THE RACE: Federated Auto Parts 400
TRACK: Richmond Raceway
Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Race #28 of 36
Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs race #2 of 10
Date: Saturday, September 22, 2018 in Richmond, VA
Scheduled Green Flag (approx): 7:33 pm/et
Sections on this page:
Television | Radio/Streaming | Schedule | Track/Race Info | Race Rundown
Qualifying / Practice / Entry Info | Weather Links | Tire Notes | Odds
NASCAR America: 6:00pm/et on NBCSN
NASCAR Countdown to Green: 7:00pm/et on NBCSN
Television Race Coverage: NBCSN, 7:30pm/et
Practices:
Friday, September 21, 11:35am-12:25pm/et, TV-NBCSN;
Friday, September 21, 1:30-2:20pm/et, TV-NBCSN.
Qualifying for positions 1-40, Friday, September 21 at 6:05 pm/et, TV-NBCSN;
re-air scheduled: None
In the Booth: Rick Allen, Jeff Burton, Steve Letarte, Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
Pre/Post-Race and Hosts: Krista Voda, Kyle Petty, Dale Jarrett
Pit Reporters: Marty Snider, Kelli Stavast, Dave Burns
Features Reporter: Rutledge Wood
Breaking News: Nate Ryan
Scheduled Race Re-Air Dates/Times:
TBA
TV Listings, Links and Info:
see the TV Listings and Links page
Motor Racing Network (MRN)
SiriusXM Satellite NASCAR Channel 90
ONLINE STREAMING
NBC Sports - Live
Radio: MRN Live Streaming
SiriusXM Internet Radio (available via internet connected device, with subscription)
EVENT SCHEDULE
Event Schedule times are local to the track
Thursday, September 20
4:00 PM-6:00 PM MENCS HAULERS ENTER (EQUIPMENT UNLOAD)
Friday, September 21
8:30 AM-9:30 PM MENCS GARAGE OPEN
9:45 AM MENCS ROOKIE MEETING, SPOTTER MEETING, & RANDOM DRAWING
11:35 AM-12:25 PM MENCS 1ST PRACTICE
1:30 PM-2:20 PM MENCS FINAL PRACTICE
6:05 PM MENCS QUALIFYING (MULTI-VEHICLE / THREE ROUNDS)
Saturday, September 22
2:00 PM MENCS GARAGE OPENS
5:30 PM MENCS DRIVER / CREW CHIEF MEETING
6:50 PM MENCS DRIVER INTRODUCTIONS
7:30 PM MENCS RACE (400 LAPS, 300 MILES)
MENCS = Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series
SCHEDULE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
Richmond Raceway Track News, Stats & Links page
September 2017: see the Richmond Race Info page
April 2018: see the Richmond Race Info page
Race Festivities/Officials:
Grand Marshal: Tim Trudnowski, President, Automotive Jobber Supply, Spokane, WA
Command to start engines: Tim Trudnowski
Honorary Starter/Wave Green Flag: Matt McGuire, Dir. Traditional Sales, Motorcar Parts of America
Honorary Pace Car Driver: VA Governor Ralph Northam
Color Guard: TBA
Invocation: United States Navy Chaplain, Lieutenant James Block
National Anthem: The President's Own United States Marine Band
Flyover: Four F-15 Eagles, 159th Fighter Wing, Louisiana Air National Guard, Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans
Saturday Richmond Raceway Notebook: Ryan Newman to drive the No. 6 Roush Fenway Ford in 2019; Elliott Sadler reflects on final Richmond race as full-time driver. [More](9-22-2018)
Friday Richmond Raceway Notebook: Can Kyle Busch finally get a breakthrough fall victory at Richmond? Alon Day hopes to impress in first NASCAR start on an oval; Short Strokes.[More](9-21-2018)
What to Watch For: Richmond Raceway: Wild Weekend in Vegas Leads to Playoff Uncertainty;Brad Keselowski Looking for 4 in a Row; Kyle Busch Always Ready for the Action Track; Dale Earnhardt Jr. Returns to the Track; XFINITY Series Playoffs Start at Richmond.[More](9-21-2018)
Richmond Raceway Weekend Preview: Richmond is a Cup Playoff race for the first time; XFINITY Playoffs kick off Friday night.[More](9-20-2018)
A look at many news, notes and story lines for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond, see the stats on the NASCAR National Series News & Notes -- Richmond Raceway
A look at some of the top statistical performers and top-10 driver ratings at Richmond, see the stats on the Statistical Advance - Analyzing Richmond Raceway page
#18-Kyle Busch won the Federated Auto Parts 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond Raceway. The win is his seventh win of 2018, sixth win at Richmond and 50th career win.
