THE RACE: Can-Am 500(k)
TRACK: ISM Raceway
Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Race #35 of 36
Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs race #9 of 10
Date: Sunday, November 11, 2018 in Avondale, AZ
Scheduled Green Flag (approx): 2:35 pm/et
Sections on this page:
Television | Radio/Streaming | Schedule | Track/Race Info | Race Rundown
Qualifying / Practice / Entry Info | Weather Links | Tire Notes | Odds
NASCAR Countdown to Green: 1:30pm/et on NBC
Television Race Coverage: NBC, 2:00pm/et
Practices:
Friday, November 9, 1:35-2:25pm/et, TV-NBCSN;
Saturday, November 10, 11:30am-12:20pm/et, TV-CNBC;
Saturday, November 10, 2:00-2:50pm/et, TV-NBCSN.
Qualifying for positions 1-40, Friday, November 9 at 7:00 pm/et, TV-NBCSN;
re-air scheduled: None
In the Booth: Rick Allen, Jeff Burton, Steve Letarte, Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
Pre/Post-Race and Hosts: Krista Voda, Kyle Petty, Dale Jarrett
Pit Reporters: Marty Snider, Kelli Stavast, Dave Burns
Features Reporter: Rutledge Wood
Breaking News: Nate Ryan
TV Listings, Links and Info:
see the TV Listings and Links page
Motor Racing Network (MRN)
SiriusXM Satellite NASCAR Channel 90
ONLINE STREAMING
NBC Sports - Live
Radio: MRN Live Streaming
SiriusXM Internet Radio (available via internet connected device, with subscription)
EVENT SCHEDULE
Event Schedule times are local to the track
Thursday, November 8
2:30 PM-5:30 PM MENCS HAULERS ENTER (EQUIPMENT UNLOAD)
Friday, November 9
8:30 AM-6:30 PM MENCS GARAGE OPEN
9:45 AM MENCS ROOKIE MEETING, SPOTTER MEETING, & RANDOM DRAWING
11:35 AM-12:25 PM MENCS 1ST PRACTICE
5:00 PM (7:00 PM/ET) MENCS QUALIFYING (MULTI-VEHICLE / THREE ROUNDS)
Saturday, November 10
8:00 AM-3:30 PM MENCS GARAGE OPEN
9:30 AM-10:20 AM MENCS 2ND PRACTICE
12:00 PM-12:50 PM MENCS FINAL PRACTICE
Sunday, November 11
7:00 AM MENCS GARAGE OPENS
10:20 AM MENCS DRIVER / CREW CHIEF MEETING
11:40 AM MENCS DRIVER INTRODUCTIONS
12:20 PM (2:20 PM/ET) MENCS RACE (312 LAPS, 312 MILES)
MENCS = Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series
SCHEDULE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
ISM Raceway Track News, Stats & Links page
March 2018: see the Phoenix Race Info page
November 2017: see the Phoenix Race Info page
Race Festivities/Officials:
Grand Marshal: Skeet Ulrich, Star of CW's Riverdale
Command to start engines: Skeet Ulrich
Honorary Starter/Wave Green Flag: Nathalie Matte, Can-Am Global Marketing Manager and Andrew Coccari, Can-Am VP Regional General Manager, North America
Honorary Pace Car Driver: WWE's Matt Hardy
Color Guard: Luke Air Force Base
Invocation: Dean of Students & Campus Pastor at Grand Canyon University, Chaplain Tim Griffin
National Anthem: US Navy Retired Petty Officer First Class, Steven Powell
Flyover: (2) F-16s Luke Air Force Base & (2) A-10s Davis-Monthan Air Force Base
Sunday Phoenix Notebook: Up-and-down day for Kurt Busch ends in late incident; Wreck ends promising run at Phoenix for Chase Elliott; Aric Almirola makes valiant run at game-changing victory.[More](11-11-2018)
Saturday Phoenix Notebook: Clint Bowyer's must-win scenario doesn't dictate unconventional strategy; Jeff Gordon headlines West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame nominees; Short strokes.[More](11-10-2018)
Friday Phoenix Notebook: Martin Truex Jr. expects business as usual in approach to Sunday's race; Jimmie Johnson is psyched up for car swap with Fernando Alonso; Ross Chastain earns full-time Xfinity ride with Chip Ganassi Racing.[More](11-9-2018)
