2018 Ford EcoBoost 300

2018 Ford EcoBoost 300
Race details
Race 33 of 33 in the 2018 NASCAR Xfinity Series
Date November 17, 2018
Official name 24th Annual Ford EcoBoost 300
Location Homestead, Florida, Homestead-Miami Speedway
Course Permanent racing facility
1.5 mi (2.41 km)
Distance 200 laps, 300 mi (482.803 km)
Scheduled Distance 200 laps, 300 mi (482.803 km)
Average speed 140.515 miles per hour (226.137 km/h)
Pole position
Driver
Stewart-Haas Racing with Biagi-DenBeste
Time 32.609
Most laps led
Driver Cole Custer Stewart-Haas Racing with Biagi-DenBeste
Laps 95
Winner
No. 9 Tyler Reddick JR Motorsports
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 EcoBoost 300 was the 33rd and final stock car race of the 2018 NASCAR Xfinity Series season, the championship race of that year, and the 24th iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, November 17, 2018, in Homestead, Florida at Homestead–Miami Speedway, a 1.5 miles (2.4 km) permanent oval-shaped racetrack. The race took the scheduled 200 laps to complete. At race's end, JR Motorsports driver Tyler Reddick would take the lead after cunning pit strategy late in the race to win his first career NASCAR Xfinity Series championship, his 3rd win of his career in the series, and his second and final win of the season.[1]

Background

Homestead-Miami Speedway is a motor racing track located in Homestead, Florida. The track, which has several configurations, has promoted several series of racing, including NASCAR, the Verizon IndyCar Series, the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series and the Championship Cup Series.

From 2002 to 2019, Homestead–Miami Speedway hosted the final race of the season in all three of NASCAR's series: the Cup Series, the Xfinity Series, and the Camping World Truck Series. Ford Motor Company sponsored all three of the season-ending races, under the names Ford EcoBoost 400, Ford EcoBoost 300, and Ford EcoBoost 200, respectively. The weekend itself was marketed as Ford Championship Weekend. The Xfinity Series held its season-ending races at Homestead from 1995 until 2020, when it was moved to Phoenix Raceway, along with NASCAR's other two series.

