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 | |||
| Date | March 26, 2018 | ||
| Location | Martinsville Speedway in Ridgeway, Virginia | ||
| Course | Permanent racing facility | ||
| Course length | 0.526 miles (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
Background
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
Practice
First practice
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
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
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
Race
Snow postponed the race at Martinsville until Monday, Blue skies and sunshine greeted the drivers and fans at the track after Sunday's postponement due to snow, Piles of dirty snow was evident on the walls of the racing surface, and areas in shadow were still covered in snow, but most of the grass parking lots were still open.[13]
Stage 1
Start
Martin Truex Jr. led the field to the green flag once qualifying was cancelled due to snow, Kyle Busch took the lead from Truex on lap 4, The caution flew for the first time on lap 52 for a scheduled competition caution due to snow, J. J. Yeley won the free pass under caution and Denny Hamlin took the lead on lap 53 and led 83 laps.
Racing resumed on lap 57.
Denny Hamlin won the first stage after a battle with Brad Keselowski, who took second, Rounding out in top ten were Ryan Blaney, Kyle Busch, Clint Bowyer, Kevin Harvick, A. J. Allmendinger, Kurt Busch, Joey Logano and Jimmie Johnson. The second caution of the race flew on lap 132 for conclusion of the first stage and Brad Keselowski took the lead on lap 136.
Stage 2
Racing restarted on lap 143, with Denny Hamlin in the lead.
Ryan Blaney took the lead from Hamlin on lap 146.
Blaney outran Clint Bowyer to win the second stage on lap 260, was followed by Kyle Busch, Brad Keselowski, Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, Kurt Busch, A. J. Allmendinger, Joey Logano and Jimmie Johnson. Caution #3 flew for conclusion of the second stage.
Final stage
Back to green on lap 272.
Although, some fender paint was exchanged from time to time, the race was unusually quiet, Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races at Martinsville average about 13 caution flags, Through 360 laps, there were three cautions, The first was a competition caution on lap 50, and conclusions of stages 1 and 2, Clint Bowyer took the lead on lap 285 and led 101 laps.
Caution flew for the fourth time on lap 385 for a two-car wreck in turn 3 involving Jamie McMurray and Austin Dillon, Both cars got into the wall and Kyle Busch took the lead on lap 386.
The race resumed to green on lap 392, Clint Bowyer took the lead from Kyle Busch and drove on to score his first career victory, ended a 190-race winless streak.[14]
Post race
"That's where the frustration sets in" Boyer said.
Stage Results
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
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
Media
Television
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
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
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References
- ^ "2018 schedule". Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. May 5, 2017. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
- ^ "Martinsville Speedway". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. January 3, 2013. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
- ^ "Entry List". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. March 19, 2018. Retrieved March 19, 2018.
- ^ "First Practice Results". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. March 24, 2018. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
- ^ "Final Practice Results". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. March 24, 2018. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
- ^ "Starting Lineup". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. March 24, 2018. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
- ^ "STP 500 Results". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. March 26, 2018. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
- ^ "Points standings" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. March 27, 2018. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
- ^ "Manufacturer standings" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. March 27, 2018. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Champ on the pole after weather washes out qualifying". Associated Press. Ridgeway, Virginia: AP Sports. Associated Press. March 24, 2018. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
- ^ Cook, Zachary (March 25, 2018). "Snow forces NASCAR to postpone race at Martinsville - NY Daily News". nydailynews.com. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
{{cite news}}: no-break space character in|title=at position 52 (help) - ^ Hembree, Mike (March 26, 2018). "Clint Bowyer ends 190-race winless streak, captures STP 500 at Martinsville Speedway". USA TODAY. Retrieved March 26, 2018.