Sonoma Raceway, Motorsports racing track in Sonoma, United States
The Sonoma Raceway is a motorsport racing track in Sonoma, California, that stretches 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) across hilly terrain. The circuit winds through twelve turns, with the landscape rising and falling almost 50 meters (160 feet) between its highest and lowest points.
Robert Marshall Jr. and Jim Coleman laid the foundation for the facility in 1968 on a property covering roughly 290 hectares (720 acres). The first races took place in December that year after both men discovered the land during a hunting trip.
NASCAR and IndyCar races draw American motorsport fans, while on other weekends local clubs use the circuit for their own training sessions. The grounds transform into a gathering point for camping enthusiasts who park their RVs between the hills during major events.
The track lies roughly 90 kilometers (57 miles) north of San Francisco and offers space for tens of thousands of spectators. Visitors attending major races should arrive early, as the grounds become much busier and parking can be limited.
A special track segment called the Chute was designed specifically for certain racing series and changes the circuit layout depending on the event. This adjustment allows the course to adapt to different vehicle types and racing formats.
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