2016 Toyota/Save Mart 350

The 2016 Toyota/Save Mart 350 was a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race held on June 26, 2016 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 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

2016 Toyota/Save Mart 350
Race details[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]
Race 16 of 36 in the 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Date June 26, 2016 (2016-06-26)
Location Sonoma Raceway in Sonoma, California
Course Permanent racing facility
1.99 mi (3.2 km)
Distance 110 laps, 218.9 mi (352 km)
Average speed 80.966 miles per hour (130.302 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Joe Gibbs Racing
Time 74.799 seconds
Most laps led
Driver Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing
Laps 33
Winner
No. 14 Tony Stewart Stewart-Haas Racing
Television in the United States
Network FS1
Announcers Mike Joy, Jeff Gordon and Darrell Waltrip
Nielsen Ratings 2.22 (Overnight)
2.2 (Final)
3.9 million viewers
Radio in the United States
Radio PRN
Booth Announcers Doug Rice, Mark Garrow and Wendy Venturini
Turn Announcers Pat Patterson (2, 3 & 3a), Brad Gillie (4a & 7a) and Rob Albright (10 & 11)

The race had 12 lead changes among different cautions and 4 cautions for 10 laps. This was three-time series champion Tony Stewart's 49th and final career victory.

Background

Layout of Sonoma Raceway, the track where the race was held.

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 two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races each year that are run on road courses (the other being Watkins Glen International in Watkins Glen, New York). 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.

Entry list

The preliminary entry list for the race included forty-one cars and was released on June 3, 2016 at 12:29 pm ET.

No. Driver Team Manufacturer
1Jamie McMurrayChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet
2Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord
3Austin DillonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet
4Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet
5Kasey KahneHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
6Trevor BayneRoush Fenway RacingFord
7Regan SmithTommy Baldwin RacingChevrolet
10Danica PatrickStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet
11Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
13Casey MearsGermain RacingChevrolet
14Tony StewartStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet
15Clint BowyerHScott MotorsportsChevrolet
16Greg BiffleRoush Fenway RacingFord
17Ricky Stenhouse Jr.Roush Fenway RacingFord
18Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
19Carl EdwardsJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
20Matt KensethJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
21Ryan Blaney (R)Wood Brothers RacingFord
22Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord
23David RaganBK RacingToyota
24Chase Elliott (R)Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
27Paul MenardRichard Childress RacingChevrolet
30Josh WiseThe Motorsports GroupChevrolet
31Ryan NewmanRichard Childress RacingChevrolet
32Patrick CarpentierGo FAS RacingFord
34Chris Buescher (R)Front Row MotorsportsFord
38Landon CassillFront Row MotorsportsFord
41Kurt BuschStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet
42Kyle LarsonChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet
43Aric AlmirolaRichard Petty MotorsportsFord
44Brian Scott (R)Richard Petty MotorsportsFord
46Michael AnnettHScott MotorsportsChevrolet
47A. J. AllmendingerJTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet
48Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
55Cody Ware (R)Premium MotorsportsChevrolet
78Martin Truex Jr.Furniture Row RacingToyota
83Matt DiBenedettoBK RacingToyota
88Dale Earnhardt Jr.Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
93Dylan Lupton (R)BK RacingToyota
95Michael McDowellCircle Sport – Leavine Family RacingChevrolet
98Cole WhittPremium MotorsportsToyota
Official entry list

Practice

First practice

Kyle Larson was the fastest in the first practice session with a time of 75.299 and a speed of 95.141 mph (153.115 km/h).[11]

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer Time Speed
1 42Kyle LarsonChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet75.29995.141
2 1Jamie McMurrayChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet75.77494.544
3 78Martin Truex Jr.Furniture Row RacingToyota75.81194.498
Official first practice results

Final practice

Dale Earnhardt Jr. was the fastest in the final practice session with a time of 75.175 and a speed of 95.298 mph (153.367 km/h).[12]

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer Time Speed
1 88Dale Earnhardt Jr.Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet75.17595.298
2 13Casey MearsGermain RacingChevrolet75.20995.255
3 11Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota75.21895.243
Official final practice results

Qualifying

Carl Edwards scored the pole position.

