2013 Toyota/Save Mart 350

The 2013 Toyota/Save Mart 350 was a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race held on June 23, 2013, at Sonoma Raceway in Sonoma, California, United States. Contested over 110 laps on the 1.99-mile (3.2 km) road course, it was the sixteenth race of the 2013 Sprint Cup Series championship, and the first of two road course competitions on the schedule. Martin Truex, Jr. of Michael Waltrip Racing won the race, breaking a 218-race winless streak stretching back to June 2007, while Jeff Gordon finished second. Carl Edwards, Kurt Busch, and Clint Bowyer rounded out the top five. The top rookie of the race was Ricky Stenhouse Jr who finished 27th.

2013 Toyota/Save Mart 350
Race details[1][2]
Race 16 of 36 in the 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Date June 23, 2013 (2013-06-23)
Location Sonoma Raceway, Sonoma, California, United States
Course Permanent racing facility
1.99 mi (3.2 km)
Distance 110 laps, 218.9 mi (352.3 km)
Weather Clear with a high temperature around 85 °F (29 °C); wind out of the SW at 16 miles per hour (26 km/h).
Average speed 76.658 mph (123.369 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Earnhardt Ganassi Racing
Time 75.422 seconds
Most laps led
Driver Martin Truex, Jr. Michael Waltrip Racing
Laps 51
Winner
No. 56 Martin Truex, Jr. Michael Waltrip Racing
Television in the United States
Network TNT
Announcers Adam Alexander, Wally Dallenbach, Jr. and Kyle Petty
Nielsen Ratings 3.0/7 (4.660 million viewers)

Report

Background

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

Sonoma Raceway is one of two road courses to hold NASCAR races, the other being Watkins Glen International.[3] The standard road course at Sonoma Raceway is a 12-turn course that is 2.52 miles (4.06 km) long;[4] 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).[4] The Chute was only used for NASCAR events such as this race, and was criticized by many drivers, who preferred the full layout.[5] 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).[6] Clint Bowyer was the defending race winner after winning the race in 2012.[7]

Seven teams chose to temporarily replace their regular drivers with road course ringers. Humphrey Smith Racing chose Alex Kennedy to drive the No. 19 Toyota,[8] while Circle Sport chose Ron Fellows to drive their No. 33 Chevrolet.[9] Tommy Baldwin Racing (TBR) selected Victor Gonzalez, Jr. to drive the No. 36 Chevrolet, making Gonzalez, Jr. the first Caribbean driver to race in the Sprint Cup Series.[10] TBR also chose Justin Marks to drive the No. 7.[11] Brian Keselowski chose Drive for Diversity graduate Paulie Harraka to drive the No. 52 Ford,[12] while NEMCO-Jay Robinson Racing selected Tomy Drissi to drive their No. 87 car, replacing Joe Nemechek.[13] Boris Said competed during the race in the No. 32 FAS Lane Racing Ford.[11] Jacques Villeneuve, the 1995 Indianapolis 500 winner and 1997 Formula One World Champion, was selected by Phoenix Racing to drive the No. 51 as well.[14] Jason Bowles was tabbed by Michael Waltrip Racing to pilot the No. 55 in place of Brian Vickers in practice and qualifying due to Vickers participating in the Johnsonville Sausage 200 at Road America.[15]

Before the race, Jimmie Johnson was leading the Drivers' Championship with 538 points, while Carl Edwards stood in second with 507 points.[16] Bowyer followed in the third with 489, thirteen points ahead of Kevin Harvick and thirty-three ahead of Matt Kenseth in fourth and fifth.[16] Kyle Busch, with 452, was in sixth; five ahead of Dale Earnhardt, Jr., who was scored seventh.[16] Eighth-placed Greg Biffle was thirteen points ahead of Brad Keselowski and twenty-six ahead of Tony Stewart in ninth and tenth.[16] Paul Menard was eleventh with 415, while Kasey Kahne completed the first twelve positions with 407 points.[16] In the Manufacturers' Championship, Chevrolet was leading with 107 points, fifteen points ahead of Toyota.[17] Ford was third after recording only 79 points before the race.[17]

For the first time, Amtrak ran a special train from Sacramento to the race on trackage that had never seen a passenger train. The train was run using Capitol Corridor equipment. 500 fans total rode the train.

