2011 Toyota/Save Mart 350

The 2011 Toyota/Save Mart 350 was a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race held on June 26, 2011, at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, California. Contested over 110 laps, it was the sixteenth race of the 2011 Sprint Cup Series season and the first of two road course competitions on the schedule. The race was won by Kurt Busch for the Penske Racing team. Jeff Gordon finished second, and Carl Edwards clinched third.

2011 Toyota/Save Mart 350
Race details[1][2]
Race 16 of 36 in the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
The 2011 Toyota/Save Mart 350 program cover, featuring Marcos Ambrose at the front. Artwork by David Grandin.
The 2011 Toyota/Save Mart 350 program cover, featuring Marcos Ambrose at the front. Artwork by David Grandin.
Date June 26, 2011 (2011-June-26)
Official name Toyota/Save Mart 350
Location Infineon Raceway Sonoma, California
Course Permanent racing facility
1.99 mi (3.2 km)
Distance 110 laps, 220 mi (350 km)
Weather Sunny with a high around 81; wind out of the SW at 13 mph.
Average speed 75.432 miles per hour (121.396 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Joe Gibbs Racing
Time 1:16.82
Most laps led
Driver Kurt Busch Penske Racing
Laps 75
Winner
No. 22 Kurt Busch Penske Racing
Television in the United States
Network Turner Network Television
Announcers Adam Alexander, Wally Dallenbach Jr. and Kyle Petty

There were five cautions and 13 lead changes among 9 different drivers throughout the course of the race, Kurt Busch's first win of the season. The result moved Kurt Busch to the fourth position in the Drivers' Championship. He remained 34 points behind first place driver Edwards and three ahead of Kyle Busch in seventh. In the Manufacturers' Championship, Chevrolet was leading with 108 points, 15 points ahead Ford and 24 ahead of Toyota. Dodge was fourth on 67 points with 20 races remaining in the season.

Report

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Background

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Prior to the race, Carl Edwards led the Drivers' Championship with 532 points, and Kevin Harvick stood in second with 512 points. Dale Earnhardt Jr. was third in the Drivers' Championship with 505 points in a Chevrolet, Kyle Busch was fourth with 503 points, and Jimmie Johnson was in fifth also with 503 points.[3] In the Manufacturers' Championship, Chevrolet was leading with 102 points, 13 points ahead of Ford. Toyota, with 81 points, was 23 ahead of Dodge in the battle for third.[4]

 
The layout of Sonoma Raceway used by NASCAR for this race.