What to Watch for: ISM Raceway: Harvick Penalty Drastically Alters Playoff Scenarios; Breaking Down the Championship Round Scenarios; Logano Putting Together One of the Best Postseason; Favorites Need Help in XFINITY Series.[More](11-9-2018)
ISM Raceway weekend preview: Anticipation and high drama for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series playoffs; High drama in the XFINITY Series; Championship on the line in Trucks.[More](11-8-2018)
A look at many news, notes, and story lines across all three NASCAR national series at ISM Raceway, see the stats on the NASCAR National Series News & Notes -- ISM Raceway
A look at some of the top statistical performers and top-10 driver ratings at Phoenix, see the stats on the Statistical Advance - Analyzing ISM Raceway page
With win in Phoenix, Kyle Busch leads Big Three into title race: Holding off Brad Keselowski after a restart with 12 laps left in Sunday's Can-Am 500 at ISM Raceway, Kyle Busch claimed his eighth Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series victory of the season and led NASCAR's Big Three into the Championship 4 race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. After a wreck on Lap 269 of 312 ended the championship hopes of Kurt Busch and Chase Elliott-both of whom had been in the mix throughout the day-Busch grabbed the lead from Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Erik Jones on Lap 277 and held it the rest of the way, through two subsequent cautions and restarts.[More](11-11-2018)
Kyle Busch won the Can-Am 500(k) Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at ISM Raceway. The win is his 8th win of 2018, 2nd win at Phoenix and 51st career win.
#2-Keselowski finished 2nd followed by #42-Larson, #10-Almirola, #4-Harvick, #1-McMurray, #6-Kenseth, #3-Dillon, #24-Byron, and #43-Wallace.
#4-Harvick, #18-Busch, #22-Logano, and #78-Truex, Jr will compete for the Championship next weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Several playoff drivers had trouble during the race:
Pole winner #4-Harvick led the first 72 laps of the race, but had a tire go down just before the end of stage 1. He had to pit, lost a lap and fell to 30th place. He later got the free pass and worked his way back to the front to finish 5th.
#22-Logano brought out the caution on lap 95 after a spin. He could not continue and finished 37th.
#14-Bowyer blew a tire on lap 133, hit the wall and could not go on. He finished 35th.
#41-Busch led 52 laps, but passed the pace car coming on to pit road on lap 135 and was penalized one lap. He got the free pass on lap 228 and run near the front until he was involved in an accident with Hamlin and Elliott with 43 laps remaining. The team could not repair the car and he finished 32nd.
Stage 1 was won by #9-Elliott, finished 23rd.
Stage 2 was won by #18-Busch, who won.
There were 15 lead changes among 8 drivers and 10 cautions for 61 yellow flag laps. There were two late red flags for track cleanup, one with 46 laps remaining and one with 25 to go.
The average speed of the race was: 98.354mph.
See unofficial race results, awards, laps led, cautions and more at:
Unofficial Race Results (pdf)
Cumulative Report (pdf)
Penalty Report (pdf)
See OFFICIAL race results & points standings on the Official Race & Points Report (pdf).
