2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (Start Your Engines!)

Category:Start Your Engines!
The 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series was the 70th season of NASCAR professional stock car racing in the United States, and the 47th modern-era Cup series season.
The 2018 season was the fourth of the current 10-year television contract with Fox Sports and NBC Sports and the third of a five-year race sanctioning agreement with all tracks.
The season marked the debut of the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, which replaced the outgoing Chevrolet SS and became the first coupe-based Chevrolet stock car since the Monte Carlo SS was discontinued in 2017. This was also the last season for BK Racing, which was fighting litigation over the illegal use of the Burger King name. It was also the final season Ford fielded the Fusion, replacing it with the Ford Mustang in 2019.
This was the final year for Tim Johnson, Chloe Johnson, Belle Armstrong, and Jenny Smith.
== Teams and drivers ==
Manufacturer	Team 	No.	Race driver 	Crew chief 	Model
Chevrolet 	Cale Yarborough Racing 	98 	Shane Hmiel 	 	2018 Camaro ZL1
Chevrolet 	Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing	1 	Martin Truex Jr. 	Kevin Manion 	2018 Camaro ZL1
Chevrolet 	Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing	3 	Austin Dillon 	Slugger Labbe 	2018 Camaro ZL1
Chevrolet 	Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing	8 	Dale Earnhardt Jr. 	Tony Eury Jr. 	2018 Camaro ZL1
Chevrolet 	Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing	30 	Jeffrey Earnhardt 	Luke Lambert 	2018 Camaro ZL1
Chevrolet 	Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing	31 	Ty Dillon 	 	2018 Camaro ZL1
Chevrolet 	Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing	48 	Jimmie Johnson 	Chad Knaus 	2018 Camaro ZL1
Chevrolet 	Hendrick Motorsports 	5 	William Byron (R) 	Keith Rodden 	2018 Camaro ZL1
Chevrolet 	Hendrick Motorsports 	25 	Ricky Hendrick 	Alan Gustafson 	2018 Camaro ZL1
Chevrolet 	Hendrick Motorsports 	35 	Landon Cassill 	 	2018 Camaro ZL1
Chevrolet 	Hendrick Motorsports 	50 	Brad Keselowski 	Greg Ives 	2018 Camaro ZL1
Chevrolet 	Medallion Racing 	09 	Sam Hornish Jr. 	 	2018 Camaro ZL1
Chevrolet 	PPI Motorsports 	32 	Boston Reid 	 	
Dodge 	AK Racing 	7 	James Kulwicki 	 	2018 Charger
Dodge 	Andretti Autosport 	68 	Kasey Kahne 	 	2018 Charger
Dodge 	Bill Davis Racing 	9 	Chase Elliott 	 	2018 Charger
Dodge 	Bill Davis Racing 	23 	Jason Leffler 	 	2018 Charger
Dodge 	Bill Davis Racing 	24 	Scott Wimmer 	 	2018 Charger
Dodge 	Chip Ganassi Racing 	40 	Jamie McMurray 	Matt McCall 	2018 Charger
Dodge 	Chip Ganassi Racing 	41 	Bryan Clauson 	Phil Surgen 	2018 Charger
Dodge 	Chip Ganassi Racing 	42 	Kyle Larson 	Chad Johnston 	2018 Charger
Dodge 	Evernham Motorsports 	19 	Casey Elliott 	 	2018 Charger
Dodge 	Evernham Motorsports 	91 	Casey Atwood 	 	2018 Charger
