2018 Ford EcoBoost 400

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2018 Ford EcoBoost 400
Race details[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]
Race 36 of 36 in the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series
Joey logano championship celebration (32131030128).jpg
Date November 18, 2018 (2018-11-18)
Location Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Florida
Course Permanent racing facility
1.5 mi (2.4 km)
Distance 267 laps, 400.5 mi (640.8 km)
Average speed 133.056 miles per hour (214.133 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Joe Gibbs Racing
Time 31.059
Most laps led
Driver Joey Logano Team Penske
Laps 80
Winner
No. 22 Joey Logano Team Penske
Television in the United States
Network NBC
Announcers Rick Allen, Jeff Burton, Steve Letarte and Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Nielsen Ratings 2.5 (Overnight)[11]
Radio in the United States
Radio MRN
Booth Announcers Joe Moore, Jeff Striegle and Rusty Wallace
Turn Announcers Dave Moody (1 & 2) and Mike Bagley (3 & 4)

The 2018 Ford EcoBoost 400 was a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race that was held on November 18, 2018, at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Florida. Contested over 267 laps on the 1.5 mile (2.4 km) oval, it was the 36th and final race of the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season, and was also the last race for the Ford Fusion, as it will be replaced for the 2019 season by the Mustang GT. This race was the final career Cup start for A. J. Allmendinger as a full time driver.

Report[]

Background[]

Homestead-Miami Speedway, the track where the race was held.

Homestead-Miami Speedway is a motor racing track located in Homestead, Florida. The track, which has several configurations, has promoted several series of racing, including NASCAR, the Verizon IndyCar Series, the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series and the Championship Cup Series.

Since 2002, Homestead-Miami Speedway has hosted the final race of the season in all three of NASCAR's series: the Sprint Cup Series, Xfinity Series and Camping World Truck Series. Ford Motor Company sponsors all three of the season-ending races; the races have the names Ford EcoBoost 400, Ford EcoBoost 300 and Ford EcoBoost 200, respectively, and the weekend is marketed as Ford Championship Weekend. The Xfinity Series (then known as the Busch Series) has held its season-ending races at Homestead since 1995.

Championship drivers[]

Joey Logano was the first of the four drivers to clinch a spot in the Championship 4, winning the first race of the Round of 8 at Martinsville.

Kyle Busch clinched the second spot in the Championship 4 based on points at the Phoenix race when Ricky Stenhouse Jr. crashed out of the race and finished 33rd. Busch had to finish at least 33rd to be locked in on points. He later clinched a playoff berth anyway by winning the race.

Martin Truex Jr. clinched the third spot in the Championship 4 based on points.

Kevin Harvick clinched the final spot based on points after his Texas win was encumbered after a spoiler violation.

Entry list[]

No. Driver Team Manufacturer
00 Landon Cassill (i) 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 Matt Kenseth 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 J. J. Yeley (i) BK Racing Ford
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 B. J. McLeod (i) Rick Ware Racing Ford
66 Timmy Hill (i) MBM Motorsports Toyota
72 Corey LaJoie TriStar Motorsports Chevrolet
78 Martin Truex Jr. Furniture Row Racing Toyota
88 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
95 Regan Smith Leavine Family Racing Chevrolet
97 Tanner Berryhill Obaika Racing Toyota
99 Kyle Weatherman StarCom Racing Chevrolet
Official entry list

First practice[]

Martin Truex Jr. was the fastest in the first practice session with a time of 31.035 seconds and a speed of 173.997 mph (280.021 km/h).[12]

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer Time Speed
1 78 Martin Truex Jr. Furniture Row Racing Toyota 31.035 173.997
2 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 31.160 173.299
3 14 Clint Bowyer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 31.218 172.828
Official first practice results

Qualifying[]

Denny Hamlin scored the pole position.

Denny Hamlin scored the pole for the race with a time of 31.059 and a speed of 173.863 mph (279.805 km/h).[13]

Qualifying results[]