#4-Harvick finished 2nd followed by #78-Truex, #9-Elliott, #10-Almirola, #3-Dillon, #42-Larson, #48-Johnson, #2-Keselowski, #and #14-Bowyer.
Pole winner, #4-Harvick led 40 laps and finished second.
Stage 1 and Stage 2 were won by #78-Truex, finished third
There were 16 lead changes among eight drivers and three cautions for 23 yellow flag laps.
The average speed of the race was: 103.152mph.
See unofficial race results, awards, laps led, cautions and more at:
Unofficial Race Results (pdf)
Cumulative Report (pdf)
Penalty Report (pdf)
See OFFICIAL race results & points standings on the Official Race & Points Report (pdf).
Where the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Playoff drivers finished at Richmond:
#18-Kyle Busch, 1st
#4-Kevin Harvick, 2nd
#78-Martin Truex, Jr., 3rd
#9-Chase Elliott, 4th
#10-Aric Almirola, 5th
#3-Austin Dillon, 6th
#42-Kyle Larson, 7th
#48-Jimmie Johnson, 8th
#2-Brad Keselowski, 9th
#14-Clint Bowyer, 10th
#20-Erik Jones, 11th
#88-Alex Bowman, 12th
#22-Joey Logano, 14th
#11-Denny Hamlin, 16th
#41-Kurt Busch, 18th
#12-Ryan Blaney, 19th
MENCS at Las Vegas
- Kyle Busch: becomes 13th driver in series history to win 50 races (ties Junior Johnson and Ned Jarrett for 11th all-time, next is Lee Petty in 10th with 54)
- Busch: 4th-youngest driver in series history to reach 50 wins (behind Jeff Gordon, Richard Petty, Ned Jarrett)
- Busch: 6th career win at Richmond (first in fall race); ties Darrell Waltrip, Rusty Wallace, David Pearson for 3rd-most in track history (behind Richard Petty's 13 and Bobby Allison's 7)
- Busch: 7th win this season, 1 off career high of 8 set in 2008
- Kevin Harvick: finished 2nd; 5th time this season Busch and Harvick have finished 1-2 in a race (Harvick: 3 wins)
(ESPN Stats & Info)
Race Fast Facts - Richmond
Kyle Busch won the 61st Annual Federated Auto Parts 400, his 50th victory in 490 NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series races.
This is his seventh victory and 23rd top-10 finish in 2018.This is his sixth victory and 20th top-10 finish in 27 races at Richmond Raceway.
Kevin Harvick (second) posted his 23rd top-10 finish in 36 races at Richmond Raceway. It is his 23rd top-10 finish in 2018.
Martin Truex Jr. (third) posted his ninth top-10 finish in 26 races at Richmond Raceway.
William Byron (20th) was the highest finishing rookie.
Martin Truex Jr. leads the point standings by 16 points over Kyle Busch.
