The 2018 Coca-Cola Firecracker 250 was the 16th stock car race of the 2018 NASCAR Xfinity Series season and the 17th iteration of the event. The race was held on Friday, July 6, 2018, in Daytona Beach, Florida at Daytona International Speedway, a 2.5 miles (4.0 km) permanent triangular-shaped superspeedway. The race was extended from its scheduled 100 laps to 105 due to a NASCAR overtime finish. At race's end, a close, but controversial finish would see Chip Ganassi Racing driver Kyle Larson win his 11th career NASCAR Xfinity Series win and his third of his part-time season. To fill out the podium, Elliott Sadler of JR Motorsports and Christopher Bell of Joe Gibbs Racing would finish second and third, respectively.

In a controversial ruling, GMS Racing driver Justin Haley, who had initially won the race was instead disqualified from his win due to him passing Larson below the yellow line, moving him to the last position on the lead lap, which was 18th.

Background

Daytona International Speedway is one of three superspeedways to hold NASCAR races, the other two being Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway. The standard track at Daytona International Speedway is a four-turn superspeedway that is 2.5 miles (4.0 km) long. The track's turns are banked at 31 degrees, while the front stretch, the location of the finish line, is banked at 18 degrees.

Entry list #DriverTeamMakeSponsor0Garrett SmithleyJD MotorsportsChevroletTrophy Tractor, FAME USA00Cole CusterStewart-Haas Racing with Biagi-DenBesteFordHaas Automation1Elliott SadlerJR MotorsportsChevroletArmour Chili01Vinnie MillerJD MotorsportsChevroletJAS Expedited Trucking2Matt TifftRichard Childress RacingChevroletKC Motorgroup3Shane LeeRichard Childress RacingChevroletChildress Vineyards4Ross ChastainJD MotorsportsChevroletGeorgia Watermelon Association5Michael AnnettJR MotorsportsChevroletPilot Flying J7Justin AllgaierJR MotorsportsChevroletBreyers 2-in-18Caesar BacarellaB. J. McLeod MotorsportsChevroletMaxim, Alpha Prime Regimen9Tyler ReddickJR MotorsportsChevroletTakl11Ryan TruexKaulig RacingChevroletPhantom Fireworks15B. J. McLeodJD MotorsportsChevroletJD Motorsports16Ryan ReedRoush Fenway RacingFordDriveDownA1C.com Patriotic18Ryan PreeceJoe Gibbs RacingToyotaRheem19Brandon JonesJoe Gibbs RacingToyotaComcast, NBCUniversal Salute to Service20Christopher BellJoe Gibbs RacingToyotaGameStop, PDP Gaming21Daniel HemricRichard Childress RacingChevroletSouth Point Hotel, Casino & Spa22Ryan BlaneyTeam PenskeFordPirtek23Chase ElliottGMS RacingChevroletUntuckit24Justin HaleyGMS RacingChevroletFraternal Order of Eagles Patriotic35Joey GaseGo Green Racing with SS-Green Light RacingChevroletSparks Energy, Donate Life Florida36Alex LabbéDGM RacingChevroletWholey's, Can-Am38J. J. YeleyRSS RacingChevroletSuperior Essex39Ryan SiegRSS RacingChevroletIonomy, Offroad Heat40Chad FinchumMBM MotorsportsToyotaCrashClaimsR.Us, Amana42Kyle LarsonChip Ganassi RacingChevroletDC Solar Patriotic45Josh BilickiJP MotorsportsToyotaPrevagen Patriotic51Jeremy ClementsJeremy Clements RacingChevroletRepairableVehicles.com Patriotic52David StarrJimmy Means RacingChevroletStarr Mechanical55Brandon HightowerJP MotorsportsToyotaSwamp Daddy's Crawfish60Austin CindricRoush Fenway RacingFordOdyssey Battery 61Kaz GralaFury Race CarsFordKiklos66Timmy HillMBM MotorsportsToyotaVS1 Racing74Mike HarmonMike Harmon RacingChevroletShadow Warriors Project, The Journey Home Project76Spencer BoydSS-Green Light RacingChevroletGrunt Style Patriotic "This We'll Defend"78Blake JonesB. J. McLeod MotorsportsChevroletTennessee XXX Moonshine, True Line Construction89Morgan Shepherd*Shepherd Racing VenturesChevroletVisone RV Motorhome Parts, Racing with Jesus90Josh WilliamsDGM RacingChevroletSleep Well Sleep Disorder Specialists, StarTron93Jeff GreenRSS RacingChevroletNight Owl Contractors99Ray Black Jr.B. J. McLeod MotorsportsToyotaAmerica's Donuts, ZomongoOfficial entry list *Withdrew.