Carl Edwards scored the pole for the race with a time of 1:14.799 and a speed of 95.777 mph (154.138 km/h).[13] He said that his pole lap "was amazing, the car was really good and then I wasn’t sure about the second lap. It was good enough and that tells you how good the car is. I just can’t say enough about Stanley and all the things they’re doing for us. We had a dinner last night for us and this will be really exciting for them to have their Stanley Toyota up on the pole for the start of the race and hopefully we can stay there and get another win.”[14]

A. J. Allmendinger, who qualified second, said when he "saw Carl's first lap, I was like, I don't care what kind of lap I run, I'm never going to catch that. There's no pressure on me. He's won here before (in 2014); my best finish is seventh. We just have to go out and have a solid day."[15] “Definitely a big gain from where we were yesterday,” he added. “We’ve still got to go to work, we’ve still got to figure out race trim, but a good start at least.”[16]

Dylan Lupton qualified 38th in his Sprint Cup Series debut.[17] Cody Ware failed to qualify for the race.[18]

Qualifying results

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer R1 R2
1 19Carl EdwardsJoe Gibbs RacingToyota74.39274.799
2 47A. J. AllmendingerJTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet74.99074.878
3 78Martin Truex Jr.Furniture Row RacingToyota74.76374.881
4 41Kurt BuschStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet75.01874.895
5 42Kyle LarsonChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet75.12175.124
6 11Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota75.10375.167
7 22Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord74.80875.192
8 18Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota74.77675.226
9 27Paul MenardRichard Childress RacingChevrolet74.92275.304
10 14Tony StewartStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet74.92175.378
11 10Danica PatrickStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet75.08375.383
12 2Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord74.98075.437
13 88Dale Earnhardt Jr.Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet75.150
14 13Casey MearsGermain RacingChevrolet75.239
15 48Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet75.389
16 24Chase Elliott (R)Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet75.447
17 31Ryan NewmanRichard Childress RacingChevrolet75.485
18 15Clint BowyerHScott MotorsportsChevrolet75.492
19 5Kasey KahneHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet75.501
20 95Michael McDowellCircle Sport – Leavine Family RacingChevrolet75.556
21 1Jamie McMurrayChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet75.640
22 44Brian Scott (R)Richard Petty MotorsportsFord75.646
23 20Matt KensethJoe Gibbs RacingToyota75.793
24 3Austin DillonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet75.809
25 4Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet75.854
26 21Ryan Blaney (R)Wood Brothers RacingFord75.861
27 17Ricky Stenhouse Jr.Roush Fenway RacingFord75.872
28 6Trevor BayneRoush Fenway RacingFord75.889
29 43Aric AlmirolaRichard Petty MotorsportsFord75.922
30 23David RaganBK RacingToyota75.925
31 7Regan SmithTommy Baldwin RacingChevrolet75.994
32 16Greg BiffleRoush Fenway RacingFord76.045
33 83Matt DiBenedettoBK RacingToyota76.088
34 32Patrick CarpentierGo FAS RacingFord76.328
35 98Cole WhittPremium MotorsportsToyota76.483
36 34Chris Buescher (R)Front Row MotorsportsFord76.492
37 38Landon CassillFront Row MotorsportsFord76.820
38 93Dylan Lupton (R)BK RacingToyota76.964
39 30Josh WiseThe Motorsports GroupChevrolet77.010
40 46Michael AnnettHScott MotorsportsChevrolet77.872
Did not qualify
41 55Cody Ware (R)Premium MotorsportsChevrolet78.145
Official qualifying results