Championship drivers

Entry list

# Driver Team Make Sponsor
0 Garrett Smithley JD Motorsports Chevrolet KDST and Company
00 Cole Custer Stewart-Haas Racing with Biagi-DenBeste Ford Haas Automation
1 Elliott Sadler JR Motorsports Chevrolet OneMain Financial "Lending Done Human"
01 B. J. McLeod JD Motorsports Chevrolet JD Motorsports
2 Matt Tifft Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Tunity
3 Shane Lee Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet CMR Construction & Roofing
4 Ross Chastain JD Motorsports Chevrolet Florida Watermelon Association
5 Michael Annett JR Motorsports Chevrolet Pilot Flying J "Thank You Veterans"
7 Justin Allgaier JR Motorsports Chevrolet Brandt Professional Agriculture
8 Tommy Joe Martins B. J. McLeod Motorsports Chevrolet B. J. McLeod Motorsports
9 Tyler Reddick JR Motorsports Chevrolet BurgerFi
11 Ryan Truex Kaulig Racing Chevrolet LeafFilter Gutter Protection
13 Timmy Hill MBM Motorsports Toyota CrashClaimsR.Us[permanent dead link‍]
15 Quin Houff JD Motorsports Chevrolet JD Motorsports
16 Ryan Reed Roush Fenway Racing Ford DriveDownA1C.com
18 Ryan Preece Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Rheem, Capitol Container
19 Brandon Jones Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Juniper Networks
20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota GameStop, Bumblebee
21 Daniel Hemric Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa
22 Austin Cindric Team Penske Ford MoneyLion
23 Spencer Gallagher GMS Racing Chevrolet Allegiant Air
26 Max Tullman Tullman-Walker Racing Ford Eskata
35 Joey Gase Go Green Racing with SS-Green Light Racing Chevrolet Sparks Energy
36 Alex Labbé DGM Racing Chevrolet Alpha Prime Regimen
37 Jeff Green RSS Racing Chevrolet RSS Racing
38 Ryan Sieg RSS Racing Chevrolet RSS Racing
39 Angela Ruch RSS Racing Chevrolet Give A Child A Voice, Sutter St.
40 Carl Long MBM Motorsports Dodge CrashClaimsR.Us[permanent dead link‍] "Thanks Dodge, We'll Miss You..."
42 John Hunter Nemechek Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet Fire Alarm Services, Lake City, Colorado
45 Josh Bilicki JP Motorsports Toyota Prevagen
51 Jeremy Clements Jeremy Clements Racing Chevrolet RepairableVehicles.com, Fly & Form Structures
52 David Starr Jimmy Means Racing Chevrolet Extreme Kleaner, Shoun Trucking
55 Bayley Currey JP Motorsports Toyota Touched by Pros, Rollin Smoke Barbecue
60 Chase Briscoe Roush Fenway Racing Ford NutriChomps
61 Kaz Grala Fury Race Cars Ford Nettts, Hot Scream
66 Chad Finchum MBM Motorsports Toyota Amana, Smithbilt Homes
74 Tim Viens Mike Harmon Racing Chevrolet Race Day Sponsor
76 Spencer Boyd SS-Green Light Racing Chevrolet Grunt Style "This We'll Defend"
78 Vinnie Miller B. J. McLeod Motorsports Chevrolet JAS Expedited Trucking
86 Brandon Brown Brandonbilt Motorsports Chevrolet Coalition to Salute America's Heroes
89 Morgan Shepherd* Shepherd Racing Ventures Chevrolet Visone RV Motorhome Parts, Racing with Jesus
90 Caesar Bacarella DGM Racing Chevrolet Maxim, Alpha Prime Regimen
92 Josh Williams DGM Racing Chevrolet Star Tron, Sleep Well Sleep Disorder Specialists
93 J. J. Yeley RSS Racing Chevrolet RSS Racing
99 Stephen Leicht B. J. McLeod Motorsports Chevrolet B. J. McLeod Motorsports
Official entry list

*Driver changed to Landon Cassill for qualifying and the race.[5]

Practice

First practice

The first practice session was held on Friday, November 16, at 2:35 PM EST, and would last for 50 minutes.[6] Christopher Bell of Joe Gibbs Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 32.298 and an average speed of 167.193 miles per hour (269.071 km/h).[7]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 32.298 167.193
2 22 Austin Cindric Team Penske Ford 32.450 166.410
3 21 Daniel Hemric Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 32.642 165.431
Full first practice results

Second and final practice

The second and final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Friday, November 16, at 5:05 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 32.442 and an average speed of 166.451 miles per hour (267.877 km/h).[7]

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 16 Ryan Reed Roush Fenway Racing Ford 32.442 166.451
2 22 Austin Cindric Team Penske Ford 32.492 166.195
3 1 Elliott Sadler JR Motorsports Chevrolet 32.555 165.873
Full Happy Hour practice results

Qualifying

Qualifying was held on Saturday, November 17, at 12:35 PM EST.[6] Since Homestead–Miami Speedway is under 2 miles (3.2 km), the qualifying system was a multi-car system that included three rounds. The first round was 15 minutes, where every driver would be able to set a lap within the 15 minutes. Then, the second round would consist of the fastest 24 cars in Round 1, and drivers would have 10 minutes to set a lap. Round 3 consisted of the fastest 12 drivers from Round 2, and the drivers would have 5 minutes to set a time. Whoever was fastest in Round 3 would win the pole.[8]

Cole Custer of Stewart-Haas Racing with Biagi-DenBeste would win the pole after advancing from both preliminary rounds and setting the fastest lap in Round 3, with a time of 28.523 and an average speed of 189.321 miles per hour (304.683 km/h).[9]

Five drivers would fail to qualify: Josh Williams, Stephen Leicht, Josh Bilicki, Bayley Currey, and Tim Viens.

