NASCAR Sonoma 2025: Drivers Pick Between Giants and Dodgers During Race Weekend

By Crystal Clay

SONOMA, Calif. — As NASCAR teams rolled into wine country for the Toyota/Save Mart 350, another rivalry was heating up just 70 miles south: the Giants and Dodgers were facing off at Oracle Park in San Francisco.

Naturally, the question made its way through the Cup garage: Giants or Dodgers?

It’s Northern California, after all — there’s a right and a wrong answer. And most drivers knew exactly what to say.

AJ Allmendinger, grinning, didn’t hesitate.

“Giants! Like, we’re not in L.A., are we?” he said playfully. “You’re in the wrong place to ask that question and think people are gonna say Dodgers.”`

Kyle Busch, who grew up in Las Vegas, leaned into the moment with a touch of nostalgia.

“That’s a tough one,” Busch said. “I guess I played two years of Little League ball as a Giant, so I’d have to say the Giants.”

Ross Chastain? He went his own way.

“Rays,” he said, without missing a beat.

The Florida native stayed loyal to Tampa Bay — a move as unexpected, and as on-brand, as his recent run-in with Joey Logano on the streets of Chicago.

Ross Chastain smiling in his orange Kubota fire suit and black hat during media availability at Sonoma Raceway ahead of the 2025 Toyota/ Save Mart 350. Photo: Crystal Clay

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Then came the real grind: Sonoma’s repave.

While the baseball banter offered a fun break, the technical talk around the track’s first full resurfacing since 2001 carried real weight. The repave, completed ahead of last year’s event, changed the way teams approached race weekend.

Lap times dropped by as much as five seconds. More grip. Deeper braking. Faster exits. But also more stress on both cars and drivers.

Kyle Busch pointed to the early uncertainty.

“There’s going to be some learning in the first little bit … some sections that are kind of redone. It’s not going to be the same as what it was.”

Erik Jones, driver of the No. 43 car, noted how the surface has already evolved.

“This place was always really smooth before the repave, and now it’s funny — I think it’s a lot rougher than it ever was … There’s probably a mix more this year of tire saving, but also having a lot of compliance and drivability in your car.”

Allmendinger, a veteran of road courses, added:

“Morning to afternoon, the lap times are significantly different with the heat … The track will always keep changing.”

To address the evolving surface, Goodyear brought a thicker-gauge tire compound to better mimic traditional wear. Still, tire falloff and setup strategy remained key — especially as rubber built up from ARCA and Xfinity races earlier in the weekend.

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More than a repave

Sonoma tested adaptability, patience and physical endurance. But it also reminded fans, in the form of a lighthearted baseball question, that NASCAR drivers still carry hometown pride, playful banter and a sense of timing.

Some rivalries happen on the track. Others happen in the garage — with a grin, a shrug and just enough self-awareness to win over the crowd.