Race

First half

Under clear blue California skies, Carl Edwards led the field to the green flag at 3:22 p.m. The first caution of the race flew on the seventh lap after Clint Bowyer's car came to a halt in the esses after the wiring in the dashboard caught fire.[19] He said afterwards that the issue was probably "the ignition; it was a wiring fire. I've had oil smoke and stuff like that pour into the car … I've never had an electrical fire. Damn, it choked me out, I couldn't breathe. I bailed out and the damn thing starts rolling so I had to reach in and put it in gear. That's a great start to the day."[19] He would go on to finish 40th.[20]

The race restarted on lap 8. A. J. Allmendinger passed Edwards climbing up turn 2 to take the lead. After 10 laps, his lead had only grown to close to a second over Edwards. A number of cars started hitting pit road on lap 20. Jamie McMurray was tagged for speeding and was forced to serve a pass through penalty. Allmendinger made his stop on lap 25 and handed the lead to Paul Menard. Kevin Harvick out-braked Menard going into turn 4a to take the lead on lap 28. He pitted on lap 31 and the lead cycled to Edwards.

A number of cars began pitting on lap 45. Debris in turn 1 brought out the second caution of the race on lap 46. Kyle Busch opted to stay out when most of the field pitted and assumed the lead.

Second half

Tony Stewart scored the final win of his Cup Series career.

The race restarted with 61 laps to go. Denny Hamlin drove to the outside of his teammate in the esses to take the lead with 60 laps to go. A number of cars began pitting with 42 laps to go. Kyle Larson was tagged for speeding on pit road and was forced to serve a pass through penalty. Hamlin pitted with 39 laps to go and handed the lead to Allmendinger. Both drivers pitted the next lap and handed the lead to Danica Patrick. Michael McDowell was tagged for an uncontrolled tire and was forced to serve a pass through penalty. Hamlin took back the lead from Patrick passing to her outside at the top of turn 2.

Debris in turn 7a brought out the third caution of the race with 24 laps to go. Tony Stewart opted to stay out when the leaders pitted and assumed the lead.[21] Allmendinger was tagged for an uncontrolled tire and restarted the race from the tail end of the field, to which he sarcastically told his crew "Good job, guys."[22]

The race restarted with 20 laps to go. The fourth caution of the race flew with 18 laps to go after McDowell's car stalled off the track near turn 9.

The race restarted with 14 laps to go. Martin Truex Jr. attempted to out-brake Stewart going into turn 7a with 12 laps to go, but he carried too much speed and had to stay on the brakes longer. This allowed Hamlin to pass him for second. In the remaining laps, Hamlin attempted to run down and pass Stewart to no avail.[23] On the final lap, however, Hamlin out-braked Stewart going into turn 7a and took the lead. At turn 11, he locked the brakes and left the inside line open. Stewart drove his car into the gap, sent Hamlin and himself into the wall and drove on to score the victory.[24]

Driver comments

Stewart said after the race that with "eight to go it was the first time I thought, 'hey, we might actually have a shot to hold onto this,' and I actually got a little bit emotional thinking about it while I was driving," Stewart said. "But you stay so focused and you have to. That was when they got racing each other and there was a bit of a gap and I had a little bit of a breather there to kind of think that once Denny (Hamlin) got closing in, it was back to business. You didn't have time to think about wine and flowers and ponies and all that stuff. I had to get back to business. But it was nice."[25]

Hamlin said afterwards that his "car was the worst it was all day. I didn’t have any forward drive (on turn 11). I didn’t run a low enough line. Once I knew he had position, I knew he wasn’t going to leave it to chance and have a drag race."[26]