Practice

First practice The first practice session was held on Thursday, July 5, at 1:05p.m. EST, and would last for 50 minutes. Ryan Reed of Roush Fenway Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 45.885 and an average speed of . Pos.#DriverTeamMakeTimeSpeed116Ryan ReedRoush Fenway RacingFord45.885196.143224Justin HaleyGMS RacingChevrolet45.949195.869311Ryan TruexKaulig RacingChevrolet45.958195.831Full first practice results

Second practice The second and final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Thursday, July 5, at 3:05p.m. EST, and would last for 50 minutes. Chad Finchum of MBM Motorsports would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 48.500 and an average speed of . Pos.#DriverTeamMakeTimeSpeed140Chad FinchumMBM MotorsportsToyota48.500185.567266Timmy HillMBM MotorsportsToyota48.507185.540351Jeremy ClementsJeremy Clements RacingChevrolet48.676184.896Full Happy Hour practice results

Starting lineup Qualifying was originally going to be held on Friday, July 6, at 2:10p.m. EST. However, rain would cancel the qualifying session, forcing NASCAR to resort to the rulebook to set up the lineup, using the current 2018 owner's points. As a result, Ryan Preece of Joe Gibbs Racing won the pole.

Full starting lineup Pos.#DriverTeamMake118Ryan PreeceJoe Gibbs RacingToyota222Ryan BlaneyTeam PenskeFord300Cole CusterStewart-Haas Racing with Biagi-DenBesteFord421Daniel HemricRichard Childress RacingChevrolet51Elliott SadlerJR MotorsportsChevrolet620Christopher BellJoe Gibbs RacingToyota742Kyle LarsonChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet89Tyler ReddickJR MotorsportsChevrolet97Justin AllgaierJR MotorsportsChevrolet1019Brandon JonesJoe Gibbs RacingToyota1123Chase ElliottGMS RacingChevrolet1211Ryan TruexKaulig RacingChevrolet132Matt TifftRichard Childress RacingChevrolet143Shane LeeRichard Childress RacingChevrolet1516Ryan ReedRoush Fenway RacingFord164Ross ChastainJD MotorsportsChevrolet175Michael AnnettJR MotorsportsChevrolet1839Ryan SiegRSS RacingChevrolet1951Jeremy ClementsJeremy Clements RacingChevrolet2035Joey GaseGo Green Racing with SS-Green Light RacingChevrolet2136Alex LabbéDGM RacingChevrolet220Garrett SmithleyJD MotorsportsChevrolet2360Austin CindricRoush Fenway RacingFord248Caesar BacarellaB. J. McLeod MotorsportsChevrolet2538J. J. YeleyRSS RacingChevrolet2678Blake JonesB. J. McLeod MotorsportsToyota2752David StarrJimmy Means RacingChevrolet2890Josh WilliamsDGM RacingChevrolet2901Vinnie MillerJD MotorsportsChevrolet3076Spencer BoydSS-Green Light RacingChevrolet3193Jeff GreenRSS RacingChevrolet3215B. J. McLeodJD MotorsportsChevrolet3345Josh BilickiJP MotorsportsToyota3455Brandon HightowerJP MotorsportsToyota3540Chad FinchumMBM MotorsportsToyota3666Timmy HillMBM MotorsportsToyota3774Mike HarmonMike Harmon RacingChevrolet3861Kaz GralaFury Race CarsFord3999Ray Black Jr.B. J. McLeod MotorsportsToyota4024Justin HaleyGMS RacingChevroletWithdrewWD89Morgan ShepherdShepherd Racing VenturesChevroletOfficial starting lineup