(NASCAR Integrated Sports Marketing)(9-22-2018)
2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Standings:
[after Richmond - race 2 of 3 in the Round of 16, 2 of 10 in the Playoffs]
1) #2-Brad Keselowski, Las Vegas win
2) #18-Kyle Busch, Richmond win
3) #78-Martin Truex Jr., 2141, clinched spot in Round of 12 on points
4) #4-Kevin Harvick, 2113
5) #22-Joey Logano, 2081
6) #10-Aric Almirola, 2079
7) #42-Kyle Larson, 2073
8) #41-Kurt Busch, 2071
9) #9-Chase Elliott, 2066
10) #3-Austin Dillon, 2066
11) #88-Alex Bowman, 2061
12) #12-Ryan Blaney, 2060
Currently outside the top 12 to advance to the next round:
13) #14-Clint Bowyer, 2056
14) #48-Jimmie Johnson, 2054
15) #20-Erik Jones, 2039
16) #11-Denny Hamlin, 2031
See the Unofficial Drivers Points Standings page (pdf) and Unofficial Owners Points Standings page (pdf)
Top-Ten Stage 2 Results (lap 200) of the Federated Auto Parts 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond Raceway (lap 200/400):
#78-Truex, 10pts, 1 playoff point
#4-Harvick, 9pts
#10-Almirola, 8pts
#9-Elliott, 7pts
#2-Keselowski, 6pts
#88-Bowman, 5pts
#3-Dillon, 4pts
#48-Johnson, 3pts
#42-Larson, 2pts
#22-Logano, 1pt
Top-Ten Stage 1 Results (lap 100) of the Federated Auto Parts 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond Raceway (lap 100/400):
#78-Truex, 10pts, 1 playoff point
#4-Harvick, 9pts
#2-Keselowski, 8pts
#9-Elliott, 7pts
#41-Busch, 6pts
#10-Almirola, 5pts
#20-Jones, 4pts
#88-Bowman, 3pts
#11-Hamlin, 2pts
#22-Logano, 1pt
Lucky Dogs, drivers that got a lap back during the cautions (and their finish):
Caution 1: #38-Ragan, 23rd
Caution 2: #17-Stenhouse, 13th
Caution 3: #17-Stenhouse, 13th
See the starting lineup for the Federated Auto Parts 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond Raceway on the Starting Lineup Page (pdf).
To the rear: #18-Busch, unapproved adjustments.
NASCAR Overtime Race Procedure: Rule and notes on the NASCAR Overtime rules/news/stats page.
Wave Around: how the wave around rule works: All vehicles between the leader and the caution vehicle at the start/finish line when the "one to go" signal is given by the starter are considered "Wave Around" eligible. "Wave Around" vehicles will not be permitted to enter pit road at any time during this yellow flag/caution period. "Wave Around" vehicles must receive the green flag on the race track before being permitted to enter pit road without a penalty. Vehicles under a penalty and the "Free Pass" vehicle will not be eligible to receive a "Wave Around".
Pit Stall Selections: The selections of pit stalls for the Federated Auto Parts 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond Raceway have been made.
Pole winner #4-Harvick chose pit stall 36, with an opening in front of it.
Outside pole winner #11-Hamlin took pit stall 1.
#78-Truex, Jr., who starts 3rd, took the 38th stall.
The final pit stall was taken by #51-Cole Custer, who starts 10th.
To see where the drivers/teams pit stall is, see the pit selection chart on Jayski.com's Pit Stall Selection chart.(9-22-2018)
Links to results, practices, qualifying PDF's: (will be added as available)
Official Race & Points Report
Race Results
Drivers Points
Owners Points
Cumlative Race Report
Penalty Report
Pitstalls
Starting Lineup
Qualifying Results
Qualifying Order
Happy Hour Practice Speeds
Practice 1 Speeds
Crew Rosters
Latest / Final Entry List
Preliminary Entry List
See the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race results page
QUALIFYING INFO, PRACTICE SPEED and ENTRIES
Kevin Harvick edges Denny Hamlin for Richmond pole: Kevin Harvick vaulted to the forefront in the final round of Friday's Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series knockout qualifying at Richmond Raceway, securing the pole position for Saturday night's Federated Auto Parts 400 (7:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) by .006 seconds over Denny Hamlin.[More](9-21-2018)
Kevin Harvick won the Busch pole for the Federated Auto Parts 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond Raceway with speed of 121.880mph for his 3rd pole of 2018, 2nd at Richmond and 24th of his career. Harvick has won 6 times from the 23 previous poles.
