Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series “Toyota-Save Mart 350”

Kevin Harvick finally found his way to Victory Lane on Sunday, stretching his fuel mileage over the final 40 laps and leading the last 22 trips around Sonoma Raceway’s two-mile road course for his first Cup Series win of the season. The 2014 champion started 12th and led briefly early in the second half of the race, before taking command down the stretch to record his 36th career victory, but first since October of last year at Kansas Speedway.

Clint Bowyer finished second, giving Stewart-Haas Racing a one-two sweep. Brad Keselowski ran third with Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch completing the top five. Pole winner Kyle Larson led only the first 9 laps and finished 26th, one lap off the pace. Daniel Suarez was the highest-finishing rookie, in 16th place.

Martin Truex, Jr. won the first stage and led a race-high 25 laps. But he was sidelined by engine failure and finished 37th in the 38-car field. Seven-time series champion Jimmie Johnson notched his first stage win of the year, leading the field home in the second segment of Sunday’s race. He went on to finish 13th, one of 22 drivers running on the lead lap with Harvick at the checkered flag.

Sunday’s race featured 13 lead changes, which broke the track record of 12 that had occurred three times before, most recently just last year. There were 10 different race leaders, erasing the old mark of 9 that had been recorded 4 times before, most recently in 2014. Sunday’s race included 6 cautions for 12 laps.