Zip Buy Now, Pay Later 250 Explained

Race Title:Zip Buy Now, Pay Later 250
Track Map:File:Infineon (Sears Point) with emphasis on NASCAR track.png
Series Long:NASCAR Xfinity Series
Venue:Sonoma Raceway
Location:Sonoma, California
Sponsor:Zip Buy Now, Pay Later
First Race:2023
Distance:157.21miles
Laps:79
Stage 1: 20
Stage 2: 25
Final stage: 34
Previous Names:DoorDash 250 (2023)
Surface:Asphalt
Length Mi:1.990
Turns:12

The Zip Buy Now, Pay Later 250 is a NASCAR Xfinity Series race that is held at the Sonoma Raceway road course in Sonoma, California. Since its first year in 2023, the race has been held in June on the same weekend as the NASCAR Cup Series race at the track, the Toyota/Save Mart 350, and the ARCA Menards Series West race at the track, the General Tire 200.

History

The race was added to the 2023 Xfinity Series schedule, replacing the Truck Series' race at Sonoma in order to give the Xfinity Series another date on the west coast in June along with the race at Portland International Raceway in order for teams to save money on fuel costs for their haulers, which travel from the team's shops in the Charlotte metropolitan area.[1] It was the first ever Xfinity Series race at Sonoma.[2] It was one of eight (an all-time high) road course races on the 2023 series schedule.[3] DoorDash, the title sponsor of the Truck Series race at Sonoma in 2022, became the title sponsor of the Xfinity Series race at Sonoma.

Stewart-Haas Racing Cup Series driver Aric Almirola won the inaugural race in a one-off attempt in the No. 28 car for RSS Racing. He earned the team's first ever win in the Xfinity Series. Kyle Larson won the pole and led the most laps but was passed by Almirola late in the race. Larson would lose a chance to compete for the win after clipping a tire barrier in the hairpin with 7 laps to go which caused him to lose steering as he was going through the turn.[4]

The 2024 race originally did not have a title sponsor. The track's website used to list the name of the race as the Sonoma 250 and they have a logo for the race with that name.[5] Later, it was announced that the app Zip would sponsor the race, and it became the Zip Buy Now, Pay Later 250.[6]

Past winners

YearDateDriverTeamManufacturerSponsorRace DistanceRace TimeAverage Speed
(mph)
ReportRef
LapsMiles (km)
2023June 1028Aric AlmirolaRSS RacingFordMichael Roberts Construction79*157.21 (253)2:03:2976.388Report[7]
2024June 897Shane van GisbergenKaulig RacingChevroletWeatherTech79*157.21 (253)2:11:0271.986Report[8]
Notes

Manufacturer wins

  1. Wins
MakeYears Won
1 Ford2023
Chevrolet2024

Notes and References

  1. Web site: NASCAR unveils 2023 schedule for its national series . NASCAR.com . NASCAR Digital Media, LLC . September 14, 2022 . November 27, 2022.
  2. Web site: Xfinity Series scheduled at Sonoma for first time ever . . September 15, 2022 . June 4, 2023.
  3. Web site: Eric . Smith . Xfinity Series to go to Sonoma in 2023 with a record 8 road courses on slate . Race Review Online . September 14, 2022 . June 4, 2023.
  4. Web site: Reid . Spencer . Aric Almirola wins inaugural Xfinity Series race at Sonoma . June 10, 2023 . February 6, 2024.
  5. Web site: Sonoma 250 . . February 6, 2024.
  6. Web site: Zip Buy Now, Pay Later 250 . 2024-04-24 . www.sonomaraceway.com . en.
  7. Web site: 2023 DoorDash 250. Racing-Reference. June 10, 2023.
  8. Web site: 2024 Zip Buy Now, Pay Later 250. Racing-Reference. June 8, 2024.