Road courses were the setting for the top two tiers of NASCAR this weekend as the Nationwide Series was at the four mile track of Road America and the Sprint Cup series was at Infineon Raceway also known as Sonoma. Both races were action packed and a great advert for road course racing in NASCAR.

NATIONWIDE SERIES RECAP- ROAD AMERICA

Long time Nationwide Series driver Brandan Gaughan, who has had a total of 98 races in the series over a ten year period, finally grabbed his first win after taking the chequered flag at Road America. But it wasn't easy for the driver as he went of the track and picked up debris on his grille on three separate occasions.

Pole sitter and road course specialist Alex Tagliani who was in team Penske's #22 car took the machine from 23rd position on the Green White Chequered attempt to finish second and only one second behind winner Gaughan in just eight miles.

The race didn't get off to a good start though as it was delayed for an hour due to rain, even though road course races can be run in the rain, NASCAR decided it was too dry to go to the wet tyres but too wet to still race on the slicks.

When the race did get underway pole sitter Tagliani went from the front to fifth after being cautious as the rack was still partially wet, but rookie Dylan Kwasniewski didn't slow down and went to the point for all of four turns until Sam Hornish Jr took the lead.

On lap five Gaughan went off for the first time after going in too hot into turn right and picked up debris which meant he had to make an unscheduled pit stop on lap 8 because the engine was overheating. But luckily for him on lap 13 the first caution of the day was out for Barrett in the #87 car hitting a barrier and Kenny Habul spinning on the track.

Shortly after the race went back to green both Austin Dillon and Tommy Joe Martins reported that they had smoke coming from their cars, which turned out to be a tyre rub but didn't affect them too much. 

At the halfway point in the race Hornish jar was out front and looking like he would take another win in only his fourth Nationwide Race of the season as he only has a part time ride in the #54 car. But on lap 26 the caution was thrown as it started raining again and this time NASCAR decided to make the drivers go to wet tyres for the remainder of the race.

On the restart pole sitter Tagliani was dominant in the rain and seemed to be the only driver who could deal with the change in conditions. But with 17 laps to go Gaughan was in the grass for the third time and the #74 car stopped in Canada turn which brought out the third caution.

After the restart with 8 laps to go Jeremy Clements spun but the green stayed out and Gaughan was the fastest car on the track but was five seconds behind leader Tagliani who was saving fuel.

Just as Tagliani was coming to take the white flag the caution was thrown and as he was coming to catch the pace car he ran out of fuel and had to be pushed to the pit lane and meant he rests rated in 23rd position for the first Green White Chequered attempt.

Rookie Chase aelliott was the leader on the last restart but was passed by Gaughan on the last lap. Gaughan went on to take the win and get his first ever victory but the performance of the day on the last restart was from Tagliani who came from 23rd position to finish second and only one second behind Gaughan.

Chase aelliott in his post race comments said: "I don't think the #22 showed us a lot of respect on the last restart but racing in the rain was just wow!" And race winner Gaughan said: "Life hasn't been easy for the Gaughan family recently and I'm so happy to finally go to victory lane."

SPRINT CUP SERIES RECAP- SONOMA

Rough Fenway racing driver Carl Edwards went to victory lane for the second time this season after taking the win at Sonoma and will definitely  be in the Chase at the end of the season.

Pole sitter Jamie McMurray came home in fifth place and veteran Jeff Gordon was the runner-up in an action packed race.

On lap 9 Aj Allmendinger, who always performs on the road course races, took the lead after passing McMurray. But there was bad luck for defending winner Martin Truex Jr has to pit on lap 11 after flat spotting the tyres.

On lap 13 Kyle Busch and Brad Keselowski got together through turn 11 which resulted in Keselowski spinning and losing a lot of spots on the track.

The race had it's third leader as Stewart Haas Racing driver Kevin Harvick went to the point and was dominant until the first caution on lap 32 after Landon Cassill blew his engine on the front straight.

After the restart Allmendinger was in charge until Gordon went out front for the first time on lap 56, but he had trouble on pit road when the team couldn't get the wind shield tear off away from the window.

Lap 70 brought another spin when Ricky Stenhouse Jr went around after contact with the #55 of Brian Vickers, but the green stayed out until the yellow was thrown for debris.

After the restart on lap 75 Matt Kenseth had a big accident after Dale Earnhardt Jr caught the curb and spun Kenseth who slid into the barrier and destroyed his car.

The green stretch didn't last long when they went back racing as Clint Bowyer was spun in turn 11 and early leader Harvick was caught up and both card got damaged and fell back.

With 25 laps to go Edwards went to the lead for the first time in the race and there was another caution with 19 laps to go as Vickers and Stenhouse Jr got together again on the out straight.

The restart came with 16 laps to go and the race would go green until the end but not before Denny Hamlin went around in turn 11 but missed everyone. 

With only 5 laps to go Gordon started to close on leader and winner Edwards but it was too late as the driver of the #99 car took the win in wine country.

Crew chief for the #99 car, Jimmy Fennig, said in his post race interview: "When you have a driver like Carl behind the wheel you know you are going to get a good finish." 
Race winner Edwards said: "That last restart was ugly but this is awesome and this team has been working very hard and it's special to be a part of this."

This week the Nationwide series and Sprint Cup series are both at NASCAR's newest track, Kentucky Motor Speedway, for a race that will be very fast and I'm sure as exciting and eventful as the road course races were. Check VAVEL USA for build up to the races and LIVE coverage of every NASCAR race for all of the NASCAR news and information that you need.