Dodge 	Leavine Family Racing 	95 	??? 	Jon Leonard 	2018 Charger
Dodge 	Kelman Racing 	86 	Ryan Kelman 	Wally Rogers 	2018 Charger
Dodge 	Moroso-Rudd Racing 	82 	Dakoda Armstrong 	 	2018 Charger
Dodge 	Moroso-Rudd Racing 	83 	Brendan Gaughan 	 	2018 Charger
Dodge 	Pacific Coast Racing 	60 	Chloe Johnson 	Jed Luke 	2018 Charger
Dodge 	Pacific Coast Racing 	69 	Jenny Smith 	Barry Baker 	2018 Charger
Dodge 	Pacific Coast Racing 	80 	Tim Johnson 	Charlie Davis 	2018 Charger
Dodge 	Pacific Coast Racing 	85 	Belle Armstrong 	Scott Smith 	2018 Charger
Dodge 	Petty Enterprises 	43 	Aric Almirola 	 	2018 Charger
Dodge 	Petty Enterprises 	44 	Chad McCumbee 	 	2018 Charger
Dodge 	Petty Enterprises 	45 	Adam Petty 	 	2018 Charger
Dodge 	Team Penske 	2 	Blaise Alexander 	Paul Wolfe 	
Dodge 	Team Penske 	12 	Ryan Blaney 	Jeremy Bullins 	
Dodge 	Team Penske 	22 	Joey Logano 	Todd Gordon 	
Dodge 	Team Penske 	39 	Paul Menard 	 	
Ford 	Go Fas Racing 	65 	Matt DiBenedetto 	Gene Nead
Randy Cox	2018 Fusion
Ford 	Roush Racing 	6 	David Ragan 	Matt Puccia 	2018 Fusion
Ford 	Roush Racing 	16 	Greg Biffle 	 	2018 Fusion
Ford 	Roush Racing 	66 	Ricky Stenhouse Jr.	Brian Pattie 	2018 Fusion
Ford 	Wood Brothers Racing 	21 	Trevor Bayne 	Greg Erwin 	2018 Fusion
Ford 	Yates Racing 	28 	Davey Allison Jr. 	 	2018 Fusion
Ford 	Yates Racing 	88 	Alex Bowman 	 	2018 Fusion
Ford 	Yates Racing 	96 	Ryan Reed 	 	2018 Fusion
Honda 	Brett Favre Racing 	15 	Parker Kligerman 	 	2018 Accord
Honda 	Brett Favre Racing 	90 	Johanna Robins 	 	2018 Accord
Honda 	Germain Racing 	13 	??? 	Matt Borland 	2017 Accord
Honda 	Michael Waltrip Racing 	17 	Clint Bowyer 	 	2018 Accord
Honda 	Michael Waltrip Racing 	55 	Brian Vickers 	 	2018 Accord
Lincoln 	Front Row Motorsports 	34 	??? 	Derrick Finley 	2018 Continental
Lincoln 	Front Row Motorsports 	38 	??? 	Seth Barbour 	2018 Continental
Lincoln 	Orr Motorsports 	37 	Regan Smith 	 	
Lincoln 	Rick Ware Racing 	51 	Justin Marks 	Pat Tryson
Ken Evans
George Church	2017 Continental
Lincoln 	Rick Ware Racing 	51 	Harrison Rhodes 	Pat Tryson
Ken Evans
George Church	2017 Continental
Lincoln 	Rick Ware Racing 	51 	Cole Custer 	Pat Tryson
Ken Evans
George Church	2017 Continental
Lincoln 	Rick Ware Racing 	51 	Timmy Hill 	Pat Tryson
Ken Evans
George Church	2017 Continental
Lincoln 	Rick Ware Racing 	51 	Cody Ware 	Pat Tryson
Ken Evans
George Church	2017 Continental
Lincoln 	Rick Ware Racing 	51 	B.J. McLeod 	Pat Tryson
Ken Evans
George Church	2017 Continental
Lincoln 	Rick Ware Racing 	51 	Chris Cook 	Pat Tryson
Ken Evans
George Church	2017 Continental
Lincoln 	Rick Ware Racing 	51 	Ray Black Jr. 	Pat Tryson
Ken Evans
George Church	2017 Continental
Lincoln 	Rick Ware Racing 	51 	Josh Bilicki 	Pat Tryson
Ken Evans
George Church	2017 Continental
Lincoln 	Rick Ware Racing 	51 	Reed Sorenson 	Pat Tryson
Ken Evans
George Church	2017 Continental
Lincoln 	Rick Ware Racing 	51 	David Starr 	Pat Tryson
Ken Evans
