2018 Auto Club 400

The 2018 Auto Club 400 was a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race that was held on March 18, 2018, at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California. Contested over 200 laps on the two-mile (3.2 km) D-shaped oval, it was the fifth race of the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season.

2018 Auto Club 400
Race details[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]
Race 5 of 36 in the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series
Date March 18, 2018 (2018-03-18)
Location Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California
Course Permanent racing facility
2 mi (3.22 km)
Distance 200 laps, 400 mi (640 km)
Average speed 147.526 miles per hour (237.420 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Furniture Row Racing
Time 38.592
Most laps led
Driver Martin Truex Jr. Furniture Row Racing
Laps 125
Winner
No. 78 Martin Truex Jr. Furniture Row Racing
Television in the United States
Network Fox
Announcers Mike Joy, Jeff Gordon and Darrell Waltrip
Nielsen Ratings 2.4 (Overnight)[11]
Radio in the United States
Radio MRN
Booth Announcers Joe Moore, Jeff Striegle and Rusty Wallace
Turn Announcers Dan Hubbard (1 & 2) and Kurt Becker (3 & 4)

Report

Background

Auto Club Speedway, the track where the race was held.

Auto Club Speedway (formerly California Speedway) is a 2 miles (3.2 km), low-banked, D-shaped oval superspeedway in Fontana, California which has hosted NASCAR racing annually since 1997. It is also used for open wheel racing events. The racetrack is located near the former locations of Ontario Motor Speedway and Riverside International Raceway. The track is owned and operated by International Speedway Corporation and is the only track owned by ISC to have naming rights sold. The speedway is served by the nearby Interstate 10 and Interstate 15 freeways as well as a Metrolink station located behind the backstretch.

Entry list

No. Driver Team Manufacturer
00Jeffrey EarnhardtStarCom RacingChevrolet
1Jamie McMurrayChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet
2Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord
3Austin DillonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet
4Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingFord
6Trevor BayneRoush Fenway RacingFord
9Chase ElliottHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
10Aric AlmirolaStewart-Haas RacingFord
11Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
12Ryan BlaneyTeam PenskeFord
13Ty DillonGermain RacingChevrolet
14Clint BowyerStewart-Haas RacingFord
15Ross Chastain (i)Premium MotorsportsChevrolet
17Ricky Stenhouse Jr.Roush Fenway RacingFord
18Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
19Daniel SuárezJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
20Erik JonesJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
21Paul MenardWood Brothers RacingFord
22Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord
23Gray GauldingBK RacingToyota
24William Byron (R)Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
31Ryan NewmanRichard Childress RacingChevrolet
32Matt DiBenedettoGo Fas RacingFord
34Michael McDowellFront Row MotorsportsFord
37Chris BuescherJTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet
38David RaganFront Row MotorsportsFord
41Kurt BuschStewart-Haas RacingFord
42Kyle LarsonChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet
43Darrell Wallace Jr. (R)Richard Petty MotorsportsChevrolet
47A. J. AllmendingerJTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet
48Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
51Timmy Hill (i)Rick Ware RacingToyota
55Reed SorensonPremium MotorsportsChevrolet
72Cole WhittTriStar MotorsportsChevrolet
78Martin Truex Jr.Furniture Row RacingToyota
88Alex BowmanHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
95Kasey KahneLeavine Family RacingChevrolet
Official entry list

First practice

Kevin Harvick was the fastest in the first practice session with a time of 38.082 seconds and a speed of 189.066 mph (304.272 km/h).[12]

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer Time Speed
1 4Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingFord38.082189.066
2 14Clint BowyerStewart-Haas RacingFord38.255188.211
3 10Aric AlmirolaStewart-Haas RacingFord38.311187.936
Official first practice results

Qualifying

Martin Truex Jr. scored the pole for the race with a time of 38.592 and a speed of 186.567 mph (300.250 km/h).[13]

