2018 Federated Auto Parts 400

Race details[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]
Race 28 of 36 in the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series
Date	September 22, 2018 (2018-09-22)
Location	Richmond Raceway in Richmond, Virginia
Course	Permanent racing facility .75 mi (1.2 km)
Distance	400 laps, 300 mi (480 km)
Average speed	103.152 miles per hour (166.007 km/h)
Pole position
Driver	Kevin Harvick	Stewart-Haas Racing
Time	22.153
Most laps led
Driver	Martin Truex Jr.	Furniture Row Racing
Laps	163
Winner
No. 18	Kyle Busch	Joe Gibbs Racing
Television in the United States
Network	NBCSN
Announcers	Rick Allen, Jeff Burton, Steve Letarte and Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Nielsen Ratings	1.0/1.1 (Overnight)[10]
Radio in the United States
Radio	MRN
Booth Announcers	Joe Moore, Jeff Striegle and Rusty Wallace
Turn Announcers	Dave Moody (Backstretch)

The 2018 Federated Auto Parts 400 was a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race that was held on September 22, 2018, at Richmond Raceway in Richmond, Virginia. Contested over 400 laps on the .75-mile (1.21 km) D-shaped short track, it was the 28th race of the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season, second race of the Playoffs and second race of the Round of 16.

Report

Background

Richmond Raceway (RR), formerly known as Richmond International Raceway (RIR), is a 3/4-mile (1.2 km), D-shaped, asphalt race track located just outside Richmond, Virginia in Henrico County. It hosts the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series. Known as "America's premier short track", it formerly hosted a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race, an IndyCar Series race and two USAC sprint car races.

Entry list

Practice

First practice

Kyle Busch was the fastest in the first practice session with a time of 22.279 seconds and a speed of 121.190 mph (195.036 km/h).^[11]

Final practice

Brad Keselowski was the fastest in the final practice session with a time of 22.458 seconds and a speed of 120.224 mph (193.482 km/h).^[12]

Qualifying

Kevin Harvick scored the pole for the race with a time of 22.153 and a speed of 121.880 mph (196.147 km/h).^[13]

Qualifying results

• Kyle Busch, Daniel Suárez, Regan Smith, and David Ragan all started from the rear after failing inspection.

Race

Stage Results

Stage 1 Laps: 100

Stage 2 Laps: 100

Final Stage Results

Stage 3 Laps: 200

Race statistics

• Lead changes: 8 among different drivers
• Cautions/Laps: 3 for 23
• Red flags: 0
• Time of race: 2 hours, 54 minutes and 30 seconds
• Average speed: 103.152 miles per hour (166.007 km/h)

Media

Television

NBC Sports covered the race on the television side. Rick Allen, Jeff Burton, Steve Letarte and three-time Richmond winner Dale Earnhardt Jr. had the call in the booth for the race. Dave Burns, Marty Snider and Kelli Stavast will report from pit lane during the race.

Radio

The Motor Racing Network had the radio call for the race, which was simulcast on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio.

Standings after the race

Pos Driver Points 1 Martin Truex Jr. 2,141 2 Kyle Busch 2,125 (–16) 1 3 Kevin Harvick 2,113 (–28) 1 4 Brad Keselowski 2,111 (–30) 5 Joey Logano 2,081 (–60) 3 6 Aric Almirola 2,079 (–62) 1 7 Kyle Larson 2,073 (–68) 2 8 Kurt Busch 2,071 (–70) 4 9 Chase Elliott 2,066 (–75) 10 Austin Dillon 2,066 (–75) 1 11 Alex Bowman 2,061 (–80) 5 12 Ryan Blaney 2,060 (–81) 2 13 Clint Bowyer 2,056 (–85) 1 14 Jimmie Johnson 2,054 (–87) 15 Erik Jones 2,039 (–102) 16 Denny Hamlin 2,031 (–110) Official driver's standings

Manufacturers' Championship standings Pos Manufacturer Points 1 1 Toyota 1,015 1 2 Ford 1,010 (–5) 3 Chevrolet 915 (–100) Official manufacturers' standings Note: Only the first 16 positions are included for the driver standings.