Vineyards on the high ground.
Water on all the low ground.
Two more views as we neared Schellville.
Trains cars across the valley which we would be passing in a few minutes.
The northeast leg of the wye at Schellville where we switched to the Northwestern Pacific Railroad for the rest of the trip to Sears Point and the Sonoma Raceway.
Northwestern Pacific GP9 1922, ex. Bruggere and Monson 337, exx. BNSF 1628 exxx. Burlington Northern 1922, nee Northern Pacific 337 built by Electro-Motive Division in 1957.
Northwestern Pacific RP20BD 2009 built by Railpower in 2007, ex. Railpower Technologies 5407, exx. BNSF slug 3966, exxx. ATSF 1125:2, exxxx. ATSF 125:2, nee Union Pacific GP9B 158B built by Electro-Motive Division in 1954. The sign reads "Welcome to the Northwestern Pacific Railroad".
The Southern Pacific Schellville station built in 1901.
There are two locomotive, an F9A and an F9B, stored here.
The train crossed another unnamed slough.
The ghost town of Wingo, which was a steamship station known as Norfolk until 1879 when it was given the name Wingo by the railroad. Now a ghost town of a few barns, cabins and a train trestle, it was once a bustling town that served as a stop for steamer passengers from San Francisco.
Crops covered for protection.
A view looking southeast.
I think I see where we are going to end up on this trip.
We all had our first look at the Sonoma Raceway, our destination.
The train arrived at the Sears Point Sonoma Raceway and we exited the train and walked over to the highway where the California Highway Patrol stopped the traffic so we could cross.
Our train would be waiting here until after the race was finished.
We walked up the main entrance road a little way and turned left to the waiting shuttle buses which took us to the main grandstands and our seats.
There were plenty of activities at a NASCAR race. I went up the grandstand stairs then walked down to my assigned seat and it did not take long for something to spark my interest.
Views of the Patriots Jet Team performing for the crowd before today's race.
It was too windy for the motorcycle jumpers to perform.
The race drivers were introduced, and here is Danica Patrick.
The pre-race activities took place in front of the main grandstand.
The Color Guard presented the United States Flag after which was Pledge of Allegiance, Invocation, the singing of "The Star-Spangled Banner" and an aerial salute.
One last view of the Patriots Jet Team. Next it was "Drivers, start your engines". The track is 1.9 miles and has 11 turns, which each driver will face as he drives down the track.
The drivers head out to the race track for their warm-up laps.
Warming up these NASCAR racing cars.
This car, 52, driven by Paulie Harraka, hit another car on the pit road and had to come back into the pit to work on keeping his hood down. This car did end up finishing the race but with much less body on his car.
He managed to get his car back onto the track for the rest of the warm-ups.
Still warming up these unique racing machines.
The race cars warmed up in two groups with a pace car leading.
A few raindrops and the accident on pit road caused a few more warm-up laps to occur.
Car 52 was back in the pit working on his hood again.
Coming back down the rear straight away.
The second group came by the main grandstand.
The green flag was now out to let us start the race.
And they are off and racing.
Coming out of the "S" curves onto the back straight away.
Still on the first lap.
One lap of the 110 laps has now been completed, 109 more to go. If you ever come to a NASCAR race make sure you have ear protection as the engines are very loud.
Car 10 was driven by Danica Patrick and Car 35 was driven by Josh Wise.
Car 78 was driven by Kurt Busch.
Car 9 was driven by Marcos Ambrose.
Car 1 was driven by Jamie McMurray.
Car 15 was driven by Clint Bowyer.
An early wreck caused some drivers to come in on the yellow flag to their pits for fuel and tires.
Car 78 was driven by Kurt Busch and Car 9 was driven by Marcos Ambrose.
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