2018 Coca-Cola Firecracker 250

2018 Coca-Cola Firecracker 250
Race details
Race 16 of 33 of the 2018 NASCAR Xfinity Series
Date July 6, 2018
Official name 17th Annual Coca-Cola Firecracker 250
Location Daytona Beach, Florida, Daytona International Speedway
Course Permanent racing facility
2.5 mi (4.0 km)
Distance 105 laps, 262.5 mi (422.452 km)
Scheduled Distance 100 laps, 500 mi (402.336 km)
Average speed 129.541 miles per hour (208.476 km/h)
Pole position
Driver
Joe Gibbs Racing
Time Set by 2018 owner's points
Most laps led
Driver Kyle Larson Chip Ganassi Racing
Laps 40
Winner
No. 42 Kyle Larson Chip Ganassi Racing
Television in the United States
Network NBCSN
Announcers Rick Allen, Jeff Burton, Steve Letarte, Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Radio in the United States
Radio Motor Racing Network

The 2018 Coca-Cola Firecracker 250 was the 16th stock car race of the 2018 NASCAR Xfinity Series season and the 17th iteration of the event. The race was held on Friday, July 6, 2018, in Daytona Beach, Florida at Daytona International Speedway, a 2.5 miles (4.0 km) permanent triangular-shaped superspeedway. The race was extended from its scheduled 100 laps to 105 due to a NASCAR overtime finish. At race's end, a close, but controversial finish would see Chip Ganassi Racing driver Kyle Larson win his 11th career NASCAR Xfinity Series win and his third of his part-time season.[1] To fill out the podium, Elliott Sadler of JR Motorsports and Christopher Bell of Joe Gibbs Racing would finish second and third, respectively.

In a controversial ruling, GMS Racing driver Justin Haley, who had initially won the race was instead disqualified from his win due to him passing Larson below the yellow line, moving him to the last position on the lead lap, which was 18th.[2]

Background

The layout of Daytona International Speedway, the venue where the race was held.

Daytona International Speedway is one of three superspeedways to hold NASCAR races, the other two being Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway.[3] The standard track at Daytona International Speedway is a four-turn superspeedway that is 2.5 miles (4.0 km) long. The track's turns are banked at 31 degrees, while the front stretch, the location of the finish line, is banked at 18 degrees.[4]

Entry list

# Driver Team Make Sponsor
0 Garrett Smithley JD Motorsports Chevrolet Trophy Tractor, FAME USA
00 Cole Custer Stewart-Haas Racing with Biagi-DenBeste Ford Haas Automation
1 Elliott Sadler JR Motorsports Chevrolet Armour Chili
01 Vinnie Miller JD Motorsports Chevrolet JAS Expedited Trucking
2 Matt Tifft Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet KC Motorgroup
3 Shane Lee Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Childress Vineyards
4 Ross Chastain JD Motorsports Chevrolet Georgia Watermelon Association
5 Michael Annett JR Motorsports Chevrolet Pilot Flying J
7 Justin Allgaier JR Motorsports Chevrolet Breyers 2-in-1
8 Caesar Bacarella B. J. McLeod Motorsports Chevrolet Maxim, Alpha Prime Regimen
9 Tyler Reddick JR Motorsports Chevrolet Takl
11 Ryan Truex Kaulig Racing Chevrolet Phantom Fireworks
15 B. J. McLeod JD Motorsports Chevrolet JD Motorsports
16 Ryan Reed Roush Fenway Racing Ford DriveDownA1C.com Patriotic
18 Ryan Preece Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Rheem
19 Brandon Jones Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Comcast, NBCUniversal Salute to Service
20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota GameStop, PDP Gaming
21 Daniel Hemric Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa
22 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford Pirtek
23 Chase Elliott GMS Racing Chevrolet Untuckit
24 Justin Haley GMS Racing Chevrolet Fraternal Order of Eagles Patriotic
35 Joey Gase Go Green Racing with SS-Green Light Racing Chevrolet Sparks Energy, Donate Life Florida
36 Alex Labbé DGM Racing Chevrolet Wholey's, Can-Am
38 J. J. Yeley RSS Racing Chevrolet Superior Essex
39 Ryan Sieg RSS Racing Chevrolet Ionomy, Offroad Heat
40 Chad Finchum MBM Motorsports Toyota CrashClaimsR.Us[permanent dead link‍], Amana
42 Kyle Larson Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet DC Solar Patriotic
45 Josh Bilicki JP Motorsports Toyota Prevagen Patriotic
51 Jeremy Clements Jeremy Clements Racing Chevrolet RepairableVehicles.com Patriotic
52 David Starr Jimmy Means Racing Chevrolet Starr Mechanical
55 Brandon Hightower JP Motorsports Toyota Swamp Daddy's Crawfish
60 Austin Cindric Roush Fenway Racing Ford Odyssey Battery
61 Kaz Grala Fury Race Cars Ford Kiklos
66 Timmy Hill MBM Motorsports Toyota VS1 Racing
74 Mike Harmon Mike Harmon Racing Chevrolet Shadow Warriors Project, The Journey Home Project
76 Spencer Boyd SS-Green Light Racing Chevrolet Grunt Style Patriotic "This We'll Defend"
78 Blake Jones B. J. McLeod Motorsports Chevrolet Tennessee XXX Moonshine, True Line Construction
89 Morgan Shepherd* Shepherd Racing Ventures Chevrolet Visone RV Motorhome Parts, Racing with Jesus
90 Josh Williams DGM Racing Chevrolet Sleep Well Sleep Disorder Specialists, StarTron
93 Jeff Green RSS Racing Chevrolet Night Owl Contractors
99 Ray Black Jr. B. J. McLeod Motorsports Toyota America's Donuts, Zomongo
Official entry list

