Infineon Raceway

Address:29305 Arnold Dr.
Sonoma, California

The Sonoma Valley is famous for its wines, but Infineon Raceway at Sears Point makes it famous for its whines as well; the whines of powerful racing engines. Located 30 minutes north of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Infineon Raceway serves as the gateway to the beautiful Sonoma Wine Country. Infineon Raceway is North America's most complete and versatile motor sports complex. The track hosts several nationally televised events, including the NASCAR Nextel Cup, National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) drag racing, the American Le Mans Series, and the American Motorcycle Association (AMA) Superbike Tour. All of these combine to make Infineon Raceway one of America's busiest racing facilities. Infineon Raceway has a permanent seating capacity of 47,000. This includes the grand stands and terraces around the track. During major races, hospitality tents and other stages are erected around the track, bringing its total capacity up to 102,000 seats.

Infineon Raceway is one of the twistiest tracks on the NASCAR circuit. It features 12 turns, including those oh-so-rare right-hand turns that other tracks don't have. The course is a complex series of twists and turns that go up and down the hills. While oval racing provides the best view for the greatest number of racing fans, purists prefer a course that tests a driver's every skill, and Infineon Raceway is just such a track. The standard road course at Infineon Raceway is a 2.52 mile, 12 turn course. However, the track was modified in 1998, adding the Chute, which bypasses turns 5 and 6, and shortens the course to 1.95 miles. The Chute was only used for NASCAR events such as the Toyota/Save Mart 350, and was criticized by many drivers, who prefer the full layout. In 2001, it was replaced with the 70 degree turn 4A, bringing the track to its current dimensions. Most races, including the Grand American Road Racing Association's Grand Prix of Sonoma, use the full course, while American Motorcyclist Association and Indy Racing League events use a modified 2.22 mile, 12 turn course.

Infineon Raceway opened in 1968 under the name Sears Point Raceway, after Robert Marshall Jr. and Jim Coleman came up with the idea to build a race course, while on a hunting trip. With the closure of Riverside International Raceway in Riverside, California, after the 1988 season, NASCAR, wanting a west coast road course event to replace it, chose the Sears Point facility. Jeff Gordon, who was born not too far away from the track in Vallejo, California, is a four-time Cup Series race-winner at Infineon Raceway. Rusty Wallace, Tony Stewart, and the legendary Dale Earnhardt also have won NASCAR Cup events at Infineon. Improvements were made steadily over Infineon Raceway's history, but it wasn't until after Bruton Smith and his Speedway Motorsports Inc. took over operating rights of the track in 1996, purchasing 800 acres of land and the track's facilities, that it moved into its truly modern era. In 2002, Sears Point Raceway was renamed after its corporate sponsor, Infineon.

Infineon Raceway is located right near the intersection of Highways 37 and 121, towards Sonoma. Parking at Infineon Raceway is free, and the attendants will direct you to a parking space. Some parking is far from the track, but there are free shuttles that deliver race goers to the track entrance.