All in all, it was a solid day and I’m proud of the guys for going out there and getting the job done. Then we started pitting, and I didn’t know what to expect. On long runs I was coming to him, especially that real long run we had. It seemed like the 4 (Harvick) had a little better turn than I did, and the 78 (Truex) was better. “They (Truex’s team) just took a little different strategy than we did, and that’s what it took. “I’m happy to be in this (Stewart-Haas Racing) equipment and have this opportunity, but I’m also frustrated, because we were one of the three that were the class of the field and had a legitimate shot at racing for a win,” Bowyer said. Only two problems: 1) Race winner Martin Truex Jr.’s pit strategy, which afforded a comfortable winning margin with a single stop to Bowyer’s two in the final stage, and 2) Bowyer’s teammate Kevin Harvick, who wasn’t willing to surrender the second spot. Four circuits later, however, his race came to an end when Allmendinger missed a shift and blew the engine in his Chevy, ruining one of his best chances to win a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race. 47 JTG Daugherty Chevrolet to pit road during the caution between stages and restart 17th on Lap 30. and Harvick pitted early on Lap 22, Allmendinger inherited the top spot and held it through the green/checkered flag, collecting the first stage win of his career.Īllmendinger brought the No. So it was a good finish for me, and we’re looking forward to the next road race.” MISSED SHIFT DESTROYS ALLMENDINGER’S WINNING CHANCESĪJ Allmendinger had just won the first stage of Sunday’s Toyota/Save Mart 350 when his race - and his engine - fell apart.Īllmendinger started fifth and quickly worked his way into second place during the first stage, only to surrender the runner-up spot to Kevin Harvick on Lap 15 of the 25-lap stage. We elected to get some stage points and that set us back a little for that last stage, but I don’t think we had the pace that the leaders had. We kind of had to pick our battles today. And that’s nice to show up and get rhythm. “I appreciate everyone on my NAPA team working hard this weekend. To come here and have pace on Friday and qualify good on Saturday, and to have pace today, it was just a lot more fun. ![]() “I made a lot of gains, personally, I think, for me at this track. ![]() “It was a lot more fun, this trip out here, than it was the last two times,” said Elliott, who finished 21st and eighth, respectively, in his first two Sonoma races. ![]() More than anything, Elliott has begun to enjoy road-course racing. ![]() And by scoring 49 points on Sunday, seven more than any other driver and nine more than race winner Truex, Elliott solidified his 13th-place position in the series standings. In the final stage, however, he overcame the disadvantaged track position to run fourth behind the three strongest cars in the race. While other contending drivers - including top-three finishers Martin Truex Jr., Kevin Harvick and Clint Bowyer - came to pit road before the ends of the first two stages to set up superior track position, Elliott stayed out through the green/checkered flags to collect stage points, finish fourth in Stage 1 and second in Stage 2. No, Elliott didn’t win the race, but his fourth-place finish was a career best in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in five starts on road courses. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports Sonoma, CA, USA NASCAR Cup Series driver Chase Elliott (9) during the Toyota / Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway.
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