Qualifying results

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer R1 R2 R3
1 78Martin Truex Jr.Furniture Row RacingToyota38.39038.68638.592
2 18Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota38.84738.41138.619
3 42Kyle LarsonChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet38.19338.49138.683
4 20Erik JonesJoe Gibbs RacingToyota38.55538.68338.700
5 3Austin DillonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet38.69038.74938.770
6 22Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord38.62238.61438.798
7 41Kurt BuschStewart-Haas RacingFord38.70638.53338.880
8 12Ryan BlaneyTeam PenskeFord38.60238.58238.903
9 31Ryan NewmanRichard Childress RacingChevrolet38.61638.82038.951
10 4Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingFord38.14738.35539.038
11 2Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord38.58338.89239.054
12 37Chris BuescherJTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet38.89538.67739.058
13 6Trevor BayneRoush Fenway RacingFord39.03438.973
14 21Paul MenardWood Brothers RacingFord38.42939.004
15 1Jamie McMurrayChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet39.09339.106
16 17Ricky Stenhouse Jr.Roush Fenway RacingFord39.51439.169
17 13Ty DillonGermain RacingChevrolet39.09139.198
18 32Matt DiBenedettoGo Fas RacingFord39.08839.259
19 43Darrell Wallace Jr. (R)Richard Petty MotorsportsChevrolet38.96539.377
20 23Gray GauldingBK RacingToyota40.54941.105
21 38David RaganFront Row MotorsportsFord39.1580.000
22 34Michael McDowellFront Row MotorsportsFord39.2150.000
23 00Jeffrey EarnhardtStarCom RacingChevrolet40.8990.000
24 55Reed SorensonPremium MotorsportsChevrolet53.8380.000
25 11Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota0.000
26 14Clint BowyerStewart-Haas RacingFord0.000
27 10Aric AlmirolaStewart-Haas RacingFord0.000
28 88Alex BowmanHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet0.000
29 24William Byron (R)Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet0.000
30 19Daniel SuárezJoe Gibbs RacingToyota0.000
31 9Chase ElliottHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet0.000
32 47A. J. AllmendingerJTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet0.000
33 48Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet0.000
34 95Kasey KahneLeavine Family RacingChevrolet0.000
35 51Timmy Hill (i)Rick Ware RacingToyota0.000
36 15Ross Chastain (i)Premium MotorsportsChevrolet0.000
37 72Cole WhittTriStar MotorsportsChevrolet0.000
Official qualifying results

Practice (post-qualifying)

Second practice

Kevin Harvick was the fastest in the second practice session with a time of 38.694 seconds and a speed of 186.075 mph (299.459 km/h).[14]

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer Time Speed
1 4Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingFord38.694186.075
2 41Kurt BuschStewart-Haas RacingFord39.039184.431
3 9Chase ElliottHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet39.126184.021
Official second practice results

Final practice

Kyle Busch was the fastest in the final practice session with a time of 38.779 seconds and a speed of 185.668 mph (298.804 km/h).[15]

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer Time Speed
1 18Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota38.779185.668
2 78Martin Truex Jr.Furniture Row RacingToyota38.852185.319
3 48Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet39.019184.525
Official final practice results

Race

Stage 1

Martin Truex Jr. led the field to the green flag at 3:46 p.m. Winner of three consecutive Cup races, Kevin Harvick was shooting for a higher spot in history with a fourth Sunday, but that march ended early in the race when he collided with Kyle Larson on the backstretch, bringing out the first caution on lap 39. They were running side by side when Harvick appeared to move down the track and into the side of Larson’s car. The impact sent Harvick’s car into the outside wall, causing heavy damage.

The race restarted on lap 43.

Martin Truex Jr., master of stage wins last season, scored his first of the new year, leading Kyle Busch by 3.5 seconds. Also in the top 10 were Joey Logano, Brad Keselowski, Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Larson, Kurt Busch, Erik Jones, Clint Bowyer and Denny Hamlin. The second caution of the race flew on lap 62 for the conclusion of the first stage.

