# 2018 FireKeepers Casino 400

The 2018 FireKeepers Casino 400 was a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race held on June 10, 2018 at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Michigan. Contested over 133 of the scheduled 200 laps on the two-mile (3.2 km) D-shaped oval, it was the 15th race of the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season.
This race was the 10th and final win for Clint Bowyer, who retired after the 2020 season.

## Report
### Background

The race was held at Michigan International Speedway, a two-mile (3.2 km) moderate-banked D-shaped speedway located in Brooklyn, Michigan. The track is used primarily for NASCAR events. It is sometimes known as a "sister track" to Texas World Speedway, and was used as the basis of Auto Club Speedway. The track is owned by International Speedway Corporation. Michigan International Speedway is recognized as one of motorsports' premier facilities because of its wide racing surface and high banking (by open-wheel standards; the 18-degree banking is modest by stock car standards).

#### Entry list

| No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer |
| 00 | Landon Cassill | 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 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford |
| 7 | D. J. Kennington | Premium Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 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 | B. J. McLeod (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Chevrolet |
| 66 | Timmy Hill (i) | MBM Motorsports | Toyota |
| 72 | Corey LaJoie | TriStar Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 78 | Martin Truex Jr. | Furniture Row Racing | Toyota |
| 88 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 95 | Kasey Kahne | Leavine Family Racing | Chevrolet |
| 99 | Garrett Smithley (i) | StarCom Racing | Chevrolet |
| Official entry list ||||

## First practice

Ryan Blaney was the fastest in the first practice session with a time of 35.535 seconds and a speed of 202.617 mph (326.080 km/h).
| Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 35.535 | 202.617 |
| 2 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 35.655 | 201.935 |
| 3 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske | Ford | 35.667 | 201.867 |
| Official first practice results |||||||

## Qualifying

Kurt Busch scored the pole for the race with a time of 35.405 and a speed of 203.361 mph (327.278 km/h).

### Qualifying results

| Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | R1 | R2 | R3 |
| 1 | 41 | Kurt Busch | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 35.958 | 35.686 | 35.405 |
| 2 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske | Ford | 35.739 | 35.692 | 35.439 |
| 3 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 36.135 | 35.635 | 35.447 |
| 4 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 35.503 | 35.452 | 35.476 |
| 5 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 35.786 | 35.701 | 35.614 |
| 6 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 35.888 | 35.896 | 35.713 |
| 7 | 17 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 35.969 | 35.877 | 35.774 |
| 8 | 20 | Erik Jones | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 36.058 | 35.877 | 35.796 |
| 9 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 35.662 | 35.647 | 35.858 |
| 10 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 36.009 | 35.801 | 35.928 |
| 11 | 31 | Ryan Newman | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 35.914 | 35.848 | 35.989 |
| 12 | 14 | Clint Bowyer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 36.041 | 35.826 | 36.039 |
| 13 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 35.987 | 35.904 | — |
| 14 | 24 | William Byron (R) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 36.114 | 35.912 | — |
| 15 | 21 | Paul Menard | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 35.802 | 35.941 | — |
| 16 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 35.994 | 35.942 | — |
| 17 | 78 | Martin Truex Jr. | Furniture Row Racing | Toyota | 36.097 | 35.959 | — |
| 18 | 37 | Chris Buescher | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 36.082 | 35.985 | — |
| 19 | 6 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 36.049 | 36.035 | — |
| 20 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 36.044 | 36.039 | — |
| 21 | 88 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 35.877 | 36.054 | — |
| 22 | 19 | Daniel Suárez | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 36.154 | 36.064 | — |
| 23 | 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 36.129 | 36.116 | — |
| 24 | 1 | Jamie McMurray | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 36.127 | 36.126 | — |
| 25 | 47 | A. J. Allmendinger | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 36.172 | — | — |
| 26 | 42 | Kyle Larson | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 36.181 | — | — |
| 27 | 38 | David Ragan | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 36.228 | — | — |
| 28 | 43 | Darrell Wallace Jr. (R) | Richard Petty Motorsports | Chevrolet | 36.262 | — | — |
| 29 | 95 | Kasey Kahne | Leavine Family Racing | Chevrolet | 36.372 | — | — |
| 30 | 32 | Matt DiBenedetto | Go Fas Racing | Ford | 36.418 | — | — |
| 31 | 13 | Ty Dillon | Germain Racing | Chevrolet | 36.564 | — | — |
| 32 | 72 | Corey LaJoie | TriStar Motorsports | Chevrolet | 37.030 | — | — |
| 33 | 15 | Ross Chastain (i) | Premium Motorsports | Chevrolet | 37.081 | — | — |
| 34 | 23 | Gray Gaulding | BK Racing | Toyota | 37.374 | — | — |
| 35 | 51 | B. J. McLeod (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Chevrolet | 37.484 | — | — |
| 36 | 00 | Landon Cassill | StarCom Racing | Chevrolet | 37.765 | — | — |
| 37 | 7 | D. J. Kennington | Premium Motorsports | Chevrolet | 38.319 | — | — |
| 38 | 66 | Timmy Hill (i) | MBM Motorsports | Toyota | 38.617 | — | — |
| 39 | 99 | Garrett Smithley (i) | StarCom Racing | Chevrolet | 38.618 | — | — |
| Official qualifying results ||||||||

