NASCAR announced this offseason that it will standardize at-track team rosters across all three national series in 2018, providing a structure for the number of personnel working on each vehicle during the course of a race weekend.
Official team rosters for Sunday’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Sonoma (3 p.m. ET on FS1, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) have been released. Click the print icon above, or the link below.
ROSTERS: Sonoma race
RELATED: Overview of 2018 rules updates
Ever been stranded on the side of the road with a flat tire? Can you change it yourself?
How about in less than 14 seconds? Now add a vehicle that has been going 200 mph, three more tires and the pressure of playoff points on the line.
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Sound hard?
Pit crew members on any race team often face this type of enormous pressure. They can make or break a driver’s chance of winning a race off of pit road, and often may be the deciding factor of who ultimately takes the checkered flag.
And I had the opportunity to discover their challenges first-hand.
The No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing pit crew is one that has dominated this year. They have fueled, changed and adjusted Kyle Busch’s Toyota Camry to four wins so far this season. Those victories helped “Rowdy” claim a career-long accomplishment of winning at every track on the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series circuit.
I had the pleasure of spending the day with these guys and seeing exactly what goes into simply “changing a tire.” The weight of the air gun is enough to make your arms sore for hours after. Then you have to aim it at five lug nuts on the center of a wheel in a rhythm that would make a musician happy.
These athletes make it look too easy.
Between practice and extensive workouts every day during the week, they travel with the team before performing on the biggest stage every Sunday. Most of them have an athletic backgrounds. Many have even suited up for Division I football teams around the country.
I gave it my best effort, as you can see in the video above. My skills need some work, and I doubt Kyle Busch will demand me on his team anytime soon. I did, however, get rewarded with unlimited M&M’s
Trackside Live is bringing fans California vibes to Sonoma Raceway on Sunday, June 24 at 11:30 a.m. ET.
WATCH: Trackside Live | MORE: Full schedule for Sonoma | Buy your tickets
Don’t miss your chance to meet your favorite drivers including Clint Bowyer and NASCAR Next’s Hailie Deegan. Watch the video above and get excited for the first road-course race of the season! It’s going to be a good one.
Enjoy!
Editor’s note: Fantasy Fastlane will look at each race from a fantasy perspective, examining the top plays as well as several under-the-radar options and a play to avoid for NASCAR Fantasy Live. See the full analysis here.
The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series will take on the first of three road courses on the circuit as they head to Sonoma Raceway, nestled in the Wine Country of California and located just outside of San Francisco.
Each of the track’s 12 turns provides a unique challenge for drivers, especially with the return of ‘The Carousel.’ Ahead of Sunday’s Toyota/Save Mart 350 (3 p.m. ET on FS1, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio), take a lap around the 2.52-mile California road course as we break down every twist and turn.
RELATED: Wildest moments in Sonoma’s Turn 11 | Full weekend schedule
Turn 1: Once drivers take the green flag, they are faced with a sweeping uphill left-hander, beginning the climb up to the highest part of the road course.
Turn 2: Drivers are then approached with a right-hand turn up to a quick short-chute where the elevation plateaus before climbing up another hill to Turns 3 and 3a.
Turns 3 and 3a: Once they are through the short-chute, drivers head downhill a tad for a quick left-hand corner, then back up a hill for quick right-hand turn — the highest point of the road course. After taking those corners, a huge downhill run awaits them.
Turn 4: Shoot, what chute? ‘The Carousel’ makes its return, a three-turn section of the course that was last run in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in 1997. As we ride with Mark Martin below, you can see the first turn into the section is a heavy, downhill right hander.
Turn 5: Drivers will build a little speed through this quick right-hand corner. Once they’re through the apex, they will make the climb up the hill, which makes for a blind entry into Turns 6 and 6a.
Turns 6 and 6a: A blind entry into this pair of corners isn’t the only reason why it’s so treacherous. A rapid downward undulation into the sweeping left hander challenges the drivers to slow the car down enough to make the corner, but carry enough momentum to set themselves up well for the passing zone in Turn 7 — or get passed!
Turn 7: This is a great place for drivers to make a move. They can use momentum off Turn 6a to set up the pass down the straightaway, then complete it through this right-hand corner.
