2018 TicketGuardian 500


The 2018 TicketGuardian 500 was a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race held on March 11, 2018, at ISM Raceway in Avondale, Arizona. Contested over 312 laps on the oval, it was the fourth race of the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season. It would also be the last Phoenix race to be using the 2011 reconfiguration as the start/finish line will be moved to the back-straightaway just past turn two for the November race.

Report

Background

ISM Raceway, is a one-mile, low-banked tri-oval race track located in Avondale, Arizona. The motorsport track opened in 1964 and currently hosts two NASCAR race weekends annually. PIR has also hosted the IndyCar Series, CART, USAC and the Rolex Sports Car Series. The raceway is currently owned and operated by International Speedway Corporation.

First practice

Kyle Larson was the fastest in the first practice session with a time of 26.034 seconds and a speed of.

Qualifying

Martin Truex Jr. scored the pole for the race with a time of 26.288 and a speed of.

Practice (post-qualifying)

Second practice

Kevin Harvick was the fastest in the second practice session with a time of 26.705 seconds and a speed of.

Final practice

Kevin Harvick was the fastest in the final practice session with a time of 26.757 seconds and a speed of.

Race results

Stage Results

Stage 1
Laps: 75
Stage 2
Laps: 75

Final Stage Results

Stage 3
Laps: 162

Race statistics

  • Lead changes: 9 among different drivers
  • Cautions/Laps: 6 for 36
  • Red flags: 0
  • Time of race: 2 hours, 53 minutes and 13 seconds
  • Average speed:

Media

Television

Fox Sports covered their 14th race at the Phoenix International Raceway. Mike Joy, two-time Phoenix winner Jeff Gordon and Darrell Waltrip had the call in the booth for the race. Jamie Little, Vince Welch and Matt Yocum handled the pit road duties for the television side.

Radio

MRN had the radio call for the race which also was simulcasted on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio.

Standings after the race

;Drivers' Championship standings
;Manufacturers' Championship standings
  • Note: Only the first 16 positions are included for the driver standings.