2018 Big Machine Vodka 400 at the Brickyard

Race details[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]
Race 26 of 36 in the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series
The 2018 Brickyard 400 program cover, celebrating the 25th anniversary of the race.
Date	September 10, 2018 (2018-09-10)
Location	Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana
Course	Permanent racing facility 2.5 mi (4 km)
Distance	160 laps, 400 mi (640 km)
Average speed	128.629 miles per hour (207.008 km/h)
Pole position
Driver	Kyle Busch	Joe Gibbs Racing
Time	N/A
Most laps led
Driver	Clint Bowyer Denny Hamlin	Stewart-Haas Racing Joe Gibbs Racing
Laps	37
Winner
No. 2	Brad Keselowski	Team Penske
Television in the United States
Network	NBCSN
Announcers	Rick Allen, Steve Letarte (booth), Mike Bagley (Turn 2), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (Turn 3), Jeff Burton (Turn 4)
Radio in the United States
Radio	IndyCar Radio Network
Booth Announcers	Doug Rice, Pat Patterson and Jeff Hammond
Turn Announcers	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 2.5-mile (4.0 km) 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

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 six miles (10 km) 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 2.5-mile (4.0 km), nearly rectangular oval with dimensions that have remained essentially unchanged since its inception: four 0.25-mile (0.40 km) turns, two 0.625-mile long (1.006 km) straightaways between the fourth and first turns and the second and third turns, and two .125-mile (0.201 km) short straightaways – termed "short chutes" – between the first and second, and third and fourth turns.

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.^[8]

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.^[9]

Starting Lineup

Race

Stage Results

Stage 1 Laps: 50

Stage 2 Laps: 50

Final Stage Results

Stage 3 Laps: 60

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: 128.629 miles per hour (207.008 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.

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.

Standings after the race

Drivers' Championship standings after Playoffs reset Pos Driver Points 1 Kyle Busch 2,050 2 Kevin Harvick 2,050 (−0) 3 Martin Truex Jr. 2,035 (−15) 2 4 Brad Keselowski 2,019 (−31) 3 5 Clint Bowyer 2,015 (−35) 1 6 Joey Logano 2,014 (−36) 3 7 Kurt Busch 2,014 (−36) 3 8 Chase Elliott 2,008 (−42) 9 Ryan Blaney 2,007 (−43) 3 10 Erik Jones 2,005 (−45) 7 11 Austin Dillon 2,005 (−45) 5 12 Kyle Larson 2,005 (−45) 3 13 Denny Hamlin 2,003 (−47) 2 14 Aric Almirola 2,001 (−49) 1 15 Jimmie Johnson 2,000 (−50) 1 16 Alex Bowman 2,000 (−50) Official driver's standings

Manufacturers' Championship standings Pos Manufacturer Points 1 Toyota 941 2 Ford 935 (−6) 3 Chevrolet 847 (−94) Official manufacturers' standings Note: Only the first 16 positions are included for the driver standings.