Sonoma Raceway will once again play host to NASCAR when they make their annual stop in wine country on the edge of the San Francisco Bay.

The best NASCAR had to offer will test their driving skills against each other on the twisting, 12-turn Hilly course for 110 laps some 218 miles of racing excitment.

The 2025 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship has started out as Felipe Nasr and Nick Tandy's playground after the pair guided the #7 Penske Porsche (GTP) to a win at the Acura Long Beach Grand Prix Saturday ahead of the NTT INDYCAR series race Sunday, their 3rd in as many races.

It has not mattered what kind of circuit or race distance  the  pair have had to deal with. A season opening win at the 24hrs of Daytona was followed up by a win at the 12hrs of Sebring.

It was just a 100 minute race in Long Beach so you have to make your move quickly which the 963 Porsche did with an undercut move diving into the pits early to keep better traction on the tires longer.

The move worked to perfection as pole sitters  Dries Vanthoor and  Philipp Eng driving the #24 BMW went into their pit stop in 1st and came out in 2nd finally finishing 3rd.

The Porsche Penske Motorsports Porsche drivers Mathieu Jaminet and Matt Campbell finished second (-3.058) in their No. 6 Porsche 963 for the 2nd week in a row.

Nasr, Tandy and Laurens Vanthoor  top the standings after the first three races with 760 points each. Interestingly NTT INDYCAR drivers Scott Dixon and Alex Palou sit 3rd and 4th in the GTP standings.

The IMSA WEATHERTECH SPORTSCAR CHAMPIONSHIP  is made up of 4 classes of race cars (GTP, LMP2, GTD PRO AND GTD) that all race on the same track and the same time.

The variations in speed create all kinds of mayhem on the track as the faster cars (GTP) Prototypes are constantly weaving in and out, around and past some pretty fast Proshce's, Lamborghini's and the like.

The series now takes about a month off before returning to the track May 9-11 for the Monterey SportsCar  Championship.

MONTEREY, Calif., Mar. 06, 2025—WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca will host an exhilarating weekend of racing May 9-11 that is headlined by the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. The premier sports car race with its advanced GTP race cars competing with LMP2, GTD Pro and GTO together on the track at the same time makes non-stop thrilling action. Complementing the race are three prominent support series: the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge, Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America, and the Mustang Challenge Series, now in its second year.

IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge

The IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge showcases production-based sports cars competing in two classes: Grand Sport (GS) and Touring Car (TCR). The high-performance GS class features powerful GT4-spec machines, while the TCR class showcases nimble, front-wheel-drive touring cars that excel in close-quarters combat. Renowned for its door-to-door racing, with intense battles from the green to checkered flags, the series features vehicles from manufacturers such as BMW, Aston Martin, Audi, Porsche, McLaren and Hyundai. Drivers will navigate the challenging 2.238-mile circuit of Laguna Seca, delivering fans a spectacle of skill and strategy.

Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America

The Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America series brings the thrill of Italian engineering to the track, featuring the Huracán Super Trofeo EVO2 models. Known for high-speed duels and precision driving, this one-make series offers a unique platform for both professional and amateur drivers to compete on equal footing. The Laguna Seca round promises to be a highlight, with competitors pushing the limits on this iconic circuit.

Mustang Challenge Series

Entering its second season, the Mustang Challenge Series continues to grow in popularity and makes its first appearance at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Sanctioned by IMSA and organized by Ford Performance Racing School Motorsports, the series features the Mustang Dark Horse R, a track-ready variant of Ford's iconic muscle car. The competition is divided into two classes: Dark Horse and Dark Horse Legends, the latter catering to bronze-level drivers aged 45 and above. Each event includes two 45-minute sprint races, offering fans plenty of action and showcasing the performance capabilities of the Mustang Dark Horse R.

Event Schedule Highlights

• Friday, May 9: Practice sessions for all support series, allowing teams to fine-tune their setups and drivers to familiarize themselves with the track conditions.
  
  
• Saturday, May 10: Qualifying sessions in the morning, followed by the first round of races for the Lamborghini Super Trofeo and Mustang Challenge in the afternoon.
  
  
• Sunday, May 11: Second races for the Lamborghini Super Trofeo and Mustang Challenge in the morning, leading up to the main event—the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race—in the afternoon.

Fans attending the weekend will have the opportunity to witness a diverse range of racing disciplines, from the endurance-focused Michelin Pilot Challenge to the manufacturer-specific battles in the Lamborghini and Mustang series. The combination of high-speed action and the scenic backdrop of Monterey County makes this a must-attend event for motorsport enthusiasts.

Tickets for the IMSA Race Weekend at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca are now available at WeatherTechRaceway.com. Fans are encouraged to purchase in advance to secure the best seating options and to experience the full array of racing action scheduled throughout the weekend.

NASCAR Legends Jeff Gordon, Mark Martin, Bill Elliott, Ken Schrader and Bobby Labonte Confirmed for IROC Race Group at 2025 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion

MONTEREY, Calif., Jan. 31, 2025—NASCAR legends Jeff Gordon, Mark Martin, Bill Elliott, Ken Schrader and Bobby Labonte will join Danny Sullivan and Scott Pruett to compete in the IROC race group during the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion August 13-16 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

Ray Evernham, co-owner of IROC and former crew chief for Jeff Gordon from 1993 to 1999, is eager to reunite the cars with many of their original drivers at the legendary Laguna Seca road course.

“I think this is the first time several of these drivers, including Jeff Gordon, have raced at Laguna Seca, and to do so during the renowned Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion is something I know they will enjoy,” said Evernham.

 “I’m also excited to give fans the opportunity to get up close and personal with our drivers and the incredible group of IROC cars that will be on display.”

