Toyota/Save Mart 350

The Toyota/Save Mart 350 is a NASCAR Nextel Cup Series event held at Infineon Raceway. This race is one of the only two Nextel Cup races each year that is run on a non-oval track, with 12 turns over the 1.99 mile (3.22 km) track. Due to its unique layout, it creates a discussion each time it comes, with people both in favor and against racing this race. Also due to its unique layout, you can find so called "Road Course Ringers", that is, drivers that appear on the NASCAR circuit only for the road course races. It was held for the first time in 1989, and underwent name and length changes since then. (see infobox)

In the 1991 race, the first car to cross the finish line, Ricky Rudd, was black flagged and penalized five seconds for running into the back of, and spinning out Davey Allison with a little over one lap to go. The controversial penalty relegated him to second place, and gave Allison the victory.

In 1998, the circuit for the NASCAR event was shorted from the full 2.52 mile road course to a 1.99 mile road course with the addition of the Chute from turn 4 to turn 7, bypassing turns 5 and 6.

In 2001 the Chute was modified to such that the NASCAR circuit measured 2.0 miles long.

From 1989 to 2001, the pit road could only accommodate 34 pit stalls. In the early years, some teams were required to share pit stalls. When cars dropped out of the race, their pits were reassigned to cars who were sharing. After a few years, a makeshift pit road was constructed inside the Hair Pin (turn 11) nicknamed Gilligan's Island. Cars that had qualified 36th-43rd were assigned these pit stalls. Since the length of the auxiliary pit road was significantly shorter than the main pit road, the cars that pitted there were held from 15-20 seconds to make up for the time that would had been spent if the cars had traveled the entire main pit road. Pitting on Gilligan's Island had other inconveniences as well. The area was landlocked by the race course, and crew members were unable to leave once the race began. All repairs had to be in the area, as crews could not access the garage area. Crew members were also unable to return to the garages or their transporter for spare parts. If a team pitting on Gilligan's Island dropped out of the race, the crew was unable to pack up their supplies and prepare to leave (a common practice at other tracks) until the race was over. In 2002 the main pit road was reconfigured to handle all 43 cars, and Gilligan's Island was abandoned. Along with the pit road reconfiguration, the frontstretch was separated from the drag strip in 2002, shortening the track distance to 1.99 miles.

Fox has broadcast the race between 2001-2006. Until 2014 the race will be on TNT. It is considered one of the top ten annual NASCAR races.

See also: List of current NASCAR races

Past Winners

• 2007 - Juan Pablo Montoya (first COT win at road course (Infineon), 1st Nextel Cup Win)
• 2006 - Jeff Gordon
• 2005 - Tony Stewart
• 2004 - Jeff Gordon
• 2003 - Robby Gordon
• 2002 - Ricky Rudd (distance changed to 110 laps / 218.9 miles due to track reconfiguration)
• 2001 - Tony Stewart (distance changed to 112 laps / 224.0 miles due to track reconfiguration)
• 2000 - Jeff Gordon
• 1999 - Jeff Gordon
• 1998 - Jeff Gordon (distance changed to 112 laps / 218.3 miles due to track reconfiguration where the chute was added )
• 1997 - Mark Martin
• 1996 - Rusty Wallace
• 1995 - Dale Earnhardt
• 1994 - Ernie Irvan
• 1993 - Geoffrey Bodine
• 1992 - Ernie Irvan
• 1991 - Davey Allison
• 1990 - Rusty Wallace
• 1989 - Ricky Rudd (distance of 74 laps / 186.5 miles)