#11-Hamlin will start 2nd followed by #78-Truex, Jr., #12-Blaney, #19-Suarez, #41-Busch, #10-Almirola, #2-Keselowski, #20-Jones, #42-Larson, #51-Custer, and #18-Busch.
#19-Suarez was quickest in the first round with a speed at 122.912mph and the second round at 122.928. He will start 5th.
Driver(s) who will miss the race: none as 40 were entered for 40 spots.
See round-by-round qualifying results on the Qualifying results page (pdf) and the complete starting lineup on the Starting Lineup page (pdf).(9-21-2018)
Where the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Playoff drivers will start at Richmond:
#4-Kevin Harvick, 1st
#11-Denny Hamlin, 2nd
#78-Martin Truex, Jr., 3rd
#12-Ryan Blaney, 4th
#41-Kurt Busch, 6th
#10-Aric Almirola, 7th
#2-Brad Keselowski, 8th
#20-Erik Jones, 9th
#42-Kyle Larson, 10th
#18-Kyle Busch, 12
#22-Joey Logano, 13th
#88-Alex Bowman, 14th
#9-Chase Elliott, 19th
#48-Jimmie Johnson, 22nd
#14-Clint Bowyer, 25th
#3-Austin Dillon, 28th
Richmond Raceway - Qualifying Fast Facts:
Kevin Harvick (P) won the Busch Pole Award Pole Award for the 61st Annual Federated Auto Parts 400 with a lap of 22.153 seconds, 121.880 mph.
This is his 24th pole in 638 NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series races.
This is his third pole and 21st top-10 start in 2018.
This is his second pole in 36 races at Richmond Raceway.
Denny Hamlin (P) (second) posted his 20th top-10 start of 2018 and his 16th in 25 races at Richmond Raceway.
Martin Truex Jr. (P) (third) posted his 14th top-10 start at Richmond Raceway. It is his 20th in 28 races this season.
William Byron (20th) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
(NASCAR Statistics)(9-21-2018)
Second Round of Qualifying for the Federated Auto Parts 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond Raceway is over, after 10 scheduled minutes.
#19-Suarez 122.928
#12-Blaney 122.316
#51-Custer 122.045
#78-Truex, Jr. 121.826
#2-Keselowski 121.830
the rest of the top 12: 41 42 11 20 10 4 18
out of the top 12 and not advancing to round 3: 22 88 1 17 31 6 9 24 21 48 37 34
(9-21-2018)
First Round of Qualifying for the Federated Auto Parts 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond Raceway is over, after 15 scheduled minutes.
#19-Suarez 122.912
#41-Busch 122.895
#2-Keselowski 122.722
#11-Hamlin 122.649
#6-Kenseth 122.588
the rest of the top 24: 20 9 18 1 10 12 88 78 51 4 42 17 21 22 48 24 31 34 37
out of the top 24 and not advancing to round 2: 14 43 38 3 32 47 13 15 95 72 96 52 23 00 99 66
Drivers who will miss the race: none, 40 entered
(9-21-2018)
Coverage of Qualifying for the Federated Auto Parts 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond Raceway is scheduled for Friday, September 21, 2018 at 6:05pm/et.
Television (TV): NBCSN, 6:00pm/et
Radio: Live online at Motor Racing Network (MRN)
Group qualifying under the three-round qualifying format:
• Round 1 -- All entries will have 15 minutes to post a qualifying time, after which the 24 registering the fastest laps will advance to the second round. Those failing to advance will be sorted based on first-round times in descending order (from fastest to slowest).