Practice and qualifying

Jamie McMurray won the pole position.

Two practice sessions were held on June 21 in preparation for the race. The first session was 105 minutes, while second session was 90 minutes long.[18]

During the first practice session, Marcos Ambrose, for the Richard Petty Motorsports team, was quickest ahead of Juan Pablo Montoya in second and Casey Mears in third.[19] Kurt Busch was scored fourth, and Jamie McMurray managed fifth.[19] Biffle, Keselowski, Bowyer, Martin Truex, Jr., and Joey Logano rounded out the top ten quickest drivers in the session.[19] Bowyer had the quickest ten consecutive lap average with an average speed of 92.404 miles per hour (148.710 km/h).[19] In the final practice session for the race, Bowyer was quickest with a time of 75.765 seconds.[20] McMurray followed in second, ahead of Kyle Busch and Edwards in third and fourth.[20] Montoya, who was second quickest in second practice,[19] could only manage fifth.[20]

Starting with this race, NASCAR changed qualifying procedures for Sprint Cup races held on the road courses. Rather than having one car attempt to qualify at a time, groups of either five or six cars were released in five-second intervals and had a five-minute time limit to complete their runs.[21] McMurray clinched his ninth career pole position,[22] with a lap time of 75.422 seconds and a speed of 94.986 miles per hour (152.865 km/h).[23] He was joined on the front row of the grid by Ambrose.[23] Edwards qualified third, Biffle took fourth, and Bowyer started fifth.[23] Kenseth, Kurt Busch, Logano, Kyle Busch, and Jeff Gordon completed the first ten positions on the grid.[23]

Qualifying order

Source:[24]

Results

Qualifying

Grid No. Driver Team Manufacturer Time Speed
1 1Jamie McMurrayEarnhardt Ganassi RacingChevrolet75.42294.986
2 9Marcos AmbroseRichard Petty MotorsportsFord75.47194.924
3 99Carl EdwardsRoush Fenway RacingFord75.58694.779
4 16Greg BiffleRoush Fenway RacingFord75.59294.772
5 15Clint BowyerMichael Waltrip RacingToyota75.62094.737
6 20Matt KensethJoe Gibbs RacingToyota75.71194.623
7 78Kurt BuschFurniture Row RacingChevrolet75.75094.574
8 22Joey LoganoPenske RacingFord75.78894.527
9 18Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota75.93394.346
10 24Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet75.94394.334
11 14Tony StewartStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet76.01094.251
12 29Kevin HarvickRichard Childress RacingChevrolet76.03994.215
13 42Juan Pablo MontoyaEarnhardt Ganassi RacingChevrolet76.03994.215
14 56Martin Truex, Jr.Michael Waltrip RacingToyota76.20094.016
15 5Kasey KahneHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet76.40193.768
16 27Paul MenardRichard Childress RacingFord76.46493.691
17 11Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota76.46593.690
18 2Brad KeselowskiPenske RacingFord76.47093.684
19 48Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet76.47193.683
20 47Bobby LabonteJTG Daugherty RacingToyota76.48393.668
21 13Casey MearsGermain RacingFord76.55593.580
22 51Jacques VilleneuvePhoenix RacingChevrolet76.57693.554
23 34David RaganFront Row MotorsportsFord76.59293.535
24 32Boris SaidFAS Lane RacingFord76.64293.474
25 33Ron FellowsCircle SportChevrolet76.65093.464
26 88Dale Earnhardt, Jr.Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet76.68693.420
27 31Jeff BurtonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet76.78493.301
28 30David StremmeSwan RacingToyota76.81993.258
29 38David GillilandFront Row MotorsportsFord76.82993.246
30 39Ryan NewmanStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet76.87893.187
31 10Danica PatrickStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet76.92293.133
32 43Aric AlmirolaRichard Petty MotorsportsFord77.00193.038
33 93Travis KvapilBK RacingToyota77.16992.835
34 55Brian VickersMichael Waltrip RacingToyota77.22492.769
35 35Josh WiseFront Row MotorsportsFord77.24092.750
36 7Justin MarksTommy Baldwin RacingChevrolet77.36092.606
37 17Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.Roush Fenway RacingFord77.44592.504
38 83David ReutimannBK RacingToyota77.59092.331
39 19Alex KennedyHumphrey Smith RacingToyota78.27191.528
40 52Paulie HarrakaBrian Keselowski MotorsportsFord78.36791.416
41 87Tomy DrissiNEMCO-Jay Robinson RacingToyota79.05190.625
42 36Victor Gonzalez, Jr.Tommy Baldwin RacingChevroletN/AN/A
43 37J. J. YeleyTommy Baldwin RacingChevrolet80.14389.390
Source:[23][25]