Stage 2

The race restarted on lap 67.

Trevor Bayne slapped the outside wall after slight contact with Ryan Newman. The incident produced the race’s third caution of the race, which was on lap 109. Bayne called his meeting with the wall one of the hardest of his career.

The race restarted on lap 114.

Truex scored again at the end of stage two, leading Brad Keselowski by 1.8 seconds. Following were Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Erik Jones, Joey Logano, Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Larson, Clint Bowyer and William Byron. The fourth caution of the race flew on lap 122 for conclusion of stage 2.

Final stage

Martin Truex Jr. swept all three stages and won the race from the pole position.

The race restarted on lap 127.

The fifth caution of the race flew on lap 130 when David Ragan spun out in turn 2, so Ty Dillon won the free pass under caution.

The race restarted on lap 132.

The closing portion of the race featured a battle for the lead matching Martin Truex Jr., Kyle Busch and Kyle Larson. With 18 laps to go, Truex had a five-second lead over Busch and Larson, who were fighting for second.

Martin Truex Jr., last year’s Cup champion, returned to victory lane — a place he visited eight times in 2017 — and, at the same time, dropped Kevin Harvick’s name from NASCAR’s marquee. At least temporarily.[16]

Post race

“This is a reassurance that what we’re doing is working,” Truex said. “It just feels good to win. I don’t really worry about who’s winning or who else is fast. Obviously, the 4 (Harvick) has been quick and they have a great team. But, as we’ve seen today, we can put together a run like that, as well.

“It feels good to be able to find that speed.”

Stage Results

Stage 1 Laps: 60

Pos No Driver Team Manufacturer Points
178Martin Truex Jr.Furniture Row RacingToyota10
218Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota9
322Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord8
42Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord7
548Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet6
642Kyle LarsonChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet5
741Kurt BuschStewart-Haas RacingFord4
820Erik JonesJoe Gibbs RacingToyota3
914Clint BowyerStewart-Haas RacingFord2
1011Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota1
Official stage one results

Stage 2 Laps: 60

Pos No Driver Team Manufacturer Points
178Martin Truex Jr.Furniture Row RacingToyota10
22Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord9
318Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota8
411Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota7
520Erik JonesJoe Gibbs RacingToyota6
622Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord5
748Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet4
842Kyle LarsonChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet3
914Clint BowyerStewart-Haas RacingFord2
1024William Byron (R)Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet1
Official stage two results

Final Stage Results

Stage 3 Laps: 80

Pos Grid No Driver Team Manufacturer Laps Points
1178Martin Truex Jr.Furniture Row RacingToyota20060
2342Kyle LarsonChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet20043
3218Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota20051
4112Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord20049
5622Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord20045
62511Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota20039
7420Erik JonesJoe Gibbs RacingToyota20039
8812Ryan BlaneyTeam PenskeFord20029
93348Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet20038
1053Austin DillonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet20027
112614Clint BowyerStewart-Haas RacingFord19930
122710Aric AlmirolaStewart-Haas RacingFord19925
132888Alex BowmanHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet19924
14741Kurt BuschStewart-Haas RacingFord19927
152924William Byron (R)Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet19923
16319Chase ElliottHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet19921
17151Jamie McMurrayChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet19920
181617Ricky Stenhouse Jr.Roush Fenway RacingFord19919
191421Paul MenardWood Brothers RacingFord19918
201943Darrell Wallace Jr. (R)Richard Petty MotorsportsChevrolet19917
21931Ryan NewmanRichard Childress RacingChevrolet19916
223247A. J. AllmendingerJTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet19915
233019Daniel SuárezJoe Gibbs RacingToyota19914
243495Kasey KahneLeavine Family RacingChevrolet19913
252138David RaganFront Row MotorsportsFord19912
262234Michael McDowellFront Row MotorsportsFord19911
271713Ty DillonGermain RacingChevrolet19810
283772Cole WhittTriStar MotorsportsChevrolet1989
293615Ross Chastain (i)Premium MotorsportsChevrolet1980
301237Chris BuescherJTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet1977
311832Matt DiBenedettoGo Fas RacingFord1966
322023Gray GauldingBK RacingToyota1945
333551Timmy Hill (i)Rick Ware RacingToyota1930
342455Reed SorensonPremium MotorsportsChevrolet1933
35104Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingFord1912
362300Jeffrey EarnhardtStarCom RacingChevrolet1891
37136Trevor BayneRoush Fenway RacingFord1081
Official race results

