2012 Nascar Toyota/Save Mart 350

The Toyota/Save Mart 350 is a Nascar stock race that is held annually at the Infineon Raceway at the Sears Point in Sonoma, California. This race is 350 kilomters, 110 laps and it is one of the only two Sprint Cup races run on a road circuit, the onter one is the Watkins Glen. The fist race was in 1989, replacing the Budweiser 400 at Riverside. Since 2006 it has held a standalone race. This race causes discussion among media, fans and participants both in favor and against racing this event, because of the unique layout of the raceway which also attacks "road course ringers" a Nascar terms standing for drivers that appear in the Nascar circuit exclusively for road course races, which are one two this one and the Watkins Glen.

Infineon Raceway
Track Details
Completed : 1968
Distance : 1.99 miles
Shape : Road course
Turns : 10

The Infineon Raceway started construction in 1968, by Robert Marchall Jr. and Jim Coleman; they thought about building a racetrack during a hunting tripe they took. The tracked was builded on 720 acres, in August of 1968 ground was broken and in November the race surface was completely paved. In Dec. 1st the first official event took place, it was an SCCA Enduro.

During the following years the track was owned by several company like Filmways Corp. Hugh Harm and Parker Archer were the next owners of the raceway, the Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving was moved to this venue in 1973. That same year the Pacific Region of the Sports Club Car of America announced it would hold a driver's school and seried of non-spectator races at the track.

The next owner of the track, in 1975, was a group called Black Mountain Inc, Bondurant, William J. Kold and Howard Meister. Five years later another partner was taken on, the Long Beach Grand Prix Association. 1986 Brenda Raceway Corp. In 1989 Nascar debuted, and Ricky Rudd took the first victory, the Truck series was added in 1995.

The Chute was added in 1998, which connected the existing Turns 4 and 7. The circuit from 2.52 miles to 1.49 and increase the distance from 300 to 350 kilometers. The redesigned course is use strictly for Nascar events.

In 2001 a huge and expensive improvement of $60 million was completed, this included hillside terrance seats construction, garages for competitors and expantion of the entrance and access roads. In 2003 turns 1-3, 6-8 and 11, and The Chute were repaved, this ended the improvements on the raceway.

2012 Toyota/Save Mart 350 Schedule