Race results

Martin Truex Jr. won the race, the second of his career.
Pos Grid No. Driver Team Manufacturer Laps Led Points1
1 1456Martin Truex, Jr.Michael Waltrip RacingToyota1105148
2 1024Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet110443
3 399Carl EdwardsRoush Fenway RacingFord110041
4 778Kurt BuschFurniture Row RacingChevrolet1101541
5 515Clint BowyerMichael Waltrip RacingToyota110039
6 155Kasey KahneHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet110038
7 29Marcos AmbroseRichard Petty MotorsportsFord1101838
8 416Greg BiffleRoush Fenway RacingFord110036
9 1948Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet110035
10 1229Kevin HarvickRichard Childress RacingChevrolet110034
11 822Joey LoganoPenske RacingFord1101034
12 2688Dale Earnhardt, Jr.Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet110032
13 3455Brian VickersMichael Waltrip RacingToyota1103
14 1627Paul MenardRichard Childress RacingChevrolet110030
15 3039Ryan NewmanStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet110029
16 2113Casey MearsGermain RacingFord110028
17 3393Travis KvapilBK RacingToyota110027
18 2432Boris SaidFAS Lane RacingFord110026
19 620Matt KensethJoe Gibbs RacingToyota110025
20 3243Aric AlmirolaRichard Petty MotorsportsFord110024
21 182Brad KeselowskiPenske RacingFord110724
22 2533Ron FellowsCircle SportChevrolet110022
23 1711Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota110021
24 2938David GillilandFront Row MotorsportsFord110020
25 11Jamie McMurrayEarnhardt Ganassi RacingChevrolet110220
26 3883David ReutimannBK RacingChevrolet110018
27 3717Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.Roush Fenway RacingFord110017
28 1114Tony StewartStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet110016
29 3110Danica PatrickStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet110015
30 367Justin MarksTommy Baldwin RacingChevrolet110014
31 2731Jeff BurtonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet110013
32 3535Josh WiseFront Row MotorsportsFord110012
33 2334David RaganFront Row MotorsportsFord110011
34 1342Juan Pablo MontoyaEarnhardt Ganassi RacingChevrolet110010
35 918Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota10909
36 2830David StremmeSwan RacingToyota10908
37 4236Victor Gonzalez, Jr.Tommy Baldwin RacingChevrolet10907
38 4187Tomy DrissiNEMCO-Jay Robinson RacingToyota10806
39 4052Paulie HarrakaBrian Keselowski MotorsportsFord8905
40 3919Alex KennedyHumphrey Smith RacingToyota3004
41 2251Jacques VilleneuvePhoenix RacingChevrolet1903
42 4337J. J. YeleyTommy Baldwin RacingChevrolet70PE
43 2047Bobby LabonteJTG Daugherty RacingToyota001
Source:
Notes

^1 Points include 3 Chase for the Sprint Cup points for winning, 1 point for leading a lap, and 1 point for most laps led.

