SALT LAKE CITY – Sonoma Raceway named former BYU and current San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner as the official pace car driver for the Toyota/Save Mart 350.

The NASCAR Cup Series race will take place on Sunday, June 12 at Sonoma Raceway at Sears Point in Sonoma, California.

Warner, a native of San Marcos, California, was named the official pace car driver for the event.

“Fred Warner, the San Francisco 49ers’ All-Pro 49er linebacker is used to taking on opposing ballcarriers. But this Sunday, he will tackle the 10-turn Sonoma Raceway road course as the honorary pace car driver for the Toyota/Save Mart 350,” Sonoma Raceway announced. “Warner will pilot the Official Toyota Camry pace car, which will be leading the 40-car field to the green flag at 1 p.m.”

𝐍𝐄𝐖𝐒 | @49ers All-Pro Linebacker @fred_warner has been named the official pace car driver for the #ToyotaSaveMart350.

📰: https://t.co/amW3mTt3Xz pic.twitter.com/3sT7AkVgUb

— Sonoma Raceway (@RaceSonoma) June 7, 2022

“I can’t wait to do this,” Warner said in a statement. “I’ve always enjoyed NASCAR and to get the opportunity to lead the field around an awesome raceway like Sonoma is going to be one of the highlights of my life.”

According to EssentiallySports.com, a NASCAR pace car driver’s job is to restrict “the speed of contending vehicles on a circuit on account of a caution period like an obstruction on the track or bad weather.”

The Toyota/Save Mart 350 is part of the NASCAR Cup Series. It is one of seven road-course events in the Cup Series. Stock car racing events have taken place at Sonoma Raceway since 1989. The race is 218.9 miles long and the track is just under two miles in length.

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐇𝐔𝐓𝐄 🪂@NASCAR | #ToyotaSaveMart350 pic.twitter.com/wuiKCoNGZ8

— Sonoma Raceway (@RaceSonoma) June 8, 2022

Warner’s participation in the Toyota/Save Mart 350 will be televised on FS1. The race is slated to begin on Sunday, June 12 at 2 p.m. (MDT).

About Fred Warner

Prior to his time in the NFL, Warner played college football at BYU.

During his four seasons in Provo, the linebacker recorded 264 total tackles, 158 solo tackles, 6.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries, seven interceptions, 13 pass breakups, and two touchdowns.

Warner was selected by the Niners with the No. 70 overall pick during the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft.

In his four seasons with San Francisco, the former BYU standout has posted 504 tackles, 332 solo tackles, 4.5 sacks, six forced fumbles, six fumble recoveries, three interceptions, 25 pass breakups, and one touchdown in 64 games.

Former @BYUfootball LB @fred_warner forces a fumble to help the @49ers take possession. 💪 #LocalsInTheNFL #NFL #FTTB #SFvsGB #BYU #GoCougs #BYUFOOTBALL @kslsports pic.twitter.com/DMpAuvKv6w

— Kyle Ireland (@kyleireland) January 23, 2022

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