Race results Stage 1 Laps: 30 Pos.#DriverTeamMakePts142Kyle LarsonChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet0223Chase ElliottGMS RacingChevrolet031Elliott SadlerJR MotorsportsChevrolet847Justin AllgaierJR MotorsportsChevrolet7522Ryan BlaneyTeam PenskeFord062Matt TifftRichard Childress RacingChevrolet5760Austin CindricRoush Fenway RacingFord4800Cole CusterStewart-Haas Racing with Biagi-DenBesteFord3921Daniel HemricRichard Childress RacingChevrolet21011Ryan TruexKaulig RacingChevrolet1 Stage 2 Laps: 30 Pos.#DriverTeamMakePts142Kyle LarsonChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet0223Chase ElliottGMS RacingChevrolet0360Austin CindricRoush Fenway RacingFord8422Ryan BlaneyTeam PenskeFord059Tyler ReddickJR MotorsportsChevrolet667Justin AllgaierJR MotorsportsChevrolet5724Justin HaleyGMS RacingChevrolet082Matt TifftRichard Childress RacingChevrolet391Elliott SadlerJR MotorsportsChevrolet21021Daniel HemricRichard Childress RacingChevrolet1 Stage 3 Laps: 45 Pos.St#DriverTeamMakeLapsLedStatusPts1742Kyle LarsonChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet10540running0251Elliott SadlerJR MotorsportsChevrolet10517running453620Christopher BellJoe Gibbs RacingToyota1050running344222Ryan BlaneyTeam PenskeFord10539running053861Kaz GralaFury Race CarsFord1050running326143Shane LeeRichard Childress RacingChevrolet1050running3173666Timmy HillMBM MotorsportsToyota1050running308421Daniel HemricRichard Childress RacingChevrolet1050running32997Justin AllgaierJR MotorsportsChevrolet1050running4010164Ross ChastainJD MotorsportsChevrolet1050running2711175Michael AnnettJR MotorsportsChevrolet1050running26121019Brandon JonesJoe Gibbs RacingToyota1050running25131211Ryan TruexKaulig RacingChevrolet1050running25143540Chad FinchumMBM MotorsportsToyota1050running23152136Alex LabbéDGM RacingChevrolet1050running22162538J. J. YeleyRSS RacingChevrolet1050running21173076Spencer BoydSS-Green Light RacingChevrolet1050running20184024Justin Haley GMS RacingChevrolet1051running0192901Vinnie MillerJD MotorsportsChevrolet1040running1820132Matt TifftRichard Childress RacingChevrolet1030running25213774Mike HarmonMike Harmon RacingChevrolet1020running16223999Ray Black Jr.B. J. McLeod MotorsportsToyota1020running15233193Jeff GreenRSS RacingChevrolet980crash14242890Josh WilliamsDGM RacingChevrolet970crash1325300Cole CusterStewart-Haas Racing with Biagi-DenBesteFord978crash15261516Ryan ReedRoush Fenway RacingFord970crash11271839Ryan SiegRSS RacingChevrolet970crash1028220Garrett SmithleyJD MotorsportsChevrolet940crash9291123Chase ElliottGMS RacingChevrolet900engine0303455Brandon HightowerJP MotorsportsToyota870crash73189Tyler ReddickJR MotorsportsChevrolet820crash12322035Joey GaseGo Green Racing with SS-Green Light RacingChevrolet820crash5332360Austin CindricRoush Fenway RacingFord810crash16341951Jeremy ClementsJeremy Clements RacingChevrolet810crash3352752David StarrJimmy Means RacingChevrolet810crash2363215B. J. McLeodJD MotorsportsChevrolet810crash1372678Blake JonesB. J. McLeod MotorsportsToyota750crash138248Caesar BacarellaB. J. McLeod MotorsportsChevrolet700crash139118Ryan PreeceJoe Gibbs RacingToyota510overheating1403345Josh BilickiJP MotorsportsToyota330engine1WithdrewWD89Morgan ShepherdShepherd Racing VenturesChevroletOfficial race results

Notes

References