Toyota/Save Mart 350 facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Toyota/Save Mart 350

NASCAR Cup Series
Venue	Sonoma Raceway
Location	Sonoma, California, United States
Corporate sponsor	Toyota Save Mart
First race	1989 (1989)
Distance	218.9 miles (352.285 km)
Laps	110 Stage 1: 25 Stage 2: 35 Final stage: 50
Previous names	Banquet Frozen Foods 300 (1989–1991) Save Mart 300K (1992) Save Mart Supermarkets 300K (1993) Save Mart Supermarkets 300 (1994–1997) Save Mart/Kragen 350 (1998–2000) Dodge/Save Mart 350 (2001–2006)
Most wins (driver)	Jeff Gordon (5)
Most wins (team)	Hendrick Motorsports (8)
Most wins (manufacturer)	Chevrolet (15)
Circuit information
Surface	Asphalt
Length	1.99 mi (3.20 km)
Turns	12

The Toyota/Save Mart 350 is an exciting stock car racing event. It's part of the NASCAR Cup Series and happens every year. The race takes place at Sonoma Raceway in Sonoma, California. It has been a big part of the NASCAR calendar since 1989. The race is about 218.9 miles (352.285 km) long.

This race joined the NASCAR schedule in 1989. It replaced another race at Riverside, which closed down. Over the years, the race has had different names and lengths. Because of the track's special shape, this race is always a hot topic. Some people love it, and some don't! It's also known for "road course ringers." These are special drivers who only race in NASCAR when the track is a road course.

Shane van Gisbergen is the most recent winner of this event.

Race History and Track Changes

Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson leading the field at the start of the 2005 race

From 1989 to 1997, and again in 2019 and 2021, NASCAR used the full 2.52-mile (4.06 km) road course. This track is famous for sports car races. Small changes were made to some turns to help the stock cars race better. Ricky Rudd won the very first Cup race at Sonoma.

Tony Stewart 2005 at Infineon

The 1991 Sonoma Cup race had a very dramatic ending. With seven laps left, Mark Martin tried to pass Tommy Kendall. They touched, and Martin crashed. Kendall's tire was cut. Davey Allison then took the lead. With only two laps left, Ricky Rudd passed Allison. Allison spun out after contact in the final turn. Rudd was about to win, but he was given a penalty right before the finish line! Allison was declared the winner, and Rudd finished second.

The last NASCAR race on the old road course was in 1997. It was a Truck Series event. Joe Ruttman won, but there was a big argument. Rich Bickle blamed rookie Boris Said for his bad finish. Bickle cut Said's tire. In return, Said waited for Bickle and crashed into him. NASCAR punished Said, disqualifying him and fining him $10,000.

In 1998, the track for NASCAR races became shorter. It changed to a 1.95-mile (3.14 km) course. This was done by adding a shortcut called the Chute. This shortcut bypassed turns 5 and 6.

In 2001, the Chute was changed again. This made the NASCAR track 1.99 miles (3.20 km) long.

The 2014 race was special because it honored NASCAR designer Ray Fox. A moment of silence was held for him.

In 2019, the race went back to the full 2.52-mile (4.06 km) road course. This celebrated the track's 50th anniversary. It brought back the Carousel section after 22 years.

The 2020 race was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2022, the race returned to using the shorter club configuration.

Gilligan's Island: A Unique Pit Stop

From 1989 to 2001, the main pit road at Sonoma was small. It could only fit 34 pit stalls. This meant some teams had to share pit stalls. Other teams even had to pit inside the garage area! If a car left the race, its pit stall was given to a team that was sharing.

Before the 1994 race, a special extra pit road was built. It was inside a sharp turn (turn 11) and was called Gilligan's Island. The nine slowest cars in qualifying had to use these pit stalls. Pitting here was a big problem for teams. It was much harder than pitting on the backstretch of a short track.

This extra pit road was much shorter than the main one. So, cars pitting there had to wait 15 to 20 seconds. This made up for the time they saved by not driving the full main pit road.

Gilligan's Island had other issues too. It was surrounded by the racecourse. Crew members couldn't leave once the race started. Teams only sent their main pit crew there. Once they were on the "island," they couldn't get to the garage or their trucks for spare parts. They could only do tire changes, refuel, and make small repairs. If a car pitting on Gilligan's Island dropped out, the crew couldn't pack up until the race was over.