Turns 8 and 8a: These turns, or the “esses” are a series of quick right- and left-hand corners. Drivers build up a ton of speed through these turns to set them up for Turn 9.
Turn 9: This sweeping left-hand turn gives drivers the chance to hold it wide open and carry a huge amount of speed. Turns 9 and 10 are where drivers reach the highest speed on the road course.
Turn 10: After going through Turn 9, drivers are met with this quick right-hand corner, launching them onto the short-chute, which leads them into Turn 11.
Turn 11: Just like the entrance of Turn 4a, this is another heavy braking zone. Carrying a great amount of speed, drivers have to slow the cars down in order to take the right-hand hairpin turn. Calamity often happens here, where drivers lose control because of heavy braking, or run into the back of other cars trying to make the turn.
Turn 12: This very tight and narrow left-hander is the final corner drivers take before reaching the start/finish line.
Fifty years after Staff Sergeant Don Jenkins pulled wounded comrades to safety after several failed rescue attempts, he will be honored the weekend of the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway.
As part of the NASCAR Salutes Refreshed by Coca-Cola program, Daytona is honoring three United States Army veterans who were awarded the Medal of Honor. President Richard Nixon presented the medal to Jenkins on April 20, 1970 for his distinctive service in the Vietnam War.
MORE: Honoring Gary Littrell | Honoring Leroy Petry
Born in Quality, Kentucky, Jenkins is now 70. He was just 20 years old and a private in the U.S. Army when he fought through heavy fire in Kien Phong province while suffering shrapnel wounds himself to reach a unit that had been pinned down.
“You have buddies calling your name — ‘Don? You alive? Come get me,’ ” Jenkins recalled in an interview with “Stars and Stripes.”
After the war, Jenkins returned to Morgantown, Kentucky, and was a coal miner. He recalled that he didn’t want any attention for the Medal of Honor at the time he received it, but things changed after 9/11. He now is more active in representing Vietnam veterans and Medal of Honor recipients.
Of the 3,501 Medal of Honor recipients, 72 are living.
“Recognizing Medal of Honor recipients is one of the most important traditions we have at Daytona International Speedway,” said speedway President Chip Wile. “This recognition is rooted in our facility’s history, while also being embedded in the values all Americans hold dear. It is a true privilege to have these American heroes join us for our race weekend.”
The three veterans will take part in a luncheon, drivers meetings and pre-race ceremonies for the Coke Zero Sugar 400. | Coke Zero 400 tickets
Read Staff Sergeant Don Jenkins’ official Medal of Honor citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. S/Sgt. Jenkins (then Pfc.), Company A, distinguished himself while serving as a machine gunner on a reconnaissance mission. When his company came under heavy crossfire from an enemy complex, S/Sgt. Jenkins unhesitatingly maneuvered forward to a perilously exposed position and began placing suppressive fire on the enemy. When his own machine gun jammed, he immediately obtained a rifle and continued to fire into the enemy bunkers until his machine gun was made operative by his assistant. He exposed himself to extremely heavy fire when he repeatedly both ran and crawled across open terrain to obtain resupplies of ammunition until he had exhausted all that was available for his machine gun. Displaying tremendous presence of mind, he then armed himself with two antitank weapons and, by himself, maneuvered through the hostile fusillade to within 20 meters of an enemy bunker to destroy that position. After moving back to the friendly defensive perimeter long enough to secure yet another weapon, a grenade launcher, S/Sgt. Jenkins moved forward to a position providing no protection and resumed placing accurate fire on the enemy until his ammunition was again exhausted. During this time he was seriously wounded by shrapnel. Undaunted and displaying great courage, he moved forward 100 meters to aid a friendly element that was pinned down only a few meters from the enemy. This he did with complete disregard for his own wound and despite having been advised that several previous rescue attempts had failed at the cost of the life of one and wounding of others. Ignoring the continuing intense fire and his painful wounds, and hindered by darkness, he made three trips to the beleaguered unit, each time pulling a wounded comrade back to safety. S/Sgt. Jenkins’ extraordinary valor, dedication, and indomitable spirit inspired his fellow soldiers to repulse the determined enemy attack and ultimately to defeat the larger force. S/Sgt. Jenkins’ risk of his life reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.
