{"id":46797,"date":"2024-06-11T19:30:40","date_gmt":"2024-06-12T00:30:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/?p=46797"},"modified":"2024-06-21T13:00:01","modified_gmt":"2024-06-21T18:00:01","slug":"california-native-kyle-larson-earns-second-sonoma-career-win","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/2024\/06\/11\/california-native-kyle-larson-earns-second-sonoma-career-win\/","title":{"rendered":"California native Kyle Larson earns second Sonoma career win"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 Valvoline Chevrolet, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Toyota\/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway on June 09, 2024 in Sonoma, California. (Photo by Meg Oliphant\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

By Holly Cain<\/em><\/p>\n

NASCAR Wire Service<\/em><\/p>\n

SONOMA, Calif. \u2013 The hometown hero Kyle Larson executed as he needed to, making a pass for the lead with eight laps remaining in the NASCAR Cup Series Toyota\/Save Mart 350 to claim his second win at the Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway road course and third trophy of the season.<\/p>\n

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Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 Valvoline Chevrolet, takes the checkered flag to win the NASCAR Cup Series Toyota\/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway on June 09, 2024 in Sonoma, California. (Photo by Meg Oliphant\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

It was a frantic start to the day on the newly-repaved 1.99-mile course through the rolling Northern Californian hills with seven caution flags falling before the 110-lap race\u2019s halfway point \u2013 more yellow flags than the previous two Sonoma races had combined.<\/p>\n

But the final 51 laps ran caution-free with varying pit stop strategies playing a vital role in track position. The Hendrick Motorsports driver Larson was among the last to make his final stop \u2013 coming out on track in eighth position with 20 laps remaining and then moving forward by picking off one car, sometimes two cars at a time.<\/p>\n

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Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 Valvoline Chevrolet, drives during the NASCAR Cup Series Toyota\/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway on June 09, 2024 in Sonoma, California. (Photo by Meg Oliphant\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Larson, who is from Elk Grove, Calif. about an hour from the track, ultimately put his No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet out front for good after a dramatic three-way battle with four-time Sonoma winner Martin Truex Jr. and Chris Buescher with eight to go.<\/p>\n

After Larson passed them both, Truex kept Larson honest for much of the closing laps only to run out of gas on the final lap. His No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota came to a stop in front of the front-stretch grandstands about 40-yards shy of the checkered flag. And with the other cars zooming by, Truex ultimately inched his car forward to a cheering crowd limping across the finish line in a heartbreaking 27th place.<\/p>\n

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Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 Valvoline Chevrolet, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Toyota\/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway on June 09, 2024 in Sonoma, California. (Photo by Meg Oliphant\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t know what we were doing as far as strategy,” said the 31-year old Larson. \u201cI was just out there banging laps away. \u2026 so I was like, these guys have to pit another time maybe but then when they said I had to go race and then pass those guys, I got a bit nervous. I knew I\u2019d be quick from the get-go but thought once the tires came up to temp it would even off too much.<\/p>\n

\u201cThankful we had enough grip. Thankful too, those guys got racing and Martin never got clear really to where I\u2019d be stuck in third.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust an awesome, awesome race.”<\/p>\n

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Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 Valvoline Chevrolet, drinks wine in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Toyota\/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway on June 09, 2024 in Sonoma, California. (Photo by Meg Oliphant\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

After making a last lap pass of Buescher and then benefitting from Truex\u2019s situation, Front Row Motorsports driver Michael McDowell came across the line in second place \u2013 4.258-seconds behind Larson.<\/p>\n

Buescher\u2019s RFK Racing Ford was third followed by Hendrick\u2019s Chase Elliott and Trackhouse Racing\u2019s Ross Chastain, who had a collision with Richard Childress Racing driver Kyle Busch on the last lap that sent Busch\u2019s No. 8 Chevrolet off-track and dropped him from a top-10 finish to 12th place.<\/p>\n

\u201cProud of everybody,” Buescher said of his 32 laps led and Stage 2 win despite starting the race 26th. \u201cThat was a good one to be close and in the hunt. \u2026 kind of a tough weekend until today if you had told us we\u2019d gather some playoff and stage points, we\u2019d be happy. Just needed a bit more coming to the finish line.”<\/p>\n

