NASCAR excitement begins well before the engines roar

There will be plenty of excitement even before the high-performance race cars roar around Sonoma Raceway at noon on Sunday. The raceway has teamed up with Friedman’s Home Improvement to kick off the Toyota/Save Mart 350 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race day in style.

Race day entertainment begins at 10 a.m.; fans are strongly encouraged to arrive early to enjoy the complete race-day experience.

Lined up to entertain fans even before racing begins are:

Aerial Stunt Performance by Brad Wursten

Utah’s Wursten is an extremely accomplished pilot with more than 1,500 hours flying time in various aircraft. Wursten will take to the sky in one of the most highly-sophisticated airplanes in the world, the MXS-R, made by MX Aircraft. The plane features a complete carbon fiber airframe that weighs an impressive 1,100 pounds. The Lycoming engine has 385 HP and can reach a top speed of more than 300 mph and a roll rate at 420 degrees per second.

Party with Petty Birthday Celebration and question and answer

Fans have a chance to “Party with Petty,” as they celebrate the 80th birthday of “The King” Richard Petty with a race-day question and answer on the pre-race stage and chorus of “Happy Birthday.”

Patriots Jet Team Air Show

The Patriots Jet Team will electrify race fans with a 25-minute air show an hour before the green flag drops. The demonstration will feature six L-39 albatross jets strutting their fast-paced formation flying, choreographed six-jet diamond-formation aerobatic maneuvers and their signature “Tail Slide,” where the aircraft actually slide backward toward the ground.

Music by Toree McGee

Toree McGee describes her music as a blend of “Woodstock rock ’n’ roll, and sparkly country.” The Northern California native will delight fans with her powerful rendition of God Bless America.

Driver Introductions

The field of Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers will walk the “cat walk” before taking their pre-race parade lap.

Save Mart Giant Shopping Cart

Save Mart Supermarkets will take its giant 12-foot shopping cart for a lap around the road course.

National Anthem performed by Natalie Gallo

Broadway star Natalie Gallo will perform the national anthem before the race. Gallo, who has performed on Broadway in “Mamma Mia” and “Jersey Boys,” will appear in concert in Transcendence Theatre Company’s Broadway Under the Stars in Jack London State Park, which runs through Sept. 10.

Team Fastrax

As part of opening ceremonies, Team Fastrax America’s Skydiving Team, will perform its signature 2,000-square-foot American Flag jump during the singing of “God Bless America.”

Anthem Flyover Provided by Oregon Air National Guard

The Oregon Air National Guard celebrates the 70th anniversary of the Air Force this year with four jets that will soar through the sky immediately following the national anthem. The 173rd Fighter Wing out of Kingsley Field in Southern Oregon is the sole F-15C training base for the United States Air Force. They are responsible for producing the best air-to-air combat pilots in the world.

Drivers, Start Your Engines!

Toyota/Save Mart 350 Grand Marshal Cristela Alonzo will join special guests from Toyota to give the most famous words in motorsports, “Drivers, start your engines!”