Full qualifying results

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time (R1) Speed (R1) Time (R2) Speed (R2) Time (R3) Speed (R3)
1 00 Cole Custer Stewart-Haas Racing with Biagi-DenBeste Ford 32.858 164.344 32.520 166.052 32.609 165.598
2 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 33.215 162.577 32.752 164.875 32.659 165.345
3 42 John Hunter Nemechek Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 33.190 162.700 32.970 163.785 32.776 164.755
4 9 Tyler Reddick JR Motorsports Chevrolet 33.333 162.002 33.109 163.098 32.820 164.534
5 22 Austin Cindric Team Penske Ford 33.465 161.363 32.911 164.079 32.918 164.044
6 7 Justin Allgaier JR Motorsports Chevrolet 33.365 161.846 33.097 163.157 32.927 163.999
7 1 Elliott Sadler JR Motorsports Chevrolet 33.375 161.798 33.088 163.201 32.989 163.691
8 19 Brandon Jones Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 33.111 163.088 33.105 163.117 33.023 163.522
9 2 Matt Tifft Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 33.243 162.440 33.189 162.705 33.083 163.226
10 21 Daniel Hemric Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 33.652 160.466 33.046 163.409 33.094 163.172
11 16 Ryan Reed Roush Fenway Racing Ford 33.427 161.546 33.139 162.950 33.102 163.132
12 18 Ryan Preece Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 33.354 161.900 33.052 163.379 33.183 162.734
Eliminated in Round 2
13 60 Chase Briscoe Roush Fenway Racing Ford 33.459 161.392 33.213 162.587 — —
14 5 Michael Annett JR Motorsports Chevrolet 33.354 161.900 33.275 162.284 — —
15 11 Ryan Truex Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 33.153 162.881 33.317 162.079 — —
16 51 Jeremy Clements Jeremy Clements Racing Chevrolet 33.490 161.242 33.339 161.972 — —
17 23 Spencer Gallagher GMS Racing Chevrolet 33.515 161.122 33.430 161.532 — —
18 61 Kaz Grala Fury Race Cars Ford 33.393 161.711 33.454 161.416 — —
19 38 Ryan Sieg RSS Racing Chevrolet 33.392 161.715 33.478 161.300 — —
20 36 Alex Labbé DGM Racing Chevrolet 33.601 160.710 33.531 161.045 — —
21 3 Shane Lee Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 33.695 160.261 33.533 161.035 — —
22 26 Max Tullman Tullman-Walker Racing Ford 33.650 160.475 33.703 160.223 — —
23 4 Ross Chastain JD Motorsports Chevrolet 33.375 161.798 — — — —
24 89 Landon Cassill Shepherd Racing Ventures Chevrolet 33.784 159.839 — — — —
Eliminated in Round 1
25 66 Chad Finchum MBM Motorsports Toyota 33.808 159.726 — — — —
26 35 Joey Gase Go Green Racing with SS-Green Light Racing Chevrolet 33.867 159.447 — — — —
27 86 Brandon Brown Brandonbilt Motorsports Chevrolet 33.960 159.011 — — — —
28 93 J. J. Yeley RSS Racing Chevrolet 34.005 158.800 — — — —
29 0 Garrett Smithley JD Motorsports Chevrolet 34.236 157.729 — — — —
30 8 Tommy Joe Martins B. J. McLeod Motorsports Chevrolet 34.269 157.577 — — — —
31 13 Timmy Hill MBM Motorsports Toyota 34.294 157.462 — — — —
32 01 B. J. McLeod JD Motorsports Chevrolet 34.303 157.421 — — — —
33 90 Caesar Bacarella DGM Racing Chevrolet 34.376 157.086 — — — —
Qualified by owner's points
34 52 David Starr Jimmy Means Racing Chevrolet 34.506 156.495 — — — —
35 15 Quin Houff JD Motorsports Chevrolet 34.623 155.966 — — — —
36 76 Spencer Boyd SS-Green Light Racing Chevrolet 34.820 155.083 — — — —
37 78 Vinnie Miller B. J. McLeod Motorsports Chevrolet 35.075 153.956 — — — —
38 40 Carl Long MBM Motorsports Dodge 36.592 147.573 — — — —
39 39 Angela Ruch RSS Racing Chevrolet 36.817 146.671 — — — —
Champion's Provisional
40 37 Jeff Green RSS Racing Chevrolet 34.950 154.506 — — — —
Failed to qualify
41 92 Josh Williams DGM Racing Chevrolet 34.647 155.858 — — — —
42 99 Stephen Leicht B. J. McLeod Motorsports Chevrolet 34.685 155.687 — — — —
43 45 Josh Bilicki JP Motorsports Toyota 34.810 155.128 — — — —
44 55 Bayley Currey JP Motorsports Toyota 34.833 155.025 — — — —
45 74 Tim Viens Mike Harmon Racing Chevrolet 35.131 153.710 — — — —
Official qualifying results
Official starting lineup

