THE RACE: Toyota/Save Mart 350
TRACK: Sonoma Raceway
Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Race #16 of 36
Date: Sunday, June 24, 2018 in Sonoma, CA
Scheduled Green Flag (approx): 3:13 pm/et
Sections on this page:
Television | Radio/Streaming | Schedule | Track/Race Info | Race Rundown
Qualifying / Practice / Entry Info | Weather Links | Tire Notes | Odds
NASCAR RaceDay: TBA on FS1
NASCAR Sunday Pre-Race Show: TBA on FS1
Television Race Coverage: FS1, 3:00pm/et
Practices:
Friday, June 22, 2:40pm-3:55pm/et, TV-FS1;
Friday, June 22, 5:40-6:55pm/et, TV-FS1
Qualifying for positions 1-40, Saturday, June 23 at 2:45 pm/et, TV-FS1;
re-air scheduled: None
In the Booth: Mike Joy, Darrell Waltrip, Jeff Gordon
Pit Reporters: Jamie Little, Regan Smith, Vince Welch, Matt Yocum
In-Race Analyst: Larry McReynolds
Race / Hollywood Hotel Host: Chris Myers
Analysts / Hollywood Hotel: Jeff Gordon, Darrell and Michael Waltrip
Scheduled Race Re-Air Dates/Times:
Sunday, June 24 at 11:00 pm/et on FS1
TV Listings, Links and Info:
see the TV Listings and Links page
Performance Racing Network (PRN)
SiriusXM Satellite NASCAR Channel 90
ONLINE STREAMING
FOX Sports GO (available with participating TV provider login)
Radio: PRN Live Streaming
SiriusXM Internet Radio (available via internet connected device, with subscription)
EVENT SCHEDULE
Event Schedule times are local to the track
Thursday, June 21
2:00 PM-4:00 PM MENCS HAULERS ENTER (EQUIPMENT UNLOAD)
Friday, June 22
8:30 AM-6:30 PM MENCS GARAGE OPEN
10:30 AM MENCS ROOKIE MEETING, SPOTTER MEETING, & RANDOM DRAWING
11:40 AM-12:55 PM MENCS 1ST PRACTICE
2:40 PM-3:55 PM MENCS FINAL PRACTICE
Saturday, June 23
7:00 AM-1:30 PM MENCS GARAGE OPEN
11:45 AM MENCS QUALIFYING IMPOUND (MULTI-VEHICLE / TWO ROUNDS)
Sunday, June 24
8:00 AM MENCS GARAGE OPENS
10:00 AM MENCS DRIVER / CREW CHIEF MEETING
11:20 AM MENCS DRIVER INTRODUCTIONS
12:00 PM (3:00 PM/ET) MENCS RACE (110 LAPS, 218.9 MILES)
MENCS = Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series
SCHEDULE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
Sonoma Raceway Track News, Stats & Links page
June 2017: see the Sonoma Race Info page
Race Festivities/Officials:
Grand Marshal: Jonny Moseley
Command to start engines: Jonny Moseley
Honorary Starter/Wave Green Flag: Mark Poston, Lucky's Store Manager from Santa Rosa
Honorary Pace Car Driver: Scott Pruett
Color Guard: Cal-Fire Honor Guard
Invocation: Tim Boeve, Track Chaplain
National Anthem: Broadway star Meggie Cansler
Flyover: F-15 Fighter Jets from the Oregon Air National Guard
Sunday Sonoma Notebook: With career-best Sonoma finish, Chase Elliott is learning to love road-course racing; Missed shift destroys AJ Allmendinger's winning chances; Despite strong run, Clint Bowyer leaves Sonoma wanting more.[More](6-24-2018)
Saturday Sonoma Notebook: Kevin Harvick expects a rare repeat winner at Sonoma; Martin Truex Jr. doesn't believe two-stop strategy is viable; Road course work pays off for William Byron.[More](6-23-2018)
Friday Sonoma Notebook: Sonoma holds fond memories for Monster Energy NASCAR Cup champion; Denny Hamlin expects strong showing in next 10 weeks.[More](6-22-2018)
What to Watch for: Sonoma: It Is Anybody's Race at Sonoma... Except When It's Not; Turn Back The Clock, Clint; Who's Hot and Who's Not - Sonoma.[More](6-22-2018)
Sonoma Raceway and Gateway Motorsports Park Weekend Preview: Sonoma provides Kurt Busch with the opportunity for another win; the Truck Series youth movement rolls on at Gateway.[More](6-21-2018)
A look at many news, notes and story lines for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Sonoma Raceway, see the stats on the NASCAR National Series News & Notes -- Sonoma Raceway