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

Entry list
# Driver Team Make Sponsor
00 David Reutimann Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota Aaron's Dream Machine
1 Jamie McMurray Earnhardt Ganassi Racing Chevrolet McDonald's
2 Brad Keselowski Penske Racing Dodge Miller Lite
4 Kasey Kahne Red Bull Racing Team Toyota Red Bull
5 Mark Martin Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Farmers Insurance, GoDaddy
6 David Ragan Roush Fenway Racing Ford UPS "We Love Logistics"
7 Robby Gordon Robby Gordon Motorsports Dodge Speed Energy, GNC
9 Marcos Ambrose Richard Petty Motorsports Ford Stanley Tools, DeWalt
11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota FedEx Freight
13 Casey Mears Germain Racing Toyota GEICO
14 Tony Stewart Stewart Haas Racing Chevrolet Office Depot, Mobil 1
16 Greg Biffle Roush Fenway Racing Ford 3M
17 Matt Kenseth Roush Fenway Racing Ford Crown Royal
18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota M&M's Pretzel
20 Joey Logano Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota The Home Depot
22 Kurt Busch Penske Racing Dodge Shell, Pennzoil
24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet DuPont
27 Paul Menard Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Menards, Duracell
29 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet RheemTankless.com
31 Jeff Burton Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Caterpillar
32 Terry Labonte FAS Lane Racing Ford C&J Energy Services
33 Clint Bowyer Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Cheerios, Hamburger Helper
34 David Gilliland Front Row Motorsports Ford Taco Bell
36 Dave Blaney Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevrolet Big Red
37 Chris Cook Front Row Motorsports Ford Rise of the Planet of the Apes
38 Tony Ave Front Row Motorsports Ford Long John Silver's
39 Ryan Newman Stewart Haas Racing Chevrolet Haas Automation
42 Juan Pablo Montoya Earnhardt Ganassi Racing Chevrolet Cottonelle
43 A. J. Allmendinger Richard Petty Motorsports Ford Best Buy
46 Andy Pilgrim Whitney Motorsports Chevrolet Red Line Oil
47 Bobby Labonte JTG Daugherty Racing Toyota Clorox, Kleenex
48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Lowe's, Jimmie Johnson Foundation
51 Boris Said Phoenix Racing Chevrolet Security Benefit, Thank A Teacher Today
56 Martin Truex Jr. Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota NAPA Auto Parts
60 Mike Skinner Germain Racing Toyota Big Red
66 David Mayhew* HP Racing Toyota Motor Racing Outreach
71 Andy Lally TRG Motorsports Ford Interstate Moving Services
77 P. J. Jones Robby Gordon Motorsports Dodge Speed Energy, GNC
81 Brian Simo Whitney Motorsports Chevrolet ARMA Energy
83 Brian Vickers Red Bull Racing Team Toyota Red Bull
87 Joe Nemechek NEMCO Motorsports Toyota Hostetler Almonds
88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Amp Energy, National Guard
99 Carl Edwards Roush Fenway Racing Ford Scotts Ortho

*Driver changed to Michael McDowell.

Practice and qualifying

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Joey Logano became the youngest pole sitter in a Cup Series road course race.

Three practice sessions were held before the Sunday race—one on Friday, and two on Saturday. The first session lasted 90 minutes. The Saturday afternoon session lasted 45 minutes, and the evening session lasted 75 minutes.[8] In the first practice session, Kurt Busch was the quickest, leading Denny Hamlin, Kasey Kahne, Kevin Harvick, and Martin Truex Jr., who were in second, third, fourth, and fifth, respectively.[9] During qualifying, forty-four cars were entered, but only forty-three were able to race because of NASCAR's qualifying procedure.[10] Joey Logano clinched his second career pole position, with a time of 1:16.82.[11] He was joined on the front row of the grid by Jamie McMurray.[11] Paul Menard qualified third, Hamlin took fourth, and Ryan Newman started fifth.[11] The driver that failed to qualify was Tony Ave.[11]

In the second practice session, McMurray was the fastest with a fastest lap time of 1:17.62, less than two-tenths of a second quicker than second-placed Kurt Busch.[12] Clint Bowyer took third place, ahead of fourth-placed Kyle Busch and A. J. Allmendinger.[12] The Saturday evening session was held around the same time of day the race would start.[13] Brad Keselowski was the quickest, posting a time of 1:18.10, narrowly faster than both McMurray in second and Kurt Busch in third.[13] Juan Pablo Montoya and Bowyer, rounded out the top five positions.[13]


