2018 Sparks Energy 300
Race details | |||
---|---|---|---|
Race 9 of 33 of the 2018 NASCAR Xfinity Series | |||
Date | April 28, 2018 | ||
Official name | 27th Annual Sparks Energy 300 | ||
Location | Lincoln, Alabama, Talladega Superspeedway | ||
Course |
Permanent racing facility 2.66 mi (4.28 km) | ||
Distance | 115 laps, 305.9 mi (492.298 km) | ||
Scheduled Distance | 113 laps, 300.58 mi (483.736 km) | ||
Average speed | 133.258 miles per hour (214.458 km/h) | ||
Pole position | |||
Driver | Richard Childress Racing | ||
Time | 50.559 | ||
Most laps led | |||
Driver | Daniel Hemric | Richard Childress Racing | |
Laps | 39 | ||
Winner | |||
No. 23 | Spencer Gallagher | GMS Racing | |
Television in the United States | |||
Network | FOX | ||
Announcers | Kevin Harvick, Clint Bowyer, Joey Logano | ||
Radio in the United States | |||
Radio | Motor Racing Network |
The 2018 Sparks Energy 300 was the ninth stock car race of the 2018 NASCAR Xfinity Series season, and the 27nd iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, April 28, 2018, in Lincoln, Alabama at Talladega Superspeedway, a 2.66 miles (4.28 km) permanent triangle-shaped superspeedway. The race was extended from the scheduled 113 laps to 115 due to a NASCAR overtime finish. At race's end, Spencer Gallagher of GMS Racing would make a last lap pass on Tyler Reddick and fend off the field to win a shocker, winning his first and so far final NASCAR Xfinity Series win of his career and his first and only win of the season.[1] To fill out the podium, Brandon Jones of Joe Gibbs Racing and Justin Allgaier of JR Motorsports would finish second and third, respectively.
Background[]
Talladega Superspeedway, originally known as Alabama International Motor Superspeedway (AIMS), is a motorsports complex located north of Talladega, Alabama. It is located on the former Anniston Air Force Base in the small city of Lincoln. The track is a tri-oval and was constructed in the 1960s by the International Speedway Corporation, a business controlled by the France family. Talladega is most known for its steep banking and the unique location of the start/finish line that's located just past the exit to pit road. The track currently hosts the NASCAR series such as the NASCAR Cup Series, Xfinity Series and the Camping World Truck Series. Talladega is the longest NASCAR oval with a length of 2.66-mile-long (4.28 km) tri-oval like the Daytona International Speedway, which also is a 2.5-mile-long (4 km) tri-oval.
Entry list[]
Practice[]
First practice[]
The first practice session would occur on Friday, April 27, at 10:35 AM EST, and would last for 50 minutes.[2] Cole Custer of Stewart-Haas Racing with Biagi-DenBeste would set the fastest time in the session, with a time of 49.329 and an average speed of 194.125 miles per hour (312.414 km/h).[3]
Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 00 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing with Biagi-DenBeste | Ford | 49.329 | 194.125 |
2 | 23 | Spencer Gallagher | GMS Racing | Chevrolet | 49.366 | 193.980 |
3 | 11 | Ryan Truex | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 49.373 | 193.952 |
Full first practice results |
Second and final practice[]
The second and final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, would occur on Friday, April 27, at 12:35 PM EST, and would last for 50 minutes.[2] Shane Lee of Richard Childress Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a time of 50.953 and an average speed of 187.938 miles per hour (302.457 km/h).[3]
Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 3 | Shane Lee | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 50.953 | 187.938 |
2 | 11 | Ryan Truex | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 51.389 | 186.343 |
3 | 16 | Ryan Reed | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 51.443 | 186.148 |
Full Happy Hour practice results |
Qualifying[]
Qualifying would occur on Saturday, April 28, at 10:00 AM EST.[2] Since Talladega Superspeedway at least 2 miles (3.2 km), the qualifying system was a single car, single lap, two round system where in the first round, everyone would set a time to determine positions 13-40. Then, the fastest 12 qualifiers would move on to the second round to determine positions 1-12.[4]
Daniel Hemric of Richard Childress Racing would win the pole, setting a time of 50.559 and an average speed of 189.402 miles per hour (304.813 km/h) in the second round.[5]
One driver would fail to qualify: Morgan Shepherd.
Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time (R1) | Speed (R1) | Time (R2) | Speed (R2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 21 | Daniel Hemric | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 50.640 | 189.100 | 50.559 | 189.402 |
2 | 1 | Elliott Sadler | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 50.794 | 188.526 | 50.727 | 188.775 |
3 | 23 | Spencer Gallagher | GMS Racing | Chevrolet | 50.842 | 188.348 | 50.762 | 188.645 |
4 | 42 | John Hunter Nemechek | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 50.940 | 187.986 | 50.810 | 188.467 |
5 | 5 | Michael Annett | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 50.848 | 188.326 | 50.814 | 188.452 |
6 | 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 50.793 | 188.530 | 50.885 | 188.189 |
7 | 3 | Shane Lee | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 51.044 | 187.603 | 50.914 | 188.082 |
8 | 9 | Tyler Reddick | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 50.999 | 187.768 | 50.929 | 188.026 |
9 | 11 | Ryan Truex | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 51.039 | 187.621 | 51.030 | 187.654 |
10 | 2 | Matt Tifft | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 51.033 | 187.643 | 51.106 | 187.375 |
11 | 22 | Austin Cindric | Team Penske | Ford | 50.959 | 187.916 | 51.123 | 187.313 |
12 | 00 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing with Biagi-DenBeste | Ford | 51.260 | 186.812 | 51.322 | 186.587 |
Eliminated in Round 1 | ||||||||
13 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 51.283 | 186.729 | — | — |
14 | 60 | Ty Majeski | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 51.309 | 186.634 | — | — |
15 | 19 | Brandon Jones | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 51.322 | 186.587 | — | — |
16 | 98 | Chase Briscoe | Stewart-Haas Racing with Biagi-DenBeste | Ford | 51.341 | 186.518 | — | — |
17 | 28 | Dylan Lupton | JGL Racing | Ford | 51.411 | 186.264 | — | — |
18 | 35 | Joey Gase | Go Green Racing with SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet | 51.452 | 186.115 | — | — |
19 | 16 | Ryan Reed | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 51.549 | 185.765 | — | — |
20 | 18 | Noah Gragson | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 51.653 | 185.391 | — | — |
21 | 36 | Alex Labbé | DGM Racing | Chevrolet | 51.699 | 185.226 | — | — |
22 | 39 | Ryan Sieg | RSS Racing | Chevrolet | 51.733 | 185.104 | — | — |
23 | 15 | Joe Nemechek | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 51.752 | 185.036 | — | — |
24 | 51 | Jeremy Clements | Jeremy Clements Racing | Chevrolet | 51.844 | 184.708 | — | — |
25 | 01 | Vinnie Miller | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 51.946 | 184.345 | — | — |
26 | 4 | Ross Chastain | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 51.989 | 184.193 | — | — |
27 | 38 | J. J. Yeley | RSS Racing | Chevrolet | 52.002 | 184.147 | — | — |
28 | 8 | Tommy Joe Martins | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Toyota | 52.036 | 184.026 | — | — |
29 | 78 | B. J. McLeod | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Toyota | 52.090 | 183.836 | — | — |
30 | 76 | Spencer Boyd | SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet | 52.195 | 183.466 | — | — |
31 | 90 | Josh Williams | DGM Racing | Chevrolet | 52.216 | 183.392 | — | — |
32 | 45 | Josh Bilicki | JP Motorsports | Toyota | 52.276 | 183.182 | — | — |
33 | 24 | Kaz Grala | JGL Racing | Ford | 52.300 | 183.098 | — | — |
Qualified by owner's points | ||||||||
34 | 0 | Garrett Smithley | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 52.353 | 182.912 | — | — |
35 | 93 | Jeff Green | RSS Racing | Chevrolet | 52.359 | 182.891 | — | — |