A look at some of the top statistical performers and top-10 driver ratings at Sonoma Raceway, see the stats on the Statistical Advance - Analyzing Sonoma Raceway page
Canny bluff propels Martin Truex Jr. to victory at Sonoma: Using a contrarian strategy that included bluffing Kevin Harvick onto pit road earlier than planned in the final stage of Sunday's Toyota/Save Mart 350, Martin Truex Jr. pulled off a convincing victory in the 16th Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race of the season. On Lap 73, during the final stage of the race, Truex's crew chief, Cole Pearn, ordered the No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Toyota to pit road. On the spur of the moment, Harvick's crew chief, Rodney Childers, opted to cover Truex's move and called the No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford to the pits from the lead.[More](6-24-2018)
Martin Truex, Jr. won the Toyota/Save Mart 350 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Sonoma Raceway. The win is his 2rd win of 2018, 2nd win at Sonoma and 18th career win. Truex used a different pit strategy to stay out until 30 laps remaining before making his last stop of the day. He passed Harvick to retake the lead with 19 laps remaining and held on for a win of more than 10 seconds.
#4-Harvick finished 2nd followed by #14-Bowyer, #9-Elliott, #18-Busch, #41-Busch, #20-Jones, #10-Almirola, #88-Bowman and #11-Hamlin.
Pole winner #42-Larson led the first two laps of the race, but fell back into the pack and could not recover. He finished 14th.
Stage 1 was won by #47-Allmendinger. He finished 38th after blowing an engine.
Stage 2 was won by #11-Hamlin. He finished 10th.
There were 11 lead changes among 7 drivers and 3 cautions for 8 yellow flag laps.
The average speed of the race was: 82.882mph.
See unofficial race results, awards, laps led, cautions and more at:
Unofficial Race Results (pdf)
Cumulative Report (pdf)
Penalty Report (pdf)
See OFFICIAL race results & points standings on the Official Race & Points Report (pdf).
MENCS at Sonoma
- Martin Truex Jr.: 3rd career road course win (2nd at Sonoma); 2nd active driver with at least 3 road course wins (Kyle Busch has 4)
- Truex Jr.: 18th career Cup Series win; ties 5 drivers for 46th all-time
- Truex Jr.: 3rd win this season and 15th over last 3 seasons (2 more than any other driver)
- Truex Jr.: won by 10.5 seconds; he's the only driver since 2010 to win a race by 10 or more seconds
- Truex Jr.: 18 playoff points are 3rd-most in series behind Kevin Harvick (26) and Kyle Busch (25)
- Kevin Harvick: finished 2nd; 8th top-2 finish through 16 races this season; 2nd driver since 2000 with at least 8 top 2's in first 16 races of season (other was Harvick in 2000)
- Clint Bowyer: finished 3rd; 5 top-5 finish this season (had 6 in 36 races last season and 2 in 2015-16 combined)
- Chase Elliott: finished 4th; 26th career top-5 finish (0 wins)
- Alex Bowman: finished 9th; now leads Ricky Stenhouse Jr. by 17 points for final playoff spot
- AJ Allmendinger: finished last (38th); finished 35th or worse in 4 of last 5 Sonoma races (14th in other)
(ESPN Stats & Info)
Race Fast Facts - Sonoma
Martin Truex Jr. won the 30th Annual Toyota/Save Mart 350, his 18th victory in 457 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races.
This is his third victory and 10th top-10 finish in 2018.
This is his second victory and fourth top-10 finish in 13 races at Sonoma Raceway.
Kevin Harvick (second) posted his ninth top-10 finish in 18 races at Sonoma Raceway. It is his 13th top-10 finish in 2018.