Race results

Pos Grid No. Driver Team Manufacturer Laps Pts.
1 1014Tony StewartStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet11044
2 611Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota11041
3 722Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord11038
4 119Carl EdwardsJoe Gibbs RacingToyota11038
5 378Martin Truex Jr.Furniture Row RacingToyota11036
6 254Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet11036
7 818Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota11035
8 1731Ryan NewmanRichard Childress RacingChevrolet11033
9 195Kasey KahneHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet11032
10 441Kurt BuschStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet11031
11 1388Dale Earnhardt Jr.Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet11030
12 542Kyle LarsonChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet11029
13 1548Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet11028
14 247A. J. AllmendingerJTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet11028
15 122Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord11026
16 927Paul MenardRichard Childress RacingChevrolet11026
17 211Jamie McMurrayChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet11024
18 3216Greg BiffleRoush Fenway RacingFord11023
19 1110Danica PatrickStewart-Haas RacingChevrolet11023
20 2320Matt KensethJoe Gibbs RacingToyota11021
21 1624Chase Elliott (R)Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet11020
22 243Austin DillonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet11019
23 2621Ryan Blaney (R)Wood Brothers RacingFord11018
24 1413Casey MearsGermain RacingChevrolet11017
25 286Trevor BayneRoush Fenway RacingFord11016
26 2717Ricky Stenhouse Jr.Roush Fenway RacingFord11015
27 2943Aric AlmirolaRichard Petty MotorsportsFord11014
28 317Regan SmithTommy Baldwin RacingChevrolet11013
29 3738Landon CassillFront Row MotorsportsFord11012
30 3634Chris Buescher (R)Front Row MotorsportsFord11011
31 3383Matt DiBenedettoBK RacingToyota11010
32 3023David RaganBK RacingToyota1109
33 2244Brian Scott (R)Richard Petty MotorsportsFord1108
34 3598Cole WhittPremium MotorsportsToyota1107
35 3893Dylan Lupton (R)BK RacingToyota1100
36 4046Michael AnnettHScott MotorsportsChevrolet1095
37 3432Patrick CarpentierGo FAS RacingFord1084
38 3930Josh WiseThe Motorsports GroupChevrolet973
39 2095Michael McDowellCircle Sport – Leavine Family RacingChevrolet912
40 1815Clint BowyerHScott MotorsportsChevrolet51
Official race results

Race summary

  • Lead changes: 12 among different drivers
  • Cautions/Laps: 4 for 10
  • Red flags: 0
  • Time of race: 2 hours, 42 minutes, and 13 seconds
  • Average speed: 80.966 miles per hour (130.302 km/h)

Media

Television

Fox NASCAR televised the race in the United States on FS1 for the second 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, Chris Neville and Matt Yocum reported from pit lane during the race.

FS1 Television
Booth announcersPit reporters
Lap-by-lap: Mike Joy
Color-commentator: Jeff Gordon
Color commentator: Darrell Waltrip
Jamie Little
Chris Neville
Matt Yocum

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, Mark Garrow and Wendy Venturini 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, Jim Noble and Steve Richards reported from pit lane during the race.

PRN
Booth announcersTurn announcersPit reporters
Lead announcer: Doug Rice
Announcer: Mark Garrow
Announcer: Wendy Venturini
Turns 2, 3 & 3a: Pat Patterson
Turns 4a & 7a: Brad Gillie
Turns 10 & 11: Rob Albright
Heather Debeaux
Brett McMillan
Jim Noble
Steve Richards