George Church	2017 Continental
Lincoln 	Rick Ware Racing 	51 	Stanton Barrett 	Pat Tryson
Ken Evans
George Church	2017 Continental
Lincoln 	Rick Ware Racing 	51 	Jeb Burton 	Pat Tryson
Ken Evans
George Church	2017 Continental
Lincoln 	Rick Ware Racing 	51 	Joey Gase 	Pat Tryson
Ken Evans
George Church	2017 Continental
Lincoln 	TriStar Motorsports 	72 	Corey LaJoie 	Frankie Kerr 	2018 Continental
Lincoln 	TriStar Motorsports 	72 	Cole Whitt 	Frankie Kerr 	2018 Continental
Nissan 	JTG Daugherty Racing 	47 	A.J. Allmendinger 	Tristan Smith 	2018 Maxima
Nissan 	JTG Daugherty Racing 	137	Chris Buescher 	Trent Owens 	
Nissan 	Premium Motorsports 	105	Ross Chastain 	Todd Parrott
Pat Tryson	2018 Maxima
Nissan 	Premium Motorsports 	105	Justin Marks 	Todd Parrott
Pat Tryson	2018 Maxima
Pontiac 	Kennedy Racing 	03 	Melvin Kennedy 	Mark Cutter 	2018 G6
Pontiac 	Kennedy Racing 	04 	Louise Kennedy 	 	2018 G6
Pontiac 	Labonte Motorsports 	46 	Michael Annett 	 	2018 G6
Pontiac 	Labonte Motorsports 	46 	Justin Allgaier 	 	2018 G6
Pontiac 	StarCom Racing 	05 	Joey Gase 	Tony Furr 
Jonas Bell
Rick Bourgeois	2017 G6
Pontiac 	StarCom Racing 	05 	Tomi Drissi 	Tony Furr 
Jonas Bell
Rick Bourgeois	2017 G6
Pontiac 	Stewart-Haas Racing 	00 	Ryan Truex 	Billy Scott 	2018 G6
Pontiac 	Stewart-Haas Racing 	4 	Kevin Harvick 	Rodney Childers
Tony Gibson	2018 G6
Pontiac 	Stewart-Haas Racing 	10 	Danica Patrick 	Johnny Klausmeier	2018 G6
Pontiac 	Stewart-Haas Racing 	14 	Tony Stewart 	Greg Zipadelli 	2018 G6
Toyota 	BK Racing 	123	Gray Gauldin 	Rick Bourgeois
Tony Furr	2017 Camry
Toyota 	BK Racing 	123	J.J. Yeley 	Rick Bourgeois
Tony Furr	2017 Camry
Toyota 	BK Racing 	123	Blake Jones 	Rick Bourgeois
Tony Furr	2017 Camry
Toyota 	BK Racing 	123	Spencer Gallagher 	Rick Bourgeois
Tony Furr	2017 Camry
Toyota 	BK Racing 	123	Joey Gase 	Rick Bourgeois
Tony Furr	2017 Camry
Toyota 	BK Racing 	123	Alon Day 	Rick Bourgeois
Tony Furr	2017 Camry
Toyota 	Furniture Row Racing 	78 	Kurt Busch 	Cole Pearn 	2018 Camry
Toyota 	Furniture Row Racing 	87 	Daniel Suárez 	 	2018 Camry
Toyota 	Joe Gibbs Racing 	11 	Denny Hamlin 	Mike Wheeler 	2018 Camry
Toyota 	Joe Gibbs Racing 	18 	Kyle Busch 	Adam Stevens 	2018 Camry
Toyota 	Joe Gibbs Racing 	20 	Erik Jones 	Chris Gayle 	2018 Camry
Toyota 	Joe Gibbs Racing 	54 	Carl Edwards 	Scott Graves
Dave Rogers	2018 Camry
=== Limited schedule ===
Manufacturer	Team 	No.	Race driver 	Crew chief 	Model
Chevrolet 	Beard Motorsports 	62 	??? 	Darren Shaw 	2018 Camaro ZL1
Chevrolet 	Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing 	108	Daniel Hemric 	Brandon Thomas	2018 Camaro ZL1
Chevrolet 	Morgan-McClure Motorsports	104	Jessie Little 	 	2018 Camaro ZL1
Chevrolet 	NY Racing Team 	07 	J.J. Yeley 	George Church 	2018 Camaro ZL1
Dodge 	MBM Motorsports 	166	Mark Thompson 	Mike Hillman Sr.
Robert Scott
Gary Showalter
Michael Groves	2017 Charger
Dodge 	MBM Motorsports 	166	Chad Finchum 	Mike Hillman Sr.
