2018 STP 500

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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
2018 STP 500 program cover
2018 STP 500 program cover
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)

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.

Report[edit]

Background[edit]

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[edit]

No. Driver Team Manufacturer
00 Landon Cassill StarCom Racing Chevrolet
1 Jamie McMurray Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet
2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford
3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
6 Trevor Bayne Roush Fenway Racing Ford
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 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
19 Daniel Suárez Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
20 Erik Jones Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
21 Paul Menard Wood Brothers Racing Ford
22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford
23 Gray Gaulding BK Racing Toyota
24 William Byron (R) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
31 Ryan Newman 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 Darrell Wallace Jr. (R) Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet
47 A. J. Allmendinger JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet
48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
51 Harrison Rhodes Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet
55 J. J. Yeley (i) Premium Motorsports Chevrolet
72 Cole Whitt TriStar Motorsports Chevrolet
78 Martin Truex Jr. Furniture Row Racing Toyota
88 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
95 Kasey Kahne Leavine Family Racing Chevrolet
96 D. J. Kennington Gaunt Brothers Racing Toyota
Official entry list

Practice[edit]

First practice[edit]

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 78 Martin Truex Jr. Furniture Row Racing Toyota 19.776 95.752
2 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford 19.798 95.646
3 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 19.888 95.213
Official first practice results

Final practice[edit]

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 78 Martin Truex Jr. Furniture Row Racing Toyota 19.846 95.415
2 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford 19.874 95.280
3 19 Daniel Suárez Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 19.882 95.242
Official final practice results

Qualifying[edit]

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[edit]

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer
1 78 Martin Truex Jr. Furniture Row Racing Toyota
2 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
3 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford
4 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford
5 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford
6 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
7 42 Kyle Larson Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet
8 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
9 14 Clint Bowyer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
10 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
11 41 Kurt Busch Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
12 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
13 20 Erik Jones Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
14 31 Ryan Newman Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
15 21 Paul Menard Wood Brothers Racing Ford
16 88 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
17 17 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Roush Fenway Racing Ford
18 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
19 43 Darrell Wallace Jr. (R) Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet
20 24 William Byron (R) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
21 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
22 37 Chris Buescher JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet
23 19 Daniel Suárez Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
24 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford
25 47 A. J. Allmendinger JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet
26 1 Jamie McMurray Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet
27 6 Trevor Bayne Roush Fenway Racing Ford
28 38 David Ragan Front Row Motorsports Ford
29 95 Kasey Kahne Leavine Family Racing Chevrolet
30 51 Harrison Rhodes Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet
31 32 Matt DiBenedetto Go Fas Racing Ford
32 13 Ty Dillon Germain Racing Chevrolet
33 15 Ross Chastain (i) Premium Motorsports Chevrolet
34 23 Gray Gaulding BK Racing Toyota
35 72 Cole Whitt Tri-Star Motorsports Chevrolet
36 00 Landon Cassill StarCom Racing Chevrolet
37 96 D. J. Kennington Gaunt Brothers Racing Toyota
38 55 J. J. Yeley (i) Premium Motorsports Chevrolet
Official starting lineup

Race[edit]

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

Stage Results[edit]

Stage One Laps: 130

Pos No Driver Team Manufacturer Points
1 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 10
2 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford 9
3 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 8
4 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 7
5 14 Clint Bowyer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 6
6 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 5
7 47 A. J. Allmendinger JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 4
8 41 Kurt Busch Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 3
9 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 2
10 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 1
Official stage one results

Stage Two Laps: 130

Pos No Driver Team Manufacturer Points
1 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 10
2 14 Clint Bowyer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 9
3 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 8
4 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford 7
5 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 6
6 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 5
7 41 Kurt Busch Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 4
8 47 A. J. Allmendinger JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 3
9 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 2
10 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 1
Official stage two results

Final Stage Results[edit]

Stage Three Laps: 240

Pos Grid No Driver Team Manufacturer Laps Points
1 9 14 Clint Bowyer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 500 55
2 2 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 500 50
3 5 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 500 52
4 1 78 Martin Truex Jr. Furniture Row Racing Toyota 500 33
5 8 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 500 42
6 3 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 500 35
7 16 88 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 500 30
8 25 47 A. J. Allmendinger JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 500 36
9 21 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 500 28
10 4 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford 500 43
11 11 41 Kurt Busch Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 500 33
12 6 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 500 41
13 15 21 Paul Menard Wood Brothers Racing Ford 500 24
14 10 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 500 23
15 18 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 499 24
16 7 42 Kyle Larson Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 499 21
17 13 20 Erik Jones Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 497 20
18 23 19 Daniel Suárez Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 497 19
19 14 31 Ryan Newman Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 497 18
20 20 24 William Byron (R) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 497 17
21 24 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford 497 16
22 32 13 Ty Dillon Germain Racing Chevrolet 496 15
23 22 37 Chris Buescher JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 496 14
24 29 95 Kasey Kahne Leavine Family Racing Chevrolet 496 13
25 28 38 David Ragan Front Row Motorsports Ford 495 12
26 26 1 Jamie McMurray Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 495 11
27 35 72 Cole Whitt TriStar Motorsports Chevrolet 493 10
28 37 96 D. J. Kennington Gaunt Brothers Racing Toyota 493 9
29 33 15 Ross Chastain (i) Premium Motorsports Chevrolet 493 0
30 12 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 493 7
31 38 55 J. J. Yeley (i) Premium Motorsports Chevrolet 493 0
32 31 32 Matt DiBenedetto Go Fas Racing Ford 488 5
33 27 6 Trevor Bayne Roush Fenway Racing Ford 486 4
34 19 43 Darrell Wallace Jr. (R) Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet 486 3
35 30 51 Harrison Rhodes Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet 482 2
36 34 23 Gray Gaulding BK Racing Toyota 481 1
37 17 17 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Roush Fenway Racing Ford 481 1
38 36 00 Landon Cassill StarCom Racing Chevrolet 211 1
Official race results

Race statistics[edit]

  • 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[edit]

Television[edit]

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

Radio[edit]

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 announcers Turn announcers Pit reporters
Lead announcer: Joe Moore
Announcer: Jeff Striegle
Announcer: Rusty Wallace
Backstretch: Dave Moody Alex Hayden
Winston Kelley
Steve Post

Standings after the race[edit]

References[edit]

  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. Archived from the original on April 25, 2017. 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.


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