It’s the final race of the 2022 Cup Series race for FOX Sports and they have brought a special guest to joins Mike Joy in the broadcast booth. Sitting in for Clint Boywer, Larry McReynolds returns to the sight the very first win at Sonoma with Ricky Rudd to help call the race. Returning to the place where he won his last Cup Series race, Smoke himself Tony Stewart comes to Sonoma Raceway for the Save Mart 350.
Honouring former FOX Sports broadcaster Steve Byrnes, FOX has presented the Byrnsie Award to the person who best epitomizes Steve Byrnes. The 2022 Byrnsie Award winner is Trackhouse Racing majority owner Justin Marks.
After missing the race last week due to the Covid 19 virus, Chris Buescher returns to the track and the number 17 car and just missed out on the front row when he qualified his car in third.
The only driver in the top 10 to have a previous win at Sonoma, Kyle Larson puts his number five car on the pole. Chase Elliott makes it an all Hendrick Motorsports front row when he starts the race alongside Larson.
Starting 28th, Martin Truex Jr is the winningest driver in the field with three. Kyle Busch follows with two Cup Series wins.
During the pre-race qualifying inspection the number 15 Rick Ware Racing car driven by Cody Ware failed the inspection process four times; as a result, Ware was not allowed to qualify the car and will start from the back of the field, the 15 team loses engineer Steve Gray for the rest of the weekend, and Ware will have to make a pass through penalty once the green flag drops. With a 1.99 mile road course, Ware may not lose a lap but it will put him far behind the field.
The number 78 Live Fast Motorsports car driven by Scott Heckert failed the inspection process twice and has lost engineer Chris Stanley for the remainder of the weekend.
The starting lineup for the Save Mart 350:
Kyle Larson
Chase Elliott
Chris Buescher
Michael McDowell
Tyler Reddick
Cole Custer
Ross Chastain
Daniel Suarez
Joey Logano
Denny Hamlin
Kurt Busch
Kyle Busch
Austin Dillon
Ryan Blaney
Chase Briscoe
AJ Allmendinger
Joey Hand
Justin Haley
Alex Bowman
William Byron
Aric Almirola
Brad Keselowski
Kevin Harvick
Todd Gilliland
Austin Cindric
Harrison Burton
Bubba Wallace
Martin Truex Jr
Josh Bilicki
Corey LaJoie
Christopher Bell
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Erik Jones
Ty Dillon
Scott Heckert
Cody Ware
After the crew made some unapproved adjustments to the number 16 car because of a mechanical issue, AJ Allmendinger will have to start the race form the back of the field. Christopher Bell and Erik Jones also have to start the race from the back of the field after the crews made some unapproved adjustments.
During an interview with Ben Kennedy, a vice president with NASCAR and Chris Myers, Kennedy has confirmed that The Busch Clash will return to the Coliseum in Los Angeles for the 2023 season. Kennedy also noted that an international race in some form is in NASCAR’s future (probably the next three to five years). Kennedy said that he feels a new manufacturer would be good for the sport.
Tony Stewart said that he would like to see a NASCAR dirt race on a track made for dirt racing…like Eldora Speedway (the track he owns).
Stage one of the race is 25 laps, stage two is 30 laps, and stage three is 55 laps long for a total of 110 laps. The drivers can run 40 to 42 laps on a single load of fuel and have only four sets of tires in the pits.
Kyle Larson brings the field down for the green flag start of the race and goes nose to nose with team mate Chase Elliott before finally getting out in front for the lead.
Kyle Larson has already pulled out to a lead of over half a second with Chase Elliott in second; Chris Buescher, Michael McDowell, and Tyler Reddick round out the top five.
Kyle Larson leads laps one with a lead of over half a second on Chase Elliott.
Lap two, Kyle Larson holds on to the lead with Chase Elliott in second; Michael McDowell, Chris Buescher, and Daniel Suarez round out the top five.
Lap three, Kyle Larson holds on to a half second lead on Chase Elliott; Michael McDowell, Chris Buescher, and Daniel Suarez round out the top five.
Lap four, AJ Allmendinger has moved up three spots since starting the race and Christopher Bell has moved up five spots.
