The NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series practice at Sonoma Raceway ended abruptly when Austin Green’s car spun into the Turn 11 hairpin after a brake failure.
Brake failure in the Turn 11 hairpin
A 25‑year‑old driver in the No. 87 Peterson Racing Chevrolet lost braking control on entry, slammed the tire barrier, and drove the concrete into the track. The impact threw the barriers out of position and displaced the underlying concrete.
Green escaped the vehicle quickly and was checked at the infield care center, where he was cleared and released. He praised the modern safety design of the car and the medical team’s response.
Practice resumed after cleanup
After almost thirty minutes of debris removal, the session restarted with fifteen minutes remaining on the clock. Green had posted the 22nd‑fastest lap before the incident and had completed ten laps when the brake failure occurred.
Shane van Gisbergen topped the restarted session, while Green’s earlier performance had earned him seven top‑ten finishes in the last nine road‑course races, including a second-place finish at Charlotte Roval last fall.
Barrier incidents on the road
This is the second week in a row that O’Reilly cars have broken barriers. A restart melee at San Diego forced a stop for wall repairs, echoing the skid at Sonoma.
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