2021 Toyota/Save Mart 350
# 2021 Toyota/Save Mart 350

The 2021 Toyota/Save Mart 350 was a NASCAR Cup Series race held on June 6, 2021, at Sonoma Raceway in Sonoma, California. Contested over 92 laps—extended from 90 laps due to an overtime finish, on the 2.52-mile (4.06 km) road course, it was the 16th race of the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season.

## Report

### Background

Sonoma Raceway, formerly Sears Point Raceway and Infineon Raceway is a 2.52-mile (4.06 km) road course and drag strip located on the landform known as Sears Point in the southern Sonoma Mountains in Sonoma, California, USA. The road course features 12 turns on a hilly course with 160 feet (49 m) of total elevation change. It is host to one of only seven NASCAR Cup Series races each year that are run on road courses. It is also host to the NTT IndyCar Series and several other auto races and motorcycle races such as the American Federation of Motorcyclists series. Sonoma Raceway continues to host amateur, or club racing events which may or may not be open to the general public. The largest such car club is the Sports Car Club of America.

**Entry list**

* (R) denotes rookie driver.
* (i) denotes driver who are ineligible for series driver points.

| No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer |
| - | - | - | - |
| 00 | Quin Houff | StarCom Racing | Chevrolet |
| 1 | Kurt Busch | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet |
| 2 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske | Ford |
| 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 6 | Ryan Newman | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford |
| 7 | Corey LaJoie | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 8 | Tyler Reddick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford |
| 14 | Chase Briscoe (R) | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 15 | James Davison | Rick Ware Racing | Chevrolet |
| 17 | Chris Buescher | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford |
| 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 21 | Matt DiBenedetto | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford |
| 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford |
| 23 | Bubba Wallace | 23XI Racing | Toyota |
| 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 37 | Ryan Preece | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet |
| 38 | Anthony Alfredo (R) | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 41 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 42 | Ross Chastain | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet |
| 43 | Erik Jones | Richard Petty Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet |
| 48 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 51 | Cody Ware (i) | Petty Ware Racing | Chevrolet |
| 52 | Josh Bilicki | Rick Ware Racing | Ford |
| 53 | Garrett Smithley (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Ford |
| 77 | Ben Rhodes (i) | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 78 | Scott Heckert | Live Fast Motorsports | Ford |
| 99 | Daniel Suárez | Trackhouse Racing Team | Chevrolet |
| Official entry list ||||

## Qualifying

Kyle Larson was awarded the pole for the race as determined by competition-based formula.

### Starting Lineup

| Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 2 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 3 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 4 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 5 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 6 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 7 | 48 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 8 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 9 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske | Ford |
| 10 | 8 | Tyler Reddick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 11 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford |
| 12 | 17 | Chris Buescher | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford |
| 13 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford |
| 14 | 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet |
| 15 | 23 | Bubba Wallace | 23XI Racing | Toyota |
| 16 | 99 | Daniel Suárez | Trackhouse Racing Team | Chevrolet |
| 17 | 21 | Matt DiBenedetto | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford |
| 18 | 43 | Erik Jones | Richard Petty Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 19 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 20 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 21 | 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 22 | 7 | Corey LaJoie | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 23 | 41 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 24 | 6 | Ryan Newman | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford |
| 25 | 14 | Chase Briscoe (R) | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 26 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 27 | 37 | Ryan Preece | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet |
| 28 | 38 | Anthony Alfredo (R) | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 29 | 42 | Ross Chastain | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet |
| 30 | 1 | Kurt Busch | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet |
| 31 | 77 | Ben Rhodes (i) | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 32 | 15 | James Davison | Rick Ware Racing | Chevrolet |
| 33 | 00 | Quin Houff | StarCom Racing | Chevrolet |
| 34 | 53 | Garrett Smithley (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Ford |
| 35 | 78 | Scott Heckert | Live Fast Motorsports | Ford |
| 36 | 52 | Josh Bilicki | Rick Ware Racing | Ford |
| 37 | 51 | Cody Ware (i) | Petty Ware Racing | Chevrolet |
| Official starting lineup |||||

## Race

Kyle Larson was awarded the pole where he dominated and won both stages. William Byron spun and slammed into Kevin Harvick and collected Corey LaJoie. Cody Ware went through dirt and slammed into Ryan Preece as Matt DiBenedetto spun. Anthony Alfredo spun and collected Christopher Bell, sending the race to overtime. On the restart, Larson would hold off teammate Chase Elliott for his second straight win and third of the season for Hendrick Motorsports' 270th Cup win.

### Stage Results

Stage One Laps: 20

| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Points |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 10 |
| 2 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 9 |
| 3 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 8 |
| 4 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 7 |
| 5 | 48 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 6 |
| 6 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 5 |
| 7 | 8 | Tyler Reddick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 4 |
| 8 | 1 | Kurt Busch | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 3 |
| 9 | 21 | Matt DiBenedetto | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 2 |
| 10 | 43 | Erik Jones | Richard Petty Motorsports | Chevrolet | 1 |
| Official stage one results ||||||

Stage Two Laps: 20

| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Points |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 10 |
| 2 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 9 |
| 3 | 48 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 8 |
| 4 | 1 | Kurt Busch | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 7 |
| 5 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 6 |
| 6 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 5 |
| 7 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 4 |
| 8 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske | Ford | 3 |
| 9 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 2 |
| 10 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 1 |
| Official stage two results ||||||

