{"id":10764,"date":"2017-06-25T08:00:07","date_gmt":"2017-06-25T13:00:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/?p=10764"},"modified":"2017-06-25T13:26:31","modified_gmt":"2017-06-25T18:26:31","slug":"nascar-race-preview-toyotasave-mart-350-at-sonoma-raceway","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/2017\/06\/25\/nascar-race-preview-toyotasave-mart-350-at-sonoma-raceway\/","title":{"rendered":"NASCAR race preview: Toyota\/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Jamie McMurray, driver of the #1 Cessna Chevrolet, drives during qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Toyota\/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway on June 24, 2017 in Sonoma, California. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series<\/u><\/b><\/p>\n

Next Race: Toyota\/Save Mart 350<\/b><\/p>\n

The Place: Sonoma Raceway<\/b><\/p>\n

The Date: Sunday, June 25<\/b><\/p>\n

The Time: 3 p.m. ET<\/b><\/p>\n

TV: FS1, 1:30 p.m. ET<\/b><\/p>\n

Radio: PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio<\/b><\/p>\n

Distance: 218.9 miles (110 laps); Stage 1 (Ends on lap 25),<\/b><\/p>\n

Stage 2 (Ends on lap 50), Final Stage (Ends on lap 110)<\/b><\/p>\n

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Kyle Larson, driver of the #42 Target Chevrolet, poses with the Coors Light Pole Award after qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Toyota\/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway on June 24, 2017 in Sonoma, California. (Photo by Sarah Crabill\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Larson Wins Second Race Of Season, Takes Back Points Lead<\/b><\/p>\n

Kyle Larson led a race-high 96 laps on his way to his second win of the season in last Sunday\u2019s FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway. In the process, he passed Martin Truex Jr. for the points lead and now holds a five-marker advantage over him.<\/p>\n

The Elk Grove, California, native will look to build up his points edge when he returns to his home track \u2013 Sonoma Raceway \u2013 for Sunday\u2019s Toyota\/Save Mart 350 (3 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). In three career starts at Sonoma, Larson has finished 12th (2016), 15th (2015) and 28th (2014).<\/p>\n

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Kyle Larson, driver of the #42 Target Chevrolet, and his son, Owen, pose with the Coors Light Pole Award after qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Toyota\/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway on June 24, 2017 in Sonoma, California. (Photo by Sarah Crabill\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Larson is enjoying a breakout season in his fourth full-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series campaign. The 24-year-old Chevrolet driver boasts seven top-two finishes in 15 starts this year.<\/p>\n

Stage Master: Truex Continues To Pick Up Playoff Points<\/b><\/p>\n

It\u2019s doubtful anyone enjoys stage racing more than Martin Truex Jr. The No. 78 Furniture Row Racing driver won the first two stages at Michigan to up his stage victories total to a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series-leading 10. He now has a series-high 20 playoff points via his two checkered flags and 10 stage wins.<\/p>\n

Truex ended up finishing sixth at Michigan, but picked up the second-most points (51) during the race. Despite his strong effort, he dropped to second in the standings where he trails Kyle Larson by five points.<\/p>\n

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Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Furniture Row\/Denver Mattress Toyota, Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe’s Chevrolet, and Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 Axalta Chevrolet, drive during qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Toyota\/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway on June 24, 2017 in Sonoma, California. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Truex will attempt to take back his perch atop the standings in Sunday\u2019s Toyota\/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway \u2013 a track where he won in 2013.<\/p>\n

He leads the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in an abundance of statistical categories, including: average running position (7.1), driver rating (113.9), fastest laps run (525), and laps led (938).<\/p>\n

Elliott Eyes First Win<\/b><\/p>\n

Chase Elliott is still searching for his first career win, but has started to heat up as the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season nears its midpoint.<\/p>\n

Elliott has logged finishes of fifth (Dover), eighth (Pocono) and second (Michigan) in his last three starts. He now sits fifth in the standings \u2013 162 points behind leader Kyle Larson.<\/p>\n

In his two road course races as a Sunoco Rookie last year, Elliott placed 21st at Sonoma and 13th at Watkins Glen.<\/p>\n

Road Course Ace Allmendinger Revved Up For Sonoma<\/b><\/p>\n

JTG-Daugherty Racing\u2019s AJ Allmendinger is always a threat to win at NASCAR\u2019s road courses.<\/p>\n

In 2014, he visited Victory Lane at Watkins Glen to make the playoffs.<\/p>\n

The last three years, he\u2019s started in the top-two at Sonoma, but self-inflicted mistakes \u2013 such as the tire he lost on pit road last year \u2013 have hurt his results. He\u2019s finished 14th (2016), 37th (2015) and 37th (2014). Allmendinger\u2019s 56 laps led in those three races are the most in the series.<\/p>\n

