2018 AAA 400 Drive for Autism

File:Dover International Raceway.jpg, the track where the race was held.]]

Dover International Speedway is an oval race track in Dover, Delaware, United States that has held at least two NASCAR races since it opened in 1969. In addition to NASCAR, the track also hosted USAC and the Verizon IndyCar Series. The track features one layout, a {{convert|1|mi|km}} concrete oval, with 24° banking in the turns and 9° banking on the straights. The speedway is owned and operated by Dover Motorsports.

The track, nicknamed "The Monster Mile", was built in 1969 by Melvin Joseph of Melvin L. Joseph Construction Company, Inc., with an asphalt surface, but was replaced with concrete in 1995. Six years later in 2001, the track's capacity moved to 135,000 seats, making the track have the largest capacity of sports venue in the mid-Atlantic. In 2002, the name changed to Dover International Speedway from Dover Downs International Speedway after Dover Downs Gaming and Entertainment split, making Dover Motorsports. From 2007 to 2009, the speedway worked on an improvement project called "The Monster Makeover", which expanded facilities at the track and beautified the track. After the 2014 season, the track's capacity was reduced to 95,500 seats.

Paul Menard was the fastest in the first practice session with a time of 22.524 seconds and a speed of {{Convert|159.830|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}.{{cite web|last=Utter|first=Jim|title=Dover Cup practice mired by inspection delays; Menard fastest|url=https://www.motorsport.com/nascar-cup/news/dover-cup-practice-mired-by-inspection-delays-menard-fastest-1033572/|website=Motorsport.com|publisher=Motorsport Network|access-date=May 4, 2018|location=Dover, Delaware|date=May 4, 2018}}

File:Kyle Larson 2018.png scored the pole position.]]

Kyle Larson scored the pole for the race with a time of 22.770 and a speed of {{Convert|158.103|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}.{{cite news|last=Gelston|first=Dan|title=Larson wins 5th career pole, Harvick also in front at Dover|url=https://racing.ap.org/article/larson-wins-5th-career-pole-harvick-also-front-dover|access-date=May 4, 2018|work=Associated Press|agency=Associated Press|publisher=AP Sports|date=May 4, 2018|location=Dover, Delaware|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180505070101/https://racing.ap.org/article/larson-wins-5th-career-pole-harvick-also-front-dover|archive-date=May 5, 2018|url-status=dead}}

Joey Logano was the fastest in the second practice session with a time of 22.858 seconds and a speed of {{Convert|157.494|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}.{{cite web|last=Utter|first=Jim|title=Team Penske fastest in Saturday's first Cup practice at Dover|url=https://www.motorsport.com/nascar-cup/news/team-penske-fastest-in-saturday-s-first-cup-practice-at-dover-1033950/|website=Motorsport.com|publisher=Motorsport Network|access-date=May 5, 2018|location=Dover, Delaware|date=May 5, 2018}}

File:2018 AAA 400 Drive for Autism final practice.jpg

Aric Almirola was the fastest in the final practice session with a time of 22.745 seconds and a speed of {{Convert|158.277|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}.{{cite web|last=Utter|first=Jim|title=Aric Almirola tops final NASCAR Cup practice at Dover|url=https://www.motorsport.com/nascar-cup/news/aric-almirola-tops-final-nascar-cup-practice-at-dover-1034028/|website=Motorsport.com|publisher=Motorsport Network|access-date=May 5, 2018|location=Dover, Delaware|date=May 5, 2018}}

File:2018 AAA 400 Drive for Autism from turn 1.jpg

Stage 1

Laps: 120

Stage 2

Laps: 120

Stage 3

Laps: 160

• Lead changes: 6 among different drivers
• Cautions/Laps: 8 for 48
• Red flags: 1 for 41 minutes and 1 second
• Time of race: 3 hours, 28 minutes and 37 seconds
• Average speed: {{convert|115.044|mph|km/h}}

Fox Sports covered their 18th race at the Dover International Speedway. Mike Joy, five-time Dover winner Jeff Gordon and two-time Dover winner Darrell Waltrip had the call in the booth for the race. Jamie Little, Vince Welch and Matt Yocum handled the action on pit road for the television side.

MRN had the radio call for the race which was also simulcasted on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio.

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

;Drivers' Championship standings

{{col-2}}

;Manufacturers' Championship standings

• 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.

{{col-end}}

{{Reflist}}

{{NASCAR next race

| Series = Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series

| Monsteryear = 2018

| Previous_race = 2018 GEICO 500

| Next_race = 2018 KC Masterpiece 400

}}

{{2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup}}

{{Portal bar|Sports}}

AAA 400 Drive for Autism

AAA 400 Drive for Autism

Category:Sociological and cultural aspects of autism

AAA 400 Drive for Autism

Category:NASCAR races at Dover Motor Speedway