Race results

Stage 1 Laps: 45

Pos. # Driver Team Make Pts
1 00 Cole Custer Stewart-Haas Racing with Biagi-DenBeste Ford 0
2 21 Daniel Hemric Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 0
3 9 Tyler Reddick JR Motorsports Chevrolet 0
4 7 Justin Allgaier JR Motorsports Chevrolet 7
5 42 John Hunter Nemechek Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 6
6 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 0
7 22 Austin Cindric Team Penske Ford 4
8 18 Ryan Preece Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 3
9 1 Elliott Sadler JR Motorsports Chevrolet 2
10 16 Ryan Reed Roush Fenway Racing Ford 1

Stage 2 Laps: 45

Pos. # Driver Team Make Pts
1 00 Cole Custer Stewart-Haas Racing with Biagi-DenBeste Ford 0
2 42 John Hunter Nemechek Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 9
3 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 0
4 21 Daniel Hemric Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 0
5 18 Ryan Preece Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 6
6 7 Justin Allgaier JR Motorsports Chevrolet 5
7 22 Austin Cindric Team Penske Ford 4
8 9 Tyler Reddick JR Motorsports Chevrolet 0
9 1 Elliott Sadler JR Motorsports Chevrolet 2
10 19 Brandon Jones Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 1

Stage 3 Laps: 110

Fin[10] St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts
1 4 9 Tyler Reddick JR Motorsports Chevrolet 200 44 running 40
2 1 00 Cole Custer Stewart-Haas Racing with Biagi-DenBeste Ford 200 95 running 35
3 3 42 John Hunter Nemechek Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 200 52 running 49
4 10 21 Daniel Hemric Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 200 0 running 33
5 5 22 Austin Cindric Team Penske Ford 200 0 running 40
6 12 18 Ryan Preece Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 200 0 running 40
7 6 7 Justin Allgaier JR Motorsports Chevrolet 200 0 running 42
8 8 19 Brandon Jones Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 199 0 running 30
9 14 5 Michael Annett JR Motorsports Chevrolet 199 0 running 28
10 9 2 Matt Tifft Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 199 0 running 27
11 2 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 199 9 running 26
12 11 16 Ryan Reed Roush Fenway Racing Ford 199 0 running 26
13 13 60 Chase Briscoe Roush Fenway Racing Ford 199 0 running 24
14 7 1 Elliott Sadler JR Motorsports Chevrolet 199 0 running 27
15 15 11 Ryan Truex Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 199 0 running 22
16 23 4 Ross Chastain JD Motorsports Chevrolet 199 0 running 21
17 17 23 Spencer Gallagher GMS Racing Chevrolet 198 0 running 20
18 18 61 Kaz Grala Fury Race Cars Ford 198 0 running 19
19 16 51 Jeremy Clements Jeremy Clements Racing Chevrolet 198 0 running 18
20 21 3 Shane Lee Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 198 0 running 17
