Martin Truex Jr. wins Toyota/SaveMart 350 at Sonoma Raceway

Martin Truex Jr. held off Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Kyle Busch to win the Toyota/SaveMart 350 Sunday by 1.9 seconds over runner-up xxxxx in the 50th anniversary season of Sonoma Raceway.

It was Truex’s third win of the season and 23rd of his career. It was the 10th win of the season for the Gibbs team. Ryan Blaney was third. Matt DiBenedetto, a native of Grass Valley (Nevada County) was fourth and Denny Hamlin, another Gibbs driver, fifth.

It was the first NASCAR Cup Series race at the track in 22 years to use the Carousel, a sharp downhill turn leading to a long straightaway. That led to the hairpin Turn 7, a new passing opportunity.

William Byron won the first stage after the 20th lap and Hamlin the second after the 40th.