Lap five, Kyle Larson has pulled out to a one second lead on Chase Elliott.
Lap eight, Kyle Larson has increased his lead to over two seconds on Chase Elliott; Michael McDowell, Chris Buescher, and Daniel Suarez round out the top five.
As luck would have it, Denny Hamlin is in eighth place and Ross Chastain is right behind him in ninth. On lap 10 the two drivers battle for position with Chastain taking the spot.
Lap 10, Bubba Wallace brings out the first caution flag of the day when he brings his heavily smoking car to a stop with a blown engine. A great deal of fluid comes out of the car.
Kyle Busch reports that he is “on ice” everywhere.
Some of the drivers come down pit road for adjustments and service. The hood is up on AJ Allmendinger’s car with a steering pump issue.
Kyle Larson brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 14 with Larson getting out in front of Chase Elliott for the lead. Kyle Larson has led every lap so far.
The power steering on AJ Allmendinger’s car is broken.
Kyle Larson has a half second lead on Chase Elliott; Chris Buescher, Michael McDowell, and Tyler Reddick round out the top five.
Lap 16, Kyle Larson has a lead of nearly a second on Chase Elliott; Chris Buescher is nearly two seconds back in third place with Michael McDowell, and Tyler Reddick rounding out the top five.
Erik Jones gets off the course after spinning out in turn two. He gets the car moving again and the track stays green.
Lap 17, Kyle Larson has a lead of over a second on Chase Elliott.
Erik Jones reports that he has no idea how he spun out.
Kyle Busch has entered the top 20 after being one of eleven cars to make a put stop during the caution flag.
Lap 18 Kyle Larson has a lead of a second and a Half on Chase Elliott.
With seven laps remaining in stage one, Kyle Larson has pulled out to a lead of nearly two seconds on Chase Elliott; Chris Buescher, Michael McDowell,, and Tyler Reddick round out the top five.
Lap 21, Kyle Larson continues to extend his lead which is now over two seconds on Chase Elliott; Chris Buescher is nearly three seconds back in third with Michael McDowell and Tyler Reddick rounding out the top five.
Kyle Larson reports that his car “is awesome”.
Lap 23, several of the drivers come down pit road to short pit before it closes including second place driver Chase Elliott.
Lap 23, Kyle Larson has a lead of three and a half seconds on Chris Buescher; Chase Elliott, Michael McDowell, and Tyler Reddick round out the top five.
Last week Denny Hamlin had issues with Ross Chastain, this week he made contact with Ryan Blaney on the track.
With one lap remaining in stage one, Kyle Larson has a lead of over eleven seconds on Joey Logano; Kyle Busch, Justin Haley, and Aric Almirola round out the top five.
Kyle Larson wins stage one.
the top 10 at the end of stage one:
Kyle Larson
Joey Logano
Kyle Busch
Justin Haley
Aric Almirola
Harrison Burton
Josh Bilicki
Kurt Busch
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Cody Ware
Christopher Bell was outside of his pit box when he made his pit stop.
The drivers who did not pit before the end of the stage, come down pit road for service with Kyle Busch winning the race off of pit road.
Chase Elliott brings the field down for the green flag start of stage two on lap 30 and gets out in front for the lead.
Lap 30, Chase Elliott leads the race with Chris Buescher in second; Ross Chastain, Daniel Suarez, and Tyler Reddick round out the top five.
Lap 32, with no power steering, AJ Allmendinger is in 19th place.
Lap 33, since the restart Kyle Larson is now in 21st place and Kyle Busch is in 25th.
Lap 36, Chase Elliott has a third of a second lead on Chris Buescher; Ross Chastain, Daniel Suarez, and Tyler Reddick round out the top five. Kyle Larson has entered the top 20 and is moving through the field.
Lap 39, Chase Elliott holds on to the lead with Chris Buescher in second; Ross Chastain, Daniel Suarez, and Tyler Reddick round out the top five. Kyle Larson is up to 16th.
Lap 40, Kyle Larson passes Joey Hand for 15th.
Lap 43, Chase Elliott has a near half second lead on Chris Buescher; Daniel Suarez is in third five seconds back with Ross Chastain and Tyler Reddick rounding out the top five. Kyle Larson is up to 14th. Kyle Busch has dropped a few places with handling issues.
