2018 Overton's 400

2018 Overton's 400

Race details[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]
Race 17 of 36 in the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series
The 2018 Overton's 400 program cover, featuring Martin Truex Jr.
Date	July 1, 2018 (2018-07-01)
Location	Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Illinois
Course	Permanent racing facility 1.5 mi (2.4 km)
Distance	267 laps, 400.5 mi (640.8 km)
Average speed	140.636 miles per hour (226.332 km/h)
Pole position
Driver	Paul Menard	Wood Brothers Racing
Time	29.998
Most laps led
Driver	Aric Almirola	Stewart-Haas Racing
Laps	70
Winner
No. 18	Kyle Busch	Joe Gibbs Racing
Television in the United States
Network	NBCSN
Announcers	Rick Allen, Jeff Burton, Steve Letarte and Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Nielsen Ratings	1.6 (Overnight)[10]
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 Overton's 400 logo.

The 2018 Overton's 400 was a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race that was held on July 1, 2018 at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Illinois. Contested over 267 laps on the 1.5-mile (2.4 km) intermediate speedway, it was the 17th race of the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season. The race would become best known for its intense finish, and for producing arguably one of the best finishes in NASCAR history, as Kyle Busch and Kyle Larson dueled in the closing laps of the race for the win.

Report[]

Background[]

Chicagoland Speedway, the track where the race will be held.

Chicagoland Speedway is a 1.5 miles (2.4 km) tri-oval speedway in Joliet, Illinois, southwest of Chicago. The speedway opened in 2001 and currently hosts NASCAR racing. Until 2011, the speedway also hosted the IndyCar Series, recording numerous close finishes including the closest finish in IndyCar history. The speedway is owned and operated by International Speedway Corporation and located adjacent to Route 66 Raceway.

Entry list[]

Practice[]

First practice[]

Ryan Blaney was the fastest in the first practice session with a time of 30.169 seconds and a speed of 178.992 mph (288.060 km/h).^[11]

Final practice[]

Brad Keselowski was the fastest in the final practice session with a time of 29.863 seconds and a speed of 180.826 mph (291.011 km/h).^[12]

Qualifying[]

Paul Menard scored the pole position.

Paul Menard scored the pole for the race with a time of 29.998 and a speed of 180.012 mph (289.701 km/h).^[13]

Starting Lineup[]

† The cars of Martin Truex Jr., Denny Hamlin, Jimmie Johnson, and Chris Buescher all started in the rear of the field after failing post-qualifying inspection.

Race[]

Kyle Busch won the race.

Stage Results[]

Stage 1 Laps: 80

Stage 2 Laps: 80

Final Lap[]

With 4 laps to go, Kyle Busch built a full second lead over Kyle Larson but Larson was closing the gap fast. With 3 to go, Busch and Larson had to navigate through lapped traffic with a total of 4 lapped cars bunched together all around them making it difficult for them to pass the cars. On the final lap, Larson had closed the gap to 0.35 seconds and attempted to pass Busch on the inside in turn one trying to use the slide job but failed to get in front of Busch. The two made contact with Larson putting Busch in the wall in turn 2. Down the backstretch, Larson took the lead from Busch heading into turn 3. Busch sent the car hard into turn 3 hitting Larson in the rear hard causing Larson to go sideways trying to save his car and Busch hit the wall again by driving his car deep into the corner. Busch ended up taking the win over Larson in one of the most memorable and craziest finishes in NASCAR history.

Final Stage Results[]

Stage 3 Laps: 107

Race statistics[]

• Lead changes: 10 among different drivers
• Cautions/Laps: 5 for 23
• Red flags: 0
• Time of race: 2 hours, 50 minutes and 52 seconds
• Average speed: 140.636 miles per hour (226.332 km/h)

Media[]

Television[]

NBC Sports covered the race on the television side. Rick Allen, Jeff Burton, Steve Letarte, and 2005 race winner Dale Earnhardt Jr., in his debut as a color commentator for NASCAR on NBC, had the call in the booth for the race. Dave Burns, Marty Snider and Kelli Stavast reported from pit lane during the race.

Radio[]

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

Standings after the race[]

Drivers' Championship standings Pos Driver Points 1 Kyle Busch 736 2 Kevin Harvick 674 (–62) 3 Joey Logano 617 (–119) 1 4 Martin Truex Jr. 594 (–142) 1 5 Brad Keselowski 592 (–144) 6 Clint Bowyer 579 (–157) 7 Kurt Busch 560 (–176) 8 Denny Hamlin 537 (–199) 9 Kyle Larson 524 (–212) 1 10 Ryan Blaney 495 (–241) 1 11 Aric Almirola 493 (–243) 12 Jimmie Johnson 442 (–294) 13 Chase Elliott 435 (–301) 14 Erik Jones 408 (–328) 15 Alex Bowman 390 (–346) 16 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 367 (–369) Official driver's standings

Manufacturers' Championship standings Pos Manufacturer Points 1 1 Toyota 620 1 2 Ford 614 (–6) 3 Chevrolet 547 (–73) Official manufacturers' standings Note: Only the first 16 positions are included for the driver standings. . – Driver has clinched a position in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series playoffs.

References[]