# 2018 Coca-Cola Firecracker 250

The 2018 Coca-Cola Firecracker 250 was the 16th stock car race of the 2018 NASCAR Xfinity Series season and the 17th iteration of the event. The race was held on Friday, July 6, 2018, in Daytona Beach, Florida at Daytona International Speedway, a 2.5 miles (4.0 km) permanent triangular-shaped superspeedway. The race was extended from its scheduled 100 laps to 105 due to a NASCAR overtime finish. At race's end, a close, but controversial finish would see Chip Ganassi Racing driver Kyle Larson win his 11th career NASCAR Xfinity Series win and his third of his part-time season. To fill out the podium, Elliott Sadler of JR Motorsports and Christopher Bell of Joe Gibbs Racing would finish second and third, respectively.
In a controversial ruling, GMS Racing driver Justin Haley, who had initially won the race was instead disqualified from his win due to him passing Larson below the yellow line, moving him to the last position on the lead lap, which was 18th.

## Background

Daytona International Speedway is one of three superspeedways to hold NASCAR races, the other two being Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway. The standard track at Daytona International Speedway is a four-turn superspeedway that is 2.5 miles (4.0 km) long. The track's turns are banked at 31 degrees, while the front stretch, the location of the finish line, is banked at 18 degrees.

### Entry list

| # | Driver | Team | Make | Sponsor |
| 0 | Garrett Smithley | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | Trophy Tractor, FAME USA |
| 00 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing with Biagi-DenBeste | Ford | Haas Automation |
| 1 | Elliott Sadler | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | Armour Chili |
| 01 | Vinnie Miller | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | JAS Expedited Trucking |
| 2 | Matt Tifft | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | KC Motorgroup |
| 3 | Shane Lee | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | Childress Vineyards |
| 4 | Ross Chastain | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | Georgia Watermelon Association |
| 5 | Michael Annett | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | Pilot Flying J |
| 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | Breyers 2-in-1 |
| 8 | Caesar Bacarella | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Chevrolet | Maxim, Alpha Prime Regimen |
| 9 | Tyler Reddick | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | Takl |
| 11 | Ryan Truex | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | Phantom Fireworks |
| 15 | B. J. McLeod | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | JD Motorsports |
| 16 | Ryan Reed | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | DriveDownA1C.com Patriotic |
| 18 | Ryan Preece | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | Rheem |
| 19 | Brandon Jones | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | Comcast, NBCUniversal Salute to Service |
| 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | GameStop, PDP Gaming |
| 21 | Daniel Hemric | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa |
| 22 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | Pirtek |
| 23 | Chase Elliott | GMS Racing | Chevrolet | Untuckit |
| 24 | Justin Haley | GMS Racing | Chevrolet | Fraternal Order of Eagles Patriotic |
| 35 | Joey Gase | Go Green Racing with SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet | Sparks Energy, Donate Life Florida |
| 36 | Alex Labbé | DGM Racing | Chevrolet | Wholey's, Can-Am |
| 38 | J. J. Yeley | RSS Racing | Chevrolet | Superior Essex |
| 39 | Ryan Sieg | RSS Racing | Chevrolet | Ionomy, Offroad Heat |
| 40 | Chad Finchum | MBM Motorsports | Toyota | CrashClaimsR.Us, Amana |
| 42 | Kyle Larson | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | DC Solar Patriotic |
| 45 | Josh Bilicki | JP Motorsports | Toyota | Prevagen Patriotic |
| 51 | Jeremy Clements | Jeremy Clements Racing | Chevrolet | RepairableVehicles.com Patriotic |
| 52 | David Starr | Jimmy Means Racing | Chevrolet | Starr Mechanical |
| 55 | Brandon Hightower | JP Motorsports | Toyota | Swamp Daddy's Crawfish |
| 60 | Austin Cindric | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | Odyssey Battery |
| 61 | Kaz Grala | Fury Race Cars | Ford | Kiklos |
| 66 | Timmy Hill | MBM Motorsports | Toyota | VS1 Racing |
| 74 | Mike Harmon | Mike Harmon Racing | Chevrolet | Shadow Warriors Project, The Journey Home Project |
| 76 | Spencer Boyd | SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet | Grunt Style Patriotic "This We'll Defend" |
| 78 | Blake Jones | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Chevrolet | Tennessee XXX Moonshine, True Line Construction |
| 89 | Morgan Shepherd* | Shepherd Racing Ventures | Chevrolet | Visone RV Motorhome Parts, Racing with Jesus |
| 90 | Josh Williams | DGM Racing | Chevrolet | Sleep Well Sleep Disorder Specialists, StarTron |
| 93 | Jeff Green | RSS Racing | Chevrolet | Night Owl Contractors |
| 99 | Ray Black Jr. | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Toyota | America's Donuts, Zomongo |
| Official entry list |||||
*Withdrew.

