2018 TicketGuardian 500

The 2018 TicketGuardian 500 was a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race held on March 11, 2018, at ISM Raceway in Avondale, Arizona. Contested over 312 laps on the one-mile (1.6 km) oval, it was the fourth race of the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season. It would also be the last Phoenix race to be using the 2011 reconfiguration as the start/finish line will be moved to the back-straightaway just past turn two for the November race.

2018 TicketGuardian 500
Race details[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]
Race 4 of 36 in the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series
Date March 11, 2018 (2018-03-11)
Location ISM Raceway in Avondale, Arizona
Course Permanent racing facility
1 mi (1.6 km)
Distance 312 laps, 312 mi (499.2 km)
Average speed 108.073 miles per hour (173.927 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Furniture Row Racing
Time 26.288
Most laps led
Driver Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing
Laps 128
Winner
No. 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing
Television in the United States
Network Fox
Announcers Mike Joy, Jeff Gordon and Darrell Waltrip
Nielsen Ratings 2.9/2.8 (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 Kyle Rickey (3 & 4)

Report

Background

ISM Raceway was the site of the fourth race of the season

ISM Raceway, is a one-mile, low-banked tri-oval race track located in Avondale, Arizona. The motorsport track opened in 1964 and currently hosts two NASCAR race weekends annually. PIR has also hosted the IndyCar Series, CART, USAC and the Rolex Sports Car Series. The raceway is currently owned and operated by International Speedway Corporation.

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 RacingChevrolet
72Corey LaJoieTriStar MotorsportsChevrolet
78Martin Truex Jr.Furniture Row RacingToyota
88Alex BowmanHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
95Kasey KahneLeavine Family RacingChevrolet
96D. J. KenningtonGaunt Brothers RacingToyota
Official entry list

First practice

Kyle Larson was the fastest in the first practice session with a time of 26.034 seconds and a speed of 138.281 mph (222.542 km/h).[12]

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer Time Speed
1 42Kyle LarsonChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet26.034138.281
2 1Jamie McMurrayChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet26.132137.762
3 18Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota26.151137.662
Official first practice results

Qualifying

Martin Truex Jr. scored the pole position.

Martin Truex Jr. scored the pole for the race with a time of 26.288 and a speed of 136.945 mph (220.392 km/h).[13]

Qualifying results

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer R1 R2 R3
1 78Martin Truex Jr.Furniture Row RacingToyota26.70426.49726.288
2 42Kyle LarsonChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet26.70626.40026.346
3 9Chase ElliottHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet26.65526.40626.446
4 88Alex BowmanHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet26.77026.43926.455
5 11Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota26.68226.44526.490
6 18Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota26.68526.48426.496
7 1Jamie McMurrayChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet26.76626.55126.497
8 20Erik JonesJoe Gibbs RacingToyota26.65326.52326.504
9 4Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingFord26.77126.59626.564
10 22Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord26.71726.56626.622
11 24William Byron (R)Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet26.82926.61426.708
12 12Ryan BlaneyTeam PenskeFord26.84026.61426.711
13 31Ryan NewmanRichard Childress RacingChevrolet26.78026.615
14 21Paul MenardWood Brothers RacingFord26.80026.631
15 19Daniel SuárezJoe Gibbs RacingToyota26.93226.652
16 38David RaganFront Row MotorsportsFord26.93826.664
17 48Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet26.54426.665
18 3Austin DillonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet26.91426.667
19 14Clint BowyerStewart-Haas RacingFord26.77226.726
20 47A. J. AllmendingerJTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet26.93026.809
21 6Trevor BayneRoush Fenway RacingFord26.95326.818
22 10Aric AlmirolaStewart-Haas RacingFord26.93926.850
23 41Kurt BuschStewart-Haas RacingFord26.94026.913
24 37Chris BuescherJTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet26.94126.953
25 2Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord27.012
26 95Kasey KahneLeavine Family RacingChevrolet27.024
27 43Darrell Wallace Jr. (R)Richard Petty MotorsportsChevrolet27.057
28 13Ty DillonGermain RacingChevrolet27.065
29 17Ricky Stenhouse Jr.Roush Fenway RacingFord27.084
30 32Matt DiBenedettoGo Fas RacingFord27.150
31 34Michael McDowellFront Row MotorsportsFord27.305
32 23Gray GauldingBK RacingToyota27.542
33 72Corey LaJoieTriStar MotorsportsChevrolet27.612
34 96D. J. KenningtonGaunt Brothers RacingToyota27.757
35 51Timmy Hill (i)Rick Ware RacingChevrolet27.931
36 15Ross Chastain (i)Premium MotorsportsChevrolet28.004
37 00Jeffrey EarnhardtStarCom RacingChevrolet0.000
Official qualifying results

