Blaney paces Sonoma Cup Series practice

Ryan Blaney’s 10th trip to Sonoma Raceway is off to a solid start.

The 2023 NASCAR Cup Series champion laid down a quick lap of 94.501 mph (75.808 seconds) to top the charts in the lone Cup practice for Sunday’s Toyota/Save Mart 350. Blaney is in search of his first win in wine country, having finished no better than third (2019) in his nine prior appearances at the track.

Following Blaney is second was defending champion Kyle Larson, with a quick speed of 94.357 mph (75.924s). Larson is a two-time Sonoma winner and 32-time winner overall in Cup Series competition, but is still searching for his first victory of 2026.

Next up were 23XI Racing teammates Tyler Reddick (94.34 mph) and Bubba Wallace (94.25 mph), who again showed speed after being positioned to lead a 1-2-3 for the team behind part-time prospect Corey Heim last week in San Diego. Reddick spoiled that chance when he blew a tire after battling Heim in the closing laps.

Defending winner Shane van Gisbergen wrapped up the top-five with a 94.219 mph lap. The defending winner was one of just two drivers from the opening group to crack the top 10, with William Byron following in 10th after a 94.058 mph lap.

Splitting the pair in positions six through nine were Ty Gibbs (94.216 mph), Ross Chastain (94.203), Chase Briscoe (94.115) and AJ Allmendinger (94.108), who is making his 500th career start this weekend.

Chris Buescher was the next-quickest Ford behind Blaney in 11th. Regular season championship contender Denny Hamlin slotted in 17th, with hopeful road course standout Connor Zilisch in 21st.

Christopher Bell wound up 23rd. The injured Oklahoman hopes to complete the full Sonoma race after exiting his No. 20 Toyota early in San Diego.

It was a difficult practice session for the recently surging Erik Jones, who found himself off-track twice in the opening group en route to a 35th-place effort, including a spin into the outside barrier of in the final turn before Sonoma’s pit entrance.

The Michigander is entering Sonoma 14th in the Cup standings after averaging a finish of 8.0 in the four oval races between Watkins Glen San Diego, but needs to survive this road course slate without significant losses to keep his playoff pursuit alive.

Allmendinger also briefly found himself off-track in the closing moments of group two’s session.