2012 Toyota/Save Mart 350
Race details[1][2] | |||||
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Race 16 of 36 in the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series | |||||
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Date | June 24, 2012 | ||||
Location | Sonoma Raceway Sonoma, California | ||||
Course |
Permanent racing facility 1.99 mi (3.2 km) | ||||
Distance | 112 laps, 222.88 mi (358.69 km) | ||||
Scheduled Distance | 110 laps, 218.9 mi (352.285 km) | ||||
Weather | Temperatures reaching up to 73.9 °F (23.3 °C); wind speeds up to 17.1 miles per hour (27.5 km/h)[3] | ||||
Average speed | 83.624 miles per hour (134.580 km/h) | ||||
Pole position | |||||
Driver | Richard Petty Motorsports | ||||
Time | 75.203 | ||||
Most laps led | |||||
Driver | Clint Bowyer | Michael Waltrip Racing | |||
Laps | 71 | ||||
Winner | |||||
No. 15 | Clint Bowyer |
Network |
TNT | ||
Announcers | Adam Alexander, Wally Dallenbach Jr. and Kyle Petty |
The 2012 Toyota/Save Mart 350 was a
Report
Background
Sonoma Raceway is one of two road courses to hold NASCAR races, the other being Watkins Glen International.[4] 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]
Before the race,
Five teams chose to temporarily replace their regular drivers with
Practice and qualifying
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d9/Ambrose_2012_cropped.jpg/180px-Ambrose_2012_cropped.jpg)
Three practice sessions were scheduled to be held before the Sunday race—one on June 22, 2012, and two on June 23, 2012. The first session lasted 90 minutes. The second session was 45 minutes, while the final session finished after 75 minutes.[14] Jeff Gordon was quickest with a time of 75.653 seconds in the first session, less than two-tenths of a second faster than Truex Jr.[15] Bowyer was just off Truex Jr.'s pace, followed by Joey Logano, Kyle Busch, and Ryan Newman. Marcos Ambrose was seventh, still within a second of Gordon's time.[15]
"I was hiding under the truck. Jeff is such a talented road racer. He's one of the world's best road racers. I knew he had a great car from the lap he put down in practice. I was very nervous to watch him go."
Marcos Ambrose, following the qualifying session.[16]
Forty-four cars were entered for qualifying, but only forty-three could qualify for the race because of NASCAR's
In the second practice session, Gordon remained quickest with a time of 75.961 seconds.[20] Ambrose, with a time of 76.718, was second quickest, ahead of Allmendinger, Juan Pablo Montoya, and Keselowski.[20] Kyle Busch, Johnson, Truex Jr., Bowyer, and McMurray completed the first ten positions.[20] Gordon continued to be quickest through the third practice session with a time of 76.846, 0.885 slower than his fastest lap during the second session.[21] Biffle was second quickest in the session, while Montoya was scored third.[21] Johnson followed in the fourth position ahead of Allmendinger, Hamlin and Edwards.[21] Truex Jr., Kahne and Kyle Busch rounded out the first ten positions in eighth, ninth and tenth, respectively.[21]
Race
The race, the fifteenth in the
Results
Qualifying
- Notes
- ^1 — David Gilliland started last on the grid because of missing the mandatory drivers meeting.[23]
- ^2 — Stephen Leicht also had to start in the rear of the grid after his team changed engines.[23]
Race results
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/36/Clint_Bowyer_Martinsville_2013.jpg/220px-Clint_Bowyer_Martinsville_2013.jpg)
Standings after the race
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References
- ^ a b "Sprint Cup Series Schedule". ESPN. Retrieved June 18, 2012.
- ^ a b Brown, Brian (June 19, 2012). "The Toyota/SaveMart 350(k)". Rotoworld.com. NBC Sports. Archived from the original on June 20, 2012. Retrieved June 22, 2012.
- ^ "Weather information for the 2012 Toyota/Save Mart 350". The Old Farmers' Almanac. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
- ^ White, Rea (18 June 2010). "Road course races challenge the specialists". Fox Sports. Retrieved June 18, 2012.
- ^ a b "Sears Point". gt-racing.co.uk. Retrieved June 18, 2012.
- ^ "Passing is tough in Chute". The Augusta Chronicle. 28 June 1998. Retrieved June 18, 2012.
- ^ "Sears Point Breaks Ground On Modified Chute". SPR Media Relations. RacingWest. Archived from the original on August 7, 2011. Retrieved January 8, 2017.
- ^ "2012 Official Driver Standings: Quicken Loans 400". NASCAR. Turner Sports. Archived from the original on October 23, 2012. Retrieved June 18, 2012.
- ^ a b "Manufactures' Championship Classification". Jayski's NASCAR Silly Season Site. ESPN. Archived from the original on November 30, 2012. Retrieved June 18, 2012.
- ^ "2011 Toyota/Save Mart 350". Racing-Reference. USA Today Sports Media Group. Retrieved June 18, 2012.
- ^ a b c d "Said, Drissi to drive at Sonoma". NASCAR. Turner Sports. June 19, 2012. Retrieved June 22, 2012.
- ^ "NASCAR team tabs local to qualify its car at Sonoma". Motorsport Magazine. June 22, 2012. Retrieved June 22, 2012.
- ^ "NASCAR At Sonoma: Sprint Cup Series Hits The Road". SB Nation. NASCAR Wire Service. June 22, 2012. Retrieved June 22, 2012.
- ^ "THE RACE: Toyota / Save Mart 350(k)". Jayski's NASCAR Silly Season Site. ESPN. Archived from the original on June 20, 2012. Retrieved June 22, 2012.
- ^ a b "Practice One Timing and Scoring". NASCAR. Turner Sports. Retrieved June 22, 2012.
- ^ a b c Hembree, Mike (June 22, 2012). "CUP: Ambrose Wins Sonoma Pole". SPEED TV. Fox Sports. Archived from the original on June 24, 2012. Retrieved June 22, 2012.
- ^ "Qualifying Entry List". NASCAR. Turner Sports. Retrieved June 22, 2012.
- ^ a b c d e "Race Official Lineup". NASCAR. Turner Sports. Retrieved June 22, 2012.
- ^ NASCAR Wire Service (June 22, 2012). "Ambrose edges Gordon for pole at Sonoma". NASCAR. Turner Sports. Retrieved June 24, 2012.
- ^ a b c "Practice Two Timing and Scoring". NASCAR. Turner Sports. Retrieved June 23, 2012.
- ^ a b c d "Practice Three Timing and Scoring". NASCAR. Turner Sports. Retrieved June 23, 2012.
- ^ a b "Lap-by-Lap: Sonoma". NASCAR. Turner Sports. June 24, 2012. Retrieved June 20, 2012.
- ^ a b c "Racetrax: Toyota/Save Mart 350". Fox Sports. Retrieved June 24, 2012.
- ^ "2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Sonoma Grid". ESPN. Retrieved June 24, 2012.
- ^ "Lineup for the Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma". USA Today. June 22, 2012. Retrieved June 24, 2012.
- ^ "2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Sonoma Results". ESPN. June 24, 2012. Retrieved June 24, 2012.