#SrigleyStats Weekend Recap: Sonoma Raceway
Looking back at a weekend in Wine Country, and highlighting this weekend's #SrigleyStats Spotlight Driver from Sonoma, Michael McDowell.
Following a doubleheader weekend at Sonoma Raceway - tripleheader, if you include ARCA - the NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series, will return to North Carolina for the only all-around off-week of the year for NASCAR’s National Series.
Saturday saw the NASCAR Xfinity Series tackle Sonoma Raceway for the first time ever and provided fans with an interesting finish, as NASCAR Cup Series driver Aric Almirola held off Kyle Larson to score the victory, giving RSS Racing their first win.
On Sunday, Martin Truex, Jr. was the driver to beat, leading a race-high 51 laps, en route to his second win of the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season. While that race featured some late-race strategy, the No. 19 was the class of the field, without a doubt.
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NASCAR Cup Series - Toyota / Save Mart 350 at Sonoma - Top-10:
#19 - Martin Truex, Jr. - Joe Gibbs Racing
#8 - Kyle Busch - Richard Childress Racing
#22 - Joey Logano - Team Penske
#17 - Chris Buescher - RFK Racing
#9 - Chase Elliott - Hendrick Motorsports
#16 - AJ Allmendinger - Kaulig Racing
#34 - Michael McDowell - Front Row Motorsports
#5 - Kyle Larson - Hendrick Motorsports
#20 - Christopher Bell - Joe Gibbs Racing
#1 - Ross Chastain - Trackhouse Racing
NASCAR Xfinity Series - DoorDash 250 at Sonoma - Top-10:
#28 - Aric Almirola - RSS Racing
#10 - AJ Allmendinger - Kaulig Racing
#17 - Kyle Larson - Hendrick Motorsports
#19 - Ty Gibbs - Joe Gibbs Racing
#48 - Parker Kligerman - Big Machine Racing
#00 - Cole Custer - Stewart-Haas Racing
#7 - Justin Allgaier - JR Motorsports
#21 - Austin Hill - Richard Childress Racing
#18 - Sammy Smith - Joe Gibbs Racing
#1 - Sam Mayer - JR Motorsports
#SrigleyStats Spotlight Driver - Sonoma: Michael McDowell
Michael McDowell and Front Row Motorsports are looking to make a return to the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs in 2023 - after making their maiden appearance together in 2021, after winning the Daytona 500.
However, in a field that continues to be extremely competitive, the No. 34 Ford Mustang is considered to be an underdog, when it comes to getting into the post-season, a title in which most associate with needing a surprise win.
Sunday at Sonoma, McDowell wasn’t considered a perennial underdog, though, as his Love’s Travel Stops entry was one of the fastest cars in the 36-car field for the event, running consistently inside the top-five to seven positions.
While it was evident that Martin Truex, Jr. was the class of the field on Sunday, McDowell was one of the drivers within striking distance, should the No. 19 Toyota Camry TRD have any on-track issues or get stuck in traffic on a late-race restart.
Poised to score his first top-five result of the year, McDowell came down pit road for the final time with 15 laps remaining on Sunday, when the right-front tire changer had to quickly reach for a backup lugnut during the pit stop, which catapulted him outside the top-10.
In the closing run of the race, McDowell was able to make up some spots on track, getting back to seventh place in the final running order when the checkered flag fell at Sonoma Raceway.
“Here’s the deal. We ran good all weekend. We had a top five, top three car. I think we legitimately had the pace to run with the 19 there,” McDowell said after the race. “We were starting to run him back down on that long run and that last pit stop hurt us. It is what it is. I’m proud of everybody at Front Row [Motorsports]. They brought a really fast car and had a shot at it. We almost executed all day, it’s just that last stop. We came off pit road 12th or 13th and thankfully we were able to get back up to seventh and get a top 10, but I felt like we had a car that could contend today, so proud of the effort. Thanks to Love’s Travel Stops and all of our partners. We needed the win and we just didn’t do it.”
Heading into the final 10 races of the regular season, McDowell jumps to 19th in NASCAR Cup Series point standings, only 14 points outside the post-season cutline, which is currently held by Alex Bowman.
The bright side, though, is that McDowell and Front Row Motorsports clearly have fantastic speed on the road courses, meaning that with three of them coming before the post-season, the No. 34 Ford Mustang still has a legitimate shot to win.
The Chicago Street Course, Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s Road Course, and Watkins Glen International will all be pivotal races for McDowell, as he attempts to make his second berth in the post-season.
Saturday’s victory by Aric Almirola in the NASCAR Xfinity Series proved to be a monumental one for both the Stewart-Haas Racing driver, as well as RSS Racing, who scored their first victory in NASCAR’s National Series.
Before Saturday, RSS Racing had never finished higher than ninth on a road course in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Similarly, Almirola had recorded a best finish of fifth on a road course in NASCAR’s National Series.