2018 Brickyard 400
# 2018 Brickyard 400

The 2018 Brickyard 400, branded as Big Machine Vodka 400 at the Brickyard, is a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race held on September 10, 2018 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana. It is the 25th running of the Brickyard 400. Contested over 160 laps on the 2.5-mile (4.0 km) speedway, it was the 26th race of the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season, and the final race of the regular season before the playoffs.

The race was notable for being the first time in NASCAR's modern era (since 1973) that all track activity prior to the race was cancelled by rain and for the race itself to be delayed to Monday, where it was won by Brad Keselowski's Team Penske Ford.

First points race without Kasey Kahne since the 2003 Ford 400.

## Report

### Background

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, located in Speedway, Indiana, (an enclave suburb of Indianapolis) in the United States, is the home of the Indianapolis 500 and the Brickyard 400. It is located on the corner of 16th Street and Georgetown Road, approximately six miles (10 km) west of Downtown Indianapolis.

Constructed in 1909, it is the original speedway, the first racing facility so named. It has a permanent seating capacity estimated at 235,000 with infield seating raising capacity to an approximate 400,000. It is the highest-capacity sports venue in the world.

Considered relatively flat by American standards, the track is a 2.5-mile (4.0 km), nearly rectangular oval with dimensions that have remained essentially unchanged since its inception: four 0.25-mile (0.40 km) turns, two 0.625-mile long (1.006 km) straightaways between the fourth and first turns and the second and third turns, and two .125-mile (0.201 km) short straightaways – termed "short chutes" – between the first and second, and third and fourth turns.

**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 |
| 7 | Reed Sorenson | Premium Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 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 | Toyota |
| 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 | Bubba Wallace (R) | Richard Petty Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 47 | A. J. Allmendinger | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet |
| 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 51 | David Starr (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Chevrolet |
| 52 | 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 |
| 96 | Jeffrey Earnhardt | Gaunt Brothers Racing | Toyota |
| (R) denotes driver is eligible for NASCAR Rookie of the Year (i) denotes driver is ineligible to score driver points due to competing for either the Xfinity or Truck Series championships. ||||
| Official entry list ||||

**Entry list**

**Notes**

* Regan Smith replaced Kasey Kahne in the No. 95 Leavine Family Racing Chevrolet after the latter stood down due to an ongoing hydration issue that came to a head at the Southern 500 the weekend prior.

## Practice

Both practice sessions for Saturday were cancelled due to rain.

## Qualifying

Qualifying for Saturday was cancelled due to rain and Kyle Busch, the point leader, was awarded the pole as a result.

### Starting Lineup

| Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 2 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 3 | 78 | Martin Truex Jr. | Furniture Row Racing | Toyota |
| 4 | 41 | Kurt Busch | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 5 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford |
| 6 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske | Ford |
| 7 | 42 | Kyle Larson | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet |
| 8 | 14 | Clint Bowyer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 9 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford |
| 10 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 11 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 12 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 13 | 20 | Erik Jones | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 14 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 15 | 88 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 16 | 17 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford |
| 17 | 31 | Ryan Newman | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 18 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 19 | 21 | Paul Menard | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford |
| 20 | 19 | Daniel Suárez | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 21 | 1 | Jamie McMurray | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet |
| 22 | 24 | William Byron (R) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 23 | 37 | Chris Buescher | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet |
| 24 | 47 | A. J. Allmendinger | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet |
| 25 | 38 | David Ragan | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 26 | 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 27 | 95 | Regan Smith | Leavine Family Racing | Chevrolet |
| 28 | 43 | Bubba Wallace (R) | Richard Petty Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 29 | 6 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford |
| 30 | 13 | Ty Dillon | Germain Racing | Chevrolet |
| 31 | 32 | Matt DiBenedetto | Go Fas Racing | Ford |
| 32 | 15 | Ross Chastain (i) | Premium Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 33 | 72 | Corey LaJoie | Tri-Star Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 34 | 00 | Landon Cassill (i) | StarCom Racing | Chevrolet |
| 35 | 23 | J. J. Yeley (i) | BK Racing | Toyota |
| 36 | 51 | David Starr (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Chevrolet |
| 37 | 96 | Jeffrey Earnhardt | Gaunt Brothers Racing | Toyota |
| 38 | 7 | Reed Sorenson | Premium Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 39 | 66 | Timmy Hill (i) | MBM Motorsports | Toyota |
| 40 | 52 | B. J. McLeod (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Ford |
| Official starting lineup |||||

