Carl Edwards takes the pole for road course race at Sonoma

Worsham’s Toyota sustained minor damage when the parachutes failed to deploy in the final qualifying session and he went through the sand trap at the end of the track. Every time we would get past the guys that we were racing, a caution would come out and those guys would beat us out of the pits. “It could have worked either way”. We were fortunate to be in that position.

The gamble paid off when Michael McDowell’s vehicle died on the track on the 94 lap of the 110 lap. When the rest of the field came to pit road for fresh tires, Stewart found himself in the lead and wasn’t passed save for the four turns Hamlin had the lead.

“Our partnership with Sonoma Raceway is a great opportunity for us to collaborate with the local Toyota dealers to reach and engage with NASCAR fans”, said Keith Dahl, general manager, motorsports and marketing asset management at Toyota Motor Sales US.

The second daring move was pure Stewart.

Despite Keselowski running some impressive laps last week at Road America in a Team Penske Indy Car, I’m picking Allmendinger to win.

Even Hamlin, who had just given the race away, went to congratulate his former teammate and one-time mentor.

He finally got his chance in Turn 7 of the 100 and final lap. “I had just a little bit too much rear brake for turn seven and wheel-hopped it two laps in a row”. “It’s hard to repeat that; for whatever reason, I don’t exactly know”.

It meant Stewart would have to win a race and crack the top 30 in points to have one last shot at glory before he stepped out of the No. 14 Chevrolet for good. “So occasionally you have maybe a fuel-mileage race that might mix it up a little bit, or strategy; and I think we just had a handful of laps left and made a decision to stay out and new tires got to us quickly past year”.

“After that first lap-I have to be honest-I sat here and thought, ‘Man, I’m really going to screw this up on the second one, ‘ ’cause the first one was really good, but it held on for the pole, and so I’m really excited”, said Edwards.

“In all honesty I think it’s because everyone is getting better”, Logano said after the race. I felt like MI and Pocono we got jogging, and we’re getting closer to being where we need to be.

It was a remarkably accident free race, in sharp contrast to Saturday’s Chevy’s Fresh Mex 200, a NASCAR Pro Series race that had a lot in common with the demolition derby.

“It had to be an ignition or wire fire”. I can take them one at a time. “Hell, I couldn’t breathe”. “It was a great start to the day”.

“It is a wild-card race, but I feel like, quickly going through my memory, whichever driver has won has had a dominating day and a strong performance throughout the day”, Johnson said. Past year we got punted off the track early and finished 42.

“When he went into 11”, Stewart said, “I was probably more surprised than anybody”. I was sitting third, watching those two guys. “I’m following him on social media now”. But we are witnessing a historic moment in NASCAR.

Marcos did attempt to get to Allmendinger in his best take-no-prisoners style.

Hamlin finished second, Joey Logano was third, Carl Edwards fourth, and Martin Truex Jr. finished fifth.

Harvick was sixth, Kyle Busch seventh, while Ryan Newman, Kasey Kahne and Kurt Busch rounded out the top 10.

The victory virtually assures Stewart a spot in the Chase.

Many drivers were quick to congratulate Tony Stewart after his win in the Toyota/Save Mart 350, including the drivers he battled in the end for the victory.