## Practice (post-qualifying)
### Second practice

Kevin Harvick was the fastest in the second practice session with a time of 35.871 seconds and a speed of 200.719 mph (323.026 km/h).
| Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 35.871 | 200.719 |
| 2 | 42 | Kyle Larson | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 35.985 | 200.083 |
| 3 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 36.036 | 199.800 |
| Official second practice results |||||||

### Final practice

Final practice session for Saturday was cancelled due to rain.

## Race
### Stage Results

Stage 1 Laps: 60
| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Points |
| 1 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 10 |
| 2 | 42 | Kyle Larson | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 9 |
| 3 | 14 | Clint Bowyer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 8 |
| 4 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 7 |
| 5 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 6 |
| 6 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske | Ford | 5 |
| 7 | 41 | Kurt Busch | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 4 |
| 8 | 24 | William Byron (R) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 3 |
| 9 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 2 |
| 10 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 1 |
| Official stage one results ||||||
Stage 2 Laps: 60
| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Points |
| 1 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 10 |
| 2 | 14 | Clint Bowyer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 9 |
| 3 | 41 | Kurt Busch | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 8 |
| 4 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 7 |
| 5 | 21 | Paul Menard | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 6 |
| 6 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 5 |
| 7 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske | Ford | 4 |
| 8 | 1 | Jamie McMurray | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 3 |
| 9 | 20 | Erik Jones | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 2 |
| 10 | 24 | William Byron (R) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 1 |
| Official stage two results ||||||

### Final Stage Results

Stage 3 Laps: 80
| Pos | Grid | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Laps | Points |
| 1 | 12 | 14 | Clint Bowyer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 133 | 57 |
| 2 | 4 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 133 | 52 |
| 3 | 1 | 41 | Kurt Busch | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 133 | 46 |
| 4 | 3 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 133 | 40 |
| 5 | 15 | 21 | Paul Menard | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 133 | 38 |
| 6 | 2 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske | Ford | 133 | 40 |
| 7 | 5 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 133 | 38 |
| 8 | 9 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 133 | 44 |
| 9 | 13 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 133 | 28 |
| 10 | 24 | 1 | Jamie McMurray | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 133 | 30 |
| 11 | 6 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 133 | 27 |
| 12 | 10 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 133 | 31 |
| 13 | 14 | 24 | William Byron (R) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 133 | 28 |
| 14 | 16 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 133 | 23 |
| 15 | 8 | 20 | Erik Jones | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 133 | 24 |
| 16 | 21 | 88 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 133 | 21 |
| 17 | 25 | 47 | A. J. Allmendinger | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 133 | 20 |
| 18 | 17 | 78 | Martin Truex Jr. | Furniture Row Racing | Toyota | 133 | 19 |
| 19 | 28 | 43 | Darrell Wallace Jr. (R) | Richard Petty Motorsports | Chevrolet | 133 | 18 |
| 20 | 20 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 133 | 17 |
| 21 | 31 | 13 | Ty Dillon | Germain Racing | Chevrolet | 133 | 16 |
| 22 | 11 | 31 | Ryan Newman | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 133 | 15 |
| 23 | 29 | 95 | Kasey Kahne | Leavine Family Racing | Chevrolet | 133 | 14 |
| 24 | 18 | 37 | Chris Buescher | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 133 | 13 |
| 25 | 23 | 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 133 | 12 |
| 26 | 33 | 15 | Ross Chastain (i) | Premium Motorsports | Chevrolet | 133 | 0 |
| 27 | 32 | 72 | Corey LaJoie | TriStar Motorsports | Chevrolet | 133 | 10 |
| 28 | 26 | 42 | Kyle Larson | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 133 | 18 |
| 29 | 7 | 17 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 133 | 8 |
| 30 | 22 | 19 | Daniel Suárez | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 132 | 7 |
| 31 | 34 | 23 | Gray Gaulding | BK Racing | Toyota | 132 | 6 |
| 32 | 36 | 00 | Landon Cassill | StarCom Racing | Chevrolet | 132 | 5 |
| 33 | 19 | 6 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 132 | 4 |
| 34 | 37 | 7 | D. J. Kennington | Premium Motorsports | Chevrolet | 132 | 3 |
| 35 | 38 | 66 | Timmy Hill (i) | MBM Motorsports | Toyota | 132 | 0 |
| 36 | 30 | 32 | Matt DiBenedetto | Go Fas Racing | Ford | 131 | 1 |
| 37 | 35 | 51 | B. J. McLeod (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Chevrolet | 131 | 0 |
| 38 | 27 | 38 | David Ragan | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 35 | 1 |
| 39 | 39 | 99 | Garrett Smithley (i) | StarCom Racing | Chevrolet | 1 | 0 |
| Official race results ||||||||

