2018 First Data 500

2018 First Data 500

Race details
Race 33 of 36 in the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series
Date	October 28, 2018 (2018-10-28)
Location	Martinsville Speedway in Ridgeway, Virginia
Course	Permanent racing facility
Course length	.526 miles (.847 km)
Distance	500 laps, 263 mi (423.5 km)
Television in the United States
Network	NBCSN
Announcers	Rick Allen, Jeff Burton, Steve Letarte and Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Radio in the United States
Radio	MRN
Booth announcers	Joe Moore, Jeff Striegle and Rusty Wallace
Turn announcers	Dave Moody (Backstretch)

The 2018 First Data 500 is a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race held on October 28, 2018, at Martinsville Speedway in Ridgeway, Virginia. Contested over 500 laps on the .526 mile (.847 km) short track (extended from 500 laps), it was the 33rd race of the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season, seventh race of the Playoffs, and first race of the Round of 8.

Report

Background

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

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 NASCAR Monster Energy 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 race track that has been on the NASCAR circuit from its beginning in 1948. Along with this, Martinsville is the only NASCAR oval track on the entire NASCAR track circuit to have asphalt surfaces on the straightaways, then concrete to cover the turns.

Practice

First practice

Pos	No.	Driver	Team	Manufacturer	Time	Speed
1
2
3

Final practice

Pos	No.	Driver	Team	Manufacturer	Time	Speed
1
2
3

Qualifying

Qualifying results

Pos	No.	Driver	Team	Manufacturer	R1	R2	R3
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13							—
14							—
15							—
16							—
17							—
18							—
19							—
20							—
21							—
22							—
23							—
24							—
25						—	—
26						—	—
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28						—	—
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33						—	—
34						—	—
35						—	—
36						—	—
37						—	—
38						—	—
39						—	—
40						—	—

Race

Stage Results

Stage 1 Laps: 130

Pos	No	Driver	Team	Manufacturer	Points
1					10
2					9
3					8
4					7
5					6
6					5
7					4
8					3
9					2
10					1

Stage 2 Laps: 130

Pos	No	Driver	Team	Manufacturer	Points
1					10
2					9
3					8
4					7
5					6
6					5
7					4
8					3
9					2
10					1

Final Stage Results

Stage 3 Laps: 240

Pos	Grid	No	Driver	Team	Manufacturer	Laps	Points
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40

Media

Television

NBC Sports will cover the race on the television side. Rick Allen, Jeff Burton, Steve Letarte and 2014 race winner Dale Earnhardt Jr. have the call in the booth for the race. Dave Burns, Marty Snider and Kelli Stavast will report from pit lane during the race.

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

Radio

MRN covered 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	Backstretch: Dave Moody	Alex Hayden Winston Kelley Steve Post

Standings after the race

	Pos	Driver	Points
	1
	2
	3
	4
	5
	6
	7
	8
	9
	10
	11
	12
	13
	14
	15
	16

Manufacturers' Championship standings

	Pos	Manufacturer	Points
	1
	2
	3

• 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.