Standings after the race

References

  1. "2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Schedule". ESPN. Retrieved 2013-06-18.
  2. Brown, Brian (2013-06-19). "The Toyota/Save Mart 350". Rotoworld.com. NBC Sports. Archived from the original on 2013-06-22. Retrieved 2013-06-20.
  3. 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.
  4. "Sears Point". gt-racing.co.uk. Retrieved 2013-06-18.
  5. "Passing is tough in Chute". The Augusta Chronicle. 28 June 1998. Retrieved 2013-06-18.
  6. "Sears Point Breaks Ground On Modified Chute". Racingwest.com. Archived from the original on 2011-08-07. Retrieved 2013-06-18.
  7. "2012 Toyota / Save Mart 350". Racing-Reference. USA Today Sports Media Group. Retrieved 2013-06-18.
  8. Bonkowski, Jerry (2013-06-19). "Alex Kennedy attempts Sprint Cup debut, will drive Jason Leffler's car". NBC Sports. Retrieved 2013-06-20.
  9. "Ron Fellows Joins Circle Sport Lineup for NASCAR Road Course Events". Catchfence. Citizen Journalist Media Corps. 2013-06-04. Retrieved 2013-06-20.
  10. "TBR Tabs Gonzalez Jr. for Road Races". Motor Racing Network. 2013-04-20. Archived from the original on 2013-06-24. Retrieved 2013-06-20.
  11. DiZinno, Tony (2013-06-20). "NASCAR's Sonoma 2013 road course ringers, analyzed". NBC Sports. Retrieved 2013-06-20.
  12. Spencer, Lee (2013-06-12). "D4D driver gets Sprint Cup chance". Fox Sports. Retrieved 2013-06-20.
  13. "Tomy Drissi climbs into No. 87 at Sonoma". Stock Car Spin. 2013-06-19. Retrieved 2013-06-20.
  14. "Villeneuve to pilot No. 51 Cup car at Sonoma". NASCAR. 2013-06-17. Retrieved 2013-06-20.
  15. Albert, Zack (2013-06-18). "Vickers ready for unique road racing double". NASCAR. Retrieved 2013-06-22.
  16. "2013 Quicken Loans 400 Report" (PDF). Jayski's Silly Season Site. ESPN. 2013-06-16. p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-06-25. Retrieved 2013-06-18.
  17. "Manufacturer's Championship Classification". Jayski's NASCAR Silly Season Site. ESPN. Archived from the original on 2013-04-16. Retrieved 2013-06-18.
  18. "2013 Toyota/Save Mart 350 Race Information". Jayski's Silly Season Site. ESPN. Archived from the original on 2013-06-20. Retrieved 2013-06-20.
  19. "NSCS Practice 1: 25th Annual Toyota/Save Mart 350" (PDF). Jayski's Silly Season Site. ESPN. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-06-25. Retrieved 2013-06-21.
  20. "2013 NSCS Toyota/Save Mart 350 Final Practice Session Speeds". Catchfence.com. 2013-06-21. Retrieved 2013-06-21.
  21. "Road Course Qualifying Explained". Motor Racing Network. 2013-06-17. Archived from the original on 2013-06-23. Retrieved 2013-06-19.
  22. "Jamie McMurray tops Marcos Ambrose to win Sonoma pole". Sports Illustrated. 2013-06-22. Retrieved 2013-06-23.
  23. "2013 Toyota/Save Mart 350 Qualifying Results". Racing-reference.info. Archived from the original on 2013-11-08. Retrieved 2013-06-23.
  24. "Sonoma Sprint Cup qualifying order". NASCAR. 2013-06-21. Retrieved 2013-06-21.
  25. "Toyota / Save Mart Qualifying Grid". Motor Racing Network. 2013-06-22. Archived from the original on 2013-06-24. Retrieved 2013-06-23.
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2013 Quicken Loans 400
Sprint Cup Series
2013 season
Next race:
2013 Quaker State 400
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