Results

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Qualifying

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Grid No. Driver Team Manufacturer Speed Time
1 20 Joey Logano Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 93.256 1:16.82
2 1 Jamie McMurray Earnhardt Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 93.223 1:16.85
3 27 Paul Menard Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 93.176 1:16.89
4 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 93.081 1:16.96
5 39 Ryan Newman Stewart Haas Racing Chevrolet 93.062 1:16.98
6 4 Kasey Kahne Red Bull Racing Team Toyota 92.936 1:17.09
7 43 A. J. Allmendinger Richard Petty Motorsports Ford 92.935 1:17.09
8 9 Marcos Ambrose Richard Petty Motorsports Ford 92.918 1:17.10
9 33 Clint Bowyer Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 92.830 1:17.17
10 83 Brian Vickers Red Bull Racing Team Toyota 92.720 1:17.27
11 22 Kurt Busch Penske Racing Dodge 92.616 1:17.35
12 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 92.561 1:17.40
13 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 92.553 1:17.40
14 56 Martin Truex Jr. Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota 92.545 1:17.41
15 2 Brad Keselowski Penske Racing Dodge 92.447 1:17.49
16 5 Mark Martin Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 92.439 1:17.50
17 42 Juan Pablo Montoya Earnhardt Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 92.411 1:17.52
18 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 92.372 1:17.56
19 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 92.348 1:17.58
20 14 Tony Stewart Stewart Haas Racing Chevrolet 92.184 1:17.71
21 47 Bobby Labonte JTG Daugherty Racing Toyota 92.157 1:17.74
22 16 Greg Biffle Roush Fenway Racing Ford 92.096 1:17.79
23 99 Carl Edwards Roush Fenway Racing Ford 92.076 1:17.81
24 78 Regan Smith Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet 92.022 1:17.85
25 31 Jeff Burton Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 91.987 1:17.88
26 29 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 91.818 1:18.02
27 13 Casey Mears Germain Racing Toyota 91.764 1:18.07
28 7 Robby Gordon Robby Gordon Motorsports Dodge 91.751 1:18.08
29 34 David Gilliland Front Row Motorsports Ford 91.689 1:18.13
30 51 Boris Said Phoenix Racing Chevrolet 91.603 1:18.21
31 87 Joe Nemechek NEMCO Motorsports Toyota 91.406 1:18.38
32 00 David Reutimann Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota 91.388 1:18.39
33 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Fenway Racing Ford 91.315 1:18.45
34 6 David Ragan Roush Fenway Racing Ford 91.255 1:18.51
35 77 P. J. Jones Robby Gordon Motorsports Dodge 91.223 1:18.53
36 36 Dave Blaney Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevrolet 91.214 1:18.54
37 60 Mike Skinner Germain Racing Toyota 90.781 1:18.92
38 66 David Mayhew HP Racing Toyota 90.561 1:19.11
39 32 Terry Labonte FAS Lane Racing Ford 90.504 1:19.16
40 81 Brian Simo Whitney Motorsports Chevrolet 90.346 1:19.30
41 71 Andy Lally TRG Motorsports Ford 90.303 1:19.33
42 37 Chris Cook Front Row Motorsports Ford 90.285 1:19.35
43 46 Andy Pilgrim Whitney Motorsports Chevrolet 89.885 1:19.70
Failed to Qualify
44 38 Tony Ave Front Row Motorsports Ford 89.717 1:19.85