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer R1 R2 R3
1 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 31.112 31.243 31.059
2 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 30.920 31.112 31.102
3 78 Martin Truex Jr. Furniture Row Racing Toyota 31.013 31.045 31.117
4 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford 31.031 31.139 31.136
5 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 30.949 31.122 31.148
6 41 Kurt Busch Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 31.088 31.165 31.298
7 20 Erik Jones Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 31.301 31.028 31.303
8 31 Ryan Newman Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 31.113 31.258 31.317
9 17 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Roush Fenway Racing Ford 31.215 31.147 31.322
10 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 31.250 31.221 31.331
11 42 Kyle Larson Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 31.283 31.293 31.390
12 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 31.259 31.182 31.406
13 88 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 31.187 31.299
14 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 31.225 31.301
15 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 31.051 31.345
16 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 31.231 31.351
17 6 Matt Kenseth Roush Fenway Racing Ford 31.296 31.359
18 19 Daniel Suárez Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 31.135 31.395
19 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 31.291 31.404
20 47 A. J. Allmendinger JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 31.369 31.476
21 1 Jamie McMurray Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 31.288 31.482
22 21 Paul Menard Wood Brothers Racing Ford 31.224 31.511
23 43 Darrell Wallace Jr. (R) Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet 31.371 31.574
24 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford 31.360 31.633
25 38 David Ragan Front Row Motorsports Ford 31.393
26 14 Clint Bowyer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 31.427
27 37 Chris Buescher JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 31.536
28 24 William Byron (R) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 31.616
29 32 Matt DiBenedetto Go Fas Racing Ford 31.672
30 95 Regan Smith Leavine Family Racing Chevrolet 31.818
31 13 Ty Dillon Germain Racing Chevrolet 31.830
32 00 Landon Cassill StarCom Racing Chevrolet 31.962
33 23 J. J. Yeley (i) BK Racing Ford 32.297
34 72 Corey LaJoie TriStar Motorsports Chevrolet 32.335
35 99 Kyle Weatherman StarCom Racing Chevrolet 32.355
36 51 B. J. McLeod (i) Rick Ware Racing Ford 32.842
37 97 Tanner Berryhill Obaika Racing Toyota 33.138
38 66 Timmy Hill (i) MBM Motorsports Toyota 33.414
39 15 Ross Chastain (i) Premium Motorsports Chevrolet 0.000
Official qualifying results

Practice (post-qualifying)[]

Second practice[]

Joey Logano was the fastest in the second practice session with a time of 31.838 seconds and a speed of 169.609 mph (272.959 km/h).[14]

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer Time Speed
1 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 31.838 169.609
2 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 31.916 169.194
3 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 32.049 168.492
Official second practice results

Final practice[]

Joey Logano was the fastest in the final practice session with a time of 31.450 seconds and a speed of 171.701 mph (276.326 km/h).[15]

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer Time Speed
1 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 31.450 171.701
2 78 Martin Truex Jr. Furniture Row Racing Toyota 31.656 170.584
3 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford 31.685 170.428
Official final practice results

Race[]

Joey Logano won the race and his first Cup Series championship title.

Note: Joey Logano, Kevin Harvick, Martin Truex Jr., and Kyle Busch were not eligible for stage points in this race because of their participation as the Championship 4 drivers.

Stage Results[]

Stage 1 Laps: 80

Pos No Driver Team Manufacturer Points
1 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 0
2 42 Kyle Larson Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 9
3 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 0
4 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 0
5 78 Martin Truex Jr. Furniture Row Racing Toyota 0
6 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 5
7 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 4
8 20 Erik Jones Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 3
9 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford 2
10 41 Kurt Busch Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 1
Official stage one results

Stage 2 Laps: 80

Pos No Driver Team Manufacturer Points
1 42 Kyle Larson Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 10
2 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 0
3 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 0
4 78 Martin Truex Jr. Furniture Row Racing Toyota 0
5 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 6
6 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 0
7 41 Kurt Busch Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 4
8 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 3
9 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 2
10 14 Clint Bowyer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 1
Official stage two results

Final Stage Results[]

