Shaq performance ahead of Toyota Save Mart 350 at Sonoma postponed due to travel issues
“DJ Diesel,” aka NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal, will be a late arrival to Sunday’s Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway.
Sonoma Raceway announced that O’Neal, scheduled to perform ahead of the race, will now take the stage after the race due to travel issues.
“Due to travel issues, DJ Diesel’s performance will now take place after the #ToyotaSaveMart350. Pre-race passes will be honored post-race and the Track Pass gate will open 20 minutes after the checkered flag,” the race track tweeted.
Jill Gregory, Sonoma Raceway executive vice president and general manager, made the initial announcement in April that “DJ Diesel” would perform a 30-minute set.
“We can’t wait to entertain our race fans with DJ Diesel throwing the party,” Gregory said. “This is always a high energy crowd that loves our pre-race show. We’re looking forward to dialing up that energy higher than ever with Shaq leading the way at the Toyota/Save Mart 350.”
O’Neal has long been in the music game, releasing his first rap album, “Shaq Diesel,” in 1993. This past Wednesday, he released “Bang Your Head,” the first single from his debut album as “DJ Diesel.”
Chase Elliott encouraged by Sonoma qualifying run in return from his suspension
Sonoma will be the latest opportunity for Chase Elliott to capture his first victory of the 2023 season. Elliott will start 10th, just the fourth time this season he’ll begin a race inside the top-10.
“I feel like my first lap of our [qualifying] session was solid,” Elliott told Bob Pockrass of Fox Sports Saturday. “I missed a couple areas… That was gonna be the big thing — if you can get it done on the first one and not have to run again. And then I made a pretty big mistake on my second run… I was honestly surprised we got through, so that was encouraging. And then I about wrecked there in [Turn] 4 on our last lap. Wish I could have gone a little faster. But just glad I didn’t wreck it because I was very close to not driving this car tomorrow. Definitely good to get through. We hadn’t made a second round in awhile so that was nice.”
Currently sitting 27th in the points standings, Elliott will almost surely need to find his way into victory lane in the final 11 races of the regular season to have a shot at qualifying for the playoffs. Elliott’s No. 9 Chevrolet has been fast in the past at road courses, as the 2020 Cup Series champion has four wins in his last 15 road course starts.