President Richard Nixon awarded then-Sergeant First Class Gary Littrell the Medal of Honor on Oct. 15, 1973 for his distinctive service in the Vietnam War. Littrell will be honored again the weekend of the Coke Zero Sugar 400 on July 7th at Daytona International Speedway.
As part of the NASCAR Salutes Refreshed by Coca-Cola program, three servicemembers who received the nation’s highest military commendation will be honored at Daytona. All three men served in the United States Army.
MORE: Honoring Leroy Petry | Honoring Don Jenkins
Originally from Henderson County, Kentucky, Littrell knew at the age of 9 he wanted to serve in the United States Armed Forces, he said in interviews for the book and video series “Medal of Honor: Portraits of Valor Beyond the call of Duty.”
Littrell now is 73 and still active in visiting troops stationed around the world. He is one of 3,501 Medal of Honor recipients, 72 of whom are living.
His actions under fire in the Kontum Province of South Vietnam, Littrell also was inducted into the Ranger Hall of Fame, dedicated solely to extraordinary U.S. Army Rangers. Sergeant First Class Littrell was a Light Weapons Infantry Advisor with the 23rd Battallion, 2nd Ranger Group and under intense mortar attack from April 4 to April 8, 1970.
Littrell said he thanks God he didn’t take him during the four-day battle. “When I think about the Medal of Honor, I realize that I’m wearing this medal for the 400 and some people that died those 4 days. I’m their representative. They won this medal. I was selected to wear it for them.”
RELATED: Littrell interview as part of the “Medal of Honor” series
“Recognizing Medal of Honor recipients is one of the most important traditions we have at Daytona International Speedway,” said speedway President Chip Wile. “This recognition is rooted in our facility’s history, while also being embedded in the values all Americans hold dear. It is a true privilege to have these American heroes join us for our race weekend.” | Coke Zero 400 tickets
Read Command Sergeant Major Gary Littrell’s official Medal of Honor citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sfc. Littrell, U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, Advisory Team 21, distinguished himself while serving as a Light Weapons Infantry adviser with the 23d Battalion, 2d Ranger Group, Republic of Vietnam Army, near Dak Seang. After establishing a defensive perimeter on a hill on 4 April, the battalion was subjected to an intense enemy mortar attack which killed the Vietnamese commander, one adviser, and seriously wounded all the advisers except Sfc. Littrell. During the ensuing four days, Sfc. Littrell exhibited near superhuman endurance as he singlehandedly bolstered the besieged battalion. Repeatedly abandoning positions of relative safety, he directed artillery and air support by day and marked the unit’s location by night, despite the heavy, concentrated enemy fire. His dauntless will instilled in the men of the 23d Battalion a deep desire to resist. Assault after assault was repulsed as the battalion responded to the extraordinary leadership and personal example exhibited by Sfc. Littrell as he continuously moved to those points most seriously threatened by the enemy, redistributed ammunition, strengthened faltering defenses, cared for the wounded, and shouted encouragement to the Vietnamese in their own language. When the beleaguered battalion was finally ordered to withdraw, numerous ambushes were encountered. Sfc. Littrell repeatedly prevented widespread disorder by directing air strikes to within 50 meters of their position. Through his indomitable courage and complete disregard for his safety, he averted excessive loss of life and injury to the members of the battalion. The sustained extraordinary courage and selflessness displayed by Sfc. Littrell over an extended period of time were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit on him and the U.S. Army.
The drafting package used during the Monster Energy NASCAR All-Star Race weekend continues to be a discussion point for NASCAR competition officials, tracks, teams, manufacturers and engine builders. The conversation now, though, is centered on how to potentially implement elements of it in 2019 at the earliest.
The rules package used at the All-Star Race that included aero ducts, a higher spoiler, plates and an older splitter, will not be used in the Monster Energy Series again in 2018.
“Everyone is aligned on doing what’s best for the fans,” NASCAR Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Development Officer Steve O’Donnell told NASCAR.com on the ongoing competition discussions. “As we went through that process of discussing (the drafting package) following the All-Star Race, we all realized we have something that could work.”
