Checkered Countdown: Top-Five Sonoma Finishes

No.3 Marcos Ambrose stops the car while saving fuel under caution and loses the race (2010).

A rookie mistake was what kept Marcos Ambrose from winning his first Sprint Cup Series race at Sonoma in 2010 even if he was all but a rookie. A two-time V8 Supercars series champion, Ambrose debuted in the Sprint Cup Series in 2008 and his first real shot at a win came two years later at the Toyota/Save mart 350 at Sonoma. He was leading in front of Jimmie Johnson when the caution flew at lap 100 and he looked to have the situation under control. In an effort to save fuel though he shut the engine off while going uphill towards turn two, resulting in the car stopping and him being passed by some drivers. Ambrose quickly turned the engine back on and regained the lead but NASCAR ordered him to restart in seventh place for failing to maintain a high enough speed under caution. This gave an easy win to Johnson while Ambrose finished seventh and disappointed with NASCAR for their decision.

Next: Ricky Rudd 1991