## Race

### Stage Results

Stage 1 Laps: 50

| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Points |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 14 | Clint Bowyer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 10 |
| 2 | 41 | Kurt Busch | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 9 |
| 3 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 8 |
| 4 | 42 | Kyle Larson | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 7 |
| 5 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 6 |
| 6 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske | Ford | 5 |
| 7 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 4 |
| 8 | 21 | Paul Menard | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 3 |
| 9 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 2 |
| 10 | 20 | Erik Jones | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 1 |
| Official stage one results ||||||

Stage 2 Laps: 50

| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Points |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 6 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 10 |
| 2 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 9 |
| 3 | 20 | Erik Jones | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 8 |
| 4 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 7 |
| 5 | 41 | Kurt Busch | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 6 |
| 6 | 19 | Daniel Suárez | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 5 |
| 7 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske | Ford | 4 |
| 8 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 3 |
| 9 | 31 | Ryan Newman | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 2 |
| 10 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 1 |
| Official stage two results ||||||

### Final Stage Results

Stage 3 Laps: 60

| Pos | Grid | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Laps | Points |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 6 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske | Ford | 160 | 49 |
| 2 | 13 | 20 | Erik Jones | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 160 | 44 |
| 3 | 10 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 160 | 42 |
| 4 | 2 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 160 | 33 |
| 5 | 8 | 14 | Clint Bowyer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 160 | 42 |
| 6 | 4 | 41 | Kurt Busch | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 160 | 46 |
| 7 | 21 | 1 | Jamie McMurray | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 160 | 30 |
| 8 | 1 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 160 | 35 |
| 9 | 19 | 21 | Paul Menard | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 160 | 31 |
| 10 | 17 | 31 | Ryan Newman | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 160 | 29 |
| 11 | 9 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 160 | 26 |
| 12 | 29 | 6 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 160 | 35 |
| 13 | 5 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 160 | 31 |
| 14 | 7 | 42 | Kyle Larson | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 160 | 30 |
| 15 | 11 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 160 | 33 |
| 16 | 14 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 160 | 22 |
| 17 | 26 | 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 160 | 20 |
| 18 | 20 | 19 | Daniel Suárez | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 160 | 24 |
| 19 | 22 | 24 | William Byron (R) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 160 | 21 |
| 20 | 27 | 95 | Regan Smith | Leavine Family Racing | Chevrolet | 160 | 17 |
| 21 | 30 | 13 | Ty Dillon | Germain Racing | Chevrolet | 160 | 16 |
| 22 | 18 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 160 | 15 |
| 23 | 12 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 159 | 18 |
| 24 | 25 | 38 | David Ragan | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 159 | 13 |
| 25 | 23 | 37 | Chris Buescher | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 158 | 12 |
| 26 | 32 | 15 | Ross Chastain (i) | Premium Motorsports | Chevrolet | 158 | 0 |
| 27 | 33 | 72 | Corey LaJoie | TriStar Motorsports | Chevrolet | 158 | 10 |
| 28 | 38 | 7 | Reed Sorenson | Premium Motorsports | Chevrolet | 158 | 9 |
| 29 | 35 | 23 | J. J. Yeley (i) | BK Racing | Toyota | 157 | 0 |
| 30 | 40 | 52 | B. J. McLeod (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | 157 | 0 |
| 31 | 34 | 00 | Landon Cassill (i) | StarCom Racing | Chevrolet | 150 | 0 |
| 32 | 37 | 96 | Jeffrey Earnhardt | Gaunt Brothers Racing | Toyota | 150 | 5 |
| 33 | 15 | 88 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 142 | 4 |
| 34 | 16 | 17 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 136 | 3 |
| 35 | 39 | 66 | Timmy Hill (i) | MBM Motorsports | Toyota | 124 | 0 |
| 36 | 31 | 32 | Matt DiBenedetto | Go Fas Racing | Ford | 89 | 1 |
| 37 | 24 | 47 | A. J. Allmendinger | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 66 | 1 |
| 38 | 28 | 43 | Bubba Wallace (R) | Richard Petty Motorsports | Chevrolet | 57 | 1 |
| 39 | 36 | 51 | David Starr (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Chevrolet | 57 | 0 |
| 40 | 3 | 78 | Martin Truex Jr. | Furniture Row Racing | Toyota | 41 | 1 |
| Official race results ||||||||