Stage 3 Laps: 107

Pos Grid No Driver Team Manufacturer Laps Points
1 5 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 267 40
2 3 78 Martin Truex Jr. Furniture Row Racing Toyota 267 35
3 12 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 267 34
4 2 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 267 33
5 4 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford 267 34
6 17 6 Matt Kenseth Roush Fenway Racing Ford 267 31
7 14 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 267 30
8 26 14 Clint Bowyer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 267 30
9 10 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 267 38
10 6 41 Kurt Busch Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 267 32
11 16 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 267 26
12 1 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 267 33
13 11 42 Kyle Larson Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 267 43
14 19 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 267 25
15 8 31 Ryan Newman Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 267 22
16 9 17 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Roush Fenway Racing Ford 267 21
17 15 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 267 20
18 21 1 Jamie McMurray Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 267 19
19 20 47 A. J. Allmendinger JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 266 18
20 25 38 David Ragan Front Row Motorsports Ford 266 17
21 23 43 Darrell Wallace Jr. (R) Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet 266 16
22 31 13 Ty Dillon Germain Racing Chevrolet 266 15
23 27 37 Chris Buescher JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 266 14
24 28 24 William Byron (R) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 266 13
25 22 21 Paul Menard Wood Brothers Racing Ford 265 12
26 29 32 Matt DiBenedetto Go Fas Racing Ford 264 11
27 7 20 Erik Jones Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 264 13
28 24 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford 263 9
29 13 88 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 263 8
30 18 19 Daniel Suárez Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 262 7
31 32 00 Landon Cassill (i) StarCom Racing Chevrolet 262 0
32 33 23 J. J. Yeley (i) BK Racing Ford 261 0
33 39 15 Ross Chastain (i) Premium Motorsports Chevrolet 259 0
34 34 72 Corey LaJoie TriStar Motorsports Chevrolet 259 3
35 36 51 B. J. McLeod (i) Rick Ware Racing Ford 256 0
36 35 99 Kyle Weatherman StarCom Racing Chevrolet 256 1
37 38 66 Timmy Hill (i) MBM Motorsports Toyota 254 0
38 37 97 Tanner Berryhill Obaika Racing Toyota 254 1
39 30 95 Regan Smith Leavine Family Racing Chevrolet 240 1
Official race results

Race statistics[]

  • Lead changes: 7 among different drivers
  • Cautions/Laps: 5 for 26
  • Red flags: 0
  • Time of race: 3 hours, 0 minutes and 36 seconds
  • Average speed: 133.056 miles per hour (214.133 km/h)

Media[]

Television[]

NBC 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. Dave Burns, Parker Kligerman, Marty Snider and Kelli Stavast reported from pit lane during the race. While the race itself aired on NBC, NBCSN aired NBCSN NASCAR Hot Pass, a simultaneous live feed dedicated to each of the Championship drivers, with commentary by Leigh Diffey and Dale Jarrett. Also, three different angles from in-car cameras and a track map tracked the driver's position and changes throughout the field.

NBC
Booth announcers Pit reporters
Lap-by-lap: Rick Allen
Color-commentator: Jeff Burton
Color-commentator: Steve Letarte
Color-commentator: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Dave Burns
Parker Kligerman
Marty Snider
Kelli Stavast

Radio[]

MRN had the radio call for the race, which was simulcast on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio.

MRN
Booth announcers Turn announcers Pit reporters
Lead announcer: Joe Moore
Announcer: Jeff Striegle
Announcer: Rusty Wallace
Turns 1 & 2: Dave Moody
Turns 3 & 4: Mike Bagley
Alex Hayden
Winston Kelley
Steve Post
Kim Coon

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 October 14, 2018.
  2. ^ "Homestead-Miami Speedway". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. January 3, 2013. Archived from the original on April 28, 2017. Retrieved October 14, 2018.
  3. ^ "Entry List". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. November 13, 2018. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  4. ^ "First Practice Results". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. November 16, 2018. Retrieved November 16, 2018.
  5. ^ "Starting Lineup". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. November 16, 2018. Retrieved November 16, 2018.
  6. ^ "Second Practice Results". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. November 17, 2018. Retrieved November 17, 2018.
  7. ^ "Final Practice Results". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. November 17, 2018. Retrieved November 17, 2018.
  8. ^ "Ford EcoBoost 400 Results". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. November 18, 2018. Retrieved November 18, 2018.
  9. ^ "Points standings" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. November 19, 2018. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
  10. ^ "Manufacturer standings" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. November 19, 2018. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
  11. ^ "Homestead TV ratings". Jayski's Silly Season Site. ESPN. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
  12. ^ Utter, Jim (November 16, 2018). "Martin Truex Jr. fastest in Friday's Cup practice at Homestead". Motorsport.com. Homestead, Florida: Motorsport Network. Retrieved November 16, 2018.
  13. ^ Fryer, Jenna (November 16, 2018). "Kyle Busch leads title contenders in qualifying for finale". Associated Press. Homestead, Florida: AP Sports. Associated Press. Archived from the original on November 17, 2018. Retrieved November 16, 2018.
  14. ^ DeGroot, Nick (November 17, 2018). "Joey Logano leads Saturday's first Cup practice at Homestead". Motorsport.com. Homestead, Florida: Motorsport Network. Retrieved November 17, 2018.
  15. ^ Utter, Jim (November 17, 2018). "Logano and Truex top final practice; Kyle Busch scrapes the wall". Motorsport.com. Homestead, Florida: Motorsport Network. Retrieved November 17, 2018.


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