Two drivers who may have a leg up with their extensive experience racing at Laguna Seca is McLaren Racing’s CEO Zak Brown and Friends of Laguna Seca Vice President Bruce Canepa. Brown recently acquired the 1977 Chevrolet IROC Camaro that was originally driven by Cale Yarborough, Darrell Waltrip, Alan Jones, Clint Eastwood, Gene Hackman, James Brolin and Paul Newman; while Canepa will be driving a Dodge Avenger formerly driven by Dale Earnhardt, George Follmer, Emerson Fittipaldi, Richard Petty and various other motorsports icons.

“I’m so pumped that they’re bringing back the iconic IROC series, when we used to be able to answer the question of who was the best of the best! Can’t wait to get it out on the track,” Brown announced on social media.

Four-time NASCAR Champion, Jeff Gordon, has raced nearly every circuit in his 30-year racing career and amassed 93 wins, 477 Top Ten finishes and 81 poles while racing for Hendrick Motorsports. He was named one of NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers and was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2019.

Five-time IROC Series Champion, Mark Martin’s 31-year NASCAR Cup Series history includes 40 wins, 453 Top Ten finishes and 56 poles. 

Among his many awards are the 1989 Richard Petty Driver of the Year, and an inductee in the 2015 Motorsports Hall of Fame of America and 2017 NASCAR Hall of Fame. Martin is the winningest IROC series driver of all time.

The 2000 Winston Cup Champion and 2001 IROC Series Champion Bobby Labonte will get behind the wheel to defend his title run. Inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2020, Labonte captured 21 wins during his NASCAR career.

The 1988 Winston Cup Series Champion Bill Elliott is a multi-race winner and was one of NASCAR’s most popular drivers. Over his 37-year career, he had 44 wins, 320 Top Ten finishes and 55 poles. Elliott was named one of NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers in 1988 and was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2007.

INDYCAR legend Danny Sullivan returns to his “home track” in Monterey. Sullivan won multiple races and captured the 1988 CART Championship. He also raced in Formula 1 and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. He competed and won in IROC during the 1989 season.

The versatile Scott Pruett won nine American road racing championships with 60 wins over four decades. He won the 24 Hours at Daytona a record five times while also achieving success in IndyCar, NASCAR, Trans Am, 24 Hours of Le Mans and IROC.

Ken Schrader is best known for his driving diversity, having competed in as many as 100 races annually that included championships in the USAC and Copper series. Over his 29-year NASCAR career, Schrader finished as high as fourth place in the 1994 championship.

In addition to this highly esteemed group of drivers, Al Unser Jr. will join the event to represent the Unser family as the honorary pace car driver and will be onsite for autograph sessions and other events.

The IROC race compound will be inside the paddock so fans can enjoy a walk-through history under one tent and talk to owners and drivers in an open and friendly environment. “We want to engage with fans and make their visit one to remember,” Evernham added. “There will be autograph sessions, panel discussions and special merchandise available.”

The IROC race group is one of 14 race groups to be featured at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, which is dedicated to celebrating authentic and historic race cars from the past. Entry applications are being accepted and will be thoroughly vetted for their race provenance and period-correctness to the day the car originally raced. Only the best of the best are annually accepted.

Advance tickets to the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion are on sale for guests to bear witness to more than 400 historic race cars competing, the 75th Anniversary Celebration of Formula 1® and the return of the IROC race series with many of its legendary drivers behind the wheel.

Individual and multi-day tickets, VIP hospitality packages and camping may be found online at WeatherTechRaceway.com or by calling the tickets and accommodations specialists at 831-242-8200.

MONTEREY, Calif., Oct. 17, 2024

The Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, which this year celebrated the 50th Anniversary of Historic Racing at Laguna Seca, today was named a finalist in the Motorsport Event of the Year category by the prestigious International Historic Motoring Awards, presented by Lockton. 

Finalists will gather in London for the black-tie awards gala at the Peninsula Hotel on Nov. 22 to celebrate the very best in the classic and collector car world.

The Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion previously won the award in 2022 for its celebration and kickoff to the centenary of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

“This is a monumental honor for the many participants who bring their historic cars to race, our sponsors who annually support the event, and our many volunteers, Advisory Council members and the WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca team who pour their passion into ensuring the event’s success,” commented John Narigi, president and general manager of WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. 

“It is particularly rewarding as the Rolex Reunion signaled the official transfer from the County of Monterey to Friends of Laguna Seca, a non-profit organization that is entrusted in taking this iconic circuit to a heightened new level that has never been seen before.”

Things did not seem to be going Alex Palou's way as the final race weekend of the season at the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix at The Nashville Speedway headed into the race Sunday.

Needing to finish at least 9th or better to win the title  no matter what anybody else did Alex was hit with an infraction for changing his engine and started 24th.

His main rival  for the championship, Will Power started 4th and needed a top 3 finish with Palou finishing no better tha n14th to snatch away the title.

Just 14 laps in Powers seat belt broke loose and he had to pit and fix it. That cost Will five laps and opened the door wide for Palou to win his 3rd title in 4 years and second in a row.

Colton Herta would win the season final passing Pato O'Ward with five laps left to take the checkered flag and finish 2nd in the drivers standings to Palou.

Alex would calmy drive to an 11th place finish adding a third Astor Challenge Cup to his trophy case.

"It was tough starting 24th. Its not like i can take it easy. I had to go for it" said Palou about dealing with his 9 grid penalty to start the race.

Three drivers (Scott McLaughlin, Power and O'Ward) all won more races 3 then Palou's 2 yhis year but none could match Alex's 13 top 5 finishes.