### Final Stage Results

Stage Three Laps: 50

| Pos | Grid | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Laps | Points |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 1 | 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 92 | 60 |
| 2 | 2 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 92 | 50 |
| 3 | 19 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 92 | 41 |
| 4 | 13 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 92 | 42 |
| 5 | 5 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 92 | 44 |
| 6 | 30 | 1 | Kurt Busch | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 92 | 41 |
| 7 | 29 | 42 | Ross Chastain | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 92 | 30 |
| 8 | 4 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 92 | 31 |
| 9 | 7 | 48 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 92 | 42 |
| 10 | 11 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 92 | 27 |
| 11 | 18 | 43 | Erik Jones | Richard Petty Motorsports | Chevrolet | 92 | 27 |
| 12 | 16 | 99 | Daniel Suárez | Trackhouse Racing Team | Chevrolet | 92 | 25 |
| 13 | 6 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 92 | 29 |
| 14 | 15 | 23 | Bubba Wallace | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 92 | 23 |
| 15 | 9 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske | Ford | 92 | 25 |
| 16 | 12 | 17 | Chris Buescher | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 92 | 21 |
| 17 | 25 | 14 | Chase Briscoe (R) | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 92 | 20 |
| 18 | 22 | 7 | Corey LaJoie | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 92 | 19 |
| 19 | 10 | 8 | Tyler Reddick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 92 | 22 |
| 20 | 23 | 41 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 92 | 17 |
| 21 | 27 | 37 | Ryan Preece | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 92 | 16 |
| 22 | 8 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 92 | 15 |
| 23 | 17 | 21 | Matt DiBenedetto | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 92 | 16 |
| 24 | 20 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 92 | 14 |
| 25 | 32 | 15 | James Davison | Rick Ware Racing | Chevrolet | 92 | 12 |
| 26 | 35 | 78 | Scott Heckert | Live Fast Motorsports | Ford | 92 | 11 |
| 27 | 26 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 92 | 10 |
| 28 | 21 | 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 92 | 9 |
| 29 | 36 | 52 | Josh Bilicki | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | 92 | 8 |
| 30 | 31 | 77 | Ben Rhodes (i) | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 92 | 0 |
| 31 | 28 | 38 | Anthony Alfredo (R) | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 92 | 6 |
| 32 | 34 | 53 | Garrett Smithley (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | 92 | 0 |
| 33 | 24 | 6 | Ryan Newman | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 92 | 4 |
| 34 | 37 | 51 | Cody Ware (i) | Petty Ware Racing | Chevrolet | 84 | 0 |
| 35 | 3 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 76 | 7 |
| 36 | 33 | 00 | Quin Houff | StarCom Racing | Chevrolet | 69 | 1 |
| 37 | 14 | 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 40 | 1 |
| Official race results ||||||||

### Race statistics

* Lead changes: 13 among 7 different drivers
* Cautions/Laps: 8 for 18
* Red flags: 0
* Time of race: 3 hours, 14 minutes and 42 seconds
* Average speed: 71.445 miles per hour (114.980 km/h)

## Media

### Television

Fox NASCAR televised the race in the United States on FS1 for the fifth year. Mike Joy was the lap-by-lap announcer, while six-time Sonoma winner Jeff Gordon and 2012 winner Clint Bowyer were the color commentators. Jamie Little and Regan Smith handled pit road for the television side. Larry McReynolds provided insight from the Fox Sports studio in Charlotte.

FS1 :

| Booth announcers | Pit reporters | In-race analyst |
| - | - | - |
| Lap-by-lap: Mike Joy Color-commentator: Jeff Gordon Color-commentator: Clint Bowyer | Jamie Little Regan Smith | Larry McReynolds |

### Radio

Radio coverage of the race was broadcast by the Performance Racing Network. PRN's broadcast of the race was simulcasted on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. Doug Rice and Mark Garrow announced the race in the booth while the field was racing on the pit straightaway. Pat Patterson called the race from a stand outside of turn 2 when the field was racing up turns 2, 3 and 3a. Brad Gillie called the race from a stand outside of turn 7a when the field was racing through turns 4a and 7a. Nick Yeoman called the race when the field raced thru turns 8 and 9. Rob Albright called the race from a billboard outside turn 11 when the field was racing through turns 10 and 11. Heather DeBeaux, Brett McMillan and Wendy Venturini reported from pit lane during the race.

PRN :

| Booth announcers | Turn announcers | Pit reporters |
| - | - | - |
| Lead announcer: Doug Rice Announcer: Mark Garrow | Turns 2, 3 & 3a: Pat Patterson Turns 4a & 7a: Brad Gillie Turns 8 & 9: Nick Yeoman Turns 10 & 11: Rob Albright | Heather DeBeaux Brett McMillan Wendy Venturini |

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| - | - | - | - |
| | 1 | Denny Hamlin | 664 |
| | 2 | Kyle Larson | 617 (–47) |
| 1 | 3 | Chase Elliott | 591 (–73) |
| 1 | 4 | William Byron | 564 (–100) |
| | 5 | Joey Logano | 548 (–116) |
| | 6 | Martin Truex Jr. | 527 (–137) |
| 1 | 7 | Kyle Busch | 520 (–144) |
| 1 | 8 | Ryan Blaney | 509 (–155) |
| | 9 | Kevin Harvick | 483 (–181) |
| | 10 | Brad Keselowski | 473 (–191) |
| 1 | 11 | Alex Bowman | 447 (–217) |
| 1 | 12 | Austin Dillon | 436 (–228) |
| | 13 | Tyler Reddick | 398 (–266) |
| | 14 | Chris Buescher | 391 (–273) |
| | 15 | Christopher Bell | 364 (–300) |
| | 16 | Michael McDowell | 355 (–309) |
| Official driver's standings ||||
| Pos | Manufacturer | Points |
| 1 | Chevrolet | 587 |
| 2 | Ford | 556 (–31) |
| 3 | Toyota | 547 (–40) |
