2014 Toyota/Save Mart 350

The 2014 Toyota/Save Mart 350 was a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race that was held on June 22, 2014, 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 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and the first of two road course competitions on the schedule. Carl Edwards won the race, his second win of the season and first on a road course in Sprint Cup competition. Jeff Gordon finished second, while Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Jamie McMurray, and Paul Menard rounded out the top five. The top rookies of the race were Austin Dillon (17th), Cole Whitt (27th), and Kyle Larson (28th).

2014 Toyota/Save Mart 350
Race details[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]
Race 16 of 36 in the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Date June 22, 2014 (2014-06-22)
Location Sonoma Raceway, Sonoma, California
Course Permanent racing facility
1.99 mi (3.2 km)
Distance 110 laps, 218.9 mi (352.3 km)
Weather Sunny with a high temperature around 79 °F (26 °C); wind out of the SW at 11 miles per hour (18 km/h).
Average speed 76.583 mph (123.248 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Chip Ganassi Racing
Time 74.354
Most laps led
Driver A. J. Allmendinger JTG Daugherty Racing
Laps 47
Winner
No. 99 Carl Edwards Roush Fenway Racing
Television in the United States
Network TNT & PRN
Announcers Adam Alexander, Wally Dallenbach, Jr. and Kyle Petty (Television)
Doug Rice and Mark Garrow (Booth)
Rob Albright (2, 3, 3a), Wendy Venturini (4a, 7, 7a), Brad Gillie (8, 8a, 9, 10) (Turns) (Radio)
Nielsen Ratings 2.8/7
4.676 Million viewers[10][11]

Previous week's race

Jimmie Johnson took the lead with ten laps to go to win the Quicken Loans 400 at Michigan International Speedway. This was his first career win at Michigan. "We had figured out every way to lose this race," Johnson said after winning at Michigan for the first time in 25 tries. "And today we were able to get it done. "We really were in a win-win situation," he added. "Those guys still had to come to pit road to make it to the end. Once I got an idea of how the race was unfolding, I knew we were in the catbird seat and were able to take advantage of it. When it came down to strategy in the end, which we all knew it would at Michigan, Chad nailed the strategy."[12]

Report

Background

Sonoma Raceway, the road course where the race was held.

The course, Sonoma Raceway, is one of two road courses to hold NASCAR races, the other being Watkins Glen International.[13] The standard road course at Sonoma Raceway is a 12-turn course that is 2.52 miles (4.06 km) long;[14] the track was modified in 1998, adding the Chute, which bypassed turns 5 and 6, shortening the course to 1.95 miles (3.14 km).[14] The Chute was only used for NASCAR events such as this race, and was criticized by many drivers, who preferred the full layout.[15] In 2001, it was replaced with a 70-degree turn, 4A, bringing the track to its current dimensions of 1.99 miles (3.20 km).[16] Martin Truex, Jr. was the defending race winner from 2013.

Two teams elected to replace their standard drivers with road course ringers.[17] Boris Said took over the Go FAS Racing No. 32 Ford,[18] while Tomy Drissi drove the No. 66 Toyota for Identity Ventures Racing.[19]

Entry list

The entry list for the Toyota/Save Mart 350 was released on Monday, June 15, 2014 at 1:03 p.m. Eastern time. Forty-three drivers were entered for the race.

No. Driver Team Manufacturer
1Jamie McMurrayChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet
2Brad Keselowski (PC2)Team PenskeFord
3Austin Dillon (R)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet
4Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet
5Kasey KahneHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
7Michael Annett (R)Tommy Baldwin RacingChevrolet
9Marcos AmbroseRichard Petty MotorsportsFord
10Danica PatrickStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet
11Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
12Juan Pablo MontoyaTeam PenskeFord
13Casey MearsGermain RacingChevrolet
14Tony Stewart (PC3)Stewart-Haas RacingChevrolet
15Clint BowyerMichael Waltrip RacingToyota
16Greg BiffleRoush-Fenway RacingFord
17Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.Roush-Fenway RacingFord
18Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
20Matt Kenseth (PC5)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota
22Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord
23Alex Bowman (R)BK RacingToyota
24Jeff Gordon (PC6)Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
26Cole Whitt (R)BK RacingToyota
27Paul MenardRichard Childress RacingChevrolet
31Ryan NewmanRichard Childress RacingChevrolet
32Boris SaidGo FAS RacingFord
33Alex KennedyCircle SportChevrolet
34David RaganFront Row MotorsportsFord
36Reed SorensonTommy Baldwin RacingChevrolet
38David GillilandFront Row MotorsportsFord
40Landon Cassill (i)Circle SportChevrolet
41Kurt Busch (PC4)Stewart-Haas RacingChevrolet
42Kyle Larson (R)Chip Ganassi RacingChevrolet
43Aric AlmirolaRichard Petty MotorsportsFord
44J. J. Yeley (i)Xxxtreme MotorsportsChevrolet
47A. J. AllmendingerJTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet
48Jimmie Johnson (PC1)Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
51Justin Allgaier (R)HScott MotorsportsChevrolet
55Brian VickersMichael Waltrip RacingToyota
66Tomy DrissiMichael Waltrip RacingToyota
78Martin Truex, Jr.Furniture Row RacingChevrolet
83Ryan Truex (R)BK RacingToyota
88Dale Earnhardt, Jr.Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
95Michael McDowellLeavine Family RacingFord
98Josh WisePhil Parsons RacingChevrolet
99Carl EdwardsRoush-Fenway RacingFord
Official entry list
Key Meaning
(R) Rookie
(i) Ineligible for points
(PC#) Past champions provisional

