2018 Brickyard 400
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox NASCAR race report
| Type = NASME
| Description =
| Race_Name = Big Machine Vodka 400 at the Brickyard
| Details ref = {{cite web|title=2018 schedule|url=http://www.jayski.com/news/pages/story/_/page/2018-NASCAR-Cup-Schedule|website=Jayski.com|publisher=Jayski's Silly Season Site|access-date=July 30, 2018|date=May 5, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171224004109/http://www.jayski.com/news/pages/story/_/page/2018-NASCAR-Cup-Schedule|archive-date=December 24, 2017|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=Indianapolis Motor Speedway|url=http://www.nascar.com/en_us/nascar-tracks/indianapolis-motor-speedway.html|website=NASCAR.com|publisher=NASCAR Media Group, LLC.|access-date=July 30, 2018|date=January 3, 2013|archive-date=July 17, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150717184638/http://www.nascar.com/en_us/nascar-tracks/indianapolis-motor-speedway.html|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=Entry List|url=https://www.mrn.com/2018/09/04/big-machine-vodka-400-entry-list/|website=MRN.com|publisher=Motor Racing Network|access-date=September 4, 2018|date=September 4, 2018}}{{cite web|title=Starting Lineup|url=https://www.mrn.com/2018/09/08/big-machine-vodka-400-lineup/|website=MRN.com|publisher=Motor Racing Network|access-date=September 8, 2018|date=September 8, 2018}}{{cite web|title=Brickyard 400 Results|url=https://www.mrn.com/2018/09/10/big-machine-vodka-400-brickyard-results/|website=MRN.com|publisher=Motor Racing Network|access-date=September 10, 2018|date=September 10, 2018}}{{cite web|title=Points standings|url=http://www.jayski.com/stats/2018/pdfs/26ims2018racereport.pdf|website=Jayski.com|publisher=Jayski's Silly Season Site|access-date=September 11, 2018|date=September 11, 2018}}{{cite web|title=Manufacturer standings|url=http://www.jayski.com/stats/2018/pdfs/26ims2018racereport.pdf|website=Jayski.com|publisher=Jayski's Silly Season Site|access-date=September 11, 2018|date=September 11, 2018}}
| Fulldate = {{Start date|2018|09|10}}
| Year = 2018
| Race_No = 26
| Season_No = 36
| Image = 2018_Brickyard_400_program_cover.png
| Caption =The 2018 Brickyard 400 program cover, celebrating the 25th anniversary of the race.
| Location = Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana
| Course_mi = 2.5
| Course_km = 4
| Distance_laps = 160
| Distance_mi = 400
| Distance_km = 640
| Weather =
| Avg = {{convert|128.629|mph|km/h}}
| Pole_Driver = Kyle Busch
| Pole_Team = Joe Gibbs Racing
| Pole_Time = N/A
| Most_Driver = Clint Bowyer
Denny Hamlin
| Most_Team = Stewart-Haas Racing
Joe Gibbs Racing
| Most_laps = 37
| Car = 2
| First_Driver = Brad Keselowski
| First_Team = Team Penske
| Network = NBCSN
| Announcers = Rick Allen, Steve Letarte (booth), Mike Bagley (Turn 2), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (Turn 3), Jeff Burton (Turn 4)
| Ratings =
| Radio = IndyCar Radio Network
| Booth_Ann = Doug Rice, Pat Patterson and Jeff Hammond
| Turn_Ann = Mark Jaynes (1), Nick Yeoman (2), Jake Query (3) and Chris Denari (4)
}}
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 {{convert|2.5|mi|adj=on}} 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=
File:Ims aerial.jpg, the track where the race will be held.]]
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 {{convert|6|mi|km|0|spell=in}} 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 {{convert|2.5|mi|km|adj=on}}, nearly rectangular oval with dimensions that have remained essentially unchanged since its inception: four {{convert|0.25|mi|km|adj=on}} turns, two {{convert|0.625|mi|km|adj=mid|long}} straightaways between the fourth and first turns and the second and third turns, and two {{convert|.125|mi|km|adj=on}} short straightaways – termed "short chutes" – between the first and second, and third and fourth turns.
{{clear}}
==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.{{cite web|url=https://racer.com/2018/09/07/long-running-hydration-issue-led-to-kahne-stand-down/|title=Long Running Hydration Issue Led to Kahne Stand-down|last=Crandall|first=Kelly|website=Racer.com|publisher=Racer Media and Marketing, Inc.|date=September 11, 2018|accessdate=September 11, 2018}}
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.{{cite web|last=Utter|first=Jim|title=Rain cancels Cup qualifying at Indianapolis; Kyle Busch on pole|url=https://www.motorsport.com/nascar-cup/news/rain-cancels-nascar-cup-qualifying-indianapolis/3173313/|website=Motorsport.com|publisher=Motorsport Network|access-date=September 8, 2018|location=Indianapolis|date=September 8, 2018}}
=Starting Lineup=
Race
File:Brad Keselowski 2018 NASCAR Media Tour.jpg won the race.]]