Practice (post-qualifying)

Second practice

Kevin Harvick was the fastest in the second practice session with a time of 26.705 seconds and a speed of 134.806 mph (216.949 km/h).[14]

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer Time Speed
1 4Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingFord26.705134.806
2 9Chase ElliottHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet26.705134.806
3 18Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota26.735134.655
Official second practice results

Final practice

Kevin Harvick was the fastest in the final practice session with a time of 26.757 seconds and a speed of 134.544 mph (216.528 km/h).[15]

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer Time Speed
1 4Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingFord26.757134.544
2 1Jamie McMurrayChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet26.765134.504
3 78Martin Truex Jr.Furniture Row RacingToyota26.775134.454
Official final practice results

Race

Start

Martin Truex Jr.led the field to the green flag at 3:44 p.m. The afternoon’s first caution flew when the engine in Corey LaJoie’s car blew on lap 25. NASCAR had planned to have a competition caution on lap 35 but blended it into the lap-25 yellow.

The race restarted on lap 34. Kyle Larson took the lead on the same lap and led 24 laps, but then Kyle Busch took the lead and scored his first stage win of the season, leading at lap 75. Following in the top 10 were Kevin Harvick, Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, Martin Truex Jr., Chase Elliott, Brad Keselowski, Kurt Busch, Joey Logano and Erik Jones. The second caution flew for conclusion of the first stage.

Second stage

The race restarted on lap 84 and it remained green for 39 laps, until Kyle Larson lost control of his car on lap 121, slid through turn four and brought out the race’s third caution. Larson’s rear tires had been shaking before the incident.

The race restarted on lap 12. Kyle Busch took the lead on lap 129 and led 19 laps. A blown right front tire sent Chris Buescher’s car into the fourth-turn wall on lap 147, causing the fourth caution.

The race restarted on lap 150. The second stage ended with a one-lap dash because of a restart. Kurt Busch held off Brad Keselowski to win. Also in the top 10 were Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Kyle Busch, Michael McDowell, Ty Dillon, Kevin Harvick, Martin Truex Jr., Kasey Kahne and Clint Bowyer. The fifth caution flew for conclusion of the second stage.

Final stage

Kevin Harvick won the race.

The race restarted on lap 159 and remained green for 33 laps. The sixth caution flew when Paul Menard, who had reported brake issues, slid in turn two and backed hard into the outside wall, crushing the car’s rear end.

The race restarted on lap 199. Kevin Harvick held off Kyle Busch and Harvick scored his third career victory of 2018.[16]

Post race

“This weekend felt like a playoff moment for us,” Harvick said. “When you have all the guys and everybody looking at the race car and the determination for every last detail. There’s a lot going on in the world, but our team is very good at setting those things aside for 10 weeks during the playoffs. It felt more important to win a race this week than to win a race at Homestead for the championship.

“Actions speak a whole lot louder than words.”

Stage Results

Stage 1 Laps: 75

Pos No Driver Team Manufacturer Points
118Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota10
24Kevin HarvickStewart-Hass RacingFord9
342Kyle LarsonChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet8
411Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota7
578Martin Truex Jr.Furniture Row RacingToyota6
69Chase ElliottHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet5
72Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord4
841Kurt BuschStewart-Haas RacingFord3
922Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord2
1020Erik JonesJoe Gibbs RacingToyota1
Official stage one results

Stage 2 Laps: 75

Pos No Driver Team Manufacturer Points
141Kurt BuschStewart-Haas RacingFord10
22Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord9
317Ricky Stenhouse Jr.Roush Fenway RacingFord8
418Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota7
534Michael McDowellFront Row RacingFord6
613Ty DillonGermain RacingChevrolet5
74Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingFord4
878Martin Truex Jr.Furniture Row RacingToyota3
995Kasey KahneLeavine Family RacingChevrolet2
1014Clint BowyerStewart-Haas RacingFord1
Official stage two results

