2018 STP 500

The 2018 STP 500 was a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race held on March 26, 2018, at Martinsville Speedway in Ridgeway, Virginia. Contested over 500 laps on the .526 mile (.847 km) paperclip-shaped short track, it was sixth race of the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season. The race was postponed from Sunday, March 25 to Monday, March 26 due to snow accumulation in Martinsville.

2018 STP 500
Race details[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]
Race 6 of 36 in the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series
Date March 26, 2018 (2018-03-26)
Location Martinsville Speedway in Ridgeway, Virginia
Course Permanent racing facility
0.526 mi (0.847 km)
Distance 500 laps, 263 mi (423.5 km)
Average speed 81.663 miles per hour (131.424 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Furniture Row Racing
Time N/A
Most laps led
Driver Clint Bowyer Stewart-Haas Racing
Laps 215
Winner
No. 14 Clint Bowyer Stewart-Haas Racing
Television in the United States
Network FS1
Announcers Mike Joy, Jeff Gordon and Darrell Waltrip
Radio in the United States
Radio MRN
Booth Announcers Joe Moore, Jeff Striegle and Rusty Wallace
Turn Announcers Dave Moody (Backstretch)

Report

Background

Martinsville Speedway, the track where the race was held.

Martinsville Speedway is an International Speedway Corporation-owned NASCAR stock car racing track located in Henry County, in Ridgeway, Virginia, just to the south of Martinsville. At 0.526 miles (0.847 km) in length, it is the shortest track in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. The track was also one of the first paved oval tracks in NASCAR, being built in 1947 by H. Clay Earles. It is also the only remaining race track that has been on the NASCAR circuit from its beginning in 1948.

Entry list

No. Driver Team Manufacturer
00Landon CassillStarCom 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
51Harrison RhodesRick Ware RacingChevrolet
55J. J. Yeley (i)Premium MotorsportsChevrolet
72Cole WhittTriStar MotorsportsChevrolet
78Martin Truex Jr.Furniture Row RacingToyota
88Alex BowmanHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
95Kasey KahneLeavine Family RacingChevrolet
96D. J. KenningtonGaunt Brothers RacingToyota
Official entry list

Practice

First practice

Martin Truex Jr. was the fastest in the first practice session with a time of 19.776 seconds and a speed of 95.752 mph (154.098 km/h).[10]

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer Time Speed
1 78Martin Truex Jr.Furniture Row RacingToyota19.77695.752
2 2Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord19.79895.646
3 18Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota19.88895.213
Official first practice results

Final practice

Martin Truex Jr. was the fastest in the final practice session with a time of 19.846 seconds and a speed of 95.415 mph (153.556 km/h).[11]

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer Time Speed
1 78Martin Truex Jr.Furniture Row RacingToyota19.84695.415
2 2Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord19.87495.280
3 19Daniel SuárezJoe Gibbs RacingToyota19.88295.242
Official final practice results

Qualifying

Qualifying for Saturday was cancelled due to snow and Martin Truex Jr., the point leader, was awarded the pole as a result.[12]

Starting Lineup

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer
1 78Martin Truex Jr.Furniture Row RacingToyota
2 18Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
3 22Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord
4 2Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord
5 12Ryan BlaneyTeam PenskeFord
6 11Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
7 42Kyle LarsonChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet
8 4Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingFord
9 14Clint BowyerStewart-Haas RacingFord
10 10Aric AlmirolaStewart-Haas RacingFord
11 41Kurt BuschStewart-Haas RacingFord
12 3Austin DillonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet
13 20Erik JonesJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
14 31Ryan NewmanRichard Childress RacingChevrolet
15 21Paul MenardWood Brothers RacingFord
16 88Alex BowmanHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
17 17Ricky Stenhouse Jr.Roush Fenway RacingFord
18 48Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
19 43Darrell Wallace Jr. (R)Richard Petty MotorsportsChevrolet
20 24William Byron (R)Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
21 9Chase ElliottHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
22 37Chris BuescherJTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet
23 19Daniel SuárezJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
24 34Michael McDowellFront Row MotorsportsFord
25 47A. J. AllmendingerJTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet
26 1Jamie McMurrayChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet
27 6Trevor BayneRoush Fenway RacingFord
28 38David RaganFront Row MotorsportsFord
29 95Kasey KahneLeavine Family RacingChevrolet
30 51Harrison RhodesRick Ware RacingChevrolet
31 32Matt DiBenedettoGo Fas RacingFord
32 13Ty DillonGermain RacingChevrolet
33 15Ross Chastain (i)Premium MotorsportsChevrolet
34 23Gray GauldingBK RacingToyota
35 72Cole WhittTri-Star MotorsportsChevrolet
36 00Landon CassillStarCom RacingChevrolet
37 96D. J. KenningtonGaunt Brothers RacingToyota
38 55J. J. Yeley (i)Premium MotorsportsChevrolet
Official starting lineup

Race

Clint Bowyer won the race, breaking a dry spell of 190 losses.