• Round 2 -- The 24 fastest from the first round will have 10 minutes to post a second-round qualifying time, with the 12 fastest advancing to a third round. Those not advancing will earn starting positions 13 through 24 based on time, again in descending order.
• Round 3 -- The final round will be five minutes in length. The fastest times from this session will determine the first (Coors Light Pole Award) through 12th starting positions.
There will be a seven-minute break between each round; teams may make adjustments to their entries only during the individual breaks. They will not be allowed to jack the vehicle or raise the hood, and once the car or truck enters the garage, it will no longer be permitted to return to the track for additional qualifying attempts.
Qualifying Order for the Federated Auto Parts 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond Raceway is posted.
The first driver to be lined up on pit road will be #48-Johnson.
The final driver lined up on pit road will be #10-Almirola.
The order is set by a random draw, how cars park on pit road before they qualify, held about an hour before the first practice.
After the first round, the cars lined up by speed.
For the qualifying order, see the Qualifying Order page (pdf).(9-21-2018)
Happy Hour (final) practice for the Federated Auto Parts 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond Raceway is over, after 50 scheduled minutes, the top five, slowest and notes:
#2-Keselowski120.224
#78-Truex Jr. 120.133
#3-ADillon 119.458
#13-TDillon 119.390
#31-Newman 119.305
best 10 consecutive lap avg (of 36 drivers): #19-Suarez 118.141
slowest: #66-Hill 112.122
See the fastest speeds, best 10 consecutive lap average, laps run on the Happy Hour Practice speeds page (pdf) (9-21-2018)
First practice for the Federated Auto Parts 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond Raceway is over, after 50 scheduled minutes, the top-five, slowest and notes:
#18-Busch 121.190
#10-Almirola 120.968
#20-Jones 120.697
#13-Dillon 120.514
#47-Allmendinger 120.273
most laps run: 58, #88-Bowman
best 10 consecutive lap avg (of 29 drivers): #18-Busch
slowest: #66-Hill 110.240
notes: Some drivers struggled during the session, missing pit road entrance, due to the reconfiguration at the track. #78-Truex suffered a flat tire early but suffered no damage to his car.
See the fastest speeds, best 10 consecutive lap average, laps run on the First Practice speeds (pdf) (9-21-2018)
Entry List for the Federated Auto Parts 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond Raceway is posted, 40 teams/drivers [for 40 spots] are listed.
Some of the drivers entered include: #00-Gase, #6-Kenseth, #23-Day, #51-Custer, #52-Gaulding, #66-Hill, #72-LaJoie, #95-Smith, #99-Cassill.
Since only 40 cars are entered, all drivers will make the race.
See the full entry list on the Entry List (pdf)
For qualifying rules and formats, see the Qualifying Rules page
How to Calculate Track Speeds: use the formula Speed = Distance divided by Time. Distance is Track Length, and Lap Time into Hours. Once hour is 3600 seconds, so the calculation for a 48 second lap at Richmond(2.5 miles) would be: Speed = 2.5 x (3600/48), = 2.5 x 75 = 187.500mph. For a 19 second lap at Richmond(.533 miles): Speed = .533 x (3600/19), = .533 x 189.474 = a speed of 100.990mph
Weather Channel
Accuweather
National Weather Service
Race Weather
Race Day Forecast
WeatherBug
Weather Underground
Brian Neudorff @NASCAR_WXMAN
Aaron Studwell @RaceWeather
Richmond Goodyear Tire Notes See complete tire information for the race weekend across all series on the [Goodyear Tire Notes - Richmond Raceway page.(9-19-2018)
RACE & CHAMPIONSHIP ODDS
Vegas Insider
Race and Championship odds
NASCAR Top-Five Finish Prediction
Richmond Race Preview by Micah Roberts
Bovada Sportsbook:
Race and the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Championship