NASCAR Cup Series to use full Sonoma Raceway layout in 2019

The full layout of Sonoma Raceway, including the carousel, is set to be utilized for the NASCAR Cup Series race at the track in the 2019 season.

As opposed to utilizing the 10-turn, 1.990-mile (3.203-kilometer) track layout that has been utilized for more than the last two decades by the NASCAR Cup Series when the Cup Series visits Sonoma Raceway in Sonoma, California in the 2019 season, the series is set to utilize the full 12-turn, 2.52-mile (4.056-kilometer) track layout of the Sonoma Raceway road course.

The Cup Series began racing at Sonoma Raceway in the 1989 season. In each of the nine races at the track from the 1989 season through the 1997 season, the full 2.52-mile layout of the track was utilized. However, since the 1997 season, it has not been.

Beginning in the 1998 season, the 1.990-mile track layout was used, although it was officially a 1.949-mile (3.137-kilometer) track layout in the 1998 and 1999 seasons and a 2.000-mile (3.219-kilometer) track layout in the 2001 season. It has been used ever since.

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The full layout of the track includes the carousel, which is a sweeping downhill corner that includes turns four, five and six.

IndyCar, which will not return to Sonoma Raceway next year but has raced at the track in each of the last 14 seasons, has raced on the track layout that includes the carousel in each of the last 10 races after racing on the 1.990-mile track layout in each of the first four.

Here is what Sonoma Raceway track president Steve Page had to say about the track’s full layout being utilized by the Cup Series in the 2019 season, according to NASCAR.

"“The Carousel is a corner where history has been made, and as we celebrate the half century of track history in 2019, we are excited to re-introduce this signature turn on the Sonoma Raceway circuit. We look forward to seeing a new generation of racers battle through this challenging corner and create moments fans will remember 50 years from now.”"

Here is what Speedway Motorsports, Inc. CEO Marcus Smith had to say about the matter, according to NASCAR.

"“Innovation and exceeding expectations is in the DNA of SMI. This is something fans and drivers have been talking about for years, and we are excited to bring it to them, particularly as part of the track’s 50th anniversary.”"

The race at Sonoma Raceway had been a 110-lap race, but it is expected to be reduced to an 85-lap race next season as a result of the fact that a longer track layout is set to be utilized.

Are you excited to see the NASCAR Cup Series race at Sonoma Raceway utilize the track’s full layout on the 2019 season? That race, the Toyota/Save Mart 350, is scheduled to take place on Sunday, June 23, 2019, so be sure not to miss it.