2015 Sonoma Raceway, Toyota/Save Mart 350

After a week off the series heads out west to the Sonoma Raceway for the running of the Toyota/Save Mart 350. This is the first of two road-course races that are on the schedule with both of them being run before the Chase starts. As of right now, I only see one “road-course professional” on the entry list, Boris Said. Keep your eye on the entry list as the week progresses to see if drivers like Juan Pablo Montoya (doubtful), Marcos Ambrose, Scott Pruett, or Ron Fellows are hired to drive for someone. These guys might be worth a shot in your league.

TOYOTA/SAVE MART 350

Jeff Gordon: I am picking Jeff to break into the win column for the first time this season and qualify himself for the Chase this weekend. Jeff has won five races at this track and has finished in the top five in fourteen of his twenty-two starts here. He also finished second in the last two races here, in the top ten in the last nine races, and has finished first or second in ten of his starts here.

Clint Bowyer: Clint has won a race at this track, finished in the top five in five of his nine starts, and the top ten in seven of those starts. This team hasn’t been the best of the oval’s this year but, they might be able to do something this weekend. It isn’t so much about speed as it is about handling at this track and I think this team will do a good job of getting the car setup right for Clint.

Kurt Busch: Kurt also has won one race at this track and he just seems to be getting better on the road-courses as his career progresses. He has won two races on oval tracks this year and would love to get back-to-back wins this weekend. As well as this team has run and with the improvements he has made on this type of track, Kurt should be a legitimate contender this weekend.

Greg Biffle: Greg is another driver who hasn’t found the speed he needs on the oval’s this year but, he can drive on a road-course. If he has a chance of making the Chase this season by winning a race, this might be one of his best shots at getting it done. He has finished in the top ten in six of his twelve starts here and will be giving it everything he has this weekend.

Carl Edwards: Carl won this race last season and has been pretty good at this track over his career with five top ten finishes in ten starts. I don’t think being on a new team will affect him too much this weekend because it is more about the driver than the car or strategy. I look for Carl to qualify well and run well during the race.

Tony Stewart: Tony has gotten a little better over the past month or so and this might be one of his better shots to pick up a win and get qualified for the Chase. He has won two races at this track and has always been good on both of the road-courses throughout his career. He also has the attitude to knock guys out of his way if he needs to make a move to get closer to the front and sometimes that is what it takes at this track.

AJ Allmendinger: AJ won the road-course race at Watkins Glen last year so, we know he can get the job done. He didn’t win that race without a lot of great competition pushing him the whole race and he still hung on to grab the checkered flag. I think this team is a little disappointed with the way they have run so far this season but, I think they are looking forward to racing this weekend.

Jimmie Johnson: Jimmie has one win at this track and has finished in the top ten in his last six starts here. He has also finished in the top ten in eight of his thirteen starts at this track and likes to run these races because they remind him a little of the racing he did early in his career on off-road courses. They have nothing to lose and will take all of the chances they think they have to just to win more races before the Chase starts.

Kasey Kahne: Kasey has also won one race at this track and has gotten better on this type of track during his career. He has finished in the top ten in four of his last six starts at Sonoma. He will do anything to pick up win before the Chase starts.

Kevin Harvick: Kevin always seems to have a car capable of winning these races but, something always seems to happen to him either on the track or in the pits. He might have a mechanical problem, run out of gas, or get caught up in an accident on the track that pushes him out of contention. However, with the way he has run every weekend for the past two seasons, you can never count this team out of any race.

YAHOO! FANTASY NASCAR PICKS FOR SONOMA RACEWAY

Yahoo Driver Group A

• Jeff Gordon
• Jimmie Johnson

Yahoo Driver Group B

• Clint Bowyer
• Greg Biffle
• AJ Allmendinger
• Tony Stewart

Yahoo Driver Group C

• Boris Said
• David Gilliland

MY TOP-5 OVERALL AT INSERT TRACK NAME

1. Jeff Gordon
2. Jimmie Johnson
3. Clint Bowyer
4. AJ Allmendinger
5. Greg Biffle

Dark Horse: AJ Allmendinger

Stay Away From: Kyle Busch