Lap 44, Chase Elliott now has a lead of over a second on Chris Buescher. Christopher Bell is the only car on the track not on the lead lap.
Lap 46, Chase Elliott continues to expand his lead and is not nearly a second and a half in front of Chris Buescher; Daniel Suarez, Ross Chastain, and Tyler Reddick round out the top five.
Lap 48, Erik Jones spins around but gets moving again nd the track stays green.
Lap 49, Chase Elliott now has a lead of over a second and a half on Chris Buescher. Ross Chastain spun out and lost his spot. Daniel Suarez, Tyler Reddick, and Kevin Harvick round out the top five. Ross Chastain is now in seventh place.
Hendrick Motorsports becomes the first team to lead 100,000 miles in the NASCAR Cup Series.
With five laps remaining in stage two, Chase Elliott has a lead of nearly two seconds on Chris Buescher; Daniel Suarez, Tyler Reddick, and Kevinn Harvick round out the top five.
Lap 52, Martin Truex Jr is the first driver to short pit. He is complaining of multiple handling issues.
Lap 53, leader Chase Elliott comes down pit road for service; along with several other drivers.
Chase Elliott was stopped on his way out of his pit box with a loose wheel; when he stopped the front end of his car was outside the pit box and has been charged with pitting outside the pit box. He will have to serve a pass through penalty.
Tyler Reddick was caught speeding on pit road.
Chris Buescher was charged with leaving pit road with equipment – fuel can was still attached.
Joey Logano has a lead of over four and a half seconds on Aric Almirola.
Joey Logano wins stage two for his second stage win of the season.
The top 10 at the end of stage two:
Joey Logano
Aric Almirola
Daniel Suarez
Kevin Harvick
Todd Gilliland
Harrison Burton
Michael McDowell
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Ryan Blaney
Brad Keselowski
Drivers who did not pit before the end of the stage come down pit road for service.
NASCAR has reviewed…and rescinded the gas can penalty on Chris Buescher’s car.
Chris Buescher brings the field down for the green flag start of stage three on lap 60 with Daniel Suarez alongside. After going side by side, Daniel Suarez finally gets out in front for the lead.
Lap 60, the top five are Daniel Suarez, Michael McDowell, Kevin Harvick, Chris Buescher, and Brad Keselowski. AJ Allmendinger is still in the top 20 in 17th place with no power steering.
Lap 61, Daniel Suarez has a lead of over half a second on Michael McDowell.
Ross Chastain and Kyle Larson are back in the top 10.
Kyle Busch has entered the top 20.
Lap 64, Josh Bilicki and Tyler Reddick spin out after making contact. Reddick comes down pit road telling his crew that something broke.
Lap 64, Daniel Suarez has a near one second lead on Kevin Harvick; Michael McDowell, Chris Buescher, and Brad Keselowski round out the top five. Ryan Blaney is in sixth. The top six drivers are all looking for their first win of the season.
Lap 69, Daniel Suarez has a lead of nearly half a second on Chris Buescher; Kevin Harvick Michael McDowell, and Brad Keselowski round out the top five.
Forty to go, the drivers are now in their window to make a pit stop and make it to the end of the race.
Lap 74, Daniel Suarez has a half second lead on Chris Buescher; Kevin Harvick, Michael McDowell, and Brad Keselowski round out the top five.
Lap 75, drivers begin making their green flag pit stops. Kyle Busch is reporting that his car just will not turn.
The sun is out for the first time today.
Tyler Reddick has taken his car to the garage for some mechanical repairs.
More drivers come down pit road for service.
With 34 laps remaining in the race, with 16 laps led, Daniel Suarez has led the most laps in his Cup career.
Lap 78, Daniel Suarez has a lead of over two seconds on Chris Buescher; Kevin Harvick, Michael McDowell, and Brad Keselowski round out the top five.
Ryan Blaney makes his pit stop and reports some handling issues.
Kyle Larson has entered the top 10. AJ Allmendinger is hanging on and is in 12th place with no power steering.
Green flag pit stops continue to cycle through.
