Top 5 Picks To Win Sonoma In 2015
Most drivers have a love hate relationship with Road Course races in the Sprint Cup Series, while some drivers look at this race as an opportunity to pull out a lucky win before the Chase begins, others drivers just shake their head and pray that they make it out with a decent finish.
5. A.J. Allmendinger
You can't count out The Dinger at a place like Sonoma, especially considering he led 35 laps in last year's race before a bad accident ended his day tragically early. Not only that, he also is now a part of Roush Racing, a team that has won at Sonoma with Carl Edwards, and has had some great recent finishes with Gregg Biffle. Allmendinger might be a long shot to win on Sunday, but his road course expertise and his win at Watkins Glen last season are definitely two pluses in his favor.!
4. Jamie McMurray
It's been awhile since we've heard his name in victory lane, but Sonoma could change all that for the former Daytona 500 Champion. Not only has McMurray captured a top five in the last two races at Sonoma, he also has a pole and has led 11 circuits around the road course as well. McMurray has a way of coming up when it counts and will no doubt do the same on Sunday at Sonoma
3. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
You must think I'm crazy, right? Why in the world would I put Dale Earnhardt Jr on this list? The guy has never won at Sonoma, never led even led a lap, and rarely has a decent finish at the track either! With that being said, Earnhardt has shown a big of turnaround in his road course program, capturing one top five finish and having an average finish of seventh or better in his last two outings at the track. Earnhardt might not need a win like other drivers do, but boy would it do wonders for his confidence to get a road course win!
2. Danica Patrick
Another crazy pick, right? Not really. Patrick has led laps at several road courses in the Xfinity Series and she came close to winning a few times as well. Looking at her Sprint Cup experience at road course, she has an average finish of 23.50 and only has one top 20 finish at the track. While many might think these stats spell doom and gloom for Patrick as a contender on Sunday, she faired significantly better in her second outing at Sonoma then in her first outing.
1. Kasey Kahne
Lets cut to the chase here. Kahne needs a win and what better place to get one then the road course known as Sonoma. Kahne is a previous winner at Sonoma and even has an average finish of 6th in his two outings at the track. If Kahne can stay out of trouble and keep all four wheels on the track come Sunday, he has a good chance of capturing his first win of the season and making the Chase.
Brian Thornsburg on 6/26/2015
