Martin Truex, Jr. Wins Sonoma NASCAR Cup Race

Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images

SANOMA, CA – RIS – Martin Truex, Jr. outdueled a closing Kyle Busch to win the Toyota/Save Mart 350 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup race on Sunday.  Kyle Busch made it a 1-2 finish for Joe Gibbs Racing and gave the even’s sponsor, Toyota, bragging rights once again in a season dominated by race-prepared Toyota Camrys.  It was Truex’s second straight win at Sonoma’s road course.  It was also his 23rd career victory.

The late-blooming 38-year-old is a three-time Sonoma champion.

“What a season we've turned this into,” Truex said. “This group, they're unbelievable. Hopefully we can keep this going.”

Ryan Blaney was third, with Matt DiBenedetto finishing a career-best fourth. Denny Hamlin was fifth.

Kevin Harvick finished sixth, Ryan Newman seventh, Erik Jones eighth, Aric Almirola ninth and Kyle Larson 10th.

"I'm just so lucky to be doing this," DiBenedetto said. "My path to get here has been so out of the ordinary and old school, and I'm so thankful. I can't tell you how many people who have taken a chance on me, to have this opportunity. I don't know how to explain how thankful I am. "Truex and Busch were the class of the final stage in a caution-free race on the hilly road course.

The drivers had little trouble navigating “The Carousel,” the extra turns inserted into the NASCAR layout for the first time since 1997.

Truex got the lead early in the third stage, and Busch didn't follow Truex into the pits for the final stop. When Busch finally pitted, Truex reclaimed the lead with 23 laps to go.

Truex opened an 8-second advantage and held off a strong push by Busch to win by 1.861 seconds. Busch knocked it own to as low as .90 seconds, but his new tires started wearing and he fell back as Truex crossed the star-finish line.

“I just dug down deep, tried to be smooth and hit my marks,” Truex said. “It was definitely difficult. It felt terrible the last 20 laps. The last 10, it was like being on ice.”

Series points leader Joey Logano had battery problems and had to pit with 15 laps to go. He finished 23rd.

“He was obviously saving a lot,” Busch said of his teammate. “I knew he was going to have enough to be able to most likely hold us off, and I was right. I just tried everything I could.”

The next Cup race will be on the high banks of Daytona International Speedway on July 6th.

Unofficial Race Results: 31st Annual Toyota/Save Mart 350 - June 23, 2019 - Sonoma Raceway - 2.52 - Mile Road

