2018 STP 500
# 2018 STP 500

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**

| No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer |
| - | - | - | - |
| 00 | Landon Cassill | 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 | Trevor Bayne | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford |
| 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 | Gray Gaulding | 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 | Darrell Wallace Jr. (R) | Richard Petty Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 47 | A. J. Allmendinger | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet |
| 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 51 | Harrison Rhodes | Rick Ware Racing | Chevrolet |
| 55 | J. J. Yeley (i) | Premium Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 72 | Cole Whitt | TriStar Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 78 | Martin Truex Jr. | Furniture Row Racing | Toyota |
| 88 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 95 | Kasey Kahne | Leavine Family Racing | Chevrolet |
| 96 | D. J. Kennington | Gaunt Brothers Racing | Toyota |
| Official 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).

| 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).

| 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.

### Starting Lineup

| Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 78 | Martin Truex Jr. | Furniture Row Racing | Toyota |
| 2 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 3 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford |
| 4 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske | Ford |
| 5 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford |
| 6 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 7 | 42 | Kyle Larson | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet |
| 8 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 9 | 14 | Clint Bowyer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 10 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 11 | 41 | Kurt Busch | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 12 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 13 | 20 | Erik Jones | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 14 | 31 | Ryan Newman | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 15 | 21 | Paul Menard | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford |
| 16 | 88 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 17 | 17 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford |
| 18 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 19 | 43 | Darrell Wallace Jr. (R) | Richard Petty Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 20 | 24 | William Byron (R) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 21 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 22 | 37 | Chris Buescher | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet |
| 23 | 19 | Daniel Suárez | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 24 | 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 25 | 47 | A. J. Allmendinger | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet |
| 26 | 1 | Jamie McMurray | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet |
| 27 | 6 | Trevor Bayne | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford |
| 28 | 38 | David Ragan | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 29 | 95 | Kasey Kahne | Leavine Family Racing | Chevrolet |
| 30 | 51 | Harrison Rhodes | Rick Ware Racing | Chevrolet |
| 31 | 32 | Matt DiBenedetto | Go Fas Racing | Ford |
| 32 | 13 | Ty Dillon | Germain Racing | Chevrolet |
| 33 | 15 | Ross Chastain (i) | Premium Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 34 | 23 | Gray Gaulding | BK Racing | Toyota |
| 35 | 72 | Cole Whitt | Tri-Star Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 36 | 00 | Landon Cassill | StarCom Racing | Chevrolet |
| 37 | 96 | D. J. Kennington | Gaunt Brothers Racing | Toyota |
| 38 | 55 | J. J. Yeley (i) | Premium Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| Official starting lineup |||||

## Race

### 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

* Lead changes: 6 among different drivers
* Cautions/Laps: 4 for 33
* Red flags: 0
* Time of race: 3 hours, 13 minutes and 14 seconds
* Average speed: 81.663 miles per hour (131.424 km/h)

## 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

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 1 | Kyle Busch | 257 |
| 1 | 2 | Martin Truex Jr. | 249 (–8) |
| 2 | 3 | Ryan Blaney | 233 (–24) |
| 1 | 4 | Joey Logano | 232 (–25) |
| 1 | 5 | Brad Keselowski | 226 (–31) |
| | 6 | Denny Hamlin | 217 (–40) |
| 1 | 7 | Kevin Harvick | 212 (–45) |
| 1 | 8 | Clint Bowyer | 210 (–47) |
| 2 | 9 | Kyle Larson | 195 (–62) |
| 1 | 10 | Kurt Busch | 177 (–80) |
| 1 | 11 | Aric Almirola | 171 (–86) |
| 1 | 12 | Erik Jones | 152 (–105) |
| 1 | 13 | Austin Dillon | 148 (–109) |
| 2 | 14 | Alex Bowman | 145 (–112) |
| | 15 | Paul Menard | 139 (–118) |
| 2 | 16 | Ryan Newman | 135 (–122) |
| Official driver's standings ||||
| | Pos | Manufacturer | Points |
| | 1 | Ford | 218 |
| | 2 | Toyota | 212 (–6) |
| | 3 | Chevrolet | 193 (–25) |
| Official manufacturers' standings ||||
