Three Cup drivers will reach career start milestones when the series visits Sonoma Raceway this weekend.
Ryan Newman leads the way with his 600th Cup start.
The Richard Childress Racing driver will become the 28th driver to reach the mark. His first start came on Nov. 5, 2000 at ISM Raceway with Team Penske.
Newman is one of four remaining active Cup drivers, including Matt Kenseth, Kurt Busch and Derrike Cope, who competed against Dale Earnhardt in a Cup points race. Only Newman and Busch compete full-time.
Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin will make his 450th start. He will become the 52nd driver to reach that mark.
Hamlin’s first start came on Oct. 9, 2005 at Kansas Speedway. All of his starts have been with JGR.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will make his 200th career start. He will be the 132nd driver to reach that mark.
Stenhouse’s first start came in the 2011 Coca-Cola 600 with Wood Brothers Racing when he substituted for Trevor Bayne, who was out due to illness. Every other start has been with Roush Fenway Racing.
The last race at Michigan International Speedway saw AJ Allmendinger make his 350th Cup start. 71 drivers have reached that mark.