Last month, Speedway Motorsports announced a historic repavement schedule for the Sonoma Raceway. The iconic racetrack is about to undergo a full repave for the first time in 23 years and will be prepared to have a new look by the time NASCAR arrives at the California track in June 2024. The 2.52-mile road course has hosted some of the best Cup Series races in the past few seasons and promises a more competitive race in the upcoming season.

Sonoma Raceway’s official Twitter handle recently revealed a glimpse of the beautiful track in the foothills of the Southern Sonoma Mountains. Following a peek at the greenery around the track decorated by the slight mist of the hills, NASCAR fans couldn’t hold their excitement back as they demanded that a Sonoma race be organized in spring. Sonoma Raceway usually hosts a Cup Series race in June when it is dry and sunny, with little greenery.

Sonoma Raceway drops a sneak peek of its historic repave

Sonoma Raceway is among the world’s busiest race tracks due to its wide range of services. Since being taken over by Marcus Smith and Co., the raceway has explored opportunities to allow more events at the 12-turn road course along with the 0.25-mile drag strip. Sonoma’s rise to prominence arrived with a shift in NASCAR’s interest in road courses.

The last time Sonoma Raceway had a full repave was 23 years ago. Since then, the track has been used for motorsports programs and racing events for more than 300 days every year. A new racing surface promises a rejuvenated racing experience for the drivers. Having been an important destination for NASCAR’s incline towards road course racing, the renovation is good news for the fandom.

Despite that, one of the NASCAR fandom’s complaints about the raceway is the schedule. A look at a recent picture of the Sonoma Raceway has incentivized fans to demand a spring race for the track. The lush green surroundings of the track complement the racetrack’s beautifully carved and perfectly elevated curvatures. A repaved Sonoma Raceway surely looks like a picturesque destination for NASCAR fans.

NASCAR fans want a spring Cup Series race at Sonoma

In 2023, SMI announced that the repavement project was being handed to Bay Cities Paving & Grading. The Concord, California-based company began milling the track last month, and the expected completion date is around February 2024. With the racing events lined up to return to the track in the early days of the spring season, fans are disappointed NASCAR won’t be arriving to Sonoma around the same time.

“@RaceSonoma needs a spring date to highlight this beauty,” commented a fan, highlighting the same issue. While NASCAR has already announced its schedule for 2024 earlier, fans are hopeful for a change.

The surrounding hills provide an elevation to the track, adding an exciting challenge for the drivers. The Southern Sonoma hills, adding to the scenery, were pointed out by a fan on Twitter, who tweeted, “They really need this to be a spring race. Those green hills look gorgeous.”

I wish we could see a race here when it's as beautiful as this. Not when it's all dusty and hot and dry.

— Wyatt (@Just_a_buckinMI) January 2, 2024

Usually, races at Sonoma Raceway are surrounded by brown stretches of grass, which is a characteristic appearance of the track in June. NASCAR fans have expressed the desire to move on from it and witness a race in the images’ surroundings.

Slamming NASCAR for conducting Cup races at Sonoma in the scorching heat of June, a fan wrote, “It’s always in June in the heat. Do it in spring,” while another fan commented, “Green grass at Sonoma seems so weird. Always dead by the time NASCAR swings thru.”

What is the reason Sonoma never has a spring date? There has to be some reason because why would you not want to race when it looks like this

— Cory Lowe (@CoryLowe007) January 2, 2024

Considering how Sonoma Raceway has earned an important place in NASCAR’s schedule year after year, the authorities could think about a revamped schedule. After all, a spring race doesn’t just add to the fans’ excitement, but drivers as well.

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