In 2002, the track was changed. The drag strip was separated from the front stretch. The main drag strip grandstand was removed. A new control tower was built. These changes allowed the pit road to be made bigger. It was extended into the main straight. The pit exit was moved up the hill past Turn 1. This made room for 43 cars, and Gilligan's Island was no longer needed.

The Race Trophy

The trophy for the Toyota/Save Mart 350 is very unique. It looks like a wine bottle holder with a giant wine glass. This is a special way to honor the famous Sonoma County wine industry.

Past Winners

• 2008, 2009, 2012, and 2021: These races went into NASCAR Overtime. This means they were extended to finish under green flag conditions.
• 2020: The race was canceled and moved to Charlotte due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Drivers with Multiple Wins

Teams with Multiple Wins

Car Manufacturers with Wins

Exciting Race Moments

• 1989: Ricky Rudd won the first race for King Racing. It was his only win that year.
• 1990: Rusty Wallace won after Mark Martin had trouble with his car.
• 1991: Davey Allison was declared the winner after a controversial penalty to Ricky Rudd. Rudd had spun Allison and was black-flagged at the finish line.
• 1992: Ernie Irvan was penalized early but made an amazing comeback to win. This race happened hours after NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. passed away.
• 1993: Geoffrey Bodine passed Ernie Irvan with three laps left to win. This was the last win for Bud Moore Engineering.
• 1994: Ernie Irvan won his second Sonoma race, showing his skill.
• 1995: Dale Earnhardt won his first and only road course race. This put him in the championship lead.
• 1996: Rusty Wallace passed Mark Martin on a final restart to win a thrilling race.
• 1997: Mark Martin won after Jeff Gordon had issues in the final laps.
• 1998: Jeff Gordon started strong and won his first Sonoma race.
• 1999: Jeff Gordon won again, showing his dominance at Sonoma.
• 2000: Jeff Gordon started fifth but quickly took the lead. He won for the third time in a row.
• 2001: Tony Stewart snatched the win from Robby Gordon in the final laps. This race showed how good "road course aces" were becoming.
• 2002: Ricky Rudd won his final Cup race. The leader, Jerry Nadeau, had his engine blow up with two laps to go.
• 2003: Robby Gordon ended Jeff Gordon's winning streak. He won after a controversial pass under a yellow flag.
• 2004: Jeff Gordon won again with help from teammate Jimmie Johnson. The race also saw a heated moment between Tony Stewart and Brian Vickers.
• 2005: Tony Stewart won his second Sonoma race. He held off local favorite Ricky Rudd.
• 2006: Jeff Gordon won his fifth Sonoma race, amazing the crowd. Terry Labonte had a great third-place finish.
• 2007: Juan Pablo Montoya won by saving fuel in the final laps. He passed Jamie McMurray, who ran out of gas.
• 2008: Kyle Busch won his first road course race at Sonoma. He later won both road course races that year.
• 2009: Kasey Kahne won his first road course victory. He held off Tony Stewart and Marcos Ambrose.
• 2010: Jimmie Johnson won after leader Marcos Ambrose was penalized for not maintaining speed under caution.
• 2011: Kurt Busch won an action-packed race. There was a big fight between Tony Stewart and Brian Vickers.
• 2012: Clint Bowyer won his first road course race. It was a big win for his team, Michael Waltrip Racing.

Martin Truex Jr. celebrates his second Cup Series win.

• 2013: Martin Truex Jr. won his second Cup Series race. He held off Jeff Gordon in the final laps.
• 2014: Carl Edwards won after A. J. Allmendinger was tapped by another car.
• 2015: Kyle Busch won while recovering from a broken leg. It was the first time the Busch brothers finished first and second.
• 2016: Tony Stewart won his final NASCAR race. He made a smart pit stop that helped him take the lead.
• 2017: Kevin Harvick won after Martin Truex Jr.'s engine failed. This race had several "road course ringers."
• 2018: Martin Truex Jr. won his second Sonoma race. He and Kevin Harvick were the strongest cars.
• 2019: Martin Truex Jr. won again on the full track layout. This was the first Sonoma race since 1995 without special road course drivers.
• 2022: NASCAR returned to the shorter club track layout. Daniel Suárez dominated the second half to get his first NASCAR Cup Series win.