2018 Bank of America Roval 400

2018 Bank of America Roval 400

Race details[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]
Race 29 of 36 in the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series
2018 Bank of America Roval 400 program cover, with artwork by NASCAR artist Sam Bass.
Date	September 30, 2018 (2018-09-30)
Location	Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina
Course	Permanent racing facility 2.28 mi (3.67 km)
Distance	109 laps, 248.52 mi (400 km)
Average speed	82.125 miles per hour (132.167 km/h)
Pole position
Driver	Kurt Busch	Stewart-Haas Racing
Time	76.805
Most laps led
Driver	Kyle Larson	Chip Ganassi Racing
Laps	47
Winner
No. 12	Ryan Blaney	Team Penske
Television in the United States
Network	NBC
Announcers	Rick Allen, Jeff Burton, Steve Letarte, Dale Earnhardt Jr. (booth) and Parker Kligerman (on-track)
Nielsen Ratings	1.95/1.99 (Overnight)[11]
Radio in the United States
Radio	PRN
Booth Announcers	Doug Rice and Mark Garrow
Turn Announcers	Nick Yeoman (1, 2 & 3), Mike Jaynes (4, 5 & 6), Doug Turnbull (7, 8 & 9), Pat Patterson (10, 11 & 12) and Rob Albright (13, 14 & 15)

The 2018 Bank of America Roval 400 was a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race that was held on September 30, 2018, at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina. Contested over 109 laps on the 2.28-mile (3.67 km) road course, it was the 29th race of the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season, third race of the Playoffs, and final race of the Round of 16. This was the first race to use Charlotte's "Roval" road course layout.

Report[]

Background[]

An aerial view of Charlotte Motor Speedway

For 2018, deviating from past NASCAR events at Charlotte, the race will utilize a road course configuration of Charlotte Motor Speedway, promoted and trademarked as the "Roval". The course is 2.28 miles (3.67 km) in length and features 17 turns, utilizing the infield road course and portions of the oval track. The race will be contested over a scheduled distance of 109 laps, 400 kilometres (250 mi).^[12][13][14]

During July 2018 tests on the road course, concerns were raised over drivers "cheating" designated chicanes on the course. The chicanes were modified with additional tire barriers and rumble strips in order to encourage drivers to properly drive through them, and NASCAR will enforce drive-through penalties on drivers who illegally "short-cut" parts of the course. The chicanes will not be used during pace laps, nor will they be used during restarts.^[15][16]

Entry list[]

First practice[]

Kyle Busch was the fastest in the first practice session with a time of 77.145 seconds and a speed of 106.397 mph (171.229 km/h).^[17]

Qualifying[]

Kurt Busch scored the pole position.

Kurt Busch scored the pole for the race with a time of 76.805 and a speed of 106.868 mph (171.987 km/h).^[18]

Qualifying results[]

Practice (post-qualifying)[]

Second practice[]

Jimmie Johnson was the fastest in the second practice session with a time of 78.043 seconds and a speed of 105.173 mph (169.260 km/h).^[19]

Final practice[]

Final practice

Brad Keselowski was the fastest in the final practice session with a time of 77.730 seconds and a speed of 105.596 mph (169.940 km/h).^[20]

Race[]

Stage Results[]

Stage 1 Laps: 25

Kyle Larson leads during the second stage of the race

Stage 2 Laps: 25

Final Stage Results[]

Stage 3 Laps: 59

Ryan Blaney drives to the finish line in the opposite direction after winning the 2018 Bank of America 400.

Race statistics[]

• Lead changes: 8 among different drivers
• Cautions/Laps: 8 for 16
• Red flags: 1 for 14 minutes and 27 seconds
• Time of race: 3 hours, 1 minute and 34 seconds
• Average speed: 82.125 miles per hour (132.167 km/h)

Media[]

Television[]

NBC Sports covered the race on the television side. Rick Allen, Jeff Burton, Steve Letarte and Dale Earnhardt Jr. had the call in the booth for the race. Parker Kligerman called from different locations around the 17-turn ROVAL. Dave Burns, Marty Snider and Kelli Stavast reported from pit lane during the race.

Radio[]

The Performance Racing Network had the radio call for the race, which was simulcast on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio.

Standings after the race[]

Pos Driver Points 1 1 Kyle Busch 3,055 1 2 Kevin Harvick 3,050 (–5) 2 3 Martin Truex Jr. 3,038 (–17) 4 Brad Keselowski 3,025 (–30) 8 5 Clint Bowyer 3,015 (–40) 1 6 Joey Logano 3,014 (–41) 1 7 Kurt Busch 3,014 (–41) 4 8 Ryan Blaney 3,013 (–42) 9 Chase Elliott 3,008 (–47) 3 10 Kyle Larson 3,006 (–49) 5 11 Aric Almirola 3,001 (–54) 1 12 Alex Bowman 3,000 (–55) 1 13 Jimmie Johnson 2,097 (–958) 4 14 Austin Dillon 2,071 (–984) 1 15 Denny Hamlin 2,056 (–999) 1 16 Erik Jones 2,046 (–1,009) Official driver's standings

Manufacturers' Championship standings Pos Manufacturer Points 1 1 Ford 1,050 1 2 Toyota 1,040 (–10) 3 Chevrolet 950 (–100) Official manufacturers' standings Note: Only the first 16 positions are included for the driver standings.

References[]

External links[]

• Media related to 2018 Bank of America Roval 400 at Wikimedia Commons