## Practice
### First practice

The first practice session was held on Thursday, July 5, at 1:05 PM EST, and would last for 50 minutes. Ryan Reed of Roush Fenway Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 45.885 and an average speed of 196.143 miles per hour (315.662 km/h).
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 16 | Ryan Reed | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 45.885 | 196.143 |
| 2 | 24 | Justin Haley | GMS Racing | Chevrolet | 45.949 | 195.869 |
| 3 | 11 | Ryan Truex | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 45.958 | 195.831 |
| Full first practice results |||||||

### Second practice

The second and final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Thursday, July 5, at 3:05 PM EST, and would last for 50 minutes. Chad Finchum of MBM Motorsports would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 48.500 and an average speed of 185.567 miles per hour (298.641 km/h).
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 40 | Chad Finchum | MBM Motorsports | Toyota | 48.500 | 185.567 |
| 2 | 66 | Timmy Hill | MBM Motorsports | Toyota | 48.507 | 185.540 |
| 3 | 51 | Jeremy Clements | Jeremy Clements Racing | Chevrolet | 48.676 | 184.896 |
| Full Happy Hour practice results |||||||

## Starting lineup

Qualifying was originally going to be held on Friday, July 6, at 2:10 PM EST. However, rain would cancel the qualifying session, forcing NASCAR to resort to the rulebook to set up the lineup, using the current 2018 owner's points. As a result, Ryan Preece of Joe Gibbs Racing won the pole.

### Full starting lineup

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make |
| 1 | 18 | Ryan Preece | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 2 | 22 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford |
| 3 | 00 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing with Biagi-DenBeste | Ford |
| 4 | 21 | Daniel Hemric | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 5 | 1 | Elliott Sadler | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 6 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 7 | 42 | Kyle Larson | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet |
| 8 | 9 | Tyler Reddick | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 9 | 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 10 | 19 | Brandon Jones | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 11 | 23 | Chase Elliott | GMS Racing | Chevrolet |
| 12 | 11 | Ryan Truex | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet |
| 13 | 2 | Matt Tifft | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 14 | 3 | Shane Lee | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 15 | 16 | Ryan Reed | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford |
| 16 | 4 | Ross Chastain | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 17 | 5 | Michael Annett | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 18 | 39 | Ryan Sieg | RSS Racing | Chevrolet |
| 19 | 51 | Jeremy Clements | Jeremy Clements Racing | Chevrolet |
| 20 | 35 | Joey Gase | Go Green Racing with SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet |
| 21 | 36 | Alex Labbé | DGM Racing | Chevrolet |
| 22 | 0 | Garrett Smithley | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 23 | 60 | Austin Cindric | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford |
| 24 | 8 | Caesar Bacarella | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 25 | 38 | J. J. Yeley | RSS Racing | Chevrolet |
| 26 | 78 | Blake Jones | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Toyota |
| 27 | 52 | David Starr | Jimmy Means Racing | Chevrolet |
| 28 | 90 | Josh Williams | DGM Racing | Chevrolet |
| 29 | 01 | Vinnie Miller | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 30 | 76 | Spencer Boyd | SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet |
| 31 | 93 | Jeff Green | RSS Racing | Chevrolet |
| 32 | 15 | B. J. McLeod | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 33 | 45 | Josh Bilicki | JP Motorsports | Toyota |
| 34 | 55 | Brandon Hightower | JP Motorsports | Toyota |
| 35 | 40 | Chad Finchum | MBM Motorsports | Toyota |
| 36 | 66 | Timmy Hill | MBM Motorsports | Toyota |
| 37 | 74 | Mike Harmon | Mike Harmon Racing | Chevrolet |
| 38 | 61 | Kaz Grala | Fury Race Cars | Ford |
| 39 | 99 | Ray Black Jr. | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Toyota |
| 40 | 24 | Justin Haley | GMS Racing | Chevrolet |
| Withdrew |||||
| WD | 89 | Morgan Shepherd | Shepherd Racing Ventures | Chevrolet |
| Official starting lineup |||||