“We had a lot of detailed conversations, but in the end, we all felt like the best thing to do was to put some additional effort into some potential tweaks and focus on 2019 versus a race or two this season.”
Getting the drafting package in place for additional races in 2018 would have been a Herculean undertaking, and one that could have resulted in a rushed output. Instead, NASCAR will utilize the current rules package – one that has produced competitive racing in 2018 – for the remainder of the season.
“We’re really happy with the racing we have on the track,” O’Donnell said. “We believe that the competition is closer than ever right now. Improving upon that is something that we always work to do, but that takes time. It takes a lot of collaboration in the industry.”
And as good as the racing was when the drafting package was in use, there’s the ability for it to get even better – if the implementation is done properly and not rushed.
The rules package for the All-Star Race borrowed heavily from the package the NASCAR Xfinity Series first used at Indianapolis in 2017, a race which set a record number of leaders and lead changes.
The objective was simple: Promote passing and tight competition. In that regard, the package was a success. Several statistics at the All-Star Race were at or near a six-year high, the most telling being green flag passes for the lead, which reached 38 this year compared to 2017’s zero.
“This goes back to our desire to take a look at something, which we had planned on for 2019,” O’Donnell said. “Through the cooperation of the industry, we were able to get a preview of the drafting package at the All-Star Race, and we were pleased with the results. We did a thorough debrief with the industry and discussed the possibility of pursuing additional events in 2018. Ultimately, we decided that effort was better spent focusing on a 2019 implementation.”
Competition officials currently are considering an engine package that includes the use of a tapered spacer instead of a plate.
Track type is an important consideration, too — what works at 1.5-mile Charlotte Motor Speedway may not provide similar results at a different track type. “One of the clear takeaways is that this is not something you would want to implement at every race track,” O’Donnell said. “There are certain race tracks we want to potentially target. Finding the optimal horsepower-to-downforce ratio will be a key focal point to continue to improve the race package.
“We’ll continue to focus on that and make sure what you saw at the All-Star Race can be improved upon. That’ll be the key for us.”
Ryan Newman and fellow Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers are helping to honor military spouses as part of the NASCAR Salutes Refreshed by Coca-Cola program, and he recently interviewed Stacy Bilodeau, the Armed Forces Insurance 2018 Coast Guard Military Spouse of the Year. Bilodeau his been a military spouse for 11 years, five as a United States Marine Corps spouse and six as a United States Coast Guard spouse.
On behalf of Stacy, NASCAR & Coca-Cola will donate to USO programming that supports and strengthens military spouses, like the USO Care Package Program.
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“The USO is truly amazing. When my husband was deployed to Afghanistan with the Marine Corps, he said their care packages were the most amazing. He said they were the most awesome care packages that he received except the ones I sent. He said everything inside of them was something he needed, and the stuff I sent him just took up room,” Bilodeau said with a laugh.
The USO Care Package Program harkens back to the USO’s early years, when Americans packed boxes full of little “tastes of home” to keep deployed service members connected to the people, places and things most important to them. More than 82,000 USO Care Packages were delivered in 2017.
Bilodeau said she also values the USO Centers, particularly the airport centers. .
Bilodeau loves to volunteer and says serving those who serve has always had a special place in her heart. Meeting Bilodeau and hearing about her family and the USO programs was a special experience for Newman, as well, as he moved into the role of interviewer.
“For me, it’s not just my first interview, it’s with someone who is deserving of more attention than she probably gets,” Newman said. “I’ve witnessed, I’ve seen, I’ve heard the stories of what it is to serve your country, to serve people, to provide our freedom. It takes a different person, don’t get me wrong, but at the same time I learned she’s just like me. She’s raising a family. She’s got ironically two kids that are 5 and 7 just like my wife and I. It puts things in perspective and makes you realize no matter who you are we breathe the same air and fight the same fight.”
Through the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona, Coca-Cola Racing Family drivers will honor a military spouse each week. Stay tuned as Kyle Larson, Joey Logano and Bubba Wallace each interview a military spouse to help share their respective stories.
As the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series heads to Sonoma Raceway this weekend after coming of an idle-week, the wine region of California has much more to offer fans than just racing.
The weekend will be packed with fans from near and far looking forward to the many events and things to do.
