# 2018 Federated Auto Parts 400

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

| No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer |
| 00 | Joey Gase (i) | 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 |
| 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 | Alon Day | 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 | Cole Custer (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Ford |
| 52 | Gray Gaulding | Rick Ware Racing | Ford |
| 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 | Regan Smith | Leavine Family Racing | Chevrolet |
| 96 | Jeffrey Earnhardt | Gaunt Brothers Racing | Toyota |
| 99 | Landon Cassill (i) | StarCom Racing | Chevrolet |
| Official 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).
| Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 22.279 | 121.190 |
| 2 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 22.320 | 120.968 |
| 3 | 20 | Erik Jones | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 22.370 | 120.697 |
| Official first practice results |||||||

### 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).
| Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske | Ford | 22.458 | 120.224 |
| 2 | 78 | Martin Truex Jr. | Furniture Row Racing | Toyota | 22.475 | 120.133 |
| 3 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 22.602 | 119.458 |
| Official final practice results |||||||

## 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).

### Qualifying results

| Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | R1 | R2 | R3 |
| 1 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 22.148 | 22.194 | 22.153 |
| 2 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 22.014 | 22.182 | 22.159 |
| 3 | 78 | Martin Truex Jr. | Furniture Row Racing | Toyota | 22.113 | 22.161 | 22.217 |
| 4 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 22.105 | 22.074 | 22.241 |
| 5 | 19 | Daniel Suárez | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 21.967 | 21.964 | 22.244 |
| 6 | 41 | Kurt Busch | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 21.970 | 22.166 | 22.267 |
| 7 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 22.098 | 22.186 | 22.320 |
| 8 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske | Ford | 22.001 | 22.162 | 22.342 |
| 9 | 20 | Erik Jones | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 22.054 | 22.185 | 22.342 |
| 10 | 42 | Kyle Larson | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 22.168 | 22.182 | 22.347 |
| 11 | 51 | Cole Custer (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | 22.123 | 22.123 | 22.360 |
| 12 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 22.093 | 22.199 | 22.390 |
| 13 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 22.235 | 22.232 | — |
| 14 | 88 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 22.108 | 22.236 | — |
| 15 | 1 | Jamie McMurray | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 22.093 | 22.241 | — |
| 16 | 17 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 22.175 | 22.286 | — |
| 17 | 31 | Ryan Newman | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 22.269 | 22.297 | — |
| 18 | 6 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 22.025 | 22.318 | — |
| 19 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 22.066 | 22.332 | — |
| 20 | 24 | William Byron (R) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 22.244 | 22.354 | — |
| 21 | 21 | Paul Menard | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 22.195 | 22.374 | — |
| 22 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 22.240 | 22.438 | — |
| 23 | 37 | Chris Buescher | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 22.291 | 22.439 | — |
| 24 | 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 22.273 | 22.678 | — |
| 25 | 14 | Clint Bowyer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 22.305 | — | — |
| 26 | 43 | Darrell Wallace Jr. (R) | Richard Petty Motorsports | Chevrolet | 22.324 | — | — |
| 27 | 38 | David Ragan | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 22.326 | — | — |
| 28 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 22.348 | — | — |
| 29 | 32 | Matt DiBenedetto | Go Fas Racing | Ford | 22.355 | — | — |
| 30 | 47 | A. J. Allmendinger | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 22.373 | — | — |
| 31 | 13 | Ty Dillon | Germain Racing | Chevrolet | 22.407 | — | — |
| 32 | 15 | Ross Chastain (i) | Premium Motorsports | Chevrolet | 22.416 | — | — |
| 33 | 95 | Regan Smith | Leavine Family Racing | Chevrolet | 22.448 | — | — |
| 34 | 72 | Corey LaJoie | TriStar Motorsports | Chevrolet | 22.578 | — | — |
| 35 | 96 | Jeffrey Earnhardt | Gaunt Brothers Racing | Toyota | 22.601 | — | — |
| 36 | 52 | Gray Gaulding | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | 22.932 | — | — |
| 37 | 23 | Alon Day | BK Racing | Toyota | 22.954 | — | — |
| 38 | 00 | Joey Gase (i) | StarCom Racing | Chevrolet | 22.960 | — | — |
| 39 | 99 | Landon Cassill (i) | StarCom Racing | Chevrolet | 23.066 | — | — |
| 40 | 66 | Timmy Hill (i) | MBM Motorsports | Toyota | 23.079 | — | — |
| Official 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
| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Points |
| 1 | 78 | Martin Truex Jr. | Furniture Row Racing | Toyota | 10 |
| 2 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 9 |
| 3 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske | Ford | 8 |
| 4 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 7 |
| 5 | 41 | Kurt Busch | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 6 |
| 6 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 5 |
| 7 | 20 | Erik Jones | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 4 |
| 8 | 88 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 3 |
| 9 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 2 |
| 10 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 1 |
| Official stage one results ||||||
Stage 2 Laps: 100
| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Points |
| 1 | 78 | Martin Truex Jr. | Furniture Row Racing | Toyota | 10 |
| 2 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 9 |
| 3 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 8 |
| 4 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 7 |
| 5 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske | Ford | 6 |
| 6 | 88 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 5 |
| 7 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 4 |
| 8 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 3 |
| 9 | 42 | Kyle Larson | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 2 |
| 10 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 1 |
| Official stage two results ||||||

