The 2018 NASCAR Xfinity Series was the 37th season of the NASCAR Xfinity Series, a stock car racing series sanctioned by NASCAR in the United States. William Byron won the 2017 championship with JR Motorsports, but moved up to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. Tyler Reddick, who replaced Byron in the No. 9 JR Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro SS, won the drivers' championship. Stewart–Haas Racing with Biagi–DenBeste won the owners' championship.
This was the third year that the Xfinity Series (and the Truck Series) had a playoff system. For the first time in the three years of the playoffs at that time, Elliott Sadler and Justin Allgaier were not part of the "championship 4" drivers competing for the title at Homestead–Miami Speedway. Both drivers did qualify for the postseason but did not advance to the last round of the playoffs as they had done the past two years.
The 2018 season was the first to feature the Regular Season Championship trophy, which is awarded at the final race before the playoffs. Justin Allgaier clinched the NXS Regular Season Championship trophy after the 2018 DC Solar 300 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
This was the final season of the Toyota Camry in the Xfinity Series, as it was replaced by the Supra in the 2019 season. It was also the final season of Dodge as a manufacturer, as the new flange-fit composite body rules have made the former Team Penske Challengers (nicknamed "Zombie Dodges" due to their lack of factory support since 2013) used by smaller teams ineligible due to their welded steel bodies. This was also the last year of 5-time Xfinity Champion Roush Racing in Xfinity. After this season, Roush continued only in the Cup Series.
Teams and drivers
Complete schedule ManufacturerTeamRace driverCrew chief ChevroletChip Ganassi Racing 42Kyle Larson Mike Shiplett Nick Harvey John Hunter Nemechek Jamie McMurray Justin Marks Ross Chastain Chastain ran the full season split between the Chip Ganassi Racing No. 42 and the JD Motorsports No. 4.DGM Racing36Alex Labbé (R)Mario Gosselin 90Josh Williams John Holmes Donald Theetge Josh WilliamsAndy Lally Caesar Bacarella Thomas Bear Brandonbilt Motorsports Brandon Brown Adam Brenner Brian Henderson Mason Diaz GMS Racing23 Spencer Gallagher Chad Norris Johnny Sauter Chase Elliott Alex Bowman Justin Haley Casey Roderick A. J. Allmendinger Bill Elliott Go Green Racing with SS-Green Light Racing35Joey GasePatrick Donahue JD Motorsports 0Garrett Smithley Wayne Carroll Paul Clapprood Mark Setzer Matt Mills (R) Vinnie Miller (R) 01Vinnie Miller (R) Ryan Bell Bryan Berry Landon Cassill Lawson Aschenbach B. J. McLeod Paul Clapprood 4Ross Chastain Robert Goodman Rick Johnson Evan Snider Garrett Smithley Landon Cassill Quin Houff 15Joe Nemechek Ronald Drake Tevin Bair Paul Clapprood Garrett Smithley Matt Mills (R) B. J. McLeod Brandon Hightower Mike Skeen Katherine Legge Quin Houff Bryan Berry Jeremy Clements Racing51Jeremy ClementsDanny Gill Jimmy Means Racing52David StarrTim Brown JR Motorsports1Elliott SadlerKevin Meendering5Michael AnnettJason Stockert Travis Mack 7Justin AllgaierJason Burdett Bill Wilburn 9Tyler Reddick (R)Dave Elenz Mike Bumgarner Kaulig Racing11Ryan TruexChris Rice Richard Childress Racing2Matt TifftRandall Burnett 3Austin Dillon Danny Lawrence Brandon Thomas Nick Harrison Ty Dillon Shane Lee Jeb Burton Brendan Gaughan 21Daniel HemricDanny Stockman Jr. Brandonbilt Motorsports 38Brian Henderson Adam Brenner B. J. McLeod MotorsportsAngela Ruch R. B. Bracken Tony Wilson Kyle Johnson Todd Myers Kevin Starland RSS RacingJeff Green J. J. Yeley Ryan Sieg 39J. J. Yeley Rod Sieg Kevin Starland Todd Myers Ryan Sieg Angela Ruch 93Ryan Sieg Kyle Johnson Tony Wilson J. J. Yeley Jeff Green Stephen Leicht SS-Green Light Racing76Spencer Boyd (R)Jason Miller FordRoush Fenway Racing16Ryan ReedPhil Gould 60Austin Cindric (R) Mike KelleyChase Briscoe Ty Majeski Stewart–Haas Racing with Biagi–DenBeste 00Cole CusterJeff