Clint Bowyer (third) posted his 10th top-10 finish in 13 races at Sonoma Raceway.
William Byron (25th) was the highest finishing rookie.
Kyle Busch leads the point standings by 72 points over Kevin Harvick.
(NASCAR Integrated Sports Marketing)(6-24-2018)
2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Driver Chase Standings:
[after Sonoma, race 16 of 36]
#18-Kyle Busch [4 wins], 696
#4-Kevin Harvick [5 wins - 4 can be used for playoffs], 624
#78-Martin Truex Jr. [3 wins], 546
#14-Clint Bowyer [2 wins], 544
#22-Joey Logano [1 win], 584
#3-Austin Dillon [1 win], 313
#2-Brad Keselowski, 554, -142
#41-Kurt Busch, 524, -172
#11-Denny Hamlin, 505, -191
#42-Kyle Larson, 472, -224
#10-Aric Almirola, 471, -225
#12-Ryan Blaney, 466, -230
#48-Jimmie Johnson, 419, -277
#9-Chase Elliott, 411, -285
#20-Erik Jones, 376, -320
#88-Alex Bowman, 363, -333
See the Unofficial Drivers Points Standings page (pdf) and Unofficial Owners Points Standings page (pdf)
See OFFICIAL race results & points standings on the Official Race & Points Report (pdf).
Top-Ten Stage 2 Results (lap 50) of the Toyota/Save Mart 350 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Sonoma Raceway (lap 20/110):
#11-Hamlin, 10pts, 1 playoff point
#9-Elliott, 9pts
#48-Johnson, 8pts
#2-Keselowski, 7pts
#12-Blaney, 6pts
#10-Almirola, 5pts
#88-Bowman, 4pts
#34-McDowell, 3pts
#37-Buescher, 2pts
#31-Newman, 1pt
Top-Ten Stage 1 Results (lap 25) of the Toyota/Save Mart 350 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Sonoma Raceway (lap 25/110):
#47-Allmendinger, 10pts, 1 playoff point
#2-Keselowski, 9pts
#48-Johnson, 8pts
#9-Elliott, 7pts
#42-Larson, 6pts
#31-Newman, 5pts
#10-Almirola, 4pts
#19-Suarez, 3pts
#37-Buescher, 2pts
#95-Kahne, 1pt
Lucky Dogs, drivers that got a lap back during the cautions (and their finish):
Caution 1: #52-Ware, 36th
Caution 2: None
Caution 3: #52-Ware (2), 36th
See the starting lineup for the Toyota/Save Mart 350 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Sonoma Raceway on the Starting Lineup Page (pdf).
To the rear: #51-Cook (unapproved adjustments)
NASCAR Overtime Race Procedure: Rule and notes on the NASCAR Overtime rules/news/stats page.
Wave Around: how the wave around rule works: All vehicles between the leader and the caution vehicle at the start/finish line when the "one to go" signal is given by the starter are considered "Wave Around" eligible. "Wave Around" vehicles will not be permitted to enter pit road at any time during this yellow flag/caution period. "Wave Around" vehicles must receive the green flag on the race track before being permitted to enter pit road without a penalty. Vehicles under a penalty and the "Free Pass" vehicle will not be eligible to receive a "Wave Around".
Pit Stall Selections: The selections of pit stalls for the Toyota/Save Mart 350 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Sonoma Raceway have been made.
With 38 cars running, pit stalls 1, 7, 15, 22, and 31 are not in use.
Pole winner #42-Larson chose pit stall 2, the first stall available [as do most pole sitters].
Outside pole winner #78-Truex, Jr. took pit stall 32, with an opening in front of it.
#9-Elliott, who starts 3rd, took the 23rd stall, also with an opening in front of it.
The final pit stall was taken by #48-Johnson, who starts 7th.