### Final Stage Results

Stage 3 Laps: 200
| Pos | Grid | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Laps | Points |
| 1 | 11 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 400 | 40 |
| 2 | 1 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 400 | 53 |
| 3 | 3 | 78 | Martin Truex Jr. | Furniture Row Racing | Toyota | 400 | 54 |
| 4 | 18 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 400 | 47 |
| 5 | 6 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 400 | 45 |
| 6 | 26 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 400 | 35 |
| 7 | 9 | 42 | Kyle Larson | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 400 | 32 |
| 8 | 21 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 400 | 32 |
| 9 | 7 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske | Ford | 400 | 42 |
| 10 | 24 | 14 | Clint Bowyer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 400 | 27 |
| 11 | 8 | 20 | Erik Jones | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 400 | 30 |
| 12 | 13 | 88 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 400 | 33 |
| 13 | 15 | 17 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 400 | 24 |
| 14 | 12 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 399 | 25 |
| 15 | 16 | 31 | Ryan Newman | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 399 | 22 |
| 16 | 2 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 399 | 23 |
| 17 | 38 | 19 | Daniel Suárez | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 399 | 20 |
| 18 | 5 | 41 | Kurt Busch | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 398 | 25 |
| 19 | 4 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 398 | 18 |
| 20 | 19 | 24 | William Byron (R) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 398 | 17 |
| 21 | 14 | 1 | Jamie McMurray | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 398 | 16 |
| 22 | 20 | 21 | Paul Menard | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 397 | 15 |
| 23 | 40 | 38 | David Ragan | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 397 | 14 |
| 24 | 23 | 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 397 | 13 |
| 25 | 17 | 6 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 396 | 12 |
| 26 | 10 | 51 | Cole Custer (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | 396 | 0 |
| 27 | 25 | 43 | Darrell Wallace Jr. (R) | Richard Petty Motorsports | Chevrolet | 395 | 10 |
| 28 | 29 | 13 | Ty Dillon | Germain Racing | Chevrolet | 395 | 9 |
| 29 | 28 | 47 | A. J. Allmendinger | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 394 | 8 |
| 30 | 22 | 37 | Chris Buescher | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 394 | 7 |
| 31 | 39 | 95 | Regan Smith | Leavine Family Racing | Chevrolet | 394 | 6 |
| 32 | 31 | 72 | Corey LaJoie | TriStar Motorsports | Chevrolet | 393 | 5 |
| 33 | 30 | 15 | Ross Chastain (i) | Premium Motorsports | Chevrolet | 392 | 0 |
| 34 | 27 | 32 | Matt DiBenedetto | Go Fas Racing | Ford | 391 | 3 |
| 35 | 35 | 00 | Joey Gase (i) | StarCom Racing | Chevrolet | 388 | 0 |
| 36 | 36 | 99 | Landon Cassill (i) | StarCom Racing | Chevrolet | 387 | 0 |
| 37 | 32 | 96 | Jeffrey Earnhardt | Gaunt Brothers Racing | Toyota | 387 | 1 |
| 38 | 34 | 23 | Alon Day | BK Racing | Toyota | 383 | 1 |
| 39 | 37 | 66 | Timmy Hill (i) | MBM Motorsports | Toyota | 382 | 0 |
| 40 | 33 | 52 | Gray Gaulding | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | 289 | 1 |
| Official race results ||||||||

### 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.
NBCSN :
| Booth announcers | Pit reporters |
| Lap-by-lap: Rick Allen Color-commentator: Jeff Burton Color-commentator: Steve Letarte Color-commentator: Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dave Burns Marty Snider Kelli Stavast |

### Radio

The Motor Racing Network had the radio call for the race, which was simulcast on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio.
MRN :
| Booth announcers | Turn announcers | Pit reporters |
| Lead announcer: Joe Moore Announcer: Jeff Striegle Announcer: Rusty Wallace | Backstretch: Dave Moody | Alex Hayden Winston Kelley Steve Post |

## 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 ||||
| | Pos | Manufacturer | Points |
| 1 | 1 | Toyota | 1,015 |
| 1 | 2 | Ford | 1,010 (–5) |
| | 3 | Chevrolet | 915 (–100) |
| Official manufacturers' standings ||||