Practice

First practice

Kurt Busch was the fastest in the first practice session with a time of 75.039 and a speed of 95.470 mph (153.644 km/h).

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer Time Speed
1 41Kurt BuschStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet75.03995.470
2 15Clint BowyerMichael Waltrip RacingToyota75.07895.421
3 55Brian VickersMichael Waltrip RacingToyota75.34795.080
Official first practice results

Final practice

Clint Bowyer was the fastest in the final practice session with a time of 74.634 and a speed of 95.988 mph (154.478 km/h).

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer Time Speed
1 15Clint BowyerMichael Waltrip RacingToyota74.63495.988
2 27Paul MenardRichard Childress RacingChevrolet74.98195.544
3 99Carl EdwardsRoush Fenway RacingFord75.04395.465
Official final practice results

Qualifying

Jamie McMurray won the pole position, setting a new track record.

Jamie McMurray won the pole with a new track record time of 74.354 and a speed of 96.350 mph (155.060 km/h). "This race is about having good strategy and having a little bit of luck," McMurray said. "It's about not getting run into in Turn 4 or Turn 7 on a restart. I've run enough races here that I've had every issue you could have with running out of gas ... to getting wrecked in Turn 7 on a restart because someone from 15th dive-bombed me into the corner with no chance of making it." "Well that wasn't what we expected," Bowyer said. "We were fast all day (Friday), just didn't have enough grip and missed Turn 4. We will just have to pass a few more cars (Sunday)."[20]

Qualifying results

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer R1 R2
1 1Jamie McMurrayChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet74.65774.354
2 47A. J. AllmendingerJTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet74.53974.557
3 42Kyle Larson (R)Chip Ganassi RacingChevrolet74.80274.670
4 99Carl EdwardsRoush Fenway RacingFord74.91774.736
5 41Kurt BuschStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet74.55474.856
6 4Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet74.81374.894
7 31Ryan NewmanRichard Childress RacingChevrolet74.65274.925
8 55Brian VickersMichael Waltrip RacingToyota74.75174.958
9 27Paul MenardRichard Childress RacingChevrolet74.85174.994
10 22Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord74.47275.081
11 10Danica PatrickStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet74.71175.083
12 13Casey MearsGermain RacingChevrolet74.79175.152
13 2Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord74.924
14 20Matt KensethJoe Gibbs RacingToyota74.933
15 24Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet74.975
16 11Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota75.032
17 88Dale Earnhardt, Jr.Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet75.046
18 78Martin Truex, Jr.Front Row MotorsportsChevrolet75.054
19 16Greg BiffleRoush Fenway RacingFord75.069
20 18Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota75.112
21 14Tony StewartStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet75.167
22 48Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet75.176
23 9Marcos AmbroseRichard Petty MotorsportsFord75.215
24 17Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.Roush Fenway RacingFord75.303
25 15Clint BowyerMichael Waltrip RacingToyota75.376
26 3Austin Dillon (R)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet75.388
27 38David GillilandFront Row MotorsportsFord75.417
28 95Michael McDowellLeavine Family RacingFord75.433
29 43Aric AlmirolaRichard Petty MotorsportsFord75.492
30 5Kasey KahneHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet75.518
31 34David RaganFront Row MotorsportsFord75.575
32 26Cole Whitt (R)BK RacingToyota75.622
33 98Josh WisePhil Parsons RacingChevrolet75.755
34 83Ryan Truex (R)BK RacingToyota75.760
35 51Justin Allgaier (R)HScott MotorsportsChevrolet75.817
36 33Alex KennedyCircle SportChevrolet76.094
37 40Landon Cassill[N 1]Circle SportChevrolet76.203
38 23Alex Bowman (R)BK RacingToyota76.321
39 44J. J. Yeley[N 1]Xxxtreme MotorsportsChevrolet76.423
40 36Reed SorensonTommy Baldwin RacingChevrolet76.622
41 32Boris SaidGo FAS RacingFord76.721
42 7Michael Annett (R)Tommy Baldwin RacingChevrolet77.632
43 66Tomy DrissiIdentity Ventures RacingToyota78.626
Official qualifying results

Race

Start

Carl Edwards won the race.