*Withdrew.[5]

Practice

First practice

The first practice session was held on Thursday, July 5, at 1:05 PM EST, and would last for 50 minutes.[6] Ryan Reed of Roush Fenway Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 45.885 and an average speed of 196.143 miles per hour (315.662 km/h).[7]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 16 Ryan Reed Roush Fenway Racing Ford 45.885 196.143
2 24 Justin Haley GMS Racing Chevrolet 45.949 195.869
3 11 Ryan Truex Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 45.958 195.831
Full first practice results

Second practice

The second and final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Thursday, July 5, at 3:05 PM EST, and would last for 50 minutes.[6] Chad Finchum of MBM Motorsports would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 48.500 and an average speed of 185.567 miles per hour (298.641 km/h).[7]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 40 Chad Finchum MBM Motorsports Toyota 48.500 185.567
2 66 Timmy Hill MBM Motorsports Toyota 48.507 185.540
3 51 Jeremy Clements Jeremy Clements Racing Chevrolet 48.676 184.896
Full Happy Hour practice results

Starting lineup

Qualifying was originally going to be held on Friday, July 6, at 2:10 PM EST.[6] However, rain would cancel the qualifying session, forcing NASCAR to resort to the rulebook to set up the lineup, using the current 2018 owner's points. As a result, Ryan Preece of Joe Gibbs Racing won the pole.[8]