Race statistics

  • Lead changes: 7 among different drivers
  • Cautions/Laps: 5 for 21
  • Red flags: 0
  • Time of race: 2 hours, 42 minutes and 41 seconds
  • Average speed: 147.526 miles per hour (237.420 km/h)

Media

Television

The race was the 18th race Fox Sports covered at the Auto Club Speedway. Mike Joy, three-time Auto Club winner Jeff Gordon and Darrell Waltrip had call in the booth for the race. Jamie Little, Vince Welch and Matt Yocum handled the pit road duties for the television side.

Fox
Booth announcersPit reporters
Lap-by-lap: Mike Joy
Color-commentator: Jeff Gordon
Color commentator: Darrell Waltrip
Jamie Little
Vince Welch
Matt Yocum

Radio

MRN had the radio call for the race which was also simulcasted on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. Joe Moore, Jeff Striegle and 2001 race winner Rusty Wallace called the race from the booth when the field was racing down the front stretch. Dan Hubbard called race from a billboard outside turn 2 when the field was racing through turns 1 and 2. Kurt Becker called the race from a billboard outside turn 3 when the field was racing through turns 3 and 4. Alex Hayden, Winston Kelley and Steve Post worked pit road for MRN.

MRN
Booth announcersTurn announcersPit reporters
Lead announcer: Joe Moore
Announcer: Jeff Striegle
Announcer: Rusty Wallace
Turns 1 & 2: Dan Hubbard
Turns 3 & 4: Kurt Becker
Alex Hayden
Winston Kelley
Steve Post

Standings after the race

References

  1. "2018 schedule". Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. May 5, 2017. Archived from the original on December 24, 2017. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
  2. "Auto Club Speedway". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. January 3, 2013. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
  3. "Entry List". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. March 12, 2018. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
  4. "First Practice Results". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. March 16, 2018. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  5. "Qualifying Results". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. March 16, 2018. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  6. "Second Practice Results". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. March 17, 2018. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
  7. "Final Practice Results". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. March 17, 2018. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
  8. "Auto Club 400 Results". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. March 18, 2018. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  9. "Points standings" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. March 19, 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 20, 2018. Retrieved March 19, 2018.
  10. "Manufacturer standings" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. March 19, 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 20, 2018. Retrieved March 19, 2018.
  11. "Auto Club Speedway final TV ratings". Jayski's Silly Season Site. ESPN. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  12. Utter, Jim (March 16, 2018). "Kevin Harvick fastest in Friday's lone Cup practice at Fontana". Motorsport.com. Fontana, California: Motorsport Network. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  13. Beacham, Greg (March 16, 2018). "Truex claims 17th NASCAR Cup pole in Fontana". Associated Press. Fontana, California: AP Sports. Associated Press. Archived from the original on March 17, 2018. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  14. DeGroot, Nick (March 17, 2018). "Kevin Harvick leads second Cup practice at Fontana". Motorsport.com. Fontana, California: Motorsport Network. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
  15. Utter, Jim (March 17, 2018). "Kyle Busch tops final practice at Fontana". Motorsport.com. Fontana, California: Motorsport Network. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
  16. Hembree, Mike (March 18, 2018). "Martin Truex Jr. wins at Fontana as Kevin Harvick's bid for four in a row sputters". USA TODAY. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
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