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Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 Valvoline Chevrolet, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Toyota\/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway on June 09, 2024 in Sonoma, California. (Photo by Logan Riely\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Kaulig Racing\u2019s A.J. Allmendinger was sixth followed by Team Penske\u2019s Ryan Blaney and 23XI Racing\u2019s Tyler Reddick, who won the opening stage and led a race best 35 laps. Joe Gibbs Racing\u2019s Christopher Bell finished ninth and Front Row Motorsports\u2019 Todd Gilliland claimed 10th-place \u2013 the 23-year old driver\u2019s second top-10 finish of the season.<\/p>\n

Polesitter Joey Logano finished 21st and the two Australian SuperCar Series drivers making their NASCAR debuts \u2013 Will Brown and Cam Waters – finished 31st and 35th, respectively.<\/p>\n

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Austin Cindric, driver of the #2 America’s Tire Ford, Noah Gragson, driver of the #10 Overstock.com Ford, Corey LaJoie, driver of the #7 Gainbridge Chevrolet, and Michael McDowell, driver of the #34 Love’s Travel Stops Ford, spin after an on-track incident during the NASCAR Cup Series Toyota\/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway on June 09, 2024 in Sonoma, California. (Photo by Logan Riely\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

It was a significant win for the 2021 series champion Larson, giving him the championship lead by 14 points over his Hendrick teammate Elliott. It comes on the heels of last week\u2019s news that Larson would be granted a Playoff waiver from NASCAR despite missing the Charlotte 600-mile race two weeks ago.<\/p>\n

The multi-talented Larson had competed in a rain-delayed Indianapolis 500 on Memorial Day weekend with plans to run racing\u2019s celebrated \u201cDouble\u201d \u2013 the Indy 500 and Charlotte\u2019s Coca-Cola 600. Bad weather, however, ruined those plans. There was a rain-delay in Indianapolis, where Larson finished 18th and by the time he arrived in Charlotte to assume driving duties in that NASCAR race, rain had forced officials to call it early and he never was able to turn a lap.<\/p>\n

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Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Autotrader Ford, leads the field during the NASCAR Cup Series Toyota\/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway on June 09, 2024 in Sonoma, California. (Photo by Meg Oliphant\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Larson\u2019s victory Sunday \u2013 his 26th career win \u2013 was significant for him in the championship standings, but the race was also a big deal for the opposite reasons for Joe Gibbs Racing\u2019s Denny Hamlin, who had held the points lead entering the race. Hamlin\u2019s No. 20 Toyota suffered an engine problem on the second lap of the race and he finished 38th \u2013 last \u2013 in the field and now drops to third in the championship standings, 26 points behind Larson.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo [warning], it\u2019s just the gearing is a little weird for the track,” said Hamlin, who snapped a five-race streak of top-five finishes that included a win at Dover, Del. and a runner-up at St. Louis last week.<\/p>\n

“It\u2019s a lot of high-end RPM stuff, but the same as everyone else and I\u2019m just not really sure. They\u2019ll look at it and figure it out, but certainly not ideal.”<\/p>\n

The NASCAR Cup Series moves to the Midwest where it will make its Iowa Speedway debut with next Sunday\u2019s Iowa Corn 350 Powered by Ethanol (7 p.m. ET, USA Network, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).<\/p>\n

Interviews:<\/h3>\n

NCS Race Winner – Kyle Larson (No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet) – <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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NCS Race Winning Crew Chief – Cliff Daniels (No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet) –<\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/CliffDanielsNCSSonoma.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

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NCS Race Winning Team – Jeff Gordon (Vice Chairman, Hendrick Motorsports) –<\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/JeffGordonNCSSonoma.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

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NASCAR Cup Series Race – Toyota \/ Save Mart 350<\/b><\/p>\n

