The 2018 Brickyard 400, branded as Big Machine Vodka 400 at the Brickyard, was a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race held on September 10, 2018, at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana. The 25th running of the Brickyard 400, it was contested over 160 laps on the speedway, and was the 26th race of the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season, and the final race of the regular season before the playoffs.
Report
Background
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, located in Speedway, Indiana, (an enclave suburb of Indianapolis) in the United States, is the home of the Indianapolis 500 and the Brickyard 400. It is located on the corner of 16th Street and Georgetown Road, approximately west of Downtown Indianapolis.
Constructed in 1909, it is the original speedway, the first racing facility so named. It has a permanent seating capacity estimated at 235,000 with infield seating raising capacity to an approximate 400,000. It is the highest-capacity sports venue in the world.
Considered relatively flat by American standards, the track is a , nearly rectangular oval with dimensions that have remained essentially unchanged since its inception: four turns, two straightaways between the fourth and first turns and the second and third turns, and two short straightaways – termed "short chutes" – between the first and second, and third and fourth turns.
Entry list Driver Team Manufacturer 00 Landon Cassill (i) StarCom Racing Chevrolet 1 Jamie McMurray (W) Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 4 Kevin Harvick (W) Stewart–Haas Racing Ford 6 Matt Kenseth Roush Fenway Racing Ford 7 Reed Sorenson 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 (W) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 19 Daniel Suárez Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 20 Erik Jones Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 21 Paul Menard (W) Wood Brothers Racing Ford 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 23 J. J. Yeley (i) BK Racing Toyota 24 William Byron (R) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 31 Ryan Newman (W) 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 (W) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 51 David Starr (i) 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 Regan Smith Leavine Family Racing Chevrolet 96 Jeffrey Earnhardt Gaunt Brothers Racing Toyota (R) denotes driver is eligible for NASCAR Rookie of the Year(i) denotes driver is ineligible to score driver points due to competing for either the Xfinity or Truck Series championships(W) denotes past winner of event.Official entry list
Practice Both practice sessions on Saturday were cancelled due to rain.
Qualifying Qualifying on Saturday was cancelled due to rain and Kyle Busch, the point leader, was awarded the pole as a result.
Starting lineup Pos Driver Team Manufacturer 1 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 2 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart–Haas Racing Ford 3 78 Martin Truex Jr. Furniture Row Racing Toyota 4 41 Kurt Busch Stewart–Haas Racing Ford 5 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 6 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford 7 42 Kyle Larson Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 8 14 Clint Bowyer Stewart–Haas Racing Ford 9 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 10 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 11 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 12 10 Aric Almirola Stewart–Haas Racing Ford 13 20 Erik Jones Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 14 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 15 88 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 16 17 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Roush Fenway Racing Ford 17 31 Ryan Newman Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 18 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 19 21 Paul Menard Wood Brothers Racing Ford 20 19 Daniel Suárez Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 21 1 Jamie McMurray Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 22 24 William Byron (R) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 23 37 Chris Buescher JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 24 47 A. J. Allmendinger JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 25 38 David Ragan Front Row Motorsports Ford 26 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford 27 95 Regan Smith Leavine Family Racing Chevrolet 28 43 Bubba Wallace (R) Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet 29 6 Matt Kenseth Roush Fenway Racing Ford 30 13 Ty Dillon Germain Racing Chevrolet 31 32 Matt DiBenedetto Go Fas Racing Ford 32 15 Ross Chastain (i) Premium Motorsports Chevrolet 33 72 Corey LaJoie Tri-Star Motorsports Chevrolet 34 00 Landon Cassill (i) StarCom Racing Chevrolet 35 23 J. J. Yeley (i) BK Racing Toyota 36 51 David Starr (i) Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet 37 96 Jeffrey Earnhardt Gaunt Brothers Racing Toyota 38 7 Reed Sorenson Premium Motorsports Chevrolet 39 66 Timmy Hill (i) MBM Motorsports Toyota 40 52 B. J. McLeod (i) Rick Ware Racing FordOfficial starting lineup
Race
Stage results
Stage 1 Laps: 50
Pos Driver Team Manufacturer Points1 14 Clint Bowyer Stewart–Haas Racing Ford 102 41 Kurt Busch Stewart–Haas Racing Ford 93 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 84 42 Kyle Larson Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 75 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 66 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford 57 10 Aric Almirola Stewart–Haas Racing Ford 48 21 Paul Menard Wood Brothers Racing Ford 39 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 210 20 Erik Jones Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 1Official stage one results