Standings after the race

References

  1. "2016 Sprint Cup Series schedule" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. January 26, 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 7, 2016. Retrieved June 22, 2016.
  2. "Sonoma Raceway". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. January 3, 2013. Retrieved June 23, 2016.
  3. "Entry List". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. June 20, 2016. Archived from the original on June 23, 2016. Retrieved June 23, 2016.
  4. "First Practice Results". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. June 24, 2016. Archived from the original on June 28, 2016. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
  5. "Final Practice Results". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. June 24, 2016. Archived from the original on June 28, 2016. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
  6. "Qualifying Results". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. June 25, 2016. Archived from the original on June 29, 2016. Retrieved June 25, 2016.
  7. "2016 NASCAR Television Ratings". Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. Archived from the original on July 3, 2016. Retrieved July 3, 2016.
  8. "Toyota/Save Mart 350 Results". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. April 3, 2017. Archived from the original on April 3, 2017. Retrieved April 3, 2017.
  9. "Points standings" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. April 3, 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 5, 2016. Retrieved April 3, 2017.
  10. "Manufacturer standings" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. April 3, 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 5, 2016. Retrieved April 3, 2017.
  11. Spencer, Lee (June 24, 2016). "Ganassi teammates lead first Sonoma Cup practice". Motorsport.com. Sonoma, California: Motorsport Network, LLC. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
  12. Utter, Jim (June 24, 2016). "Dale Jr. fastest in final Sonoma practice". Motorsport.com. Sonoma, California: Motorsport Network, LLC. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
  13. Fryer, Jenna (June 25, 2016). "Carl Edwards take the pole for road course race at Sonoma". Associated Press. Sonoma, California: AP Sports. Associated Press. Archived from the original on June 26, 2016. Retrieved June 25, 2016.
  14. White, Tucker (June 25, 2016). "Edwards takes the pole in Sonoma". SpeedwayMedia.com. USA Today Sports Digital Properties. Retrieved June 25, 2016.
  15. Gluck, Jeff (June 25, 2016). "Carl Edwards edges AJ Allmendinger for Sonoma pole". USA Today. Sonoma, California: Gannett Company. Retrieved June 25, 2016.
  16. Jensen, Tom (June 25, 2016). "Carl Edwards wins pole as starting lineup set for Sonoma road course". Foxsports.com. Sonoma, California: Fox Sports Digital Media. Retrieved June 26, 2016.
  17. Espinoza, Christian (June 25, 2016). "UNCC graduate Dylan Lupton ready for first Sprint Cup start". Niner Times. Sonoma, California: UNC Charlotte. Retrieved June 26, 2016.
  18. Spencer, Reid (June 25, 2016). "Carl Edwards edges AJ Allmendinger for pole at Sonoma". NASCAR Wire Service. Sonoma, California: NASCAR Media Group, LLC. Retrieved June 26, 2016.
  19. Owens, Jeff (June 26, 2016). "Clint Bowyer smoking hot after latest setback". sportingnews.com. Sonoma, California: Sporting News. Retrieved June 27, 2016.
  20. Beard, Brock (June 26, 2016). "CUP: Clint Bowyer's 2016 struggles continue with Sonoma last-place finish; Patrick Carpentier turns in gutsy performance". brock.lastcar.info. Sonoma, California: LASTCAR.info. Retrieved June 27, 2016.
  21. Scott, David (June 26, 2016). "Tony Stewart grabs last-turn victory at Sonoma". The Charlotte Observer. Sonoma, California: The McClatchy Company. Retrieved June 27, 2016.
  22. Gluck, Jeff (June 26, 2016). "Tony Stewart wins at Sonoma for first victory since 2013". USA Today. Sonoma, California: Gannett Company. Retrieved June 27, 2016.
  23. Pockrass, Bob (June 26, 2016). "Tony Stewart wins at Sonoma to snap 84-race drought". ESPN.com. Sonoma, California: ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved June 27, 2016.
  24. Fryer, Jenna (June 26, 2016). "Tony Stewart wins at Sonoma to snap 84-race drought". Associated Press. Sonoma, California: AP Sports. Associated Press. Archived from the original on June 27, 2016. Retrieved June 26, 2016.
  25. Cain, Holly (June 26, 2016). "'Little bit of hop' takes 'Smoke' to victory lane at Sonoma". NASCAR.com. Sonoma, California: NASCAR Media Group, LLC. Retrieved June 27, 2016.
  26. Fitzgerald, Tom (June 26, 2016). "In a thriller, Tony Stewart gets his 3rd Toyota/Save Mart 350 title". San Francisco Chronicle. Sonoma, California: Hearst Corporation. Retrieved June 27, 2016.
Previous race:
2016 FireKeepers Casino 400
Sprint Cup Series
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2016 Coke Zero 400
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