21 20 36 Alex Labbé DGM Racing Chevrolet 197 0 running 16
22 19 38 Ryan Sieg RSS Racing Chevrolet 197 0 running 15
23 26 35 Joey Gase Go Green Racing with SS-Green Light Racing Chevrolet 196 0 running 14
24 27 86 Brandon Brown Brandonbilt Motorsports Chevrolet 196 0 running 13
25 22 26 Max Tullman Tullman-Walker Racing Ford 195 0 running 12
26 30 8 Tommy Joe Martins B. J. McLeod Motorsports Chevrolet 195 0 running 11
27 29 0 Garrett Smithley JD Motorsports Chevrolet 194 0 running 10
28 34 52 David Starr Jimmy Means Racing Chevrolet 194 0 running 9
29 35 15 Quin Houff JD Motorsports Chevrolet 191 0 running 8
30 36 76 Spencer Boyd SS-Green Light Racing Chevrolet 189 0 running 7
31 25 66 Chad Finchum MBM Motorsports Toyota 187 0 handling 6
32 32 01 B. J. McLeod JD Motorsports Chevrolet 185 0 running 5
33 38 40 Carl Long MBM Motorsports Dodge 180 0 running 4
34 33 90 Caesar Bacarella DGM Racing Chevrolet 161 0 overheating 3
35 31 13 Timmy Hill MBM Motorsports Toyota 54 0 brakes 2
36 28 93 J. J. Yeley RSS Racing Chevrolet 46 0 rear gear 1
37 39 39 Angela Ruch RSS Racing Chevrolet 36 0 parked 1
38 24 89 Landon Cassill Shepherd Racing Ventures Chevrolet 16 0 suspension 1
39 40 37 Jeff Green RSS Racing Chevrolet 14 0 brakes 1
40 37 78 Vinnie Miller B. J. McLeod Motorsports Chevrolet 10 0 clutch 1
Failed to qualify
41 92 Josh Williams DGM Racing Chevrolet
42 99 Stephen Leicht B. J. McLeod Motorsports Chevrolet
43 45 Josh Bilicki JP Motorsports Toyota
44 55 Bayley Currey JP Motorsports Toyota
45 74 Tim Viens Mike Harmon Racing Chevrolet
Official race results

References

  1. ^ McFadin, Daniel (2018-11-17). "Tyler Reddick wins Xfinity race in Miami, championship". NASCAR Talk | NBC Sports. Retrieved 2022-01-30.
  2. ^ McFadin, Daniel (2018-11-10). "Christopher Bell wins at Phoenix to clinch spot in Xfinity title race". NASCAR Talk | NBC Sports. Retrieved 2022-01-29.
  3. ^ McFadin, Daniel (2018-11-03). "Cole Custer wins Xfinity race in Texas with last-lap pass". NASCAR Talk | NBC Sports. Retrieved 2022-01-28.
  4. ^ a b "Xfinity Series Championship 4 set after ISM Raceway". Official Site Of NASCAR. 2018-11-10. Retrieved 2022-01-30.
  5. ^ Beard, Brock. "XFINITY: Despite efforts of McLeod crew, Vinnie Miller handed first career last-place finish". Retrieved 2022-01-30.
  6. ^ a b c "2018 NASCAR XFINITY Homestead Race Page". Jayski's NASCAR Silly Season Site. Retrieved 2022-01-30.
  7. ^ a b Beaver, Dan (2018-11-16). "Xfinity practice report from Miami". NASCAR Talk | NBC Sports. Retrieved 2022-01-30.
  8. ^ "NASCAR Qualifying Rules". ESPN.com. 2018-02-07. Retrieved 2021-11-05.
  9. ^ McFadin, Daniel (2018-11-17). "Cole Custer wins Xfinity pole at Miami". NASCAR Talk | NBC Sports. Retrieved 2022-01-30.
  10. ^ "2018 Ford EcoBoost 300 - The Third Turn". www.thethirdturn.com. Retrieved 2022-01-30.
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