2018 TicketGuardian 500

File:Phoenix International Raceway, November 2011.jpg

ISM Raceway, is a one-mile, low-banked tri-oval race track located in Avondale, Arizona. The motorsport track opened in 1964 and currently hosts two NASCAR race weekends annually. PIR has also hosted the IndyCar Series, CART, USAC and the Rolex Sports Car Series. The raceway is currently owned and operated by International Speedway Corporation.

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Kyle Larson was the fastest in the first practice session with a time of 26.034 seconds and a speed of {{Convert|138.281|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}.{{cite web|last=Utter|first=Jim|title=Kyle Larson leads Ganassi 1-2 in pre-qualifying practice at Phoenix|url=https://www.motorsport.com/nascar-cup/news/kyle-larson-ganassi-pre-qualifying-practice-phoenix-1013175/|website=Motorsport.com|publisher=Motorsport Network|access-date=March 9, 2018|location=Avondale, Arizona|date=March 9, 2018}}

File:Martin Truex Jr. 2018 NASCAR Media Tour.jpg scored the pole position.]]

Martin Truex Jr. scored the pole for the race with a time of 26.288 and a speed of {{Convert|136.945|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}.{{cite news|last=Nicholson|first=John|title=Martin Truex Jr. wins NASCAR Cup pole in Phoenix|url=https://racing.ap.org/article/martin-truex-jr-wins-nascar-cup-pole-phoenix|access-date=March 9, 2018|work=Associated Press|agency=Associated Press|publisher=AP Sports|date=March 9, 2018|location=Avondale, Arizona|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180310074521/https://racing.ap.org/article/martin-truex-jr-wins-nascar-cup-pole-phoenix|archive-date=March 10, 2018|url-status=dead}}

Kevin Harvick was the fastest in the second practice session with a time of 26.705 seconds and a speed of {{Convert|134.806|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}.{{cite web|last=DeGroot|first=Nick|title=Harvick and Elliott lead second Cup practice at Phoenix|url=https://www.motorsport.com/nascar-cup/news/harvick-and-elliott-lead-second-cup-practice-at-phoenix-1013481/|website=Motorsport.com|publisher=Motorsport Network|access-date=March 10, 2018|location=Avondale, Arizona|date=March 10, 2018}}

Kevin Harvick was the fastest in the final practice session with a time of 26.757 seconds and a speed of {{Convert|134.544|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}.{{cite web|last=Utter|first=Jim|title=Kevin Harvick leads the way in final Cup practice at Phoenix|url=https://www.motorsport.com/nascar-cup/news/kevin-harvick-leads-the-way-in-final-cup-practice-at-phoenix-1013504/?s=1|website=Motorsport.com|publisher=Motorsport Network|access-date=March 10, 2018|location=Avondale, Arizona|date=March 10, 2018}}

Martin Truex Jr. led the field to the green flag at 3:44 p.m. The afternoon's first caution flew when the engine in Corey LaJoie’s car blew on lap 25. NASCAR had planned to have a competition caution on lap 35 but blended it into the lap-25 yellow.

The race restarted on lap 34. Kyle Larson took the lead on the same lap and led 24 laps, but then Kyle Busch took the lead and scored his first stage win of the season, leading at lap 75. Following in the top 10 were Kevin Harvick, Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, Martin Truex Jr., Chase Elliott, Brad Keselowski, Kurt Busch, Joey Logano and Erik Jones. The second caution flew for conclusion of the first stage.

The race restarted on lap 84 and it remained green for 39 laps, until Kyle Larson lost control of his car on lap 121, slid through turn four and brought out the race’s third caution. Larson’s rear tires had been shaking before the incident.

The race restarted on lap 12. Kyle Busch took the lead on lap 129 and led 19 laps. A blown right front tire sent Chris Buescher’s car into the fourth-turn wall on lap 147, causing the fourth caution.

The race restarted on lap 150. The second stage ended with a one-lap dash because of a restart. Kurt Busch held off Brad Keselowski to win. Also in the top 10 were Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Kyle Busch, Michael McDowell, Ty Dillon, Kevin Harvick, Martin Truex Jr., Kasey Kahne and Clint Bowyer. The fifth caution flew for conclusion of the second stage.

File:Kevin Harvick 2017 NASCAR Media Tour.jpg won the race.]]

The race restarted on lap 159 and remained green for 33 laps. The sixth caution flew when Paul Menard, who had reported brake issues, slid in turn two and backed hard into the outside wall, crushing the car’s rear end.

The race restarted on lap 199. Kevin Harvick held off Kyle Busch and Harvick scored his third career victory of 2018.{{Cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nascar/2018/03/11/ticketguardian-500-phoenix-ism-raceway-kevin-harvick-wins/415025002/|title=Kevin Harvick wins third NASCAR Cup race in a row, holds off Kyle Busch at Phoenix|last=Hembree|first=Mike|date=March 11, 2018|work=USA TODAY|access-date=March 11, 2018|language=en}}

“This weekend felt like a playoff moment for us,” Harvick said. “When you have all the guys and everybody looking at the race car and the determination for every last detail. There's a lot going on in the world, but our team is very good at setting those things aside for 10 weeks during the playoffs. It felt more important to win a race this week than to win a race at Homestead for the championship.

“Actions speak a whole lot louder than words.”

Stage 1

Laps: 75

Stage 2

Laps: 75

Stage 3

Laps: 162

• Lead changes: 9 among different drivers
• Cautions/Laps: 6 for 36
• Red flags: 0
• Time of race: 2 hours, 53 minutes and 13 seconds
• Average speed: {{convert|107.617|mph|km/h}}

Fox Sports covered their 14th race at the Phoenix International Raceway. Mike Joy, two-time Phoenix winner Jeff Gordon and Darrell Waltrip had the call in the booth for the race. Jamie Little, Vince Welch and Matt Yocum handled the pit road duties for the television side.

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

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;Drivers' Championship standings

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;Manufacturers' Championship standings

• Note: Only the first 16 positions are included for the driver standings.

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Category:2018 in sports in Arizona

Category:2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series

Category:March 2018 sports events in the United States

Category:NASCAR races at Phoenix Raceway