Let's face facts, every day people in this country drive their own style road course. The twists and turns on the back roads, or the tight corners of downtown traffic give the everyday driver an opportunity to at least feel what it's like to saw at the wheel.
For NASCAR, the stars of the Sprint Cup Series only get to experience this twice a year.
This time, it's a trip to the ever beautiful wine country of Sonoma, California. The Infineon Raceway has been a popular destination for California fans for many years. The 12 different turns provide many different opportunities for passing, and also a chance to out smart or out maneuver the competition.
This facility has seen many changes to the track that NASCAR races on over the years. No longer do they race on the inner course that would lead under the bridge, as now they have their own short chute to make up speed, and position.
Some of the top stars have gotten wins at this track, and many more are actually a surprise to be up front. There have been no surprise winners here, at least in theory, but it could happen this weekend.
Here are who the writers picked to win Sunday's Toyota/Save Mart 350:
Misan Ayuka: Tony Stewart
Stewart is NASCAR's best road racer. Smoke has the best average finish of all time in road racing in Cup with a 7.3 average finish.
He also has seven wins at road races including two at Sonoma. Stewart has just one top five this season and has yet to score a victory, but Sunday with slick condtions could be Stewart's day.
James Broomhead: Marcos Ambrose
I’ve picked Ambrose for all the road races in Fan Vs. Fan (in its past incarnation) and he’s always found some way to not quite win. So, about fifth time lucky I hope. He can win, he should have won last year, and I hope he’ll finally get his win.
Kelly Crandall: Marcos Ambrose
Come on Marcos, we (I picked him last year) were 8 laps away from winning, no one could touch you! And you had to go and shut the car off because your team thought there was going to be fuel issues.
Well, as you said on Tuesday during your media call, you have a new team, new car, new sponsor, new crew chief and new carborator, so you shouldn't have any problems. I have no doubt that he's going to come back strong this year after what happened in Sonoma last June. He also finished second at the other road course, Watkins Glen, proving that full-time NASCAR drivers have the advantage over the road course ringers.
He's one of the best in the business and it's only time before he breaks through.
Billy Fellin: Jeff Gordon
The No. 24 has been money at Infineon, winning five times there. While he is already "locked" into the Chase, I think this team is hungry for more and wants to prove that they are a legitimate title contender
Michael Hirshbein: Marcos Ambrose
No reason given.
Christopher Leone: Robby Gordon
Look, this dude is due in the NAS-karma department. They penalize him every year, he runs into horrendous luck on the road courses despite owning everybody on the speed charts, and doesn't even really have sponsorship anymore besides his own energy drink.
You don't think the little guy is due for another big win? It happened to Trevor Bayne and Regan Smith this year, there's no reason it couldn't happen to Robby.
Kara Martin: Marcos Ambrose
No reason given.
Ryan O'Hara: Marcos Ambrose
No reason given.
Dustin Parks: Jeff Gordon
Alright, I may be giving up a win this week, but the only way I'll get back into the hunt in the season is to go for wins. Although Ambrose is the obvious pick this week given what happened last year, I don't want to pull the trigger on him until possibly Watkins Glen.
Let's look at the facts, this guy at this track is simply flawless. Five wins, including three straight from 1998-2000, and his most recent victory in 2006 was utter domination. He led the first two practices, qualified on pole, led Happy Hour, led the most laps in the race and took the checkered flag.
I don't know if that will happen again, but I need wins, and I've got to go with historical statistics to make this pick.
Sal Sigala Jr: Jeff Gordon
No reason given.
Rob Tiongson: Tony Stewart
Has the month of June been the one that snaps long losing streaks? If so, then I look for Tony Stewart to be the first to turn left and right to Victory Lane at Infineon.
He won't do it merely out of luck - Smoke knows his way around this track and has won here twice. He nearly had it won in 2009 only to lose it near the end....but in 2011, he gets it done and kicks off his long hot summer streak for Team 14 fans.
Standings following Michigan:
Kelly Crandall (528) Matt Kenseth finished second (2)
Sal Sigala Jr. (515) Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished 21st (2)
Billy Fellin (500) Carl Edwards finished fifth (2)
Christopher Leone (492) Greg Biffle finished 15th (2)
James Broomhead (481) Carl Edwards finished fifth (1)
Misan Ayuka (476) Carl Edwards finished fifth (2)
Rob Tiongson (474) Jeff Gordon finished 17th (1)
Kara Martin (472) Carl Edwards finished fifth (1)
Michael Hirshbein (465) Kyle Busch finished third (2)
Ryan O'Hara (439) Jeff Gordon finished 17th (1)
Dustin Parks (434) Jeff Gordon finished 17th (0)
Final Thoughts: It almost puts one in the mind of a drill seargent because the first thought everyone has is "Left. Left. Left, right, left." That's in essence what one must do to drive this track as the right and left turns happen so sudden, and can easily be overdriven.
The picks have been the most interesting, but also the most predictable, since the beginning of the season. Will this lead to multiple wins by the writers, or will one sneak in a surprise victory?
Tune in at 3 p.m. ET on TNT to find out.
Summary of Picks:
Marcos Ambrose-5
Jeff Gordon-3
Tony Stewart-2
Robby Gordon-1
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