2018 Pennzoil 400

2018 Pennzoil 400
Race details
Race 3 of 36 in the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series
The 2018 Pennzoil 400 program cover.
The 2018 Pennzoil 400 program cover.
Date March 4, 2018 (2018-03-04)
Location Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas
Course Permanent racing facility
1.5 mi (2.4 km)
Distance 267 laps, 400.5 mi (640.8 km)
Average speed 141.756 miles per hour (228.134 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Team Penske
Time 28.200
Most laps led
Driver Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing
Laps 214
Winner
No. 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing
Television in the United States
Network Fox
Announcers Mike Joy, Jeff Gordon and Darrell Waltrip
Nielsen Ratings 2.9/2.8 (Overnight)
Radio in the United States
Radio PRN
Booth Announcers Doug Rice, Mark Garrow and Wendy Venturini
Turn Announcers Rob Albright (1 & 2) and Pat Patterson (3 & 4)

The 2018 Pennzoil 400 was a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race held on March 4, 2018, at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas. Contested over 267 laps on the 1.5 mi (2.4 km) asphalt intermediate speedway, it was the third race of the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season.

Report

Background

Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the track where the race was held.

Las Vegas Motor Speedway, located in Clark County, Nevada outside the Las Vegas city limits and about 15 miles northeast of the Las Vegas Strip, is a 1,200-acre (490 ha) complex of multiple tracks for motorsports racing. The complex is owned by Speedway Motorsports, Inc., which is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Entry list

No. Driver Team Manufacturer
00 Jeffrey Earnhardt StarCom Racing Chevrolet
1 Jamie McMurray Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet
2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford
3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
6 Trevor Bayne Roush Fenway Racing Ford
9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford
13 Ty Dillon Germain Racing Chevrolet
14 Clint Bowyer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
15 Ross Chastain (i) Premium Motorsports Chevrolet
17 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Roush Fenway Racing Ford
18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
19 Daniel Suárez Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
20 Erik Jones Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
21 Paul Menard Wood Brothers Racing Ford
22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford
23 Gray Gaulding BK Racing Toyota
24 William Byron (R) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
31 Ryan Newman Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
32 Matt DiBenedetto Go Fas Racing Ford
34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford
37 Chris Buescher JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet
38 David Ragan Front Row Motorsports Ford
41 Kurt Busch Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
42 Kyle Larson Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet
43 Darrell Wallace Jr. (R) Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet
47 A. J. Allmendinger JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet
48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
51 Cole Custer (i) Rick Ware Racing Ford
55 Joey Gase (i) Premium Motorsports Chevrolet
72 Cole Whitt TriStar Motorsports Chevrolet
78 Martin Truex Jr. Furniture Row Racing Toyota
88 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
95 Kasey Kahne Leavine Family Racing Chevrolet
Official entry list

First practice

Kyle Larson was the fastest in the first practice session with a time of 28.323 seconds and a speed of 190.658 mph (306.834 km/h).

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer Time Speed
1 42 Kyle Larson Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 28.323 190.658
2 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 28.360 190.409
3 21 Paul Menard Wood Brothers Racing Ford 28.366 190.369
Official first practice results

Qualifying

Ryan Blaney scored the pole position.

Ryan Blaney scored the pole for the race with a time of 28.200 and a speed of 191.489 mph (308.172 km/h).