\u201cSonoma is a real technical racetrack,\u201d Allmendinger said. \u201cIt\u2019s like a short track. You are beating and banging on each other. You can make passes there. The tires go away quick, but if you can conserve the tires better you can make passes. It\u2019s a challenging racetrack.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe strategy has got you wondering when that last yellow is going to fall. If that yellow falls, do you pit, do you not pit? It\u2019s a challenge from start to finish because the opportunity is there to make a lot of mistakes and slide off the racetrack or to run into each other, which makes for great racing. In the end, I think it puts on one of the best races.\u201d<\/p>\n

Parity At Sonoma<\/b><\/p>\n

Eight different drivers have won the last eight races at Sonoma: Tony Stewart (2016), Kyle Busch (2015), Carl Edwards (2014), Martin Truex Jr. (2013), Clint Bowyer (2012), Kurt Busch (2011), Jimmie Johnson (2010), Kasey Kahne (2009).<\/p>\n

In the last 12 years, Sonoma has had 10 different winners.<\/p>\n

Kyle Busch, Kurt Busch, Truex, Bowyer, Johnson and Kahne are the only active drivers with wins at the Northern California road course. Kyle Busch is the only active driver to visit Victory Lane at Sonoma twice.<\/p>\n

Hamlin Tops At Road Courses In 2016<\/b><\/p>\n

Denny Hamlin was the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series\u2019 top driver at road courses in 2016. The No. 11 Toyota driver won at Watkins Glen for his first career road course victory. Before that, he placed runner-up at Sonoma after leading a race-high 33 laps and getting passed by Tony Stewart on the final turn.<\/p>\n

Hamlin\u2019s road course win cemented his position as one of NASCAR\u2019s most versatile drivers. He has won at least one race at a superspeedway, an intermediate track, a short track, a road course, a restrictor-plate track and three-turn Pocono Raceway.<\/p>\n

Golden State Warriors<\/b><\/p>\n

More active Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers hail from California than any other state. The drivers from the Golden State entered in Sunday’s race include: Kevin Harvick (Bakersfield), Matt DiBenedetto (Grass Valley), Kyle Larson (Elk Grove), Jimmie Johnson (El Cajon), AJ Allmendinger (Los Gatos), Cole Whitt (Alpine) and Tommy Regan (Tracy).<\/p>\n

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, Etc.<\/b><\/p>\n

America\u2019s Top Movie Cars 3 Will Be On Center Stage: <\/i><\/b>Last weekend\u2019s top-rated movie at the box office, \u201cCars 3,\u201d will be on center stage for Sunday\u2019s Toyota\/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma raceway. Comedian and actress Cristela Alonzo, the voice of Cruz Ramirez in \u201cCars 3,\u201d has been named Grand Marshal of the Toyota\/Save Mart 350. Disney\u2022Pixar\u2019s John Lasseter will serve as the official pace car driver.<\/p>\n

Story and photos courtesy of NASCAR<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Media Center Interviews:<\/p>\n

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Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 Axalta Chevrolet, stands in the garage during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Toyota\/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway on June 23, 2017 in Sonoma, California. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

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Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe’s Chevrolet, gets into his car during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Toyota\/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway on June 23, 2017 in Sonoma, California. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

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Alon Day, driver of the #23 earthwater Toyota, stands in the garage during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Toyota\/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway on June 23, 2017 in Sonoma, California. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

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Alon Day, driver of the #23 earthwater Toyota, drives during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Toyota\/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway on June 23, 2017 in Sonoma, California. (Photo by Sarah Crabill\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

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Billy Johnson, driver of the #43 Smithfield Ford, gets into his car during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Toyota\/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway on June 23, 2017 in Sonoma, California. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

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Boris Said, driver of the #33 Chevrolet, sits in the garage during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Toyota\/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway on June 23, 2017 in Sonoma, California. (Photo by Matt Sullivan\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Next Race: Toyota\/Save Mart 350 The Place: Sonoma Raceway The Date: Sunday, June 25 The Time: 3 p.m. ET TV: FS1, 1:30 p.m. ET Radio: PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Distance: 218.9 miles (110 laps); Stage 1 (Ends on lap 25), Stage 2 (Ends on lap 50), Final Stage (Ends on […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":10773,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[11],"tags":[16,455,454],"class_list":["post-10764","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nascar","tag-nascar","tag-sonoma-raceway","tag-toyotasave-mart-350"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/MENCS_Sonoma_McMurray_062417.jpg?fit=3205%2C2133","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7hzTZ-2NC","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10764","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10764"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10764\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10777,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10764\/revisions\/10777"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10773"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10764"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10764"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10764"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}