### Race statistics

* Lead changes: 7 among different drivers
* Cautions/Laps: 8 for 30
* Red flags: 1
* Time of race: 2 hours, 00 minutes and 15 seconds
* Average speed: 132.723 miles per hour (213.597 km/h)

## Media
### Television

Fox NASCAR televised the race in the United States on FOX for the seventh time at Michigan. Mike Joy was the lap-by-lap announcer, while three-time Michigan winner, Jeff Gordon and two-time winner Darrell Waltrip were the color commentators. Jamie Little, Regan Smith and Matt Yocum reported from pit lane during the race.
FOX Television :
| Booth announcers | Pit reporters |
| Lap-by-lap: Mike Joy Color-commentator: Jeff Gordon Color commentator: Darrell Waltrip | Jamie Little Regan Smith Matt Yocum |

### Radio

Radio coverage of the race was broadcast by Motor Racing Network (MRN) and simulcasted on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. Joe Moore, Jeff Striegle and five-time Michigan winner Rusty Wallace announced the race in the booth while the field is racing on the front stretch. Dave Moody called the race from a billboard outside of turn 2 when the field was racing through turns 1 and 2. Mike Bagley called the race from a platform outside of turn 3 when the field was racing through turns 3 and 4. Alex Hayden, Winston Kelley and Steve Post reported from pit lane during the race.
MRN :
| Booth announcers | Turn announcers | Pit reporters |
| Lead announcer: Joe Moore Announcer: Jeff Striegle Announcer: Rusty Wallace | Turns 1 & 2: Dave Moody Turns 3 & 4: Buddy Long | Alex Hayden Winston Kelley Steve Post |

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| | 1 | Kyle Busch | 664 |
| | 2 | Kevin Harvick | 589 (–75) |
| | 3 | Joey Logano | 566 (–98) |
| 1 | 4 | Brad Keselowski | 514 (–150) |
| 1 | 5 | Clint Bowyer | 510 (–154) |
| 2 | 6 | Martin Truex Jr. | 506 (–158) |
| | 7 | Kurt Busch | 493 (–171) |
| | 8 | Denny Hamlin | 468 (–196) |
| 1 | 9 | Ryan Blaney | 457 (–207) |
| 1 | 10 | Kyle Larson | 443 (–221) |
| | 11 | Aric Almirola | 433 (–231) |
| | 12 | Jimmie Johnson | 377 (–287) |
| | 13 | Chase Elliott | 362 (–302) |
| | 14 | Erik Jones | 346 (–318) |
| 1 | 15 | Alex Bowman | 331 (–333) |
| 1 | 16 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | 327 (–337) |
| Official driver's standings ||||
| | Pos | Manufacturer | Points |
| 1 | 1 | Ford | 545 |
| 1 | 2 | Toyota | 540 (–5) |
| | 3 | Chevrolet | 479 (–66) |
| Official manufacturers' standings ||||