Qualifying results

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer R1 R2 R3
1 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 28.419 28.271 28.200
2 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 28.540 28.259 28.384
3 41 Kurt Busch Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 28.569 28.579 28.411
4 78 Martin Truex Jr. Furniture Row Racing Toyota 28.515 28.476 28.424
5 42 Kyle Larson Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 28.570 28.539 28.504
6 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 28.422 28.515 28.545
7 17 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Roush Fenway Racing Ford 28.477 28.515 28.549
8 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford 28.396 28.530 28.556
9 20 Erik Jones Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 28.510 28.355 28.614
10 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 28.644 28.447 28.626
11 14 Clint Bowyer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 28.545 28.533 28.652
12 21 Paul Menard Wood Brothers Racing Ford 28.394 28.571 28.656
13 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 28.505 28.596
14 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 28.551 28.615
15 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford 28.634 28.631
16 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 28.706 28.656
17 24 William Byron (R) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 28.421 28.668
18 19 Daniel Suárez Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 28.427 28.744
19 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 28.534 28.747
20 88 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 28.660 28.809
21 95 Kasey Kahne Leavine Family Racing Chevrolet 28.705 28.830
22 1 Jamie McMurray Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 28.703 28.839
23 38 David Ragan Front Row Motorsports Ford 28.578 28.852
24 6 Trevor Bayne Roush Fenway Racing Ford 28.693 28.968
25 31 Ryan Newman Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 28.777
26 43 Darrell Wallace Jr. (R) Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet 28.793
27 47 A. J. Allmendinger JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 28.890
28 37 Chris Buescher JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 28.980
29 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 29.013
30 51 Cole Custer (i) Rick Ware Racing Ford 29.035
31 13 Ty Dillon Germain Racing Chevrolet 29.140
32 32 Matt DiBenedetto Go Fas Racing Ford 29.185
33 15 Ross Chastain (i) Premium Motorsports Chevrolet 29.441
34 72 Cole Whitt TriStar Motorsports Chevrolet 29.626
35 23 Gray Gaulding BK Racing Toyota 30.127
36 00 Jeffrey Earnhardt StarCom Racing Chevrolet 30.631
37 55 Joey Gase (i) Premium Motorsports Chevrolet 31.101
Official qualifying results

Practice (post-qualifying)

Second practice

Kyle Larson was the fastest in the second practice session with a time of 28.791 seconds and a speed of 187.559 mph (301.847 km/h).

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer Time Speed
1 42 Kyle Larson Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 28.791 187.559
2 31 Ryan Newman Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 28.807 187.454
3 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 28.941 186.587
Official second practice results

Final practice

Ryan Blaney was the fastest in the final practice session with a time of 28.963 seconds and a speed of 186.445 mph (300.054 km/h).

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer Time Speed
1 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 28.963 186.445
2 42 Kyle Larson Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 29.011 186.136
3 78 Martin Truex Jr. Furniture Row Racing Toyota 29.018 186.091
Official final practice results

Race

First stage

Start

Ryan Blaney led the field to the green flag at 3:46 p.m. Blaney led a total of one lap, and Kevin Harvick took the lead on lap 2, and led 37 laps, but then Michael McDowell took the lead on lap 39 and led 11 laps, and Kevin Harvick regained the lead on lap 49 and led the 80-lap first stage. He finished 3.6 seconds in front of Martin Truex Jr., leading 68 of the 80 laps. Also in the top five were Kyle Larson, Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano. The first caution of the race flew for conclusion of stage 1.

Second stage

The race restarted on lap 89, Kyle Busch took the lead on lap 122, and led 4 laps, but then Kevin Harvick regained the lead on lap 126 and dominated the race in its second stage, winning by 5.3 seconds over Ryan Blaney. Following were Kyle Larson, Joey Logano and Kyle Busch. Harvick led 76 of the stage’s 80 laps. The second caution of the race flew for conclusion of stage 2.

Final stage

Kevin Harvick swept all three stages and won the race, but failed post-race inspection.

The race restarted on lap 167, and it remained green for 10 laps. The third caution of the race flew on lap 176 after Jamie McMurray slapped the outside wall. He parked his Chevrolet.

The race restarted on lap 183 and the fourth caution of the race flew when Kurt Busch lost control of his car in heavy traffic with 84 laps to go and slid up the track into Chase Elliott and into the wall. Both cars suffered heavy damage.

The race restarted on lap 195. Harvick drove on to score his third career victory and second at Las Vegas.

Post race

“I know how hard it is to get to victory lane, and to know we have been there 100 times is something I almost can't fathom,” Harvick said.

Stage Results

Stage 1 Laps: 80

Pos No Driver Team Manufacturer Points
1 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 10
2 78 Martin Truex Jr. Furniture Row Racing Toyota 9
3 42 Kyle Larson Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 8
4 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 7
5 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 6
6 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford 5
7 41 Kurt Busch Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 4
8 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 3
9 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 2
10 21 Paul Menard Wood Brothers Racing Ford 1
Official stage one results

Stage 2 Laps: 80

Pos No Driver Team Manufacturer Points
1 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 10
2 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 9
3 42 Kyle Larson Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 8
4 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 7
5 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 6
6 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford 5
7 78 Martin Truex Jr. Furniture Row Racing Toyota 4
8 41 Kurt Busch Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 3
9 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 2
10 21 Paul Menard Wood Brothers Racing Ford 1
Official stage two results

