Sonoma live blog (Update 2)

UPDATE #2 Not much going on here right now at Sonoma Raceway. It's about 11:05 a.m. local time here on Drive for Safety Pole Day. The NASCAR K & N West Pro Series wrapped up their qualifying session a short time ago with Atascadero, CA native David Mayhew putting the #17 MMI Racing/Ron's Read Ends/Pour House Chevrolet on pole position for this afternoon's Carneros 200.

Sprint Cup Series regulars Austin Dillon and Trevor Bayne qualified sixth and ninth respectively.

Sprint Cup Qualifying is about to begin.

Brian C. reporting from Sonoma Raceway

06/26/15 Of note: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series regulars Trevor Bayne and Austin Dillon are pulling double-duty this weekend at Sonoma Raceway. In addition to running Sunday's Toyota/Save Mart 350, Bayne and Dillon will both be racing in tomorrow's NASCAR K & N West Pro Series Carneros 200.

Bayne, the 2011 Daytona 500 champion, is piloting the #60 AdvoCare Ford. Dillon, the 2013 NASCAR XFINITY Series champion, is behind the wheel of the #40 Chevrolet for team owner Michelle Ivie and topped the time sheets in opening practice. Bayne was tenth.

Brian C. reporting from Sonoma Raceway

06/26/15

Jeff Gordon makes his final start at Sonoma Raceway this weekend

Good morning from Sonoma Raceway. It’s just after 8 a.m. local time on a lovely 70-degree morning with a slight breeze, bright sunshine and nary a cloud in the sky. And as you know, Sonoma Raceway nestled here in the heart of the California wine country is quite picturesque.

On the drive in to the track I heard a few advertisements for the race on the radio. No question the "see locally boy Jeff Gordon run for the last time at Sonoma" is the marketing hook for the weekend. Gordon, as you will undoubtedly be reminded of multiple times this weekend, was born in Vallejo, CA about 12 miles from where I type and has won the Sonoma race 5 times.

The track is expecting its biggest crowd for the race in years, possibly in excess of 100,000 people Sunday.

Not much else to report this early. The gates opened to the public about ten minutes ago. NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team personnel are beginning their preparation for Great Clips Fast Friday, which will feature two practice sessions, the first beginning at noon local time.

The first session of the day will be Porsche GT3 Cup Trophy USA practice from 9:30-10:20 a.m. In the meantime, I'm going to grab some coffee and try to go dig up some information. Check back in with AR1 later in the day and throughout the weekend for updates.

Brian Carroccio reporting from Sonoma Raceway