### Race statistics

* Lead changes: 9 among different drivers
* Cautions/Laps: 10 for 39
* Red flags: 0
* Time of race: 3 hours, 6 minutes and 35 seconds
* Average speed: 128.629 miles per hour (207.008 km/h)

## Media

### Television

NBC Sports covered the race on the television side. The broadcast was produced similarly to NBC's Watkins Glen International race broadcasts. Rick Allen and Steve Letarte had the call in the booth for the race. Motor Racing Network broadcaster Mike Bagley called from Turn 2, Dale Earnhardt Jr. called from Turn 3, and Jeff Burton called from Turn 4. Dave Burns, Parker Kligerman, Marty Snider and Kelli Stavast reported from pit lane during the race.

NBCSN :

| Booth announcers | Turn Announcers | Pit reporters |
| - | - | - |
| Lap-by-lap: Rick Allen Color-commentator: Steve Letarte | Turn 2 Announcer: Mike Bagley Turn 3 Announcer: Dale Earnhardt Jr. Turn 4 Announcer: Jeff Burton | Dave Burns Parker Kligerman Marty Snider Kelli Stavast |

### Radio

Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network and the Performance Racing Network jointly co-produced the radio broadcast for the race, which was simulcast on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio, and aired on IMS or PRN stations, depending on contractual obligations. The lead announcers and two pit reporters were PRN staff, while the turns and two pit reporters were from IMS.

PRN/IMS Radio :

| Booth announcers | Turn announcers | Pit reporters |
| - | - | - |
| Lead announcer: Doug Rice Announcer: Pat Patterson Announcer: Jeff Hammond Historian: Donald Davidson | Turn 1: Mark Jaynes Turn 2: Nick Yeoman Turn 3: Jake Query Turn 4: Chris Denari | Brad Gillie Brett McMillan Ryan Myrehn Michael Young |

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| - | - | - | - |
| | 1 | Kyle Busch | 2,050 |
| | 2 | Kevin Harvick | 2,050 (−0) |
| | 3 | Martin Truex Jr. | 2,035 (−15) |
| 2 | 4 | Brad Keselowski | 2,019 (−31) |
| 3 | 5 | Clint Bowyer | 2,015 (−35) |
| 1 | 6 | Joey Logano | 2,014 (−36) |
| 3 | 7 | Kurt Busch | 2,014 (−36) |
| 3 | 8 | Chase Elliott | 2,008 (−42) |
| | 9 | Ryan Blaney | 2,007 (−43) |
| 3 | 10 | Erik Jones | 2,005 (−45) |
| 7 | 11 | Austin Dillon | 2,005 (−45) |
| 5 | 12 | Kyle Larson | 2,005 (−45) |
| 3 | 13 | Denny Hamlin | 2,003 (−47) |
| 2 | 14 | Aric Almirola | 2,001 (−49) |
| 1 | 15 | Jimmie Johnson | 2,000 (−50) |
| 1 | 16 | Alex Bowman | 2,000 (−50) |
| Official driver's standings ||||
| | Pos | Manufacturer | Points |
| | 1 | Toyota | 941 |
| | 2 | Ford | 935 (−6) |
| | 3 | Chevrolet | 847 (−94) |
| Official manufacturers' standings ||||
