Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Tag

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer SONOMA, California — Banking on a late race caution to score his second straight win at Sonoma Raceway, Kevin Harvick didn’t get one and finished second in Sunday’s Toyota/Save Mart 350, leading 35 of 110 laps. “We all make mistakes, and we all do things for a split second that you might be right after it all happens,” said Harvick. “These guys do a great job. Everyone on our Mobil 1 team has done a great job the last five years now.” Harvick said ratherRead More

By David Morgan, NASCAR Editor For third-year Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver Chase Elliott, Sonoma Raceway has been one of his worst tracks throughout his career, but on Sunday, that all changed with a fourth-place finish on the 12-turn, 1.990-mile road course. “It was a lot more fun, this trip out here, than it was the last two times,” Elliott said. “I made a lot of gains, personally, I think, for me at this track. It’s been one of my worst. To come here and have pace on Friday andRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer SONOMA, California — The quest for a hometown victory for Los Gatos native A.J. Allmendinger went up in smoke on Lap 34 during Sunday’s Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway. Allmendinger, who started fifth, is always a threat to win on the road courses and things were going well in the opening stage that after ten laps, he was trailing race leader Martin Truex, Jr. However, as the run went on, Allmendinger struggled finding speed to compete for the race lead. Then with three lapsRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer SONOMA, California — For the second straight year in a row, Elk Grove native Kyle Larson will lead the field to the green flag for Sunday’s Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway. Larson clocked in a time of 75.732 seconds (94.597 mph), earning him the Busch Pole Award for the sixth time in his Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series career. In addition of scoring a pole, he’ll lead the Chevrolet banner as six out of the first eight fastest drivers represent the Camaro ZL1 brand.Read More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer SONOMA, California — Kurt Busch wasted no time during Friday’s final practice at Sonoma Raceway, scorching the fastest time of the session at 76.163 seconds (94.061 mph), edging Denny Hamlin by 0.040 seconds. Martin Truex, Jr., Jamie McMurray, Kevin Harvick, Chris Buescher, Brad Keselowski, Trevor Bayne, Aric Almirola, and Michael McDowell rounded out the top-10. Bayne, who was in the bottom eighth during morning practice, drastically improved this session and ended up eighth quickest. Sonoma marks Bayne’s his first start since Dover in May. WithRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer SONOMA, California — The era of “road ringers” are a thing of the past according to Justin Marks, who will be piloting the No. 15 Sufferfest Beer Company Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in Sunday’s Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway. “The ‘road course ringer’ is not really a thing anymore because every point and every race in the Cup Series are so important for these guys running for the championship that they spent a lot of time on the road course program,” Marks told Motorsports Tribune. “ItRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer SONOMA, California — Daniel Suarez enters Sonoma Raceway looking to turn things around this season after finishing outside the top-15 in three out of the last four races, some involving unfortunate circumstances which have put him 21st in points. Suarez told Motorsports Tribune that good results on road courses, such as Sunday’s Toyota/Save Mart 350 are important because it’s one of only three road courses on the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series calendar. “We don’t have a lot of (road course) races throughout the year,” said Suarez.Read More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer SONOMA, California — In a sport where a driver’s words can come out the wrong way from the eyes of the fans, Kyle Larson discussed his comments regarding his passion for sprint car racing such as the World of Outlaws during Friday morning’s press conference before the first of two Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practices at Sonoma Raceway. Known to be one of the last pure versatile drivers in the states, Larson opened up about fans criticizing him for being avid for sprint carRead More

By David Morgan, NASCAR Editor After getting to enjoy a much needed week off, the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series is back in business with a little road course racing. This week, the series makes the trek out to California wine country to take on the 1.990 mile Sonoma Raceway, a 12-turn technical road course situated about 30 miles north of San Francisco. This week’s Toyota/Save Mart 350 consists of 110 laps, which calculates out to 218.9 miles, or 350 kilometers. Over the years, the course at Sonoma Raceway has goneRead More

By David Morgan, NASCAR Editor Throughout his NASCAR career, Robby Gordon was never one to shy away from controversy and in June 2003 at Sonoma Raceway, his path to victory included a bit of controversy and a stellar battle with Jeff Gordon to see who would take home the trophy. Robby Gordon, who last won on the Cup Series circuit back in November 2001 at New Hampshire, was one of the most feared drivers when it came to road course racing as he always found himself in the mix for theRead More