Five to Watch: Sonoma

SONOMA, Calif. -- The Monster Energy Series readies for its first road-course race of the season at Sonoma Raceway (Sunday, 3 p.m., FS1). Kevin Harvick is the reigning race winner at the Wine Country track, but will have stiff competition as he attempts a repeat win. Check out five storylines to watch heading into Sunday's event.

QUALIFYING WOES: After showing initial speed, opening practice leader Clint Bowyer and final practice winner Kurt Busch struggled in Saturday’s two-round qualifying session at Sonoma Raceway. Bowyer will start 19th, while Busch’s No. 41 Ford will roll off the grid 23rd. Denny Hamlin, a favorite heading into the weekend with his short-track prowess that lends itself to Sonoma’s curves, will also start mid-pack in 21st. “Definitely disappointed with our effort, should be a lot faster than that,” Hamlin said. “Our car is a lot better in race trim. I felt like even in qualifying and race trim yesterday we were really fast. … I felt like I blew Turn 4 the first time I tried to run, then I didn't come in and cool off. We didn't have time so I just waited until there was another gap and tried to make another lap, which was a half second faster. By that time, the tires were all blown up and the engine is hot, so we'll have to come from 21st. As good as our car was (Friday) it shouldn't be a problem.”

CALIFORNIA CALLING: Eight drivers in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series field at Sonoma hail from the state of California. Among those, Jimmie Johnson and Kevin Harvick are the only Golden State natives who have celebrated in Sonoma’s Victory Lane, but three Californians (including Johnson and Harvick, along with AJ Allmendinger) will start Sunday’s race in the top 10. Johnson, who is looking to snap a 38-race winless streak, would welcome a victory in his home state. “It’s funny to say that Sonoma would be that place for us,” Johnson told NASCAR.com prior to qualifying on Friday. “Anything can happen at a road-course race – it’s a lot like a plate track. There was a period in time when road-course ringers would come and dominate but that’s come and passed. … If we can start in the top 10, I know that would really open up the race for us and I know come race time, I’ll be a threat for the win.”

ATOP THE PACK ... FOR NOW: Kyle Larson’s No. 42 team may be starting P1, but based on recent track history, it may not finish Sunday’s race there. In five of the last 10 events at Sonoma, pole-sitters have finished 16th or worse, with 2017 pole-sitter Larson taking the checkered flag 25th in last year’s race. Three drivers have won the Sonoma race from the pole and five-time Sonoma winner Jeff Gordon was the last to do so, winning from the top spot in 1998, 1999 and 2004.

BOWTIES UP FRONT: While several frontrunners struggled in qualifying, Chevrolets seemed to make a comeback during the two-round session; six of the top eight starters don the bowtie on the front of their cars. Chip Ganassi Racing teammates Kyle Larson and Jamie McMurray will start first and fourth, respectively, while Hendrick Motorsports’ Chase Elliott (third), Jimmie Johnson (seventh) and rookie William Byron (eighth) showed speed. Road-course ace AJ Allmendinger placed his No. 47 Chevy in fifth. A Chevrolet hasn’t reached Victory Lane in the Monster Energy Series since Austin Dillon’s season-opening win at Daytona in February – maybe Sunday will change that. “Being in the first three rows is important here,” Allmendinger said. 'I think we are more competitive than we were last year here, so I think we are in for a decent day tomorrow.”

DOUBLE DUTY: The K&N Pro Series West field was stocked with Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series regulars in Saturday’s afternoon race at Sonoma Raceway. The action-packed event saw Aric Almirola, Daniel Suarez, Erik Jones and William Byron battling up front at various points with NASCAR Next's Will Rodgers prevailing for the win. Alex Bowman also partook in the event, but was sidelined early. The extra seat time could prove beneficial – it seemed to last season, as Kevin Harvick won the preceding K&N Pro Series race before heading to Victory Lane the next day in the Monster Energy Series at Sonoma.