Thirty to go, Chris Buescher and Kevin Harvick make their pit stops with Daniel Suarez out in front with a six second lead. Kevin Harvick had an issue during his pit stop, causing a slow stop.
Ross Chastain had to back up after leaving his pit stop to get the right rear tire tightened.
Lap 82, Daniel Suarez finally makes his green flag pit stop and gives the lead over to Brad Keselowski. He hasn’t led a lap since the third race of the season at Las Vegas.
Kyle Larson brings out just the second caution flag for an on track incident when he loses a front right tire after making his pit stop.
Drivers who have not made a pit stop come down pit road for service. Joey Logano’s crew had an issue on his pit stop.
Daniel Suarez retakes the lead.
Daniel Suarez brings the field down for the green flag restart with 23 laps remaining in the race. Suarez gets out in front for the lead while Chris Buescher and Michael McDowell battle for second; Ryan Blaney and Austin Cindric round out the top five.
Kyle Busch and Alex Bowman gets turned around after Busch locks up the wheels.
Just 22 laps remain in the race, Daniel Suarez has the lead with Chris Buescher on his bumper.
Twenty to go, Daniel Suarez holds a third of a second lead on Chris Buescher; Michael McDowell, Ryan Blaney, and Austin Cindric round out the top five.
Lap 91, Daniel Suarez leads the race but Chris Buescher has caught up to Suarez. Kevin Harvick and Austin Cindric battle for sixth with Kevin Harvick getting the position.
With 16 laps to go, Daniel Suarez has pulled out to a lead of over half a second on Chris Buescher; Michael McDowell, Ryan Blaney, and Kevin Harvick round out the top five.
AJ Allmendinger is in the top 10; not only does he have no power steering, he has not been feeling well all week.
Lap 96, Daniel Suarez’ lead is now nearly three quarters of a second on Chris Buescher; Michael McDowell, Kevin Harvick, and Ryan Blaney round out the top five.
Lap 99, Daniel Suarez holds on to his lead with Chris Buescher in second; Michael McDowell, Kevin Harvick, and Ryan Blaney round out the top five.
Ten to go, Denny Hamlin comes down pit road for fresh tires.
Daniel Suarez now has a lap of over a second on Chris Buescher.
Larry McReynolds noted that it was 21 years ago that FOX first began broadcasting races.
Eight to go, Daniel Suarez has a second and a half lead on Chris Buescher; Michael McDowell, Kevin Harvick, and Austin Cindric round out the top five.
More drivers make last ditch effort pit stops.
Five to go, Daniel Suarez is over two seconds out in front of Chris Buescher with third place driver Michael McDowell over seven seconds back.
Three to go, Daniel Suarez is nearly four seconds out in front of Chris Buescher.
AJ Allmendinger gets off the track but the track stays green as AJ gets going again.
With a five second lead, Daniel Suarez takes the white flag.
Just the fifth driver not to be born in the United States, Daniel Suarez gets his first win of his Cup career! He is the fourth driver to earn his first win this season.
Broadcaster Mike Joy said that you have to love it when nice guys finish first.
Owner Justin Marks noted that Daniel Suarez helped to build Trackhouse Racing. Suarez does a massive burnout to help celebrate. He stands on the roof waving the flag and gets big hugs from everyone on the crew. Ross Chastain has a watermelon to smash and Daniel Suarez has a taco piñata to help him celebrate the win. Suarez’ fans are called Daniel’s amigos and he speaks to them in Spanish.
The unofficial results of the Save Mart 350:
Daniel Suarez
Chris Buescher
Michael McDowell
Kevin Harvick
Austin Cindric
Ryan Blaney
Ross Chastain
Chase Elliott
William Byron
Brad Keselowski
Austin Dillon
Justin Haley
Chase Briscoe
Aric Almirola
Kyle Larson
Alex Bowman
Joey Logano
Kurt Busch
AJ Allmendinger
Joey Hand
Cole Custer
Erik Jones
Ty Dillon
Todd Gilliland
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Martin Truex Jr
Christopher Bell
Harrison Burton
Josh Bilicki
Kyle Busch
Denny Hamlin
Cody Ware
Scott Heckert
Corey LaJoie
Tyler Reddick
Bubba Wallace