Stage 2 Laps: 50
Pos Driver Team Manufacturer Points1 6 Matt Kenseth Roush Fenway Racing Ford 102 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 93 20 Erik Jones Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 84 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 75 41 Kurt Busch Stewart–Haas Racing Ford 66 19 Daniel Suárez Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 57 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford 48 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 39 31 Ryan Newman Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 210 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 1Official stage two results
Final stage results
Stage 3 Laps: 60
Pos Grid Driver Team Manufacturer Laps Points1 6 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford 160 492 13 20 Erik Jones Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 160 443 10 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 160 424 2 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart–Haas Racing Ford 160 335 8 14 Clint Bowyer Stewart–Haas Racing Ford 160 426 4 41 Kurt Busch Stewart–Haas Racing Ford 160 467 21 1 Jamie McMurray Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 160 308 1 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 160 359 19 21 Paul Menard Wood Brothers Racing Ford 160 3110 17 31 Ryan Newman Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 160 2911 9 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 160 2612 29 6 Matt Kenseth Roush Fenway Racing Ford 160 3513 5 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 160 3114 7 42 Kyle Larson Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 160 3015 11 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 160 3316 14 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 160 2217 26 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford 160 2018 20 19 Daniel Suárez Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 160 2419 22 24 William Byron (R) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 160 2120 27 95 Regan Smith Leavine Family Racing Chevrolet 160 1721 30 13 Ty Dillon Germain Racing Chevrolet 160 1622 18 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 160 1523 12 10 Aric Almirola Stewart–Haas Racing Ford 159 1824 25 38 David Ragan Front Row Motorsports Ford 159 1325 23 37 Chris Buescher JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 158 1226 32 15 Ross Chastain (i) Premium Motorsports Chevrolet 158 027 33 72 Corey LaJoie TriStar Motorsports Chevrolet 158 1028 38 7 Reed Sorenson Premium Motorsports Chevrolet 158 929 35 23 J. J. Yeley (i) BK Racing Toyota 157 030 40 52 B. J. McLeod (i) Rick Ware Racing Ford 157 031 34 00 Landon Cassill (i) StarCom Racing Chevrolet 150 032 37 96 Jeffrey Earnhardt Gaunt Brothers Racing Toyota 150 533 15 88 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 142 434 16 17 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Roush Fenway Racing Ford 136 335 39 66 Timmy Hill (i) MBM Motorsports Toyota 124 036 31 32 Matt DiBenedetto Go Fas Racing Ford 89 137 24 47 A. J. Allmendinger JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 66 138 28 43 Bubba Wallace (R) Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet 57 139 36 51 David Starr (i) Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet 57 040 3 78 Martin Truex Jr. Furniture Row Racing Toyota 41 1Official race results Race statistics Lead changes: 14 among 9 different drivers Cautions/Laps: 10 for 39 laps Red flags: 0 Time of race: 3 hours, 6 minutes and 35 seconds Average speed:
Media
Television NBC Sports covered the race on the television side, with a broadcast produced similarly to their Watkins Glen International race broadcasts. Rick Allen and Steve Letarte called the race from the broadcast booth, with individual turn announcers calling as the drivers passed them – Motor Racing Network broadcaster Mike Bagley in turn 2, Dale Earnhardt Jr. in turn 3, and Jeff Burton in turn 4. Dave Burns, Parker Kligerman, Marty Snider and Kelli Stavast reported from pit lane.
NBCSNBooth announcersTurn announcersPit reporters Lap-by-lap: Rick AllenColor commentator: Steve Letarte Turn 2: Mike Bagley Turn 3: Dale Earnhardt Jr.Turn 4: Jeff Burton Dave BurnsParker KligermanMarty SniderKelli Stavast
Radio Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network and the Performance Racing Network jointly co-produced the radio broadcast for the race, which was simulcast on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio, and aired on IMS or PRN stations, depending on contractual obligations. The lead announcers and two pit reporters were PRN staff, while the turns and two pit reporters were from IMS.
PRN/IMS RadioBooth announcersTurn announcersPit reporters Lead announcer: Doug RiceAnnouncer: Pat PattersonAnnouncer: Jeff HammondHistorian: Donald Davidson Turn 1: Mark Jaynes Turn 2: Nick YeomanTurn 3: Jake QueryTurn 4: Chris Denari Brad GillieBrett McMillanRyan MyrehnMichael Young
Standings after the race
Drivers' Championship standings after Playoffs reset Pos Driver Points 1 Kyle Busch 2,050 2 Kevin Harvick 2,050 (−0) 3 Martin Truex Jr. 2,035 (−15) 2 4 Brad Keselowski 2,019 (−31) 3 5 Clint Bowyer 2,015 (−35) 1 6 Joey Logano 2,014 (−36) 3 7 Kurt Busch 2,014 (−36) 3 8 Chase Elliott 2,008 (−42) 9 Ryan Blaney 2,007 (−43) 3 10 Erik Jones 2,005 (−45) 7 11 Austin Dillon 2,005 (−45) 5 12 Kyle Larson 2,005 (−45) 3 13 Denny Hamlin 2,003 (−47) 2 14 Aric Almirola 2,001 (−49) 1 15 Jimmie Johnson 2,000 (−50) 1 16 Alex Bowman 2,000 (−50)Official driver's standings
Manufacturers' Championship standings Pos Manufacturer Points 1 Toyota 941 2 Ford 935 (−6) 3 Chevrolet 847 (−94)Official manufacturers' standings Note: Only the first 16 positions are included for the driver standings.
Notes
References
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