To see where the drivers/teams pit stall is, see the pit selection chart on Jayski.com's Pit Stall Selection chart.(6-23-2018)
Race Results
Drivers Points
Owners Points
Cumlative Race Report
Penalty Report
Pitstalls
Starting Lineup
Qualifying Results
Qualifying Order
Happy Hour Practice Speeds
Practice 1 Speeds
Crew Rosters
Latest / Final Entry List
Preliminary Entry List
See the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race results page
QUALIFYING INFO, PRACTICE SPEED and ENTRIES
Kyle Larson leads Chevrolet onslaught in Sonoma qualifying: Take the aerodynamic factor away and the new Chevrolets are just fine, as Kyle Larson proved Saturday in his pole-winning run at Sonoma Raceway. Larson negotiated the 1.99-mile road course in 75.732 seconds (94.597 mph) - the fastest lap of the day - to earn top starting spot in Sunday's Toyota Save Mart 350 (3 p.m. ET, FS1, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). The Busch Pole Award was the California native's second of the season, his second at Sonoma and the sixth of his career.[More](6-23-2018)
#42-Kyle Larson won the Busch pole for the Toyota/Save Mart 350 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Sonoma Raceway with speed of 94.597mph for his 2nd pole of 2018, 2nd at Sonoma and 6th of his career. Larson has won twice from the 5 previous poles.
#78-Truex, Jr. will start 2nd followed by #9-Elliott, #1-McMurray, #47-Allmendinger, #4-Harvick, #48-Johnson, #23-Byron, #18-Busch, #2-Keselowski, #12-Blaney, and #22-Logano.
#47-Allmendinger was quickest in the first round with a speed of 94.477mph, will start 5th.
Driver(s) who will miss the race: none as 38 were entered for 40 spots
See round-by-round qualifying results on the Qualifying results page (pdf) and the complete starting lineup on the Starting Lineup page (pdf).(6-23-2018)
Sonoma Raceway - Qualifying Fast Facts:
Kyle Larson won the Busch Pole Award Pole Award for the 30th Annual Toyota/Save Mart 350 with a lap of 75.732 seconds, 94.597 mph.
This is his sixth pole in 163 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races.
This is his second pole and 10th top-10 start in 2018.
This is his second pole in five races at Sonoma Raceway.
Martin Truex Jr. (second) posted his 11th top-10 start of 2018 and his sixth in 13 races at Sonoma Raceway.
Chase Elliott (third) posted his second top-10 start at Sonoma Raceway. It is his seventh in 16 races this season.
William Byron (eighth) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
(NASCAR Statistics)(6-23-2018)
First Round of Qualifying for the Toyota/Save Mart 350 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Sonoma Raceway is over, after 25 scheduled minutes.
#47-Allmendinger 94.477
#78-Truex, Jr. 94.240
#24-Byron 93.984
#9-Elliott 93.970
#22-Logano 93.847
the rest of the top 12: 2 4 48 1 42 12 18
out of the top 12 and not advancing to round 2: 6 31 21 19 88 17 14 20 11 34 41 10 37 95 3 38 23 32 13 72 15 96 43 51 00 52
Drivers who will miss the race: none, 38 entered
(6-23-2018)
Coverage of Qualifying for the Toyota/Save Mart 350 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Sonoma Raceway is scheduled for Saturday, June 23, 2018 at 2:45pm/et.
Television (TV): FS1, 2:30pm/et
Radio: Live online at Performance Racing Network (PRN)
Road Course Qualifying Format: Qualifying for the road courses consist of two elimination rounds to determine the starting grid. The first elimination round will last 25 minutes and include all cars, setting starting spots 13-40. Then there will be a ten-minute break. The 12 cars that post the fastest single lap will advance to the final round. The final qualifying round will last 10 minutes, include all cars and the fastest single lap time will determine positions 1 through 12. The fastest driver in the final round will earn the pole position for the race.
Road Course Events Qualifying Format: (Sonoma Raceway & Watkins Glen International)
a) Qualifying will consist of two scheduled rounds.
b) The first Qualifying round is twenty-five (25) minutes in duration, unless otherwise authorized by the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Managing Director.
c) Upon completion of the first Qualifying round, eligibility for the forty (40) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starting grid positions will be determined. Each Charter Team will be eligible for one of the available forty (40) starting grid positions. Open Teams will be eligible for the next available starting grid positions based on the fastest single lap speed posted to each Open Team's Designated Vehicle in the first Qualifying round.
d) The twelve (12) eligible Designated Vehicles that post the fastest single lap speed from the first Qualifying round will advance to the final Qualifying round.
e) The remaining eligible Designated Vehicles will be assigned starting grid positions 13th - 40th based on their fastest single lap speed posted in the first Qualifying round in descending order in accordance with the rules book.
f) There will be a ten-minute break after the completion of the first Qualifying round and the twelve (12) remaining Designated Vehicles that advance to the final Qualifying round will have their previously posted speed reset.
g) The final Qualifying round is ten minutes in duration and the fastest single lap speed posted in the final Qualifying round will be used to assign starting grid positions 1st - 12th in descending order.