Full starting lineup

Pos. # Driver Team Make
1 18 Ryan Preece Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
2 22 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford
3 00 Cole Custer Stewart-Haas Racing with Biagi-DenBeste Ford
4 21 Daniel Hemric Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
5 1 Elliott Sadler JR Motorsports Chevrolet
6 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
7 42 Kyle Larson Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet
8 9 Tyler Reddick JR Motorsports Chevrolet
9 7 Justin Allgaier JR Motorsports Chevrolet
10 19 Brandon Jones Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
11 23 Chase Elliott GMS Racing Chevrolet
12 11 Ryan Truex Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
13 2 Matt Tifft Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
14 3 Shane Lee Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
15 16 Ryan Reed Roush Fenway Racing Ford
16 4 Ross Chastain JD Motorsports Chevrolet
17 5 Michael Annett JR Motorsports Chevrolet
18 39 Ryan Sieg RSS Racing Chevrolet
19 51 Jeremy Clements Jeremy Clements Racing Chevrolet
20 35 Joey Gase Go Green Racing with SS-Green Light Racing Chevrolet
21 36 Alex Labbé DGM Racing Chevrolet
22 0 Garrett Smithley JD Motorsports Chevrolet
23 60 Austin Cindric Roush Fenway Racing Ford
24 8 Caesar Bacarella B. J. McLeod Motorsports Chevrolet
25 38 J. J. Yeley RSS Racing Chevrolet
26 78 Blake Jones B. J. McLeod Motorsports Toyota
27 52 David Starr Jimmy Means Racing Chevrolet
28 90 Josh Williams DGM Racing Chevrolet
29 01 Vinnie Miller JD Motorsports Chevrolet
30 76 Spencer Boyd SS-Green Light Racing Chevrolet
31 93 Jeff Green RSS Racing Chevrolet
32 15 B. J. McLeod JD Motorsports Chevrolet
33 45 Josh Bilicki JP Motorsports Toyota
34 55 Brandon Hightower JP Motorsports Toyota
35 40 Chad Finchum MBM Motorsports Toyota
36 66 Timmy Hill MBM Motorsports Toyota
37 74 Mike Harmon Mike Harmon Racing Chevrolet
38 61 Kaz Grala Fury Race Cars Ford
39 99 Ray Black Jr. B. J. McLeod Motorsports Toyota
40 24 Justin Haley GMS Racing Chevrolet
Withdrew
WD 89 Morgan Shepherd Shepherd Racing Ventures Chevrolet
Official starting lineup

Race results

Stage 1 Laps: 30

Pos. # Driver Team Make Pts
1 42 Kyle Larson Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 0
2 23 Chase Elliott GMS Racing Chevrolet 0
3 1 Elliott Sadler JR Motorsports Chevrolet 8
4 7 Justin Allgaier JR Motorsports Chevrolet 7
5 22 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 0
6 2 Matt Tifft Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 5
7 60 Austin Cindric Roush Fenway Racing Ford 4
8 00 Cole Custer Stewart-Haas Racing with Biagi-DenBeste Ford 3
9 21 Daniel Hemric Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 2
10 11 Ryan Truex Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 1

Stage 2 Laps: 30

Pos. # Driver Team Make Pts
1 42 Kyle Larson Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 0
2 23 Chase Elliott GMS Racing Chevrolet 0
3 60 Austin Cindric Roush Fenway Racing Ford 8
4 22 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 0
5 9 Tyler Reddick JR Motorsports Chevrolet 6
6 7 Justin Allgaier JR Motorsports Chevrolet 5
7 24 Justin Haley GMS Racing Chevrolet 0
8 2 Matt Tifft Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 3
9 1 Elliott Sadler JR Motorsports Chevrolet 2
10 21 Daniel Hemric Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 1

