Via NASCAR Media
This weekend's Carneros 200 at Sonoma Raceway just might feature the strongest field in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West in 2018. Besides the front-running teams of Bob Brucati's team and Bill McAnally's team, several Monster Energy NASCAR drivers will be racing in Saturday's race.
The NASCAR K&N Pro Series West's annual race at the Sonoma Raceway road course has been a sort of testing ground for less experienced Monstery Energy NASCAR drivers who have little experience racing at a road course. Past Cup winners include Brian Vickers (2006), Joey Logano (2011), Kyle Larson (2014) and Chase Elliott (2016).
The entry list for the Carneros 200 will feature a bevy of NASCAR Monstery Energy Cup Series drivers. Hendrick Motorsports teammates Alex Bowman and William Byron will be among those hoping to win. Two Joe Gibbs Racing drivers will also be competing as well in Erik Jones and Daniel Suarez. Veteran Cup driver Aric Almirola will also be racing Saturday.
20-year-old NASCAR Next driver Will Rodgers nearly won last year's K&N Pro Series West race at Sonoma. He finished runner-up to Kevin Harvick. Rodgers recently won at the New Jersey Motorsports Park road course in the K&N Pro Series East and has two previous road course victories.
Jim Inglebright is a veteran in the K&N Pro West series having run every Sonoma race since 2006. His last win came at Portland International Raceway in 2008. Cole Keatts is an established rally car driver. He made his K&N debut at New Jersey this past weekend. David Mayhew will also be a likely contender. The veteran driver has 10 West Series wins, including Sonoma in 2015.
Points leader Derek Thorn is the only other non-Cup driver to win at the Northern California track. He finished second in 2012 and won the 2013 event en route to the championship.
RACE FACTS
RACE CARNEROS 200
PLACE Sonoma Raceway
DATE Saturday, June 23
TIME 1:30 p.m. PT
TELEVISION
NBCSN, Thursday, June 28 – 6 p.m. ET
TRACK LAYOUT 1.990-mile road course
2017 WINNER Kevin Harvick
2017 POLE Will Rodgers
EVENT SCHEDULE
Friday — Garage opens: 9:45 a.m. PT; Final practice: 1:05-2:25 p.m.; Driver Autograph Session: 3-3:45 p.m.
Saturday — Garage opens: 8:30 a.m. PT; Group qualifying: 10:15 a.m.; Carneros 200: 1:30 p.m.
TWITTER @RaceSonoma
HASHTAG #Carneros200, #KNWest
CREW CHIEF HANDOUT: The maximum starting field is 40 cars, for each race, including provisionals.
Qualifying groups will be determined by each vehicle’s overall fastest single lap from the official practice sessions.
The first 36 cars will secure starting positions based on the qualifying session. The remaining four spots will be awarded through the provisional process.
Each group qualifying session will be five (5) minutes in duration and the fastest single lap speed of each vehicle will determine starting positions 1st through 36th. Adjustments or repairs may not be made on a vehicle after the vehicle enters the track to begin the qualifying session. Vehicles may not
return to the track or make any further qualifying laps unless directed to do so by a NASCAR Official or in the event of a caution. If a vehicle returns to pit road, the vehicle’s qualifying attempt is complete.
The CARNEROS 200 will be 64 laps (127.36 miles) to be run in three (3) segments. The five (5) minute breaks will occur at or near the conclusion of Laps 21 and 42. At the conclusion of the break, lead lap vehicles that elected to pit will line up – in the order they were running at the beginning of the break — behind the lead lap vehicles that elected not to pit in order of running.
The maximum tire allotment available for this event is as follows: Four (4) tires for practice, four (4) tires for qualifying and to begin the race, and four (4) additional tires for use during the race for a total of twelve (12) tires.