36 | 40 | Chad Finchum | MBM Motorsports | Toyota | 52.619 | 181.987 | — | — |
37 | 52 | David Starr | Jimmy Means Racing | Chevrolet | 52.632 | 181.943 | — | — |
38 | 66 | Timmy Hill | MBM Motorsports | Toyota | 53.250 | 179.831 | — | — |
39 | 55 | Jennifer Jo Cobb | JP Motorsports | Toyota | 53.312 | 179.622 | — | — |
40 | 74 | Mike Harmon | Mike Harmon Racing | Dodge | 53.491 | 179.021 | — | — |
Failed to qualify or withdrew | ||||||||
41 | 89 | Morgan Shepherd | Shepherd Racing Ventures | Chevrolet | 52.504 | 182.386 | — | — |
WD | 54 | ? | Toyota | — | — | — | — | |
Official qualifying results | ||||||||
Official starting lineup |
Race results[]
Stage 1 Laps: 25
Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 21 | Daniel Hemric | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 10 |
2 | 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 9 |
3 | 11 | Ryan Truex | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 8 |
4 | 19 | Brandon Jones | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 7 |
5 | 42 | John Hunter Nemechek | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 6 |
6 | 2 | Matt Tifft | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 5 |
7 | 00 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing with Biagi-DenBeste | Ford | 4 |
8 | 1 | Elliott Sadler | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 3 |
9 | 3 | Shane Lee | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 2 |
10 | 9 | Tyler Reddick | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 1 |
Stage 2 Laps: 25
Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | Elliott Sadler | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 10 |
2 | 23 | Spencer Gallagher | GMS Racing | Chevrolet | 9 |
3 | 16 | Ryan Reed | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 8 |
4 | 5 | Michael Annett | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 7 |
5 | 9 | Tyler Reddick | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 6 |
6 | 2 | Matt Tifft | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 5 |
7 | 00 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing with Biagi-DenBeste | Ford | 4 |
8 | 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 3 |
9 | 35 | Joey Gase | Go Green Racing with SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet | 2 |
10 | 42 | John Hunter Nemechek | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 1 |
Stage 3 Laps: 65
Fin[6] | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 3 | 23 | Spencer Gallagher | GMS Racing | Chevrolet | 115 | 1 | running | 49 |
2 | 15 | 19 | Brandon Jones | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 115 | 0 | running | 42 |
3 | 6 | 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 115 | 35 | running | 46 |
4 | 20 | 18 | Noah Gragson | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 115 | 0 | running | 0 |
5 | 2 | 1 | Elliott Sadler | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 115 | 30 | running | 45 |
6 | 22 | 39 | Ryan Sieg | RSS Racing | Chevrolet | 115 | 1 | running | 31 |
7 | 4 | 42 | John Hunter Nemechek | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 115 | 0 | running | 37 |
8 | 8 | 9 | Tyler Reddick | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 115 | 2 | running | 36 |
9 | 12 | 00 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing with Biagi-DenBeste | Ford | 115 | 0 | running | 36 |
10 | 34 | 0 | Garrett Smithley | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 115 | 0 | running | 27 |
11 | 27 | 38 | J. J. Yeley | RSS Racing | Chevrolet | 115 | 0 | running | 26 |
12 | 13 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 115 | 1 | running | 25 |