The view of the wine region is a treat within itself and gives way to a 1.99-mile, 12-turn road course that races as aggressively as a short track. Because of the unique and compact layout of the course, fans in the stands can see almost all the bumping and hitting that takes place after the green flag flies.
Sonoma Raceway has provided many unforgettable moments in racing. Two moments that stick out are Tony Stewart’s move on Denny Hamlin for the win in 2016 and Kyle Busch’s win in 2015 that pushed him into championship contention. This complicated road course has sent numerous frustrated drivers off-course and into the tire barriers in the battle for position.
The winner receives something only a Northern California track can provide – an iconic and over-sized “Champion’s Goblet” of red wine in Victory Lane.
Sonoma Raceway to Honor Heroes, Provide Fan Entertainment
Sonoma Raceway will honor first responders and local heroes as part of the “Sonoma Rising” program. Race fans have submitted nominations for Sonoma County residents who stood out during devastating fires of 2017 and the winning heroes will be recognized during pre-race ceremonies. In addition, the top 10 drivers will be introduced alongside first responders from North Bay agencies that responded during the fires.
Food, Drinks and Fun for Everyone
Race fans will not be disappointed by the large array of food they can indulge in this weekend at Sonoma Raceway.
Levy Restaurants will provide new food at the track, such as loaded fry bread nachos with Dungeness crab, pulled pork or impossible meat, and Farmstand Deli sandwiches including the Racer Banh Mi – a Wine Country Baguette with Parisian ham, brie, Dijon aioli and arugula.
That’s the just beginning of the menu on tap.
Fans 21 and over can enjoy race-themed drinks like Tito’s Texas Bloody Mary, Raceway Lemonade and American Mule. The raceway has also installed 100 feet of Humboldt Redwood stand-up bars in front of the Raceway Café, which is a cool and easy spot to sit down and enjoy your food and drinks.
Sonoma Raceway, in an effort to keep fans cool during the long, hot race weekend, has collaborated with Portacool to provide ten Portacool Cooling Stations spread throughout the raceway. Along with this, the RevZone at Turn 7 will feature more than twice the amount of shade and picnic tables as previous years. There is now a 9,000-square foot shade tent with more than 70 picnic tables for fans to enjoy the entertainment and relax in the shade.
For the fourth year in a row, Save Mart and Lucky will host the Breaking Zone in the main paddock area. This is a popular fan destination aimed specifically at social media activity. There will be a photo booth and virtual-reality ride around the track. It will also include Q&As with drivers and NASCAR personnel, as well as music to keep the party going.
There will be several DC Solar Power Stations placed around the track for fast and easy charging of phones and other electronics.
A Total Access Pass to Get Behind the Scenes
Sonoma Raceway has partnered with Friedman’s Home Improvement to host a pre-race show before the Toyota/Save Mark 350 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race on Sunday, June 24. The entertainment starts at 10 a.m. Fans looking to be involved in all the action should purchase the Total Access pass, which includes access to the NASCAR Drivers’ Meeting, Pre-Race Pass, a reserved seat in the Main Grandstand or Turn 2 Terrace and FanVision controller rental.
The Drivers’ Meeting will be held at 10 a.m. inside Sonoma Raceway’s famed Turn 11 hairpin. At 10:15 a.m., “Wild Thing” Steve Stavrakakis will amaze fans from the sky in his rare ex-Romanian Military IAR-823 aircraft. Martin Truex Jr. will do a “Chat with the Champ” at 10:25 a.m. on the pre-race stage.
The Patriots Jet Team Air Show will be at 10:45 a.m. – just one hour before the green flag drops. At 11:15 a.m., Sonoma Raceway will begin their Hometown Hero Recognition.
Legendary road racer and Northern California native Scott Pruett will pilot the Toyota Camry pace car to lead the Toyota/Save Mart 350 field.
Grand Marshal Jonny Mosley and special guests of Toyota will give the most famous words in motorsports — “Drivers, start your engines! — to begin the 110 laps of the race at Sonoma.
Catch the Action for Yourself
Tickets, parking and transportation are all still available for the Toyota/Save Mart 350 weekend, June 22-24. For more information, call 800-870-7223, visit www.sonomaraceway.com.