Race results

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Kurt Busch won the race.
Pos Grid No. Driver Team Manufacturer Laps Points
1 11 22 Kurt Busch Penske Racing Dodge 110 48
2 13 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 110 42
3 23 99 Carl Edwards Roush Fenway Racing Ford 110 41
4 9 33 Clint Bowyer Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 110 41
5 8 9 Marcos Ambrose Richard Petty Motorsports Ford 110 39
6 1 20 Joey Logano Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 110 39
7 12 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 110 37
8 14 56 Martin Truex Jr. Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota 110 36
9 26 29 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 110 36
10 15 2 Brad Keselowski Penske Racing Dodge 110 34
11 19 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 110 33
12 29 34 David Gilliland Front Row Motorsports Ford 110 33
13 7 43 A. J. Allmendinger Richard Petty Motorsports Ford 110 31
14 33 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Fenway Racing Ford 110 30
15 2 1 Jamie McMurray Earnhardt Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 110 29
16 24 78 Regan Smith Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet 110 29
17 3 27 Paul Menard Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 110 27
18 28 7 Robby Gordon Robby Gordon Motorsports Dodge 110 26
19 16 5 Mark Martin Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 110 25
20 6 4 Kasey Kahne Red Bull Racing Team Toyota 110 24
21 25 31 Jeff Burton Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 110 23
22 17 42 Juan Pablo Montoya Earnhardt Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 110 23
23 22 16 Greg Biffle Roush Fenway Racing Ford 110 21
24 32 00 David Reutimann Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota 110 20
25 5 39 Ryan Newman Stewart Haas Racing Chevrolet 110 19
26 43 46 Andy Pilgrim Whitney Motorsports Chevrolet 110 18
27 42 37 Chris Cook Front Row Motorsports Ford 110 17
28 30 51 Boris Said Phoenix Racing Chevrolet 110 16
29 34 6 David Ragan Roush Fenway Racing Ford 110 15
30 38 66 Michael McDowell HP Racing Toyota 110 14
31 36 36 Dave Blaney Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevrolet 110 13
32 39 32 Terry Labonte FAS Lane Racing Ford 110 12
33 40 81 Brian Simo Whitney Motorsports Chevrolet 109 11
34 27 13 Casey Mears Germain Racing Toyota 108 10
35 41 71 Andy Lally TRG Motorsports Ford 104 9
36 10 83 Brian Vickers Red Bull Racing Team Toyota 103 8
37 4 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 99 8
38 21 47 Bobby Labonte JTG Daugherty Racing Toyota 91 6
39 20 14 Tony Stewart Stewart Haas Racing Chevrolet 88 6
40 31 87 Joe Nemechek NEMCO Motorsports Toyota 66 0
41 18 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 45 3
42 37 60 Mike Skinner Germain Racing Toyota 10 0
43 35 77 P. J. Jones Robby Gordon Motorsports Dodge 5 1
Source:[16][17]

Standings after the race

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References

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  1. ^ "Sprint Cup Series Schedule". ESPN. Archived from the original on 20 January 2012. Retrieved 21 June 2011.
  2. ^ "The Toyota/Save Mart 350". 21 June 2011. Rotoworld.com. Archived from the original on 23 June 2011. Retrieved 24 June 2011.
  3. ^ "Driver's Championship Classification". NASCAR.com. Retrieved 21 June 2011.
  4. ^ a b "Manufactures' Championship Classification". Jaski.com. Archived from the original on 16 June 2011. Retrieved 21 June 2011.
  5. ^ a b "Sears Point". www.gt-racing.co.uk. Retrieved 21 June 2011.
  6. ^ "Passing is tough in Chute". The Augusta Chronicle. 28 June 1998. Archived from the original on 7 June 2011. Retrieved 21 June 2011.
  7. ^ "Sears Point Breaks Ground On Modified Chute". Racingwest.com. Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Retrieved 21 June 2011.
  8. ^ "Jayski's® NASCAR Silly Season Site - Race Info Page". www.jayski.com. Archived from the original on 2011-06-23.
  9. ^ "Practice 1 Results". NASCAR. Retrieved 24 June 2011.
  10. ^ "Qualifying Order". NASCAR. Retrieved 24 June 2011.
  11. ^ a b c d e "Qualifying Results (Race Lineup)". NASCAR. Retrieved 25 June 2011.
  12. ^ a b "Second Practice Session Results". NASCAR. Retrieved 25 June 2011.
  13. ^ a b c "Third Practice Session Results". NASCAR. Retrieved 25 June 2011.
  14. ^ "Lineup Statistics". MotorRacingNetwork.com. Archived from the original on 27 June 2011. Retrieved 24 June 2011.
  15. ^ "Jayski's® NASCAR Silly Season Site — Infineon Sprint Cup Qualifying Order/Results, Lineup". Jayski.com. Retrieved 24 June 2011.
  16. ^ "2011 Official Race Results : Toyota/Save Mart 350". NASCAR. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  17. ^ "Toyota/Save Mart 350 Race Results". Motor Racing Network. International Speedway Corporation. 26 June 2011. Archived from the original on 3 July 2011. Retrieved 27 June 2011.


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