2008 Toyota Save Mart 350 Preview:
The 2008 Toyota Save Mart 350 at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, California is the first of two road course races on the NASCAR Sprint Cup schedule. This weekend will see road racing experts invade the Sprint Cup series to try their expert skills against the best oval racers in the world.Tickets:
Speedway ticket office 1.800.870.RACEBuy online from TicketsNow (direct link)
The Track:
Originally built in 1968 as a 2.52 mile road course the NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers now use a 1.99-mile portion of the road course with dramatic elevation changes over the course of a lap as the track winds up and down the California countryside.Race Distance:
110 laps = 218 miles (350 kilometers)The Big Picture:
Last week's race in Michigan had very little impact on the overall point standings. The top four drivers remained the same and no new drivers cracked the top twelve.David Ragan remains in 13th now just ten points behind Clint Bowyer in 12th.
The top twelve are now:
- Kyle Busch
- Jeff Burton -32
- Dale Earnhardt Jr. -84
- Carl Edwards -206
- Jimmie Johnson -254
- Denny Hamlin -287
- Kasey Kahne -324
- Greg Biffle -329
- Jeff Gordon -337
- Kevin Harvick -396
- Tony Stewart -439
- Clint Bowyer -449
Storylines:
NASCAR Sprint Cup road racing brings out the ringers. Road racing experts from other racing series get one-shot rides to perform their road racing magic in Sprint Cup. Drivers like Boris Said, Ron Fellows and Scott Pruett will get the chance to show off their skills against NASCAR's best.Will this be the year that a ringer wins at Infineon Raceway? Or do the Sprint Cup regulars have too much of an advantage?
Media Coverage:
TV: TNT Sunday, June 22nd, 3:30PM Eastern.Radio: PRN and SIRIUS Satellite
Actual Race: 5:00PM Eastern
Recent Events:
2007 Winner: Juan Pablo Montoya
2007 Polesitter: Jamie McMurray
Last Year:
The 2007 Toyota / Save Mart 350 at Infineon Raceway was all about the strategy. Fuel mileage was key as some drivers stayed out to stretch the final fuel run while others played it safe and headed for pit road.Rookie Juan Pablo Montoya's team made the right call. Montoya, the former Formula One racer, did his part in the driver's seat and drove the #42 to his first career NEXTEL Cup win.
Predictions:
The Toyota drivers have been doing well at the handling and downforce race tracks. Kyle Busch dominated Darlington and Denny Hamlin picked up the win in Martinsville. Howeer it is the third Joe Gibbs Toyota driver that is my primary pick for this week's race.Tony Stewart has two previous Infineon Raceway wins and JGR has had good luck hooking up the new Camry. Tony Stewart makes a strong pick this Sunday.
My backup pick this week is a name that doesn't normally come to mind when you mention road racing aces. Greg Biffle finished in the top five each of the last two years here. If his team hits the pit stretegy just right Biffle has the skills to bring home the 2008 Toyota Save Mart 350 trophy.