The race was scheduled to start at 3:15 p.m. Eastern time, but started seven minutes later, with Jamie McMurray leading the field to the green. A. J. Allmendinger put pressure on him for the first few laps but was unable to take the lead. Defending race winner Martin Truex, Jr. made an unscheduled stop on lap seven for a vibration, while Allmendinger wrested the lead from McMurray on lap nine. Kyle Busch nicked Brad Keselowski in turn 11, which forced Keselowski down the order by 8 spots. While describing his car as "bad", Keselowski reckoned he "deserved to get spun out". Kevin Harvick took the lead from Allmendinger on lap 22, before the first caution of the race came out on lap 31 after Landon Cassill blew an engine. During pit stops under the caution, Allmendinger retook the lead. Allmendinger led the field to the green on the restart on lap 35. Casey Mears got boxed in at turn 7a and sustained heavy damage that forced him to make an unscheduled pit stop the next lap, while Kasey Kahne also sustained damage.

Second half

McMurray retook the lead from Allmendinger on lap 54, before he pulled off to pit and handed the lead to Jeff Gordon. Harvick was able to take the lead from Gordon, when Gordon pitted on lap 58. The second caution of the race occurred on lap 61, as Ryan Truex stalled in the esses. Most of the cars on the lead lap stayed out, with Harvick leading the field to the restart on lap 65. Jimmie Johnson took the lead from Harvick exiting turn 4, before the third caution of the race came out on lap 71 for debris. Joey Logano stayed out during the cycle of pit stops under caution to take the lead. The race restarted on lap 75 with Clint Bowyer taking the lead from Logano, going into turn 7a. The fourth caution flew for a hard wreck in the esses. Dale Earnhardt, Jr.'s car hopped over a curb, and collided with Matt Kenseth and sent him head on into the tire barriers. He was able to extricate himself from his wrecked car.

Closing stage

The race restarted on lap 80 with Bowyer leading the field but he surrendered the lead to Marcos Ambrose in turn 1. Johnson also passed Bowyer for second, going into turn 11. Bowyer was then turned around by McMurray and was then hit by Harvick. Harvick's stranded car forced the race to go under caution for the fifth time. The race restarted with 25 laps to go with Ambrose leading the way but he lost the lead to Carl Edwards. Earnhardt, Jr. pinned Allmendinger into the wall coming to the line, causing substantial damage to Allmendinger's car. Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. was hit by Brian Vickers to bring out the sixth caution, with 20 laps to go.

Finish

The race was restarted 16 laps to go and Edwards held off a last lap charge by Gordon to win for the first time on a road course, in NASCAR. He later described his race as "real tough", and his victory as "very special".[21] Gordon stated that he had been "overdriving" his car, and he wished he "had just stayed smooth and stuck with it", while chasing Edwards towards the end.[22]

Race results

Pos Grid No. Driver Team Manufacturer Laps Points
1 499Carl EdwardsRoush Fenway RacingFord11047
2 1524Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet11043
3 1788Dale Earnhardt, Jr.Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet11041
4 11Jamie McMurrayChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet11041
5 927Paul MenardRichard Childress RacingChevrolet11039
6 305Kasey KahneHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet11038
7 2248Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet11038
8 239Marcos AmbroseRichard Petty MotorsportsFord11037
9 1916Greg BiffleRoush Fenway RacingFord11035
10 2515Clint BowyerMichael Waltrip RacingToyota11035
11 731Ryan NewmanRichard Childress RacingChevrolet11033
12 541Kurt BuschStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet11032
13 1213Casey MearsGermain RacingChevrolet11031
14 855Brian VickersMichael Waltrip RacingToyota11030
15 1878Martin Truex, Jr.Furniture Row RacingChevrolet11029
16 1022Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord11029
17 263Austin Dillon (R)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet11027
18 1110Danica PatrickStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet11026
19 2114Tony StewartStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet11025
20 64Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet11025
21 2738David GillilandFront Row MotorsportsFord11023
22 132Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord11022
23 2943Aric AlmirolaRichard Petty MotorsportsFord11021
24 2895Michael McDowellLeavine Family RacingFord11020
25 2018Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota11019
26 1611Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota11018
27 3226Cole Whitt (R)BK RacingToyota11017
28 342Kyle Larson (R)Chip Ganassi RacingChevrolet11016
29 3823Alex Bowman (R)BK RacingToyota11015
30 427Michael Annett (R)Tommy Baldwin RacingChevrolet11014
31 2417Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.Roush Fenway RacingFord10913
32 4036Reed SorensonTommy Baldwin RacingChevrolet10912
33 3551Justin Allgaier (R)HScott MotorsportsChevrolet10911
34 3944J. J. YeleyXxxtreme MotorsportsChevrolet1090
35 4132Boris SaidGo FAS RacingFord1099
36 3134David RaganFront Row MotorsportsFord1098
37 247A. J. AllmendingerJTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet1089
38 4366Tomy DrissiIdentity Ventures RacingToyota1086
39 3633Alex KennedyCircle SportChevrolet1045
40 3398Josh WisePhil Parsons RacingChevrolet954
41 3483Ryan Truex (R)BK RacingToyota913
42 1420Matt KensethJoe Gibbs RacingToyota742
43 3740Landon CassillCircle SportChevrolet290

