Local Look: Sonoma

Event: Dodge/Save Mart 350

Local papers covering: Oakland Tribune, Sacramento Bee, San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco Examiner

Robby the man to beat at Infineon

The deal: Jack Rux of the Oakland Tribune says until someone proves differently, Robby Gordon has to be considered still the man when it comes to turning these stock cars right as well as left.

	Robby Gordon

Why we care: Until last year Jeff Gordon, a three-time winner here at Sears Point 1998-2000, had been the King of the Road in NASCAR, having won four times at Watkins Glen as well.

But with his sweep of the road courses in 2003, the "other Gordon" has ascended, and Robby thinks Jeff's frustration of failing to chase him down last year may have played into the fusillade of criticism Jeff spewed at Robby afterward.

"Jeff ruled the road courses for years, and we finally caught on," Robby said, "and we had a package that was as good as what he had or better."

For more news on Robby Gordon, click here.

Drivers love new Sonoma paving

The deal: Debbie Arrington of the Sacramento Bee says last August, the Sears Point venue completely repaved its 1.99-mile, 10-turn circuit -- the first total resurfacing since 1985.

Rusty Wallace says he's a big fan of the renovation.

ALSO  •  More from the NASCAR.com Newswire  •  Complete race coverage

"I came out here for one reason -- a complete repave," said Wallace, who has raced at Infineon 15 times. "We're running two seconds faster than last year.

"There's a lot more grip," Wallace said of the track. "I'm glad I came. We have such a short time, but we found out stuff to work on. I enjoyed it, and we've learned a lot."

Why we care: Wallace has won at Sears Point twice, when this NASCAR race was named the Banquet Frozen Foods 300 in 1990 and the Save Mart Supermarkets 300 in 1996. This year, he has a new Miller Lite Dodge especially designed to handle road courses.

For more news about Wallace, click here.

Boris the man with a plan on road courses

The deal: Scott Ostler of the San Francisco Chronicle says for a good time, call Boris Said.

	Boris Said

Want your car driven quickly and efficiently? Boris Said is your guy, regardless of the type of course or car.

Your NASCAR team needs a quick dose of road-course expertise, help with setting up your car and educating your driver? Call Boris -- the Guru of Gravel, the Rajah of the Right Turn.

Why we care: After four years of knocking around the fringes of NASCAR as a fill- in road-race specialist, a hired gun, Said will be a first-choice driver Sunday. Until now, he's been what he calls an ambulance chaser, called to drive at one of the two NASCAR road courses (Infineon and Watkins Glen) only if a regular driver gets hurt, gets fired or simply wants to avoid a dreaded road race.

But when Said won the pole last year at Infineon, and finished sixth, his stock shot up. On Sunday, in his 11th NASCAR race, he'll drive the No. 36 Centrix Financial Chevrolet.

For more NASCAR news from around the country, click here.

NASCAR rookie game for anything

The deal: John Crowley of the San Francisco Examiner says Brendan Gaughan didn't set out to be the guy who ends the age-old argument about whether racecar drivers are athletes.

	Brendan Gaughan

But the debate won't get far with the driver of the No. 77 Kodak Dodge -- and not just because this weekend's stop for the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series rates as the most physical on the 36-race schedule.

Gaughan may earn his paycheck like a big-city taxi driver -- mashing the gas in an angry pack of bright sedans -- but he's an athlete in every sense of the word. Sunday's Dodge/Save Mart 350 at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma serves as the latest example.

Why we care: Before earning a degree in business management from Georgetown University in 1997, he spent three seasons on the basketball team, playing under legendary coach John Thompson.

He was a member of two Big East champions, advanced to the Sweet 16 one year and the Elite Eight another. He earned his letter as a walk-on, backing up NBA superstar-in-training Allen Iverson, and tangling with the combative guard in practice.

"My job was to be the toughest guy on the court," Gaughan said Wednesday, over lunch at a North Beach restaurant. "I wasn't probably 20 until I thought racing might be a career."

For more news about Brendan Gaughan, click here.