The first of two true road course races this season is on tap for the NASCAR Cup Series with Sunday’s SaveMart Toyota 350. The northern California circuit, along with New York state’s Watkins Glen International later this summer, are the only natural road courses on the 36-race schedule – the “roval” layout at Charlotte is the only other track requiring drivers to turn both left and right.

Unlike the early years when road courses were introduced to the predominantly oval-centric NASCAR world, there are a number of drivers who have mastered the unique challenges of the racing style. But one stands out heading to Sonoma and not surprisingly it is Kyle Busch.

The driver who leads the series with four wins this year will be the man to beat Sunday in Sonoma. Busch is not only red hot in 2019, finishing outside the top-10 only once in the season’s 15 races, he has evolved into one of if not the best road racers at NASCAR’s top level.

Kyle Busch Has Had Success at Sonoma

After his arrival at Joe Gibbs Racing at the start of 2008, Busch promptly dominated the road-course scene, leading 130 of the 202 road-course laps run that year and capturing victories at both Sonoma and Watkins Glen.

Busch has finished no worse than fifth (twice) in the last four Sonoma races, a record that includes his stirring 2015 win when he returned to action after 11 eleven races with a severe broken leg and foot suffered in February. Busch attributed that win to determination as well as focusing and working on the nuances of road racing.

Other have led a sizable number of laps at the California road course venue including the likes of Kurt Busch (198), Martin Truex Jr. (154) and Jimmie Johnson (113) in their careers. Kyle Busch (110) is fourth among active drivers.

Adam Stevens Excellent at Adjustments

Busch and crew chief Adam Stevens have shown an uncanny ability to make adjustments to the car as the race goes on as well as implementing strategy to put the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota in position for Busch to capitalize in the late going.

Busch comes into Sonoma fresh after a Father’s Day weekend break in the NASCAR schedule. Bet him to win Sunday’s Toyota SaveMart 350 at +550 or +135 to finish 1st through 3rd at SugarHouse.com in New Jersey.