Race summary

  • Lead changes: 11 among different drivers
  • Cautions/Laps: 6 for 19
  • Red flags: 0
  • Time of race: 2 hours, 51 minutes and 30 seconds
  • Average speed: 76.583 miles per hour (123.248 km/h)

Media

Television

TNT Sports
Booth announcersPit reporters
Lap-by-lap: Adam Alexander
Color-commentator: Wally Dallenbach, Jr.
Color commentator: Kyle Petty
Matt Yocum
Marty Snider
Chris Neville
Ralph Sheheen

Radio

PRN Radio
Booth announcersTurn announcersPit reporters
Lead announcer: Doug Rice
Announcer: Mark Garrow
Turns 2, 3 & 3a: Rob Albright
Turns 4a, 7 & 7a: Wendy Venturini
Turns 8, 8a, 9 & 10: Brad Gillie
Brett McMillan
Steve Richards
Jim Noble
Pat Patterson

Standings after the race

Note

  1. Landon Cassill and J. J. Yeley started from the rear, as both drivers were replaced by a substitute driver to qualify their cars. Both drivers had been competing at Road America in a Nationwide Series event.

References

  1. "2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Schedule". ESPN. Retrieved 2014-06-16.
  2. "Sonoma Raceway". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. January 3, 2013. Retrieved June 16, 2014.
  3. "Entry List". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. June 17, 2014. Retrieved June 18, 2014.
  4. "First Practice Results". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. June 20, 2014. Archived from the original on June 24, 2014. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
  5. "Final Practice Results". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. June 20, 2014. Archived from the original on August 21, 2014. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
  6. "Qualifying Results". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. June 21, 2014. Archived from the original on August 13, 2014. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  7. "Toyota/Save Mart 350 Results". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. June 22, 2014. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
  8. "Points Standings". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. June 22, 2014. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
  9. Report, Staff (June 22, 2014). "Manufacturer Standings". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
  10. Golum, Rob (June 24, 2014). "U.S. Cable Television Ratings for the Week Ended June 22". Bloomberg.com. Bloomberg L.P. Retrieved June 24, 2014.
  11. Bibel, Sara (June 24, 2014). "Cable Top 25: World Cup Soccer Tops Cable Viewership for the Week Ending June 22, 2014". tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com. Tribune Digital Ventures. Archived from the original on June 27, 2014. Retrieved June 24, 2014.
  12. Oreovicz, John (June 15, 2014). "Johnson, Knaus hit right strategy". ESPN.com. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved June 16, 2014.
  13. White, Rea (18 June 2010). "Road course races challenge the specialists". Fox Sports. Archived from the original on 2010-07-25. Retrieved 2013-06-18.
  14. "Sears Point". gt-racing.co.uk. Retrieved 2013-06-18.
  15. "Passing is tough in Chute". The Augusta Chronicle. 28 June 1998. Retrieved 2013-06-18.
  16. "Sears Point Breaks Ground On Modified Chute". Racingwest.com. Archived from the original on 2011-08-07. Retrieved 2013-06-18.
  17. Jensen, Tom (2014-06-19). "Where have all of the NASCAR 'road-course ringers' gone?". Foxsports.com. Archived from the original on 2014-06-24. Retrieved 2014-06-19.
  18. Bonkowski, Joe (2014-06-18). "Boris Said looking for return to success at Sonoma". NBC Sports. Retrieved 2014-06-19.
  19. Bonkowski, Jerry (2014-06-19). "Hercules' next battle will be against 42 NASCAR drivers". NBC Sports. Retrieved 2014-06-19.
  20. Long, Dustin (June 21, 2014). "McMurray Wins Sonoma Pole (Again)". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. Archived from the original on June 27, 2014. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  21. Pistone, Pete (June 22, 2014). "Edwards Sonoma Road Warrior". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. Archived from the original on June 27, 2014. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
  22. Spencer, Reid (June 22, 2014). "Edwards gets first road race win at Sonoma". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
Previous race:
2014 Quicken Loans 400
Sprint Cup Series
2014 season
Next race:
2014 Quaker State 400
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