The Xfinity Series heads to Sonoma Raceway this weekend for the third Road Course outing of the 2024 season, with Kiwi star Shane van Gisbergen eyeing further success following a breakthrough win in Portland on Sunday.
Van Gisbergen’s #97 Chevrolet will run with its familiar WeatherTech livery for a 79-lap race on the 1.99-mile (3.20km), 12-turn circuit.
“I’m really excited to get to California and back in our WeatherTech Chevrolet,” said van Gisbergen in a release shared by Kaulig Racing.
“We had a great weekend out in Portland, and I’m looking forward to seeing what we can do on Saturday in Sonoma.
“I have some things I need to clean up on my end, but I think we have another great shot for a win this weekend.
“I appreciate everyone at Kaulig, Trackhouse, Chevrolet and WeatherTeach for giving me this opportunity. I’m having a blast!”
All three Kaulig Racing drivers finished in the top ten in the race at Portland, with AJ Allmendinger recovering from a qualifying crash to finish fourth, while Josh Williams claimed a season-best seventh.
“Sonoma is super fun,” said Williams, who is making his 200th Xfinity Series start in California. “The scenery is great out there. I’m looking forward to the repave, and I think the track is going to be super fast and slick. I think we can get some good notes from SVG and AJ and get a solid run going.”
Allmendinger, himself a Road Course specialist, is from California and very familiar with the circuit, having finished second there in 2023. Since then, however, Sonoma Raceway has undergone a full-scale repave for the first time in over 23 years.
“I always look forward to racing at my home racetrack,” he said. “It’s going to be a new challenge with the repave, but I’m excited to run both the Cup and Xfinity car this weekend.”
The Xfinity Series will hit the track for the first time for a practice session at 8.05 am on Saturday (NZST) and return at 7.30 am on Sunday for qualifying.
The 251-mile race begins at midday on Sunday.
Supercars stars Cam Waters and Will Brown will also be in action at Sonoma Raceway but in the Cup Series. Waters is driving an RFK Racing Mustang, and Brown is driving a Richard Childress Camaro.
Van Gisbergen will remain at the Californian venue for Monday’s Cup Series race, which begins at 7.30 am NZST, to act as Brown’s secondary spotter.
ThreeNow will have live coverage of both races.
