TOYOTA/SAVE MART 350

3 p.m., June 25 Sonoma Raceway, Sonoma, Calif. Fox Sports 1 to this race weekend in picturesque wine country, so Bowyer didn’t mention Lightning McQueen.

“It is almost impossible to bring the kids on the road out here. The wives go out and have some fun,” Bowyer said.

“That is why we didn’t tell him. Hopefully, he will be able to see it on the news come Sunday afternoon back home.”

That would be a breakthrough for Bowyer, who is in his first season driving for Stewart-Haas Racing and has yet to win as Stewart’s replacement. In fact, Bowyer hasn’t won at all since the 2012 season. The move to SHR has been helpful in getting him closer to the front, and Bowyer is currently 12th in the Cup standings.

He has a pair of top-five finishes, which already have him on pace for his best season since 2015.

Now he could in theory make a push to end his losing streak with a victory at Sonoma.

Bowyer has developed into a decent road racer — his average finish is 11th and he has eight career top10s at Sonoma — and the success sometimes boggles his mind.

“I have no idea how this became one of my best tracks,” he said. “The win (in 2012) was a shocker. I always have fun here. Attitude is everything and you don’t want to believe that until you see it, but this has always been a fun weekend for me. The area, the event of this race track is awesome. The fan base. Everything about this place.”

Of course, Bowyer will have a ton of competition on the race track, including from Larson, the current Cup points leader.

Larson’s victory at Michigan last week was his second of the Cup season, but marked a roll in which Larson won four races in eight days that included his sprint car schedule.

It has given him the momentum headed into his home track.

Larson is from nearby Elk Grove and attended this race as a child — and avid Jeff Gordon fan — before launching his career.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE Clint Bowyer has always performed well at the Sonoma, Calif., track.