Ever since those stunning pictures of Sonoma Raceway’s lush green surroundings dropped a couple of years ago, fans have been buzzing. NASCAR regulars, casual viewers, and track enthusiasts alike flooded social media, practically begging the powers to schedule a race there in the spring. That fresh greenery, the misty foothills—it’s a postcard-perfect vision that feels wasted on a summer heatwave.

And now, fans have an ally from the NASCAR driver ranks. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., never one to hold back his opinions, recently jumped into the conversation with a tweet that’s only amplified the calls for change. Let’s dig into what he had to say and why this particular track is one fans are fiending for.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr.’s tweet puts the spotlight back on Sonoma

When Ricky Stenhouse Jr. tweeted, “I wished we raced here when the grass is grown in,” it wasn’t just a passing thought. It was a sentiment NASCAR fans have echoed for years. Sonoma Raceway, perched in the foothills of the Southern Sonoma Mountains, is a road-course gem. Its 2.52-mile layout, famous for its 12 turns and picturesque elevation changes, makes for thrilling races—but those summer visuals? Not so much.

This debate has been simmering for a while, but it gained steam when Sonoma Raceway’s Twitter account shared images of the track dressed in spring’s greenery. The vibrant, rolling hills and freshly repaved asphalt stirred up renewed fan excitement. “They really need this to be a spring race. Those green hills look gorgeous,” one fan tweeted, while another lamented, “Green grass at Sonoma seems so weird. Always dead by the time NASCAR swings thru.”

Sonoma’s first full repave in 23 years wrapped up in February 2024, a massive project spearheaded by Bay Cities Paving & Grading. Over the course of 61 days, workers milled the track’s old surface, fixed cracks, and laid down durable, long-lasting asphalt. The overhaul has set the stage for even more competitive racing in the coming years.

Sonoma Raceway is a crucial stop on the calendar. Under Speedway Motorsports’ management, the track has become one of the busiest in the world, hosting events more than 300 days a year. Its reputation as a fan-favorite road course is only bolstered by the possibilities the new surface offers. Yet fans—and now Stenhouse—continue to dream of seeing the track in its green glory during a spring event.

The 2024 race and what fans can look forward to in 2025

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The freshly repaved Sonoma Raceway made its grand re-entry into NASCAR’s schedule on June 9, 2024, hosting the Toyota/Save Mart 350. The race didn’t disappoint. Kyle Larson, the local hero from nearby Elk Grove, California, clinched his second career victory at Sonoma and his third win of the 2024 season. Larson’s late-race heroics, thanks to a strategic pit stop for fresh tires, sent the local fans into raptures and cemented his dominance on road courses.

Michael McDowell and Chris Buescher rounded out the podium, while Chase Elliott and Ross Chastain completed the top five. The 110-lap contest was a showcase of tire management and pit strategy, with Larson’s typically bold decisions proving decisive. The revamped asphalt played a big role in delivering a smoother and more competitive racing experience for drivers and fans alike.

Looking ahead to 2025, fans are optimistic that NASCAR might finally shake up the schedule. However given its availability, Sonoma in spring may still just be a pipe dream. The images, the drivers’ voices, and the sheer fan demand make a strong case for giving the track a seasonal shift. A spring race could inject new energy into the schedule while showing off Sonoma at its most beautiful.

The track’s updated surface will undoubtedly play a key role in 2025’s racing action. With the repave complete and the asphalt rubbered in after a whole year of various racing series visiting and a full season’s worth of feedback from drivers and teams, Sonoma Raceway is poised to deliver even more memorable moments.