Robert Scott
Gary Showalter
Michael Groves	2017 Charger
Dodge 	MBM Motorsports 	166	Timmy Hill 	Mike Hillman Sr.
Robert Scott
Gary Showalter
Michael Groves	2017 Charger
Dodge 	Pacific Coast Racing 	02 	Kyle Malone 	Rodney Clay
Lyle White	2018 Charger
Dodge 	Pacific Coast Racing 	02 	Dennis Malone 	Rodney Clay
Lyle White	2018 Charger
Dodge 	Pacific Coast Racing 	02 	Andy Johnson 	Rodney Clay
Lyle White	2018 Charger
Dodge 	Pacific Coast Racing 	02 	Suki Honda 	Rodney Clay
Lyle White	2018 Charger
Dodge 	Pacific Coast Racing 	70 	Ace Johnson 	 	2018 Charger
Ford 	RBR Enterprises 	92 	David Gilliland 	Mike Hester 	2017 Fusion
Ford 	RBR Enterprises 	92 	Timothy Peters 	Mike Hester 	2017 Fusion
Honda 	Gaunt Brothers Racing 	196	D.J. Kennington 	Mark Hillman 	2018 Accord
Honda 	Gaunt Brothers Racing 	196	Jesse Little 	Mark Hillman 	2018 Accord
Lincoln 	Obaika Racing 	97 	David Starr 	Dan Stillman 	2017 Continental
Lincoln 	Obaika Racing 	97 	Tanner Berryhill	Dan Stillman 	2017 Continental
Lincoln 	Rick Ware Racing 	52 	Cody Ware 	George Church
Ken Evans	2018 Continental
Lincoln 	Rick Ware Racing 	52 	B.J. McLeod 	George Church
Ken Evans	2018 Continental
Lincoln 	Rick Ware Racing 	52 	J.J. Yeley 	George Church
Ken Evans	2018 Continental
Lincoln 	Rick Ware Racing 	52 	Gray Gaulding 	George Church
Ken Evans	2018 Continental
Lincoln 	Rick Ware Racing 	52 	Harrison Rhodes 	George Church
Ken Evans	2018 Continental
Nissan 	Premium Motorsports 	107	J.J. Yeley 	Todd Parrott
Peter Sospenzo	2018 Maxima
Nissan 	Premium Motorsports 	107	D.J. Kennington 	Todd Parrott
Peter Sospenzo	2018 Maxima
Nissan 	Premium Motorsports 	107	Reed Sorenson 	Todd Parrott
Peter Sospenzo	2018 Maxima
Nissan 	Premium Motorsports 	107	Jesse Little 	Todd Parrott
Peter Sospenzo	2018 Maxima
Nissan 	Premium Motorsports 	107	Garrett Smithley	Todd Parrott
Peter Sospenzo	2018 Maxima
Nissan 	Premium Motorsports 	107	Ross Chastain 	Todd Parrott
Peter Sospenzo	2018 Maxima
Nissan 	Premium Motorsports 	107	Hermie Sadler 	Todd Parrott
Peter Sospenzo	2018 Maxima
Nissan 	Premium Motorsports 	155	Joey Gase 	Todd Parrott
Peter Sospenzo	2018 Maxima
Nissan 	Premium Motorsports 	155	Reed Sorenson 	Todd Parrott
Peter Sospenzo	2018 Maxima
Nissan 	Premium Motorsports 	155	J.J. Yeley 	Todd Parrott
Peter Sospenzo	2018 Maxima
== Schedule ==
No.	Race title 	Track 	Date 	TV
1 	Honda/Save Mart 350 	Sonoma Raceway, Sonoma 	January 28 	FS1
 	Advanced Auto Parts Clash 	Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach	February 11 	CBS
 	Can-Am Duel 	Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach	February 15 	CBS
2 	Daytona 500 	Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach	February 18 	CBS
3 	Subway Fresh Fit 400 	Rockingham Raceway, Rockingham 	February 25 	Fox
4 	Pennzoil 400 	Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Las Vegas 	March 4 	Fox
5 	TranSouth Financial 400 	Darlington Raceway, Darlington 	March 18 	Fox
6 	San Jose 500 	San Jose Motorplex, Gilroy 	March 11 	Fox
7 	STP 500 	Martinsville Speedway, Ridgeway 	March 26 	FS1
8 	Diet Coke 500 	Coca-Cola Superspeedway, Denver 	April 1 	Fox
9 	O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 	Texas Motor Speedway, Fort Worth 	April 8 	FS1
10 	Food City 500 	Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol 	April 15-16 	Fox
11 	Pontiac Excitement 400 	Richmond Raceway, Richmond 	April 21 	Fox