13 | 35 | 93 | Jeff Green | RSS Racing | Chevrolet | 115 | 1 | running | 24 |
14 | 5 | 5 | Michael Annett | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 115 | 0 | running | 30 |
15 | 7 | 3 | Shane Lee | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 115 | 0 | running | 24 |
16 | 16 | 98 | Chase Briscoe | Stewart-Haas Racing with Biagi-DenBeste | Ford | 115 | 0 | running | 21 |
17 | 25 | 01 | Vinnie Miller | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 115 | 0 | running | 20 |
18 | 28 | 8 | Tommy Joe Martins | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Toyota | 115 | 0 | running | 19 |
19 | 29 | 78 | B. J. McLeod | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Toyota | 115 | 0 | running | 18 |
20 | 33 | 24 | Kaz Grala | JGL Racing | Ford | 114 | 0 | running | 17 |
21 | 18 | 35 | Joey Gase | Go Green Racing with SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet | 114 | 0 | running | 18 |
22 | 19 | 16 | Ryan Reed | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 114 | 1 | running | 23 |
23 | 1 | 21 | Daniel Hemric | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 114 | 39 | running | 24 |
24 | 21 | 36 | Alex Labbé | DGM Racing | Chevrolet | 114 | 0 | running | 13 |
25 | 10 | 2 | Matt Tifft | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 114 | 0 | running | 22 |
26 | 31 | 90 | Josh Williams | DGM Racing | Chevrolet | 114 | 0 | running | 11 |
27 | 38 | 66 | Timmy Hill | MBM Motorsports | Toyota | 114 | 0 | running | 10 |
28 | 32 | 45 | Josh Bilicki | JP Motorsports | Toyota | 114 | 0 | running | 9 |
29 | 39 | 55 | Jennifer Jo Cobb | JP Motorsports | Toyota | 114 | 0 | running | 0 |
30 | 11 | 22 | Austin Cindric | Team Penske | Ford | 114 | 3 | running | 7 |
31 | 23 | 15 | Joe Nemechek | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 113 | 0 | running | 0 |
32 | 37 | 52 | David Starr | Jimmy Means Racing | Chevrolet | 112 | 0 | running | 5 |
33 | 40 | 74 | Mike Harmon | Mike Harmon Racing | Dodge | 112 | 1 | running | 4 |
34 | 26 | 4 | Ross Chastain | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 78 | 0 | suspension | 3 |
35 | 24 | 51 | Jeremy Clements | Jeremy Clements Racing | Chevrolet | 53 | 0 | fuel pump | 2 |
36 | 17 | 28 | Dylan Lupton | JGL Racing | Ford | 32 | 0 | crash | 1 |
37 | 14 | 60 | Ty Majeski | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 32 | 0 | crash | 1 |
38 | 9 | 11 | Ryan Truex | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 32 | 0 | crash | 9 |
39 | 36 | 40 | Chad Finchum | MBM Motorsports | Toyota | 32 | 0 | crash | 1 |
40 | 30 | 76 | Spencer Boyd | SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet | 32 | 0 | crash | 1 |
Failed to qualify or withdrew | |||||||||
41 | 89 | Morgan Shepherd | Shepherd Racing Ventures | Chevrolet | |||||
WD | 54 | ? | Toyota | ||||||
Official race results |
References[]
- ^ Reid, Spencer (2018-04-28). "Spencer Gallagher earns first Xfinity win at Talladega". Official Site Of NASCAR. Archived from the original on 2018-05-01. Retrieved 2021-12-14.
- ^ a b c "2018 NASCAR XFINITY Talladega Race Page". ESPN.com. 2018-04-30. Retrieved 2021-12-14.
- ^ a b Beaver, Dan (2018-04-27). "Xfinity practice report at Talladega". NASCAR Talk | NBC Sports. Retrieved 2021-12-14.
- ^ "NASCAR Qualifying Rules". ESPN.com. 2018-02-07. Retrieved 2021-11-01.
- ^ McFadin, Daniel (2018-04-28). "Daniel Hemric wins Xfinity pole at Talladega". NASCAR Talk | NBC Sports. Retrieved 2021-12-14.
- ^ "2018 Sparks Energy 300 - The Third Turn". www.thethirdturn.com. Retrieved 2021-12-13.
- 2018 NASCAR Xfinity Series
- NASCAR races at Talladega Superspeedway
- April 2018 sports events in the United States
- 2018 in sports in Alabama