Final Stage Results

Stage 3 Laps: 162

Pos Grid No Driver Team Manufacturer Laps Points
1104Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingFord31253
2718Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota31252
339Chase ElliottHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet31239
4611Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota31240
5178Martin Truex Jr.Furniture Row RacingToyota31241
61914Clint BowyerStewart-Haas RacingFord31232
72210Aric AlmirolaStewart-Haas RacingFord31230
81519Daniel SuárezJoe Gibbs RacingToyota31229
9920Erik JonesJoe Gibbs RacingToyota31229
102341Kurt BuschStewart-Haas RacingFord31240
111331Ryan NewmanRichard Childress RacingChevrolet31226
121124William Byron (R)Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet31225
13488Alex BowmanHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet31224
141748Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet31223
15252Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord31235
161212Ryan BlaneyTeam PenskeFord31121
17183Austin DillonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet31120
18242Kyle LarsonChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet31127
19522Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord31120
20216Trevor BayneRoush Fenway RacingFord31117
212047A. J. AllmendingerJTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet31116
221638David RaganFront Row MotorsportsFord31115
232917Ricky Stenhouse Jr.Roush Fenway RacingFord31122
242695Kasey KahneLeavine Family RacingChevrolet31115
253032Matt DiBenedettoGo Fas RacingFord31112
2681Jamie McMurrayChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet31011
273615Ross Chastain (i)Premium MotorsportsChevrolet3100
282743Darrell Wallace Jr. (R)Richard Petty MotorsportsChevrolet3099
292437Chris BuescherJTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet3098
302813Ty DillonGermain RacingChevrolet30912
313496D. J. KenningtonGault Brothers RacingToyota3096
323134Michael McDowellFront Row MotorsportsFord30811
333551Timmy Hill (i)Rick Ware RacingChevrolet3060
343223Gray GauldingBK RacingToyota3043
353700Jeffrey EarnhardtStarCom RacingChevrolet2922
361421Paul MenardWood Brothers RacingFord1891
373372Corey LaJoieTriStar MotorsportsChevrolet231
Official race results

Race statistics

  • Lead changes: 9 among different drivers
  • Cautions/Laps: 6 for 36
  • Red flags: 0
  • Time of race: 2 hours, 53 minutes and 13 seconds
  • Average speed: 107.617 miles per hour (173.193 km/h)

Media

Television

Fox Sports covered their 14th race at the Phoenix International Raceway. Mike Joy, two-time Phoenix winner Jeff Gordon and Darrell Waltrip had the 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 also was simulcasted on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio.

MRN
Booth announcersTurn announcersPit reporters
Lead announcer: Joe Moore
Announcer: Jeff Striegle
Announcer: Rusty Wallace
Turns 1 & 2: Dan Hubbard
Turns 3 & 4: Kyle Rickey
Alex Hayden
Glenn Jarrett
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 7, 2018.
  2. "Phoenix International Raceway". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. January 3, 2013. Retrieved February 7, 2018.
  3. "Entry List". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. March 6, 2018. Retrieved March 6, 2018.
  4. "First Practice Results". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. March 9, 2018. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  5. "Qualifying Results". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. March 9, 2018. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  6. "Second Practice Results". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. March 10, 2018. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
  7. "Final Practice Results". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. March 10, 2018. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
  8. "TicketGuardian 500 Results". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. March 11, 2018. Retrieved March 11, 2018.
  9. "Points standings" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. March 12, 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 13, 2018. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
  10. "Manufacturer standings" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. March 12, 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 13, 2018. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
  11. "Phoenix final TV ratings". Jayski's Silly Season Site. ESPN. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  12. Utter, Jim (March 9, 2018). "Kyle Larson leads Ganassi 1-2 in pre-qualifying practice at Phoenix". Motorsport.com. Avondale, Arizona: Motorsport Network. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  13. Nicholson, John (March 9, 2018). "Martin Truex Jr. wins NASCAR Cup pole in Phoenix". Associated Press. Avondale, Arizona: AP Sports. Associated Press. Archived from the original on March 10, 2018. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  14. DeGroot, Nick (March 10, 2018). "Harvick and Elliott lead second Cup practice at Phoenix". Motorsport.com. Avondale, Arizona: Motorsport Network. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
  15. Utter, Jim (March 10, 2018). "Kevin Harvick leads the way in final Cup practice at Phoenix". Motorsport.com. Avondale, Arizona: Motorsport Network. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
  16. Hembree, Mike (March 11, 2018). "Kevin Harvick wins third NASCAR Cup race in a row, holds off Kyle Busch at Phoenix". USA TODAY. Retrieved March 11, 2018.
Previous race:
2018 Pennzoil 400
Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series
2018 season
Next race:
2018 Auto Club 400
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