=Stage Results=
Stage 1
Laps: 50
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:98%" | |||||
| Pos
! {{Tooltip|No|Car Number}} ! 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 |
| colspan="6"|[http://www.jayski.com/stats/2018/pdfs/26ims2018racereport.pdf Official stage one results] |
Stage 2
Laps: 50
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:98%" | |||||
| Pos
! {{Tooltip|No|Car Number}} ! 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 |
| colspan="6"|[http://www.jayski.com/stats/2018/pdfs/26ims2018racereport.pdf Official stage two results] |
=Final Stage Results=
Stage 3
Laps: 60
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:98%" | |||||||
| Pos
! Grid ! {{Tooltip|No|Car Number}} ! 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 |
| colspan="8"|[http://www.jayski.com/stats/2018/pdfs/26ims2018racereport.pdf 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: {{convert|128.629|mph|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.
| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%" | ||
| colspan="3"|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.
| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%" | ||
| colspan="3"|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
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
;Drivers' Championship standings after Playoffs reset
| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%" |
| ! Pos
! Driver ! Points |
|---|
| style="background:#D4AF37;"
|align="left"| 10px | style="text-align:center;"| 1 | style="text-align:center;"| 2,050 |
| style="background:#D4AF37;"
|align="left"| 10px | style="text-align:center;"| 2 | style="text-align:center;"| 2,050 (−0) |
| style="background:#D4AF37;"
|align="left"| 10px | style="text-align:center;"| 3 | style="text-align:center;"| 2,035 (−15) |
| style="background:#D4AF37;"
|align="left"| 10px 2 | style="text-align:center;"| 4 | style="text-align:center;"| 2,019 (−31) |
| style="background:#D4AF37;"
|align="left"| 10px 3 | style="text-align:center;"| 5 | style="text-align:center;"| 2,015 (−35) |
| style="background:#D4AF37;"
|align="left"| 10px 1 | style="text-align:center;"| 6 | style="text-align:center;"| 2,014 (−36) |
| style="background:#D4AF37;"
|align="left"| 10px 3 | style="text-align:center;"| 7 | style="text-align:center;"| 2,014 (−36) |
| style="background:#D4AF37;"
|align="left"| 10px 3 | style="text-align:center;"| 8 | style="text-align:center;"| 2,008 (−42) |
| style="background:#D4AF37;"
|align="left"| 10px | style="text-align:center;"| 9 | style="text-align:center;"| 2,007 (−43) |
| style="background:#D4AF37;"
|align="left"| 10px 3 | style="text-align:center;"| 10 | style="text-align:center;"| 2,005 (−45) |
| style="background:#D4AF37;"
|align="left"| 10px 7 | style="text-align:center;"| 11 | style="text-align:center;"| 2,005 (−45) |
| style="background:#D4AF37;"
|align="left"| 10px 5 | style="text-align:center;"| 12 | style="text-align:center;"| 2,005 (−45) |
| style="background:#D4AF37;"
|align="left"| 10px 3 | style="text-align:center;"| 13 | style="text-align:center;"| 2,003 (−47) |
| style="background:#D4AF37;"
|align="left"| 10px 2 | style="text-align:center;"| 14 | style="text-align:center;"| 2,001 (−49) |
| style="background:#D4AF37;"
|align="left"| 10px 1 | style="text-align:center;"| 15 | style="text-align:center;"| 2,000 (−50) |
| style="background:#D4AF37;"
|align="left"| 10px 1 | style="text-align:center;"| 16 | style="text-align:center;"| 2,000 (−50) |
| class="sortbottom"
!colspan="9"|[http://www.jayski.com/stats/2018/pdfs/26ims2018racereport.pdf Official driver's standings] |
{{col-2}}
;Manufacturers' Championship standings
| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%" |
| ! Pos
! Manufacturer ! Points |
|---|
| align="left"| 10px
| style="text-align:center;"| 1 | Toyota | style="text-align:center;"| 941 |
| align="left"| 10px
| style="text-align:center;"| 2 | Ford | style="text-align:center;"| 935 (−6) |
| align="left"| 10px
| style="text-align:center;"| 3 | style="text-align:center;"| 847 (−94) |
| class="sortbottom"
!colspan="9"|[http://www.jayski.com/stats/2018/pdfs/26ims2018racereport.pdf Official manufacturers' standings] |
- Note: Only the first 16 positions are included for the driver standings.
{{col-end}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{commons category}}
{{NASCAR next race
| Series = Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series
| Monsteryear = 2018
| Previous_race = 2018 Bojangles' Southern 500
| Next_race = 2018 South Point 400
}}
{{2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup}}
{{Brickyard 400}}
{{NASCAR on NBC}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:2018 Brickyard 400}}
Category:2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series