The 2018 Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race is a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race held on August 18, 2018, at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee. Contested over 500 laps on the short track, it was the 24th race of the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season. The race was won by Kurt Busch.
Report
Background
The Bristol Motor Speedway is a NASCAR short track venue located in Bristol, Tennessee. Constructed in 1960, it held its first NASCAR race on July 30, 1961. Despite its short length, Bristol is among the most popular tracks on the NASCAR schedule because of its distinct features, which include extraordinarily steep banking, an all concrete surface, two pit roads, and stadium-like seating. It has also been named one of the loudest NASCAR tracks.
Entry list Driver Team Manufacturer 00 Landon Cassill StarCom Racing Chevrolet 1 Jamie McMurray Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart–Haas Racing Ford 6 Trevor Bayne Roush Fenway Racing Ford 7 J. J. Yeley (i) Premium Motorsports Chevrolet 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 10 Aric Almirola Stewart–Haas Racing Ford 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 13 Ty Dillon Germain Racing Chevrolet 14 Clint Bowyer Stewart–Haas Racing Ford 15 Ross Chastain (i) Premium Motorsports Chevrolet 17 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Roush Fenway Racing Ford 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 19 Daniel Suárez Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 20 Erik Jones Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 21 Paul Menard Wood Brothers Racing Ford 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 23 Blake Jones BK Racing Toyota 24 William Byron (R) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 31 Ryan Newman Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 32 Matt DiBenedetto Go Fas Racing Ford 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford 37 Chris Buescher JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 38 David Ragan Front Row Motorsports Ford 41 Kurt Busch Stewart–Haas Racing Ford 42 Kyle Larson Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 43 Bubba Wallace (R) Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet 47 A. J. Allmendinger JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 51 Reed Sorenson Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet 52 B. J. McLeod (i) Rick Ware Racing Ford 66 Timmy Hill (i) MBM Motorsports Toyota 72 Corey LaJoie TriStar Motorsports Chevrolet 78 Martin Truex Jr. Furniture Row Racing Toyota 88 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 95 Kasey Kahne Leavine Family Racing Chevrolet 96 Jesse Little (i) Gaunt Brothers Racing Toyota 99 Gray Gaulding StarCom Racing ChevroletOfficial entry list
Practice
First practice Chase Elliott was the fastest in the first practice session with a time of 15.151 seconds and a speed of .
Pos Driver Team Manufacturer Time 1 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 15.151 126.645 2 42 Kyle Larson Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 15.191 126.312 3 88 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 15.193 126.295Official first practice results
Final practice Kyle Busch was the fastest in the final practice session with a time of 15.141 seconds and a speed of .
Pos Driver Team Manufacturer Time 1 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 15.141 126.729 2 78 Martin Truex Jr. Furniture Row Racing Toyota 15.191 126.312 3 10 Aric Almirola Stewart–Haas Racing Ford 15.194 126.287Official final practice results
Qualifying
Kyle Larson scored the pole for the race with a time of 15.015 and a speed of .
Qualifying results Pos Driver Team Manufacturer 142 Kyle Larson Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 14.997 15.034 15.015 29 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 15.097 15.135 15.030 318 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 15.259 15.112 15.033 421 Paul Menard Wood Brothers Racing Ford 15.281 15.094 15.037 524 William Byron (R) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 15.252 15.225 15.043 64 Kevin Harvick Stewart–Haas RacingFord 15.261 15.146 15.104 711 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 15.233 15.131 15.121 810 Aric Almirola Stewart–Haas RacingFord 15.239 15.226 15.123 941 Kurt Busch Stewart–Haas RacingFord 15.241 15.138 15.125 1012 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 15.114 15.154 15.137 112 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford 15.290 15.125 15.198 1217 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Roush Fenway Racing Ford 15.126 15.237 15.230 1348 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 15.138 15.238 — 1420 Erik Jones Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 15.170 15.246 — 1538 David Ragan Front Row Motorsports Ford 15.278 15.266 — 1614 Clint Bowyer Stewart–Haas RacingFord 15.272 15.268 — 1778 Martin Truex Jr. Furniture Row Racing Toyota 15.279 15.271 — 183 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 15.308 15.278 — 1922 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 15.264 15.294 — 201 Jamie McMurray Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 15.205 15.301 — 2119 Daniel Suárez Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 15.130 15.306 — 2288 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 15.262 15.336 — 236 Trevor Bayne Roush Fenway Racing Ford 15.238 15.342 — 2431 Ryan Newman Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 15.294 15.431 — 2547 A. J. Allmendinger JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 15.363 — — 2695 Kasey Kahne Leavine Family Racing Chevrolet 15.426 — — 2743 Bubba Wallace (R) Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet 15.435 — — 2837 Chris Buescher JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 15.448 — — 2932 Matt DiBenedetto Go Fas Racing Ford 15.466 — — 3072 Corey LaJoie TriStar Motorsports Chevrolet 15.482 — — 3134 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford 15.514 — — 3213 Ty Dillon Germain Racing Chevrolet 15.567 — — 3396 Jesse Little (i) Gaunt Brothers Racing Toyota 15.688 — — 347 J. J. Yeley (i) Premium Motorsports Chevrolet 15.754 — — 3515 Ross Chastain (i) Premium Motorsports Chevrolet 15.758 — — 3651 Reed Sorenson Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet 15.822 — — 3766 Timmy Hill (i) MBM Motorsports Toyota 15.882 — — 3899 Gray Gaulding StarCom Racing Chevrolet 15.899 — — 3900 Landon Cassill StarCom Racing Chevrolet 15.936 — — 4023 Blake Jones BK Racing Toyota 16.101 — —Did not qualify 4152 B. J. McLeod (i) Rick Ware Racing Ford 15.909 — —Official qualifying results
