NASCAR
Martin Truex Jr., 78 Team Use Winning Pit Strategy for Sonoma Victory
Week 16 of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season was annual stop at Sonoma Raceway. The 1.99-mile road course in Northern California is a fan favorite, as pit strategy is always a factor here. After leading 62 laps, Martin Truex Jr. took his 3rd win of 2018 over Kevin Harvick.
Road Course Parity Leads to Sonoma Unpredictability
Over the past 9 seasons, 10 different drivers have won the race in Wine Valley. The only repeat winner in this duration was Kyle Busch, who many considered a favorite for the victory. However, many also thought a Stewart-Haas Ford would win, as 3 of their 4 drivers have past victories here. Perennial road course favorites such as AJ Allmendinger and Jamie McMurray were also considered as potential upset winners.
First Stage Strategy Calls Mix Up Running Order
After starting on pole, Kyle Larson quickly faded, as the 42 Chevrolet was an ill handling car. 2nd-place starter Martin Truex Jr. took the lead early on, and dominated Stage 1. Late in the opening Stage, Truex and many other front runners chose to pit prior to the stage break. This would give the Stage win to AJ Allmendinger, the road course driver’s 1st ever stage win.
Early Trouble for Prerace Favorites
Not far into Stage 2 at Sonoma, 2 of the higher running drivers had near-simultaneous troubles that ended their days. AJ Allmendinger missed a shift, blowing up his engine, and bringing out a caution. At this time, Jamie McMurray retired to the garage with engine issues. Neither the 47 or the 1 would return to the race. This would cause them both to finish in the last 2 positions.
Much like in Stage 1, the leaders of Kevin Harvick and Martin Truex Jr. came to pit road shortly before the conclusion of Stage 2. This would give the Stage win to Denny Hamlin, who was looking to win his first career Sonoma race.
Long Green Flag Run Opens the Door for Alternate Pit Calls
The stage break on lap 52 would be the final caution flag of the day. This long green flag run would lead to many differing pit strategies, as teams thought another caution would come. One thing remained constant though, Kevin Harvick and Martin Truex Jr. were both the fastest cars. Only differing strategy would allow anyone to beat them.
At one point, crew chief Cole Pearn told Martin Truex, Jr. to pit. However, Pearn would then tell the 78 to stay out that lap. This would bait the 4 car to pit, thinking they were following the 78 in. This trickery on the part of the 78 team was arguably the winning call in Sonoma.
Harvick would pit from the lead with 38 laps to go, just inside of a fuel window, giving the top spot to Truex. Truex would divide the final 60-lap stage in half, pitting with 30 laps left. Harvick would briefly lead again, but Truex’s fresher tires blasted the 78 by the 4.
In a daring gamble on another caution coming out, Harvick would pit again with roughly 20 laps remaining. This would give the 4 car fresher tires than the 78, but at a major loss of track position. While the 4 was charging hard from several seconds back, the 78 was cruising. Truex was just managing his lap times enough to maintain the lead.
Late Race Charge Comes Up Short for Harvick
Harvick would get back to the runner up position due to fresher tires. But, he ran out of time to close his large deficit to Truex. Truex would win by 10 seconds, although Harvick was running much faster at the end. One can only guess who would have won if a caution came out. This is the 2nd-straight year that Sonoma ended under an extended green flag run, as Harvick was in Truex’s position a season ago.
For Truex, this win marks his 3rd of 2018, 2nd at Sonoma, and his 18th overall in the Cup Series. While Truex did win at Sonoma in 2013, this was Furniture Row Racing’s first victory in Wine Country.
The top-10 finishers from Sonoma were Truex, Harvick, Clint Bowyer, Chase Elliott, Kyle Busch, Kurt Busch, Erik Jones, Aric Almirola, Alex Bowman, and Denny Hamlin.
End of the NASCAR On Fox Broadcast Season
Sonoma marks the end of NASCAR Cup Series coverage on Fox Sports for 2018. As always, the great team at NASCAR On Fox has done a masterful job of covering their half of the racing season. The 1st 16 races of 2018 have seen only 6 different winners, as the triple-headed juggernaut of Harvick, Busch, and Truex have dominated all year. Starting next weekend in Chicagoland, NBC Sports will take over coverage of the Cup and Xfinity Series races. This will also mark the much-anticipated broadcast debut of Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
Coverage of the Overton’s 400 from Chicagoland Speedway will be next Sunday, July 1, on NBCSN. Radio coverage will also be on MRN, as well as SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. 10 races remain until the NASCAR Playoffs, and 10 drivers are currently in the postseason by points. Only time will tell if the ‘Big 3’ drivers can be beaten before the 10 week championship chase.
