As the NASCAR Cup Series returns to Sonoma Raceway this weekend, many fans are looking back at last year’s Toyota/Save Mart 350 and wondering who took home the trophy.
The answer is Shane van Gisbergen.
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The Trackhouse Racing driver delivered one of the most dominant road-course performances in recent Sonoma history, leading 97 of 110 laps and winning from the pole position in the 2025 Toyota/Save Mart 350.
Van Gisbergen crossed the finish line 1.128 seconds ahead of Chase Briscoe to earn his fourth career NASCAR Cup Series victory and continue building one of the sport’s most impressive road-course resumes.
Shane van Gisbergen Dominated Sonoma Raceway in 2025
Last year’s Sonoma victory was more than just another win for van Gisbergen.
The New Zealand native controlled the race from the start, winning Stage 2 and leading a track-record 97 laps. That total surpassed Jeff Gordon’s previous Sonoma mark of 92 laps led, set in 2004.
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The victory also completed an impressive weekend for van Gisbergen. One day after finishing second in the O’Reilly Series race, he returned on Sunday and dominated the Cup Series event, becoming the first driver since Jeff Gordon in 1999 to win a Sonoma Cup race from the pole position.
Several late cautions gave the rest of the field opportunities to challenge him, but each restart ended the same way: van Gisbergen pulling away from the competition.
Briscoe finished second, while Chase Elliott used a late tire strategy to rally for third. Michael McDowell and Christopher Bell completed the top five.
Top 10 Finishers at Sonoma in 2025
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Recent Sonoma Raceway Winners
Sonoma has produced a diverse list of winners in recent years, with both road-course specialists and NASCAR veterans finding success on the Northern California circuit.
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2025: Shane van Gisbergen
That list highlights why Sonoma remains one of the most unique stops on the NASCAR schedule. Unlike many oval tracks, road-course experience often plays a significant role in determining who ends up in Victory Lane.
Can Shane van Gisbergen Repeat at Sonoma?
Van Gisbergen enters this weekend as one of the drivers many fans will be watching closely.
The Trackhouse Racing driver has quickly established himself as one of NASCAR’s premier road-course racers, with victories at Chicago and Sonoma already on his Cup Series résumé. While Sonoma Raceway presents a different challenge than NASCAR’s recent trip to San Diego, the combination of elevation changes, technical corners, and heavy braking zones still plays directly into his strengths.
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However, he will not be the only contender.
Drivers such as Tyler Reddick, Christopher Bell, Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson, Chris Buescher, and AJ Allmendinger all have strong road-course credentials and enter the weekend with legitimate hopes of contending for the win.
If last year’s race proved anything, it’s that Sonoma Raceway remains one of the best places for NASCAR’s road-course specialists to shine.
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