Qualifying Order for the Toyota/Save Mart 350 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Sonoma Raceway is posted.
The first driver to be lined up on pit road will be #20-Jones
The final driver lined up on pit road will be #13-Dillon.
The order is set by a random draw, how cars park on pit road before they qualify, held about an hour before the first practice.
After the first round, the cars lined up by speed.
For the qualifying order, see the Qualifying Order page (pdf).(6-22-2018)
Happy Hour (final) practice for the Toyota/Save Mart 350 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Sonoma Raceway is over, after 75 scheduled minutes, the top five, slowest and notes:
#41-Busch 94.061
#11-Hamlin 94.012
#78-Truex, Jr. 93.718
#1-McMurray 95.549
#4-Harvick 93.441
best 10 consecutive lap avg (of 14 drivers): #4-Harvick 91.468
slowest: #52-Ware 89.719 & #00-Drissi 89.607
notes: #78-Truex, Jr. received some front end damage after running into the back of #43-Wallace late in practice.
See the fastest speeds, best 10 consecutive lap average, laps run on the Happy Hour Practice speeds page (pdf) (6-22-2018)
First practice for the Toyota/Save Mart 350 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Sonoma Raceway is over, after 75 scheduled minutes, the top-five, slowest and notes:
#14-Bowyer 93.590
#12-Blaney 93.546
#22-Logano 93.172
#1-McMurray 93.049
#19-Suarez 92.746
most laps run: 23 laps by #24-Byron, #2-Keselowski, and #3-Dillon.
#10-Almirola was the only driver to run 10 consecutive laps. His average speed was 89.710. Fox Sports reported that Bowyer had the fastest 5 lap average. NASCAR does not release that info.
slowest: #52-Ware 88.119, #00-Drissi 86.764
notes: A few minor incidents during the session, but nothing major -- #95-Kahne spun, #21-Menard hit a tire barrier in turn 11 causing right front damage, #52-Ware lost a brake hose.
See the fastest speeds, best 10 consecutive lap average, laps run on the Friday Practice speeds (pdf) (6-22-2018)
Entry List for the Toyota/Save Mart 350 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Sonoma Raceway is posted, 38 teams/drivers [for 40 spots] are listed.
Some of the drivers entered include: #00-Drissi, #6-Bayne, #15-Marks, #51-Cook, #52-Ware, #72-Whitt, #96-Kligerman
Since only 38 cars are entered, all drivers will make the race.
See the full entry list on the Entry List (pdf)
For qualifying rules and formats, see the Qualifying Rules page
How to Calculate Track Speeds: use the formula Speed = Distance divided by Time. Distance is Track Length, and Lap Time into Hours. Once hour is 3600 seconds, so the calculation for a 48 second lap at Daytona(2.5 miles) would be: Speed = 2.5 x (3600/48), = 2.5 x 75 = 187.500mph. For a 19 second lap at Sonoma(.533 miles): Speed = .533 x (3600/19), = .533 x 189.474 = a speed of 100.990mph
Weather Channel
Accuweather
National Weather Service
Race Weather
Race Day Forecast
Weather Bug
Weather Underground
Brian Neudorff @NASCAR_WXMAN
Aaron Studwell @RaceWeather
Sonoma Goodyear Tire Notes See complete tire information for the race weekend across all series on the [Goodyear Tire Notes - Sonoma Raceway page.(6-20-2018)
RACE & CHAMPIONSHIP ODDS
Vegas Insider
Race and Championship odds
NASCAR Top-Five Finish Prediction
Sonoma Race Preview by Micah Roberts
Bovada Sportsbook:
Race and the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Championship