Results: Shane van Gisbergen Ties Jeff Gordon’s Road Course Record