Final Stage Results

Stage 3 Laps: 107

Pos Grid No Driver Team Manufacturer Laps Points
1 2 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 267 40
2 13 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 267 43
3 5 42 Kyle Larson Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 267 50
4 4 78 Martin Truex Jr. Furniture Row Racing Toyota 267 46
5 1 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 267 48
6 8 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford 267 41
7 10 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 267 43
8 9 20 Erik Jones Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 267 29
9 12 21 Paul Menard Wood Brothers Racing Ford 267 30
10 29 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 266 27
11 25 31 Ryan Newman Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 266 26
12 14 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 266 25
13 16 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 266 24
14 7 17 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Roush Fenway Racing Ford 265 23
15 28 37 Chris Buescher JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 265 22
16 20 88 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 265 21
17 19 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 265 20
18 11 14 Clint Bowyer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 265 19
19 21 95 Kasey Kahne Leavine Family Racing Chevrolet 264 18
20 24 6 Trevor Bayne Roush Fenway Racing Ford 264 17
21 26 43 Darrell Wallace Jr. (R) Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet 264 16
22 32 32 Matt DiBenedetto Go Fas Racing Ford 264 15
23 23 38 David Ragan Front Row Motorsports Ford 264 14
24 31 13 Ty Dillon Germain Racing Chevrolet 264 13
25 30 51 Cole Custer (i) Rick Ware Racing Ford 264 0
26 18 19 Daniel Suárez Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 263 11
27 17 24 William Byron (R) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 263 10
28 34 72 Cole Whitt TriStar Motorsports Chevrolet 262 9
29 33 15 Ross Chastain (i) Premium Motorsports Chevrolet 262 0
30 27 47 A. J. Allmendinger JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 262 7
31 36 00 Jeffrey Earnhardt StarCom Racing Chevrolet 255 6
32 37 55 Joey Gase (i) Premium Motorsports Chevrolet 253 0
33 35 23 Gray Gaulding BK Racing Toyota 195 4
34 6 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 183 8
35 3 41 Kurt Busch Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 183 9
36 22 1 Jamie McMurray Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 176 1
37 15 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford 100 1
Official race results
  1. ^ Kevin Harvick was penalized 20 points after failing post-race inspection.

Race statistics

  • 11 lead changes among 6 different drivers
  • 4 cautions for 29 laps
  • Time of race: 2 hours, 49 minutes and 31 seconds
  • Average speed: 141.760 miles per hour (228.141 km/h)
  • Margin of victory: 2.906 seconds

Media

Television

Fox Sports covered their 18th race at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Mike Joy, 2001 race winner Jeff Gordon and Darrell Waltrip called from the booth for the race. Jamie Little, Vince Welch and Matt Yocum handled the pit road duties for the television side.

Fox
Booth announcers Pit reporters
Lap-by-lap: Mike Joy
Color-commentator: Jeff Gordon
Color commentator: Darrell Waltrip
Jamie Little
Vince Welch
Matt Yocum

Radio

PRN covered the radio call for the race which was also simulcasted on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. Doug Rice, Mark Garrow and Wendy Venturini called the race in the booth when the field raced through the tri-oval. Rob Albright called the race from a billboard in turn 2 when the field raced through turns 1 and 2. Pat Patterson called the race from a billboard outside of turn 3 when the field raced through turns 3 and 4. Brad Gillie, Brett McMillan, Jim Noble and Steve Richards worked pit road for the radio side.

PRN
Booth announcers Turn announcers Pit reporters
Lead announcer: Doug Rice
Announcer: Mark Garrow
Announcer: Wendy Venturini
Turns 1 & 2: Rob Albright
Turns 3 & 4: Pat Patterson
Brad Gillie
Brett McMillan
Jim Noble
Steve Richards

Penalties

On March 7, 2018, NASCAR assessed the Stewart-Haas Racing No. 4 Ford an L1 penalty for violating sections 20.4.8.1 (dealing with rear window support) and 20.4.18 (rocker panel extensions). A brace that supports the rear window failed and did not meet specifications for keeping the rear window glass rigid in all directions, at all times. Additionally, the rocker panel extension was not aluminum. The team would be docked 20 driver and owner points, the win would not count toward playoffs, crew chief Rodney Childers was fined $50,000 and car chief Robert Smith would be suspended for the next two races. Additionally, the No. 55 team was penalized for a loose lug nut during inspection and crew chief Todd Parrott was fined $10,000.

Standings after the race


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