Completed Sonoma Revamp Wins Over Racing Fans as Spring Highlights Ungodly ‘Lord of the Ring’s’ Shire Recreation

Back in December 2023, Sonoma Raceway dropped some big news about stepping up its game. They said that they are all about making sure fans and drivers get the top-notch racing experience they deserve. So, they let everyone know they were going to give the famous road course a facelift with a full-on repaving job, just in time for the NASCAR race weekend happening June 7-9, 2024. Fast forward to now, and they’ve got some fresh updates to share about how the makeover’s going.

Sonoma Raceway has a new update on the repavement of the road course

It’s been a minute – okay, 23 years – since Sonoma Raceway in California got a full makeover. Despite being a buzzing hub of racing action for more than 300 days each year, the track decided it was time for a major facelift, all set to dazzle fans by the June 2024 Cup race. They handed the reins over to Bay Cities Paving & Grading from Concord, California, for this big project. These folks weren’t just tasked with refreshing the road course that’s seen countless NASCAR races; they also aimed to revamp the infield drag strip, a favorite spot for NHRA face-offs.

And guess what? The makeover’s done! After 61 days of grinding, the teams from Bay Cities Paving & Grading and ABSL Construction can hang up their hard hats and throw a little party. The track’s official X page promptly let everyone know about the repaving laid down and looking slick: “Someone queue Smooth Operator 😮‍💨 The repave of Sonoma’s road course is complete and ready for racing action!” They even dropped a pic of the new, pristine track. Coming hot on the heels of the Turn 11 Club’s opening just two years ago, the shiny new surface is all about boosting the drivers’ game, making races smoother and more nail-biting than ever, and keeping Sonoma Raceway on the map as a top spot for racing fans.

The makeover at Sonoma Raceway kicked off right after the Christmas break, on December 28, with teams getting down to business by stripping away the old track surface as we rang in the new year. For two solid months, they were all hands on deck, grinding down the old asphalt, patching up any cracks, and laying down a fresh layer of durable pavement to give the track a serious upgrade.

With test runs slated for late March, everyone’s gearing up for the NASCAR debut on this slick new surface come June 2024. Kyle Busch, who’s already snagged the Toyota/Save Mart 350 twice, is pumped, predicting that drivers will be able to push the pedal to the metal non-stop. Austin Dillon, a seasoned pro in the NASCAR Cup Series, is also hyping up the fans, especially about the action expected at Turn 11, hinting at some serious tire smoke and adrenaline-pumping moments.

And it’s not just the pros who are buzzing with anticipation; fans are on the edge of their seats, eager to catch the first race on Sonoma’s revamped track.

NASCAR fans are excited to witness the new Sonoma track

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The moment Sonoma Raceway showcased its newly paved track online, fans couldn’t wait to drop their two cents. Comments ranged from folks gushing, “ain’t she GORGEOUSSSSS,” to others wishing, “Sure would be nice if NASCAR went to this place in the spring. Beautiful.”

Some fans were practically feeling the newness from their screens, saying, “We can smell the fresh asphalt from here👊” while another fan threw in a fun comparison, “Looking very “Shire” like 👏🏻👏🏻” from Lord of the Rings.

There were plenty of folks itching to see cars tearing it up on the new track, chiming in with, “Dang, why isn’t Sonoma part of the spring nascar west coast swing? This is beautiful” and “I wish cup was there in spring! The place is beautiful.”

Read More: NASCAR’s ‘West Coast Gem’ Sonoma Announces Massive Repave Plans With Promise to Retain “Seasoned Feel”

Then there were fans who were all about the greenery, asking, “Can some explain to me why we don’t race here when it’s green?,” “@JayRFrye @IndyCar please race at green Sonoma one of these years,” “Look at all of that green! It’s a shame that NASCAR waits until it’s dead and brown to race there!,” “Please consider racing this race early in the season when the grass is green. This looks amazing compared to the yellow in June…” and “Only if we raced here in the spring … @NASCAR.”

A few more fans were pretty straightforward, “For the love of god. Can we run a nascar weekend when it’s green like this!!!!!,” “Beautiful pic. Really hope someday we get a race there looking like that 🙏 ❤️ #NASCAR,” and “This just shows why we should race at this time of year. So much nicer then the dirt and tarmac we normally get.”

What do you think? Should NASCAR consider shifting the Sonoma race up in the calendar, kind of like they did with Atlanta?