Campers turned a 50-acre lot across Highway 121 from Sonoma Raceway into a mini city during NASCAR's June visit, filling the space with RVs, tents and flags before the weekend was done.
That setup is part of what brings people back each year, and Josh Eele is among them. He made the trip for his sixth year camping at the raceway, joining fans who left the track on Friday night after the General Tire 150 and went back to the campground instead of heading home.
The appeal is simple: the raceway gives fans a place to stay close to the action, and it lets them remain until Monday after the Sunday marquee race concludes. For a weekend built around speed, the campground has become its own draw, with vehicles in the lot flying flags for Kyle Larson, Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney.
It is also a quieter place than it used to be. Off-road vehicles are no longer allowed, and the campground now runs with portable showers and bathrooms rather than the looser setup longtime attendees remember from years past. The change has made the scene more subdued, even as the lot still fills with people who treat the trip as part of the event itself.
Sonoma Raceway's annual June NASCAR visit uses the off-track camping area known as 50 Acres for a reason: the weekend lasts longer than the race. That extra day gives campers time to stretch the stay, and it turns the lot across Highway 121 into the place where the weekend really ends.