Meendering Bruce Schlicker Team Penske 22Joey Logano Brian WilsonRyan Blaney Brad Keselowski Austin Cindric (R) Paul Menard Toyota Joe Gibbs Racing 18Daniel Suárez Eric Phillips Dustin Zacharyasz Kyle Benjamin Kyle Busch Ryan Preece Noah Gragson Riley Herbst James Davison Denny Hamlin 19Brandon JonesChris Gabehart20Christopher Bell (R)Jason Ratcliff Wesley Sherrill JP Motorsports 45Josh Bilicki (R) Jason Houghtaling David Jones Rob Winfield Chuck Herman Brown Jen Glenn Kania William Whitley Terry Elmore Kase Kallenbach Jerry Hattaway Riley Higgins Bayley Currey Josh Bilicki was originally scheduled to drive the No. 45 in the O'Reilly Auto Parts 300 but crashed his only car in Practice. So Currey scheduled to drive the No. 55 car, that was renumbered to No. 45 since the No. 45 was better in Owners' Standings and the No. 55 entry withdrew. Chevrolet Toyota B. J. McLeod Motorsports 8Caesar Bacarella George Ingram Keith Wolfe Joe Lax Adam Brooks Tommy Joe Martins Bayley Currey Ray Black Jr. Blake Jones Angela Ruch Scott Heckert Cody Ware Dylan Murcott Matt Mills (R) Jairo Avila Jr. Chevrolet Toyota 78Ryan Ellis Joe Lax George Ingram Keith Wolfe Adam Brooks B. J. McLeod Ray Black Jr. Tommy Joe Martins Scott Heckert Blake Jones Jairo Avila Jr. Cody Ware Cole Rouse Matt Mills (R) Vinnie Miller (R) Toyota Chevrolet Dodge MBM Motorsports 40Chad Finchum (R) George Church Mike Hillman Robert Scott James Blankenship Brian Keselowski Josh Reaume Carl Long Toyota Dodge Chevrolet Ford 66Timmy Hill Sebastian Laforge Clinton Cram Gary Showalter Steven Idol Robert Scott Carl Long Stan Mullis John Jackson Tim Cowen Brandon Hightower Bobby Dale Earnhardt Akinori Ogata Chad Finchum (R) ChevroletB. J. McLeod Motorsports 74Ray Black Jr. Robert Scott Jason Houghtaling Tim Goulet Kyle Warner Dodge Chevrolet Mike Harmon RacingMike Harmon Cody Ware B. J. McLeod Stephen Leicht Tim Viens
Limited schedule ManufacturerTeamRace driverCrew chiefRounds Chevrolet Brandonbilt Motorsports86Brandon BrownAdam Brenner Cody Lane Racing27Cody LaneTimmy Sliva Chris Cockrum Racing25Chris CockrumJeff Spraker King Autosport 92Dexter Bean Thomas BearJosh Williams John Holmes GMS Racing24Justin HaleyKevin Bellicourt JR Motorsports 88Chase ElliottScott Radel Dale Earnhardt Jr.Mike Bumgarner Jimmy Means Racing79Josh ReaumeJordy Braden Kaulig Racing10Austin DillonChad Kendrick Niece Motorsports17Victor Gonzalez Jr.Adam Crigger Obaika Racing97Tanner BerryhillDan Stillman RSS Racing 37J. J. Yeley Justen KraemerJeff Green Shepherd Racing Ventures 89Morgan Shepherd Nick HoechstLandon Cassill Ford Fury Race Cars61 Kaz Grala (R) Shane Wilson Rick Markle JGL Racing24 28 Dylan LuptonRick Markle Steven Lane Tony Mrakovich Roush Fenway Racing6Conor DalyKevin KiddStewart–Haas Racing with Biagi–DenBeste 98Aric AlmirolaRichard BoswellKevin HarvickChase Briscoe Team Penske12Austin Cindric (R)Matt SwiderskiBrad Keselowski Tullman-Walker Racing26Max TullmanDoug Richert ToyotaJP Motorsports 55Stephen LeichtDavid Jones Jason Houghtaling Jerry Hattaway Tim Silva Chuck Herman Terry Elmore Kase Kallenbach R.B. Bracken Jennifer Jo CobbBrandon HightowerBayley CurreyPeter Shepherd IIIDylan MurcottJames French MBM Motorsports72Timmy HillJosh ReaumeJohn Jackson NXT Motorsports54Gray GauldingRick Bourgeois Toyota Chevrolet B. J. McLeod Motorsports99Ray Black Jr.Keith Wolfe Joe Lax B. J. McLeodStephen LeichtRobbie Freeman Toyota Dodge MBM Motorsports13Timmy HillSebastian Laforge Brandon Mosley Robert Scott John JacksonStan MullisLandon CassillCarl LongTyler Hill Notes
Changes
