Sonoma is quite the track. It has exciting twists and turns. Well, this year’s Toyota/Save Mart 350 had just as many twists and turns as the track. A.J. Allmendinger started on the pole, but was overtaken by Kurt Busch on the very first lap. Allmendinger later broke a fuel cell and recorded an awful finish. That was a foul twist for him.

For a while Kurt was the man to beat, but at Sonoma strategy is the key to victory. So leading the most laps, while it is nice to do, it does not even remotely mean a victory is in store for you. Many drivers went with a three pit stop strategy. However, two drivers went with a two stop strategy. Tony Stewart and Clint Bowyer, both drivers have notable success here, took the gamble of two stops.

In the first thirty laps only two cautions came out. However, both times drivers took major hits. First David Gilliland plowed into the tire barrier exiting turn 10. Then, not ten laps later, David Ragan spun Martin Truex Jr. into another tire barrier. After that the race seemed relatively calm. And two drivers established themselves as the leaders.

Kurt Busch and Jimmie Johnson proved to be the race’s dominate drivers. Each led more than 40 of the race’s 110 laps. However, as earlier stated, leading laps doesn’t always win races. While these two dominated, Tony Stewart, Clint Bowyer, Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick bided their time, staying just within striking distance.

As the laps wound down Johnson was clearly in the lead, and no drivers were within striking distance anymore. But, then a twist came into play on lap 99. Casey Mears lost a tire, literally. The tire and axle came off of his car. Isn’t it funny that Johnson would lose his huge advantage because of his long time friend?

Almost every driver in the field came down pit road. Accept Johnson. And a few others. Unfortunately for Tony Stewart, his pit road problems, which he has had all season, continued. His crew members were literally bumping into each other. It cost him almost ten positions. Stewart was so mad that he said “Can you guys do anything right?” Ouch. Harvick, the Busch brothers, and Bowyer made it off pit road just fine.

As the final restart began, Johnson put the pedal to the metal trying to get away from drivers with fresh tires. However, Kyle Busch, who just returned after breaking a leg and foot, made quick work of the cars between him and Johnson, and began stalking his prey.

Kyle blew past Johnson with ease, but was quickly followed by Bowyer, the other Busch, and Harvick. However, the other three spent so much time racing each other, that Busch quickly pulled away. By the time the three behind him settled down, it was the final lap. Kyle’s big brother Kurt tried desperately to catch his little brother, but Kyle was to far. Only five weeks after returning to competition from injuries, Kyle was back in victory lane. And despite missing 11 races, he is Chase eligible. Now that is what I call a stylish return. It was also the first time Kurt and Kyle finished 1-2 in a race.