12 	GEICO 500 	Talladega Superspeedway, Lincoln 	April 29 	Fox
13 	AAA 400 Drive for Autism 	Dover International Speedway, Dover 	May 6 	FS1
14 	First Union 400 	North Wilkesboro Speedway, North Wilkesboro 	May 13 	FS1
 	Monster Energy Open 	Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord 	May 19 	FS1
 	Monster Energy NASCAR All-Star Race 	Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord 	May 19 	FS1
15 	Coca-Cola 600 	Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord 	May 27 	CBS
16 	Pabst Blue Ribbon 400 	The Milwaukee Mile, West Allis 	June 3 	CBS
17 	Motorcraft 400 	Nazareth Speedway, Nazareth 	June 10 	CBS
18 	Music City USA 420 	Fairgrounds Speedway, Nashville 	June 17 	CBS
CMT
19 	Budweiser 400 	Riverside International Raceway, Riverside 	June 24 	CBS
20 	Overton's 400 	Chicago Motor Speedway, Cicero 	July 1 	CBS
21 	Coke Zero Sugar 400 	Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach	July 7 	CBS
22 	Quaker State 400 presented by Walmart	Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hampton 	July 14 	CBS
23 	Foxwood Resort Casinos 301 	New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Loudon 	July 21 	CBS
24 	Gander Outdoors 400 	Pocono Raceway 	July 28 	NBCSN
25 	Go Bowling at The Glen 	Watkins Glen International, Watkins Glen 	August 5 	NBC
26 	Consumer Energy 400 	Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn 	August 12 	NBCSN
27 	Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race 	Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol 	August 18 	NBC
28 	Coors 400 	Pikes Peak International Speedway, Fountain 	August 26 	NBCSN
29 	Bojangles' Southern 500 	Darlington Raceway, Darlington 	September 2 	NBC
30 	Big Machine Vodka at the Brickyard 	Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Speedway 	September 10	NBC
31 	Tyson Holly Farms 400 	North Wilkesboro Speedway, North Wilkesboro 	September 17	NBCSN
32 	Federated Auto Parts 400 	Richmond Raceway, Richmond 	September 22	NBC
33 	Bank of America 500 	Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord 	September 30	NBC
34 	Gander Outdoors 400 	Dover International Speedway, DOver 	October 7 	NBCSN
35 	1000bulbs.com 500 	Talladega Superspeedway, Lincoln 	October 14 	NBC
36 	Hollywood Casino 400 	Kansas Speedway, Kansas City 	October 21 	NBCSN
37 	Iowa Corn 400 	Iowa Speedway, Newton 	October 28 	NBCSN
38 	ACDelco 400 	Rockingham Speedway, Rockingham 	November 4 	NBC
39 	Can-Am 500 	ISM Raceway, Avondale 	November 11 	NBC
40 	Ford EcoBoost 400 	"Chloe Johnson Speedway", Homestead 	November 18 	NBC
41 	Pacific Coast Racing 500 	"Jenny Smith Motorplex", Gilroy 	November 25 	NBC
42 	Sprite 500 	"Belle Armstrong Superspeedway", Denver 	December 2 	NBC
43 	Los Angeles Times 500 	"Tim Johnson Motor Speedway", Ontario 	December 9 	NBC
== Technical changes ==
The only major change in 2018 was Chevrolet switching from the now-discontinued SS to the Camaro ZL1, marking the first time the Camaro has run in the Cup Series since 1992, when it was used exclusively by Chevrolet teams at restrictor-plate tracks. The ZL1 ended up being a fiasco for Chevrolet, as its wedge-shaped nose not only caused problems that hearkened back to the issues Dodge experienced with the 2005-06 Charger nose, it also caused wrecks at restrictor-plate tracks when attempting to bump draft.
== Cars used in 2018 ==
WORK-IN-PROGRESS