## Race results

Stage 1 Laps: 30
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Pts |
| 1 | 42 | Kyle Larson | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 0 |
| 2 | 23 | Chase Elliott | GMS Racing | Chevrolet | 0 |
| 3 | 1 | Elliott Sadler | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 8 |
| 4 | 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 7 |
| 5 | 22 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 0 |
| 6 | 2 | Matt Tifft | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 5 |
| 7 | 60 | Austin Cindric | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 4 |
| 8 | 00 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing with Biagi-DenBeste | Ford | 3 |
| 9 | 21 | Daniel Hemric | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 2 |
| 10 | 11 | Ryan Truex | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 1 |
Stage 2 Laps: 30
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Pts |
| 1 | 42 | Kyle Larson | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 0 |
| 2 | 23 | Chase Elliott | GMS Racing | Chevrolet | 0 |
| 3 | 60 | Austin Cindric | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 8 |
| 4 | 22 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 0 |
| 5 | 9 | Tyler Reddick | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 6 |
| 6 | 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 5 |
| 7 | 24 | Justin Haley | GMS Racing | Chevrolet | 0 |
| 8 | 2 | Matt Tifft | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 3 |
| 9 | 1 | Elliott Sadler | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 2 |
| 10 | 21 | Daniel Hemric | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 1 |
Stage 3 Laps: 45
| Pos. | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts |
| 1 | 7 | 42 | Kyle Larson | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 105 | 40 | running | 0 |
| 2 | 5 | 1 | Elliott Sadler | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 105 | 17 | running | 45 |
| 3 | 6 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 105 | 0 | running | 34 |
| 4 | 2 | 22 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 105 | 39 | running | 0 |
| 5 | 38 | 61 | Kaz Grala | Fury Race Cars | Ford | 105 | 0 | running | 32 |
| 6 | 14 | 3 | Shane Lee | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 105 | 0 | running | 31 |
| 7 | 36 | 66 | Timmy Hill | MBM Motorsports | Toyota | 105 | 0 | running | 30 |
| 8 | 4 | 21 | Daniel Hemric | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 105 | 0 | running | 32 |
| 9 | 9 | 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 105 | 0 | running | 40 |
| 10 | 16 | 4 | Ross Chastain | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 105 | 0 | running | 27 |
| 11 | 17 | 5 | Michael Annett | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 105 | 0 | running | 26 |
| 12 | 10 | 19 | Brandon Jones | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 105 | 0 | running | 25 |
| 13 | 12 | 11 | Ryan Truex | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 105 | 0 | running | 25 |
| 14 | 35 | 40 | Chad Finchum | MBM Motorsports | Toyota | 105 | 0 | running | 23 |
| 15 | 21 | 36 | Alex Labbé | DGM Racing | Chevrolet | 105 | 0 | running | 22 |
| 16 | 25 | 38 | J. J. Yeley | RSS Racing | Chevrolet | 105 | 0 | running | 21 |
| 17 | 30 | 76 | Spencer Boyd | SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet | 105 | 0 | running | 20 |
| 18 | 40 | 24 | Justin Haley | GMS Racing | Chevrolet | 105 | 1 | running | 0 |
| 19 | 29 | 01 | Vinnie Miller | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 104 | 0 | running | 18 |
| 20 | 13 | 2 | Matt Tifft | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 103 | 0 | running | 25 |
| 21 | 37 | 74 | Mike Harmon | Mike Harmon Racing | Chevrolet | 102 | 0 | running | 16 |
| 22 | 39 | 99 | Ray Black Jr. | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Toyota | 102 | 0 | running | 15 |
| 23 | 31 | 93 | Jeff Green | RSS Racing | Chevrolet | 98 | 0 | crash | 14 |
| 24 | 28 | 90 | Josh Williams | DGM Racing | Chevrolet | 97 | 0 | crash | 13 |
| 25 | 3 | 00 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing with Biagi-DenBeste | Ford | 97 | 8 | crash | 15 |
| 26 | 15 | 16 | Ryan Reed | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 97 | 0 | crash | 11 |
| 27 | 18 | 39 | Ryan Sieg | RSS Racing | Chevrolet | 97 | 0 | crash | 10 |
| 28 | 22 | 0 | Garrett Smithley | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 94 | 0 | crash | 9 |
| 29 | 11 | 23 | Chase Elliott | GMS Racing | Chevrolet | 90 | 0 | engine | 0 |
| 30 | 34 | 55 | Brandon Hightower | JP Motorsports | Toyota | 87 | 0 | crash | 7 |
| 31 | 8 | 9 | Tyler Reddick | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 82 | 0 | crash | 12 |
| 32 | 20 | 35 | Joey Gase | Go Green Racing with SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet | 82 | 0 | crash | 5 |
| 33 | 23 | 60 | Austin Cindric | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 81 | 0 | crash | 16 |
| 34 | 19 | 51 | Jeremy Clements | Jeremy Clements Racing | Chevrolet | 81 | 0 | crash | 3 |
| 35 | 27 | 52 | David Starr | Jimmy Means Racing | Chevrolet | 81 | 0 | crash | 2 |
| 36 | 32 | 15 | B. J. McLeod | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 81 | 0 | crash | 1 |
| 37 | 26 | 78 | Blake Jones | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Toyota | 75 | 0 | crash | 1 |
| 38 | 24 | 8 | Caesar Bacarella | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Chevrolet | 70 | 0 | crash | 1 |
| 39 | 1 | 18 | Ryan Preece | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 51 | 0 | overheating | 1 |
| 40 | 33 | 45 | Josh Bilicki | JP Motorsports | Toyota | 33 | 0 | engine | 1 |
| Withdrew ||||||||||
| WD | | 89 | Morgan Shepherd | Shepherd Racing Ventures | Chevrolet | | | | |
| Official race results ||||||||||