Stage 3 Laps: 45

Pos.[9] St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts
1 7 42 Kyle Larson Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 105 40 running 0
2 5 1 Elliott Sadler JR Motorsports Chevrolet 105 17 running 45
3 6 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 105 0 running 34
4 2 22 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 105 39 running 0
5 38 61 Kaz Grala Fury Race Cars Ford 105 0 running 32
6 14 3 Shane Lee Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 105 0 running 31
7 36 66 Timmy Hill MBM Motorsports Toyota 105 0 running 30
8 4 21 Daniel Hemric Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 105 0 running 32
9 9 7 Justin Allgaier JR Motorsports Chevrolet 105 0 running 40
10 16 4 Ross Chastain JD Motorsports Chevrolet 105 0 running 27
11 17 5 Michael Annett JR Motorsports Chevrolet 105 0 running 26
12 10 19 Brandon Jones Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 105 0 running 25
13 12 11 Ryan Truex Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 105 0 running 25
14 35 40 Chad Finchum MBM Motorsports Toyota 105 0 running 23
15 21 36 Alex Labbé DGM Racing Chevrolet 105 0 running 22
16 25 38 J. J. Yeley RSS Racing Chevrolet 105 0 running 21
17 30 76 Spencer Boyd SS-Green Light Racing Chevrolet 105 0 running 20
18 40 24 Justin Haley [a] GMS Racing Chevrolet 105 1 running 0
19 29 01 Vinnie Miller JD Motorsports Chevrolet 104 0 running 18
20 13 2 Matt Tifft Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 103 0 running 25
21 37 74 Mike Harmon Mike Harmon Racing Chevrolet 102 0 running 16
22 39 99 Ray Black Jr. B. J. McLeod Motorsports Toyota 102 0 running 15
23 31 93 Jeff Green RSS Racing Chevrolet 98 0 crash 14
24 28 90 Josh Williams DGM Racing Chevrolet 97 0 crash 13
25 3 00 Cole Custer Stewart-Haas Racing with Biagi-DenBeste Ford 97 8 crash 15
26 15 16 Ryan Reed Roush Fenway Racing Ford 97 0 crash 11
27 18 39 Ryan Sieg RSS Racing Chevrolet 97 0 crash 10
28 22 0 Garrett Smithley JD Motorsports Chevrolet 94 0 crash 9
29 11 23 Chase Elliott GMS Racing Chevrolet 90 0 engine 0
30 34 55 Brandon Hightower JP Motorsports Toyota 87 0 crash 7
31 8 9 Tyler Reddick JR Motorsports Chevrolet 82 0 crash 12
32 20 35 Joey Gase Go Green Racing with SS-Green Light Racing Chevrolet 82 0 crash 5
33 23 60 Austin Cindric Roush Fenway Racing Ford 81 0 crash 16
34 19 51 Jeremy Clements Jeremy Clements Racing Chevrolet 81 0 crash 3
35 27 52 David Starr Jimmy Means Racing Chevrolet 81 0 crash 2
36 32 15 B. J. McLeod JD Motorsports Chevrolet 81 0 crash 1
37 26 78 Blake Jones B. J. McLeod Motorsports Toyota 75 0 crash 1
38 24 8 Caesar Bacarella B. J. McLeod Motorsports Chevrolet 70 0 crash 1
39 1 18 Ryan Preece Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 51 0 overheating 1
40 33 45 Josh Bilicki JP Motorsports Toyota 33 0 engine 1
Withdrew
WD 89 Morgan Shepherd Shepherd Racing Ventures Chevrolet
Official race results

Notes

  1. ^ Haley initially won the race, but was demoted to 18th (the last position of the lead lap) for a last-lap track limit violation.[2]

References

  1. ^ "Larson gets win after Haley's pass ruled illegal". ESPN.com. 2018-07-07. Retrieved 2022-01-03.
  2. ^ a b Long, Dustin (July 6, 2018). "Justin Haley says it was 'BS call' by NASCAR to nullify win". NBC Sports. Retrieved July 7, 2018.
  3. ^ "NASCAR.COM : Tracks". 2010-08-11. Archived from the original on 2010-08-11. Retrieved 2021-10-17.
  4. ^ "Daytona International Speedway: The World Center of Racing". 2010-08-30. Archived from the original on 2010-08-30. Retrieved 2021-10-17.
  5. ^ Beard, Brock. "XFINITY: While some underdogs impress, Josh Bilicki hands car #45 its first last-place run since 1999". Retrieved 2022-01-03.
  6. ^ a b c "2018 NASCAR XFINITY Daytona Race Page". ESPN.com. 2018-07-09. Retrieved 2022-01-03.
  7. ^ a b Long, Dustin (2018-07-05). "Xfinity practice report at Daytona". NASCAR Talk | NBC Sports. Retrieved 2022-01-03.
  8. ^ Long, Dustin (2018-07-06). "Rain cancels Daytona Xfinity qualifying; Ryan Preece on pole". NASCAR Talk | NBC Sports. Retrieved 2022-01-03.
  9. ^ "2018 Coca-Cola Firecracker 250 - The Third Turn". thethirdturn.com. Retrieved 2022-01-01.
Previous race:
2018 Overton's 300 		NASCAR Xfinity Series
2018 season 		Next race:
2018 Alsco 300 (Kentucky)