2018 Toyota/Save Mart 350

The **2018 Toyota/Save Mart 350** was a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race held on June 24, 2018 at Sonoma Raceway in Sonoma, California. Contested over 110 laps on the 1.99-mile (3.20 km) road course, it was the 16th race of the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season.

## Report

### Background

**Sonoma Raceway,** formerly **Sears Point Raceway** and **Infineon Raceway** is a 2.52-mile (4.06 km) road course and drag strip located on the landform known as Sears Point in the southern Sonoma Mountains in Sonoma, California, USA. The road course features 12 turns on a hilly course with 160 feet (49 m) of total elevation change. It is host to one of only three Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races each year that are run on road courses (the others being Watkins Glen International in Watkins Glen, New York and the road course layout for the Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway). It is also host to the Verizon IndyCar Series and several other auto races and motorcycle races such as the American Federation of Motorcyclists series. Sonoma Raceway continues to host amateur, or club racing events which may or may not be open to the general public. The largest such car club is the Sports Car Club of America.

## Practice

### First practice

Clint Bowyer was the fastest in the first practice session with a time of 76.547 seconds and a speed of 93.590 mph (150.619 km/h).

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### Final practice

Kurt Busch was the fastest in the final practice session with a time of 76.163 seconds and a speed of 94.061 mph (151.377 km/h).

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## Qualifying

Kyle Larson scored the pole for the race with a time of 75.732 and a speed of 94.597 mph (152.239 km/h).

## Race

### Stage 1

Kyle Larson led the field to the green flag at 3:13 p.m., Martin Truex, Jr. took the lead on lap 3 and led 20 laps, and A.J. Allmendinger took the lead from Truex on lap 23 and stayed on the track throughout the 25-lap first stage and led at the end of the run. Other top drivers, including Truex, Harvick and Kyle Busch, pitted several laps before the end of the stage. Finishing behind Allmendinger in the top 10 were Brad Keselowski, Jimmie Johnson, Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson, Ryan Newman, Aric Almirola, Daniel Suárez, Chris Buescher and Kasey Kahne, The first caution flew moments later for the completion of the stage.

### Stage 2

Racing resumed on lap 30, Only a few laps after winning the race’s first stage, A.J. Allmendinger, one of the series’ best road racers, left the race with a blown engine. His car stalled on the track, producing the second caution period of the day on lap 34, Allmendinger admitted missing a shift and causing the issue,

The race resumed on lap 37, Kevin Harvick took the lead on lap 42 and led 6 laps,

Denny Hamlin took the lead on lap 42 and seeking his first win of the year, finished first in the second stage. Following in order were Chase Elliott, Jimmie Johnson, Brad Keselowski, Ryan Blaney, Aric Almirola, Alex Bowman, Michael McDowell, Chris Buescher and Ryan Newman. Race leaders Harvick and Martin Truex, Jr had pitted before the caution flew for the stage end. Caution flew moments later for the completion of the second stage.

### Final stage

The race resumed on lap 52, Kyle Larson won the pole for the race with a speed of 94.597 miles per hour, but he struggled in the race, running from 12th to 20th much of the afternoon. He expressed frustration on his team radio that he was using his tires as planned but wasn’t making significant gains.

Martin Truex, Jr. took the race lead from Kevin Harvick on lap 91. Earlier, the Truex team had pretended it was readying for a pit stop, prompting his main challengers, Harvick and Clint Bowyer, to pit. Truex stayed on the track, pitted seven laps later and ran in the final stage with fresher tires.

Truex, relying on excellent pit strategy from his crew chief, won the race in a breeze, finishing 10.51 seconds in front of Kevin Harvick.

### Stage Results

**Stage 1**
*Laps:* 25

**Stage 2**
*Laps:* 25

### Final Stage Results

**Stage 3**
*Laps:* 60

### Race statistics

* Lead changes: 7 among different drivers
* Cautions/Laps: 3 for 8
* Red flags: 0
* Time of race: 2 hours, 38 minutes and 28 seconds
* Average speed: 82.882 miles per hour (133.386 km/h)

## Media

### Television

*Fox NASCAR* televised the race in the United States on FS1 for the fourth consecutive year. Mike Joy was the lap-by-lap announcer, while six-time Sonoma winner Jeff Gordon and Darrell Waltrip were the color commentators. Jamie Little, Regan Smith and Matt Yocum reported from pit lane during the race. This is also Fox Sports' last Cup race for their portion of the season as NBC Sports takes over NASCAR broadcasts for the rest of the season.

### Radio

Radio coverage of the race was broadcast by Performance Racing Network. PRN's broadcast of the race was simulcasted on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. Doug Rice and Mark Garrow announced the race in the booth while the field was racing on the pit straight. Pat Patterson called the race from a stand outside of turn 2 when the field was racing up turns 2, 3 and 3a. Brad Gillie called the race from a stand outside of turn 7a when the field was racing through turns 4a and 7a. The field came back into the view of the booth in turns 8 and 9. Rob Albright called the race from a billboard outside turn 11 when the field was racing through turns 10 and 11. Heather Debeaux, Brett McMillan and Jim Noble reported from pit lane during the race.

 **Lead announcer:** Doug Rice**Announcer:** Mark Garrow | **Turns 2, 3 & 3a:** Pat Patterson**Turns 4a & 7a:** Brad Gillie**Turns 10 & 11:** Rob Albright | Heather DebeauxBrett McMillanJim Noble

## Standings after the race

Drivers' Championship standings

Manufacturers' Championship standings

* **Note**: Only the first 16 positions are included for the driver standings.
* . – Driver has clinched a position in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series playoffs.

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