NASCAR: 5 drivers most likely to win the 2018 Toyota/Save Mart 350
By Dustin Smith
Denny Hamlin
Although Denny Hamlin approaches the Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway without a win so far this season, he is still one of the most likely candidates to find victory lane on Sunday. He goes into the weekend with one career road course win under his belt and will look for number two on Sunday. He has been relatively quiet so far in 2018 and will need a win soon to start hearing his name in the discussion for potential series champion.
The 2016 Cheez-It 355 at Watkins Glen International had a bit of a shocking end to it when Hamlin was able to hold off the field and earn his first career NASCAR Cup Series road course victory. Just months earlier, he finished in second place to Tony Stewart at Sonoma after one of the best white flag laps you will ever see.
Hamlin was that close to sweeping both of the road course races in 2016. I would be very surprised to see him finish anywhere outside of the top five in both road course races this year. Since 2016, he has the second best average finish at Sonoma among all drivers. He sits behind only the now-retired Stewart in that category. It will be interesting to see if he can outclass the field on Sunday for his first career win at Sonoma. Luckily for him, he doesn’t have to battle Stewart for the win again.