Race
Stage Results
Stage 1 Laps: 125
Pos Driver Team Manufacturer Points1 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 102 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart–Haas Racing Ford 93 14 Clint Bowyer Stewart–Haas Racing Ford 84 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 75 10 Aric Almirola Stewart–Haas Racing Ford 66 42 Kyle Larson Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 57 41 Kurt Busch Stewart–Haas Racing Ford 48 20 Erik Jones Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 39 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 210 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 1Official stage one results
Stage 2 Laps: 125
Pos Driver Team Manufacturer Points1 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 102 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 93 42 Kyle Larson Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 84 10 Aric Almirola Stewart–Haas Racing Ford 75 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 66 14 Clint Bowyer Stewart–Haas Racing Ford 57 20 Erik Jones Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 48 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 39 41 Kurt Busch Stewart–Haas Racing Ford 210 88 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 1Official stage two results
Final Stage Results
Stage 3 Laps: 250
Pos Grid Driver Team Manufacturer Laps Points1 9 41 Kurt Busch Stewart–Haas Racing Ford 500 462 1 42 Kyle Larson Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 500 483 2 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 500 504 19 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 500 455 14 20 Erik Jones Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 500 396 16 14 Clint Bowyer Stewart–Haas Racing Ford 500 447 10 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 500 468 22 88 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 500 309 13 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 500 3210 6 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart–Haas Racing Ford 500 3611 23 6 Trevor Bayne Roush Fenway Racing Ford 500 2612 24 31 Ryan Newman Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 500 2513 18 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 500 2414 7 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 500 2315 26 95 Kasey Kahne Leavine Family Racing Chevrolet 500 2216 11 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford 499 2117 15 38 David Ragan Front Row Motorsports Ford 499 2018 21 19 Daniel Suárez Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 499 1919 28 37 Chris Buescher JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 499 1820 3 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 497 1721 32 13 Ty Dillon Germain Racing Chevrolet 496 1622 29 32 Matt DiBenedetto Go Fas Racing Ford 496 1523 5 24 William Byron (R) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 496 1424 12 17 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Roush Fenway Racing Ford 495 1325 39 00 Landon Cassill StarCom Racing Chevrolet 493 1226 35 15 Ross Chastain (i) Premium Motorsports Chevrolet 492 027 40 23 Blake Jones BK Racing Toyota 485 1028 37 66 Timmy Hill (i) MBM Motorsports Toyota 481 029 20 1 Jamie McMurray Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 435 830 17 78 Martin Truex Jr. Furniture Row Racing Toyota 431 731 8 10 Aric Almirola Stewart–Haas Racing Ford 428 1932 34 7 J. J. Yeley (i) Premium Motorsports Chevrolet 423 033 36 51 Reed Sorenson Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet 338 434 30 72 Corey LaJoie TriStar Motorsports Chevrolet 234 335 33 96 Jesse Little (i) Gaunt Brothers Racing Toyota 59 036 4 21 Paul Menard Wood Brothers Racing Ford 28 137 31 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford 10 138 27 43 Bubba Wallace (R) Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet 3 139 25 47 A. J. Allmendinger JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 1 140 38 99 Gray Gaulding StarCom Racing Chevrolet 1 1Official race results
Race statistics Lead changes: 9 among different drivers Cautions/Laps: 9 for 70 Red flags: 0 Time of race: 2 hours, 58 minutes and 35 seconds Average speed:
Media
Television NBC Sports covered the race on the television side. Rick Allen, 2008 Bristol winner Jeff Burton, Steve Letarte and 2004 Bristol winner Dale Earnhardt Jr. had the call in the booth for the race. Dave Burns, Parker Kligerman, Marty Snider and Kelli Stavast reported from pit lane during the race.
NBCSNBooth announcersPit reporters Lap-by-lap: Rick AllenColor-commentator: Jeff BurtonColor-commentator: Steve LetarteColor-commentator: Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dave BurnsParker KligermanMarty SniderKelli Stavast
Radio The Performance Racing Network had the radio call for the race, which was simulcast on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio.
PRNBooth announcersTurn announcersPit reporters Lead announcer: Doug RiceAnnouncer: Mark GarrowAnnouncer: Wendy Venturini Backstretch: Rob Albright Brad GillieBrett McMillanJim NobleSteve Richards
Standings after the race
Drivers' Championship standings Pos Driver Points 1 Kyle Busch 1,003 2 Kevin Harvick 960 (–43) 3 Martin Truex Jr. 849 (–154) 4 Kurt Busch 796 (–207) 5 Clint Bowyer 776 (–227) 6 Joey Logano 768 (–235) 1 7 Ryan Blaney 733 (–270) 1 8 Brad Keselowski 730 (–273) 1 9 Kyle Larson 729 (–274) 1 10 Denny Hamlin 707 (–296) 11 Chase Elliott 697 (–306) 12 Aric Almirola 658 (–345) 13 Erik Jones 635 (–368) 14 Jimmie Johnson 604 (–399) 15 Alex Bowman 572 (–431) 16 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 493 (–510)Official driver's standings
Manufacturers' Championship standings Pos Manufacturer Points 1 Toyota 876 2 Ford 855 (–21) 3 Chevrolet 783 (–93)Official manufacturers' standings
Note: Only the first 16 positions are included for the driver standings. . – Driver has clinched a position in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series playoffs.
References