NASCAR: 5 drivers most likely to win the 2018 Toyota/Save Mart 350
By Dustin Smith
A.J. Allmendinger
It’s always fun to pick a driver from week to week as the “wild card” to win on Sunday. This weekend, my wild card pick to win is none other than A.J. Allmendinger. Although Allmendinger’s finishes at Sonoma Raceway haven’t been stellar, he has still been able to show flashes of success when racing at road courses.
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In the 2014 Sonoma race, Allmendinger was able to start on the outside pole before surrendering to a 37th place finish. The 2015 Sonoma race went very similarly, with him earning the pole and then finishing in 37th yet again. He has been able to prove he has the stuff to hang with the best in NASCAR by putting his car up front in qualifying at Sonoma, and he has shown that he has the makings to win at the track, but he just needs to put it all together.
I would be remiss not to mention the 2014 win at Watkins Glen International that Allmendinger was able to earn. He was able to hold off Marcos Ambrose, who was the king of Watkins Glen in 2011 and 2012. I am hoping for another “Dinger” upset this weekend at Sonoma. It’s always fun for a driver who doesn’t normally compete for the win week in and week out to find victory lane.
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The Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway is scheduled to start at 3:00 p.m. ET this Sunday, June 24, and it is set to be broadcast live on Fox Sports 1. Who will be victorious this weekend at the first road course that the NASCAR Cup Series travels to in 2018? Is your pick listed in this article, or do you think that there will be a different driver in victory lane?