Teams On October 23, 2017, it was announced that Biagi–DenBeste Racing would end their partnership with Richard Petty Motorsports and create a new alliance with Stewart–Haas Racing. The team was then called Stewart–Haas Racing with Biagi–DenBeste. The team fielded 2 teams. Cole Custer drove the No. 00 Ford Mustang GT full-time for a second consecutive season. The No. 41 team was renumbered as the No. 98 team and ran part-time with Kevin Harvick, Chase Briscoe, and Aric Almirola. In 2017, Biagi-DenBeste Racing fielded the No. 98 Ford, running part-time with drivers Aric Almirola, Casey Mears, and Bubba Wallace With their switch from Toyota to Ford, it was also announced that JGL Racing would have a technical alliance with Roush Fenway Racing. Richard Childress Racing shut down two teams: the No. 33 and the No. 62. Precision Performance Motorsports shut down its No. 46 team to move to the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge. JGL Racing reopened the No. 28 entry for at least 21 races for Dylan Lupton, after shutting down this car at the end of 2017 because of a lack of sponsorship (with Dakoda Armstrong). They also tried to expand the schedule to the full season. Go Green Racing returned to the Xfinity Series full-time, fielding the No. 35 entry with Joey Gase as their driver. This was Go Green's first season in the Xfinity Series since 2013 and their first in NASCAR following their merger with FAS Lane Racing to create Go Fas Racing in December 2013. JD Motorsports announced a fourth full-time ride, the No. 15 entry initially to be split by veteran drivers including Joe Nemechek and Reed Sorenson. However, this plan was cancelled because Matt Mills was expected to drive the No. 15 car full-time, except the inaugural Daytona race, which had Nemechek behind the wheel. JP Motorsports purchased cars from TriStar Motorsports and announced their intentions to run a full season in the No. 55 Toyota Camry on January 18, 2018. At the time of the announcement, Jason Houghtaling was named as crew chief but other information like drivers and sponsors was not immediately released, however Stephen Leicht was later revealed as the full-time driver. On February 5, it was announced that they had acquired an additional Joe Gibbs Racing chassis and would field another full-time team, the No. 45, with Josh Bilicki as the driver. B. J. McLeod Motorsports announced that the partnership with SS-Green Light Racing to field the No. 99 full-time was finished. As a consequence, the No. 99 car would likely return to part-time racing. NextGen Motorsports increased their 2018 schedule as they would fielding for multiple drivers. The car number is TBA, due to JP Motorsports taking their No. 55. DGM Racing announced that Alex Labbé would drive the full Season in 2018 with a Chevrolet. The car was built by Richard Childress Racing and prepared by King Autosport. Former driver in King Autosport Mario Gosselin will be his crew chief. Alex Labbé was the 2017 NASCAR Pinty's Series champion with the No. 32 car for Go Fas Racing. New team NXT Motorsports announced that Gray Gaulding will drive the season-opener at Daytona with a Toyota. The team has acquired cars from Joe Gibbs Racing. RSS Racing used three cars in the season-opener: The No. 38 for Jeff Green, No. 39 for J. J. Yeley and No. 93 for owner Ryan Sieg without start-and-park for any of them. It looks that the team will use these three cars full-time in 2018. Last year, Sieg drove the No. 39 Chevrolet full-time, while the Nos. 38 and 93 were a part-time start-and-park team, driven by Green, Gray Gaulding and Stephen Leicht.
Drivers On April 25, 2017, it was announced Dale Earnhardt Jr. would retire from full-time driving in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS), but also announced he intends to participate in two races for JR Motorsports in the Xfinity Series. He has confirmed the second Richmond race as one of the two races. Chase Elliott will drive the No. 88 in the season-opener at Daytona. On September 14, 2017, it was announced that Tyler Reddick would be driving full-time for JR Motorsports in 2018, driving the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro SS. He replaces William Byron who will be driving the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet in the MENCS. In 2017, Reddick drove the No. 42 Chevrolet part-time for Chip Ganassi Racing, sharing the ride with Kyle Larson, Justin Marks, and Alex Bowman.