Stage Results

Stage One Laps: 130

Pos No Driver Team Manufacturer Points
111Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota10
22Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord9
312Ryan BlaneyTeam PenskeFord8
418Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota7
514Clint BowyerStewart-Haas RacingFord6
64Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingFord5
747A. J. AllmendingerJTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet4
841Kurt BuschStewart-Haas RacingFord3
922Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord2
1048Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet1
Official stage one results

Stage Two Laps: 130

Pos No Driver Team Manufacturer Points
112Ryan BlaneyTeam PenskeFord10
214Clint BowyerStewart-Haas RacingFord9
318Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota8
42Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord7
511Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota6
64Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingFord5
741Kurt BuschStewart-Haas RacingFord4
847A. J. AllmendingerJTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet3
922Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord2
1048Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet1
Official stage two results

Final Stage Results

Stage Three Laps: 240

Pos Grid No Driver Team Manufacturer Laps Points
1914Clint BowyerStewart-Haas RacingFord50055
2218Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota50050
3512Ryan BlaneyTeam PenskeFord50052
4178Martin Truex Jr.Furniture Row RacingToyota50033
584Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingFord50042
6322Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord50035
71688Alex BowmanHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet50030
82547A. J. AllmendingerJTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet50036
9219Chase ElliottHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet50028
1042Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord50043
111141Kurt BuschStewart-Haas RacingFord50033
12611Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota50041
131521Paul MenardWood Brothers RacingFord50024
141010Aric AlmirolaStewart-Haas RacingFord50023
151848Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet49924
16742Kyle LarsonChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet49921
171320Erik JonesJoe Gibbs RacingToyota49720
182319Daniel SuárezJoe Gibbs RacingToyota49719
191431Ryan NewmanRichard Childress RacingChevrolet49718
202024William Byron (R)Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet49717
212434Michael McDowellFront Row MotorsportsFord49716
223213Ty DillonGermain RacingChevrolet49615
232237Chris BuescherJTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet49614
242995Kasey KahneLeavine Family RacingChevrolet49613
252838David RaganFront Row MotorsportsFord49512
26261Jamie McMurrayChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet49511
273572Cole WhittTriStar MotorsportsChevrolet49310
283796D. J. KenningtonGaunt Brothers RacingToyota4939
293315Ross Chastain (i)Premium MotorsportsChevrolet4930
30123Austin DillonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet4937
313855J. J. Yeley (i)Premium MotorsportsChevrolet4930
323132Matt DiBenedettoGo Fas RacingFord4885
33276Trevor BayneRoush Fenway RacingFord4864
341943Darrell Wallace Jr. (R)Richard Petty MotorsportsChevrolet4863
353051Harrison RhodesRick Ware RacingChevrolet4822
363423Gray GauldingBK RacingToyota4811
371717Ricky Stenhouse Jr.Roush Fenway RacingFord4811
383600Landon CassillStarCom RacingChevrolet2111
Official race results

Race statistics

  • Lead changes: 6 among different drivers
  • Cautions/Laps: 4 for 33
  • Red flags: 0
  • Time of race: 3 hours, 13 minutes and 14 seconds
  • Average speed: 81.663 miles per hour (131.424 km/h)

Media

Television

Fox Sports was covering their 18th race at the Martinsville Speedway. Mike Joy, nine-time Martinsville winner Jeff Gordon and 11-time Martinsville winner Darrell Waltrip called in the booth for the race. Jamie Little, Vince Welch and Matt Yocum handled pit road duties for the entire race.

FS1
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 would also be simulcasted on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. Joe Moore, Jeff Striegle and seven-time Martinsville winner Rusty Wallace called the race in the booth as the cars were on the frontstretch. Dave Moody called the race from atop the turn 3 stands as the field is racing down the backstretch. Alex Hayden, Winston Kelley and Steve Post worked pit road for the radio side.

MRN
Booth announcersTurn announcersPit reporters
Lead announcer: Joe Moore
Announcer: Jeff Striegle
Announcer: Rusty Wallace
Backstretch: Dave MoodyAlex 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 20, 2018.
  2. "Martinsville Speedway". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. January 3, 2013. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
  3. "Entry List". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. March 19, 2018. Retrieved March 19, 2018.
  4. "First Practice Results". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. March 24, 2018. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  5. "Final Practice Results". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. March 24, 2018. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  6. "Starting Lineup". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. March 24, 2018. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  7. "STP 500 Results". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. March 26, 2018. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
  8. "Points standings" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. March 27, 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 28, 2018. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
  9. "Manufacturer standings" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. March 27, 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 28, 2018. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
  10. Utter, Jim (March 24, 2018). "Martin Truex Jr. fastest in Saturday's first Cup practice at Martinsville". Motorsport.com. Ridgeway, Virginia: Motorsport Network. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  11. Utter, Jim (March 24, 2018). "Martin Truex Jr. fastest in final Cup practice; Stenhouse wrecks". Motorsport.com. Ridgeway, Virginia: Motorsport Network. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  12. "Champ on the pole after weather washes out qualifying". Associated Press. Ridgeway, Virginia: AP Sports. Associated Press. March 24, 2018. Archived from the original on March 25, 2018. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
Previous race:
2018 Auto Club 400
Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series
2018 season
Next race:
2018 O'Reilly Auto Parts 500
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