Sonoma Raceway<\/b><\/p>\n

Sonoma, California<\/b><\/p>\n

Sunday, June 9, 2024<\/b><\/p>\n

                1. (5)  Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, 110.<\/p>\n

                2. (12)  Michael McDowell, Ford, 110.<\/p>\n

                3. (26)  Chris Buescher, Ford, 110.<\/p>\n

                4. (4)  Chase Elliott, Chevrolet, 110.<\/p>\n

                5. (9)  Ross Chastain, Chevrolet, 110.<\/p>\n

                6. (11)  AJ Allmendinger(i), Chevrolet, 110.<\/p>\n

                7. (3)  Ryan Blaney, Ford, 110.<\/p>\n

                8. (2)  Tyler Reddick, Toyota, 110.<\/p>\n

                9. (15)  Christopher Bell, Toyota, 110.<\/p>\n

                10. (14)  Todd Gilliland, Ford, 110.<\/p>\n

                11. (17)  Corey LaJoie, Chevrolet, 110.<\/p>\n

                12. (29)  Kyle Busch, Chevrolet, 110.<\/p>\n

                13. (35)  Brad Keselowski, Ford, 110.<\/p>\n

                14. (7)  Daniel Suarez, Chevrolet, 110.<\/p>\n

                15. (8)  Alex Bowman, Chevrolet, 110.<\/p>\n

                16. (20)  Zane Smith #, Chevrolet, 110.<\/p>\n

                17. (13)  Carson Hocevar #, Chevrolet, 110.<\/p>\n

                18. (30)  Ryan Preece, Ford, 110.<\/p>\n

                19. (38)  Erik Jones, Toyota, 110.<\/p>\n

                20. (18)  Bubba Wallace, Toyota, 110.<\/p>\n

                21. (1)  Joey Logano, Ford, 110.<\/p>\n

                22. (28)  Austin Cindric, Ford, 110.<\/p>\n

                23. (36)  Kaz Grala #, Ford, 110.<\/p>\n

                24. (33)  Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chevrolet, 110.<\/p>\n

                25. (22)  Harrison Burton, Ford, 110.<\/p>\n

                26. (19)  Noah Gragson, Ford, 110.<\/p>\n

                27. (21)  Martin Truex Jr., Toyota, 110.<\/p>\n

                28. (34)  Daniel Hemric, Chevrolet, 109.<\/p>\n

                29. (37)  John Hunter Nemechek, Toyota, 109.<\/p>\n

                30. (6)  William Byron, Chevrolet, 108.<\/p>\n

                31. (24)  Will Brown, Chevrolet, 107.<\/p>\n

                32. (32)  Josh Berry #, Ford, Suspension, 95.<\/p>\n

                33. (27)  Justin Haley, Ford, Steering, 88.<\/p>\n

                34. (23)  Chase Briscoe, Ford, Transmission, 73.<\/p>\n

                35. (31)  Cam Waters, Ford, Accident, 66.<\/p>\n

                36. (16)  Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, DVP, 39.<\/p>\n

                37. (10)  Ty Gibbs, Toyota, DVP, 16.<\/p>\n

                38. (25)  Denny Hamlin, Toyota, Engine, 2.<\/p>\n

Average Speed of Race Winner:  74.526 mph.<\/p>\n

Time of Race:  2 Hrs, 56 Mins, 14 Secs. Margin of Victory:  4.258 Seconds.<\/p>\n

Caution Flags:  8 for 22 laps.<\/p>\n

Lead Changes:  11 among 9 drivers.<\/p>\n

Lap Leaders:   J. Logano 1-16;T. Reddick 17-33;R. Blaney 34;T. Reddick 35-52;C. Buescher 53-67;A. Allmendinger(i) 68-70;K. Larson 71-80;C. Elliott 81-83;C. Buescher 84-100;M. Truex Jr. 101;K. Larson 102-110;K. Busch 111.<\/p>\n

Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led):  Tyler Reddick 2 times for 35 laps; Chris Buescher 2 times for 32 laps; Kyle Larson 2 times for 19 laps; Joey Logano 1 time for 16 laps; Chase Elliott 1 time for 3 laps; AJ Allmendinger(i) 1 time for 3 laps; Ryan Blaney 1 time for 1 lap; Martin Truex Jr. 1 time for 1 lap; Kyle Busch 1 time for 1 lap.<\/p>\n

Stage #1 Top Ten: 45,12,5,9,48,34,1,99,7,38<\/p>\n

Stage #2 Top Ten: 17,41,19,8,16,6,43,38,22,21<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  By Holly Cain NASCAR Wire Service SONOMA, Calif. \u2013 The hometown hero Kyle Larson executed as he needed to, making a pass for the lead with eight laps remaining in the NASCAR Cup Series Toyota\/Save Mart 350 to claim his second win at the Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway road course and third trophy of the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":676,"featured_media":46813,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_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}},"categories":[11],"tags":[225,16,455],"class_list":["post-46797","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nascar","tag-kyle-larson","tag-nascar","tag-sonoma-raceway"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GettyImages-2156833123-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1707&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7hzTZ-caN","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46797","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/676"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=46797"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46797\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":46825,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46797\/revisions\/46825"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/46813"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=46797"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=46797"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=46797"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}