Fin, Str, Driver, Car, Laps, St1, St2, Pts, Status, Tms, Laps, Playoff Pts
1) 8, Martin Truex Jr., No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota, 90, , 7, 44, Running, 3, 59, 5
2) 7, Kyle Busch, No. 18 M&M's Hazelnut Toyota, 90, , 9, 37, Running, 1, 3, 
3) 9, Ryan Blaney, No. 12 PPG Ford, 90, , , 34, Running, , , 
4) 19, Matt DiBenedetto, No. 95 Procore Thanks DW Throwback Toyota, 90, , , 33, Running, , , 
5) 6, Denny Hamlin, No. 11 FedEx Ground Toyota, 90, 2, 1, 51, Running, 1, 4, 1
6) 23, Kevin Harvick, No. 4 Mobil 1 Ford, 90, 8, , 34, Running, , , 
7) 21, Ryan Newman, No. 6 Wyndham Rewards Ford, 90, , , 30, Running, , , 
8) 32, Erik Jones, No. 20 Craftsman Toyota, 90, , , 29, Running, , , 
9) 15, Aric Almirola, No. 10 Smithfield Ford, 90, 5, , 34, Running, , , 
10) 1, Kyle Larson, No. 42 Credit One Bank Chevrolet, 90, 4, 6, 39, Running, , , 
11) 14, Clint Bowyer, No. 14 Rush Truck Centers Ford, 90, , , 26, Running, , , 
12) 11, Jimmie Johnson, No. 48 Ally Chevrolet, 90, 10, , 26, Running, , , 
13) 16, Kurt Busch, No. 1 Monster Energy Chevrolet, 90, , , 24, Running, , , 
14) 12, Alex Bowman, No. 88 Axalta Chevrolet, 90, 7, , 27, Running, , , 
15) 25, Daniel Hemric #, No. 8 Poppy Bank Chevrolet, 90, , , 22, Running, , , 
16) 10, Chris Buescher, No. 37 Hellmann's Chevrolet, 90, 6, , 26, Running, , , 
17) 5, Daniel Suarez, No. 41 Ruckus Ford, 90, , , 20, Running, , , 
18) 22, Brad Keselowski, No. 2 America's Tire Ford, 90, , 2, 28, Running, , , 
19) 2, William Byron, No. 24 Hertz Chevrolet, 90, 1, 3, 36, Running, 1, 21, 1
20) 18, David Ragan, No. 38 #ThanksDW Ford, 90, , , 17, Running, , , 
21) 17, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 17 Roush Performance/ThanksDW Ford, 90, , 5, 22, Running, , , 
22) 24, Paul Menard, No. 21 Menards/Richmond Ford, 90, 9, , 17, Running, , , 
23) 3, Joey Logano, No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, 90, 3, 4, 29, Running, , , 
24) 26, Austin Dillon, No. 3 Dow Coatings Chevrolet, 90, , , 13, Running, , , 
25) 13, Michael McDowell, No. 34 Love's Travel Stops Ford, 89, , , 12, Running, , , 
26) 30, Bubba Wallace, No. 43 World Wide Technology Chevrolet, 89, , 10, 12, Running, , , 
27) 31, Ty Dillon, No. 13 GEICO Military Chevrolet, 89, , , 10, Running, , , 
28) 28, Matt Tifft #, No. 36 Acquire Investments Ford, 89, , , 9, Running, , , 
29) 20, Ryan Preece #, No. 47 Kroger Chevrolet, 89, , , 8, Running, , , 
30) 29, * Parker Kligerman(i), No. 96 TRD 40th Anniversary Toyota, 89, , , 0, Running, , , 
31) 35, Landon Cassill(i), No. 00 SHARE Chevrolet, 89, , , 0, Running, , , 
32) 27, Corey LaJoie, No. 32 GMN Ford, 89, , , 5, Running, , , 
33) 37, Ross Chastain(i), No. 15 Low T Centers Chevrolet, 89, , , 0, Running, , , 
34) 33, Justin Haley(i), No. 77 Formula One Imports Chevrolet, 88, , , 0, Running, , , 
35) 38, * Reed Sorenson, No. 27 VIPRacingExperience.com Chevrolet, 88, , , 2, Running, , , 
36) 34, Cody Ware(i), No. 52 SBC Contractors Chevrolet, 64, , , 0, Fatigue, , , 
37) 4, Chase Elliott, No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, 60, , 8, 4, Engine, 1, 3, 
38) 36, JJ Yeley, No. 51 Jacob Companies Chevrolet, 53, , , 1, Fuel Pump, , ,
(i) Ineligible for driver points in this series, (#) Rookie

Time of Race: 2 Hrs, 42 Mins, 9 Secs. 
Total Race Length: 90 Laps - 226.8 Miles
Average Speed: 83.922 MPH
Margin of Victory: 1.861 Seconds

Stage 1 Top 10: 24, 11, 22, 42, 10, 37, 88, 4, 21, 48
Stage 2 Top 10: 11, 2, 24, 22, 17, 42, 19, 9, 18, 43

Race Comments: Martin Truex Jr. won the 31st Annual Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway. His 23rd victory in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. Prior to the start of the race, the following vehicle(s) dropped to the rear of the field under penalty for the reasons indicated: No. 41 (engine change), No. 20, 51 (unapproved adjustments) and No. 15 (driver change).

Caution Flags: 2 for 6 laps;
Laps: 22-24 (Stage 1 Conclusion [27]);
42-44 (Stage 2 Conclusion [51]).

Lead Changes: 7 among 5 drivers;
K. Larson 0;
W. Byron 1-21;
C. Elliott 22-24;
M. Truex Jr. 25-37;
D. Hamlin 38-41;
M. Truex Jr. 42-63;
K. Busch 64-66;
M. Truex Jr. 67-90.

American Ethanol Green Flag Restart Award: Denny Hamlin, No. 11 
Busch Pole Award: Kyle Larson, No. 42 95.712 mph
Fastest Lap: William Byron, No. 24 Lap 3, 93.339 mph
Moog Go the Extra Mile: Martin Truex Jr, No. 19 crew chief Cole Pearn
Sunoco Rookie of the Race: Daniel Hemric, No. 8

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