Fantasy NASCAR Scouting Report – Sonoma (2019)

NOTE: This post is a recap of how Sonoma 2019 played out.

Sonoma Top Ten Starters

1. Kyle Larson
2. William Byron
3. Joey Logano
4. Chase Elliott
5. Daniel Suarez
6. Denny Hamlin
7. Kyle Busch
8. Martin Truex Jr.
9. Ryan Blaney
10. Chris Buescher

Sonoma Full Starting Lineup

Sonoma Pre-race Notes

NASCAR used a new Sonoma track format for the first time in 2019 (Carousel element of the track added).

Erik Jones started in the rear of the field because of unapproved adjustments.

Daniel Suarez started in the rear of the field because of an engine change.

Ross Chastain started in the rear of the field because of a driver change (Kyle Weatherman qualified his car). Ross Chastain didn’t even practice.

Stage #1 Top Ten Finishers: 24,11,22,42,10,37,88,4,21,48

Stage #2 Top Ten Finishers: 11,2,24,22,17,42,19,9,18,43

Sonoma Race Stats

Sonoma 2019 Loop Data Box Score

Sonoma 2019 Total Speed Rankings

Sonoma 2019 Fastest Drivers Late In A Run

Sonoma 2019 Green Flag Speeds

Sonoma 2019 Speed Cheat Sheet

Sonoma Race Notes

NOTE: In the race replay, the running order was never shown. With only two cautions which were Stages, it’s pretty impossible to keep track of the running order. Sorry about that element missing.

William Byron who started in 2nd led the opening 21 laps. His car had great speed early in the race.

On lap #1, Kurt Busch who started 16th had contact with Clint Bowyer and his tire was starting to smoke.

Chase Elliott moved up to 2nd on lap 1, Larson was back to 3rd on the first lap.

About 3 laps in, William Byron had a healthy led over second place Chase Elliott. It was mentioned that he was about a second quicker than the #9 on that particular lap.

Jeff Gordon said Joey Logano’s car looked really good in the breaking zones early. He was running in 3rd at that time.

Running order around lap ~10: 24,9,19,22,11,42,18,12

Chase Elliott who was in 2nd around lap 13 had a fast car.

About 15 laps into the race it was mentioned that William Byron had a 5 second lead.

Chase Elliott was pretty happy with his car late in Stage #1.

Late in Stage #1, tons of drivers came to pit road. Matt DiBenedetto was the first driver mentioned and he came in with 4 laps to go in the Stage.

Brad Keselowski wasn’t happy with his car during his pit stop near the end of Stage #1.

Notable: Michael McDowell spun near the end of Stage #1. He didn’t hit anything and got going pretty quickly.

Notable: Joey Logano who finished 3rd in Stage #1 was starting to complain about electrical issues near the end of the first Stage. He turned off brake fans and some other electrical things.

Stage #1 Top Ten Finishers (Lap 20): 24,11,22,42,10,37,88,4,21,48

The drivers who didn’t pit at the end of Stage #1 were put back in the field. William Byron who won Stage #1 restarted Stage #2 in 18th.

Running order at the start of Stage #2: 9,19,12,18,14,95,2,17,1,6

Chase Elliott led the early laps in Stage #2.

Early in Stage #2 it was mentioned how Keselowski struggles to find his rhythm at Sonoma. He was said to be struggling at this point in the race.

Clint Bowyer made an unexpected pit stop because of a loose wheel early in Stage #2.

On lap 25, Martin Truex Jr. took the lead and he then led the next 13 laps. Overall he led 59 of the next 66 laps.

Aric Almirola went off the track a little bit around lap 27. He kept on going.

Paul Menard spun around lap 30.

Around lap 34, Michael McDowell was shown to have a good amount of nose damage.

Late in Stage #2 it was mentioned that Martin Truex Jr. was viewed as the best driver in the new “Carousel” section of the track and others compared themselves to him.

Stage #2 Top Ten Finishers (Lap 40): 11,2,24,22,17,42,19,9,18,43

Denny Hamlin who just won Stage #2 liked his car. He said it turned better consistently during his pit stop.