SONOMA, Calif. — There are some familiar sites at Sonoma Raceway. The beautiful rolling hills that permeate the Napa Valley. Sheep grazing on the hillsides around the track. The Ferris wheel on the hill behind Turn 8. Colorful stock cars curb-hopping over the hairpin curve in Turn 11.
But there is one familiar site missing this year.
Boris Said, the tall, lanky driver with the curly hair and trademark goatee. The personable driver and colorful character who had such a following that Saidheads showed up wearing Boris wigs.
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Said, a longtime sports car star, would show up nearly every year at Sonoma Raceway and Watkins Glen International, landing a ride with a mid-pack or back marker team and looking to use his considerable road-racing skills to pull off an upset or produce a surprising and stirring finish on one of NASCAR few road courses.