Where the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Playoff drivers finished at Phoenix:
#18-Kyle Busch, 1st
#10-Aric Almirola, 4th
#4-Kevin Harvick, 5th
#78-Martin Truex, Jr., 14th
#9-Chase Elliott, 23rd
#41-Kurt Busch, 32nd
#14-Clint Bowyer, 35th
#22-Joey Logano, 37th
MENCS at Phoenix
- Kyle Busch (Gibbs): wins and clinches spot in Championship 4; 8th win this season ties Kevin Harvick for series lead
- Busch: 2nd win at Phoenix; other came in November 2005 for his 2nd career win (1st win in last 25 starts at track)
- Busch: 51st career Cup Series win; breaks tie with Ned Jarrett and Junior Johnson for sole possession for 11th all-time (next is Lee Petty in 10th with 54 wins)
- Busch: 5th playoff win in last 2 seasons (leads all drivers); had 2 playoff wins career entering season (1 in 2005 as non-playoff driver, 1 in 2015)
- Busch & Harvick: 2nd pair of drivers since 1985 to each have at least 8 wins in a season (Carl Edwards & Kyle Busch in 2008)
- Kevin Harvick (Stewart-Haas): finished 5th to qualify for Championship 4; at 42 years old would be oldest Cup Series champion since Dale Jarrett in 1999
- Harvick: 4th Championship 4 appearance in 5 years with format, ties Kyle Busch for most
- Martin Truex Jr. (Furniture Row): finished 14th to qualify for Championship 4; trying to be 11th driver in series history to win consecutive titles and first since Jimmie Johnson won 5 straight in 2006-10
- Joey Logano (Penske): finished 37th (accident); only driver in 2018 Championship 4 without a previous championship (other 3 have each won a title in last 4 seasons)
(ESPN Stats & Info)
Race Fast Facts - Phoenix
Kyle Busch (P) won the 31st Annual Can-Am 500, his 51st victory in 497 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races.
This is his eighth victory and 27th top-10 finish in 2018.
This is his second victory and 19th top-10 finish in 27 races at ISM Raceway.
Brad Keselowski (second) posted his ninth top-10 finish in 19 races at ISM Raceway. It is his 19th top-10 finish in 2018.
Kyle Larson (third) posted his fourth top-10 finish in ten races at ISM Raceway.
William Byron (ninth) was the highest finishing rookie and has clinched the 2018 Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors.
The four drivers advancing to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship 4 are Joey Logano, Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr. and Kevin Harvick
(NASCAR Integrated Sports Marketing)(11-11-2018)
2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Standings:
[after Phoenix - race 3 of 3 in the Round of 8, 9 of 10 in the Playoffs]
competing for the Championship at Homestead:
#4-Kevin Harvick, 5000
#18-Kyle Busch, 5000
#22-Joey Logano, 5000
#78-Martin Truex Jr., 5000
Eliminated from the Playoffs:
#41-Kurt Busch
#9-Chase Elliott
#10-Aric Almirola
#14-Clint Bowyer
See the Unofficial Drivers Points Standings after the points reset, Post-race Drivers Points Standings (before reset) and Unofficial Owners Points Standings page (pdf)
See OFFICIAL race results & points standings on the Official Race & Points Report (pdf).
Top-Ten Stage 2 Results (lap 150) of the Can-Am 500(k) Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at ISM Raceway (lap 150/312):
#18-Busch, 10pts
#2-Keselowski, 9pts
#78-Truex, Jr., 8pts
#4-Harvick, 7pts
#42-Larson, 6pts
#3-Dillon, 5pts
#9-Elliott, 4pts
#12-Blaney, 3pts
#24-Byron, 2pts
#10-Almirola, 1pt
Top-Ten Stage 1 Results (lap 75) of the Can-Am 500(k) Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at ISM Raceway (lap 75/312):
#9-Elliott, 10pts
#12-Blaney, 9pts
#11-Hamlin, 8pts
#41-Busch, 7pts
#2-Keselowski, 6pts
#42-Larson, 5pts
#18-Busch, 4pts
#20-Jones, 3pts
#88-Bowman, 2pts
#3-Dillon, 1 pt
Lucky Dogs, drivers that got a lap back during the cautions (and their finish):
Caution 1: #47-Allmendinger, 12th
Caution 2: #4-Harvick, 5th
Caution 3: #43-Wallace, 10th
Caution 4: #1-McMurray, 6th
Caution 5: #41-Busch, 32nd
Caution 6: #43-Wallace (2), 10th
Caution 7: #6-Kenseth, 7th
Caution 8: #6-Kenseth (2), 7th
Caution 9: #11-Hamlin, 13th
Caution 10: #34-McDowell, 16th
See the starting lineup for the Can-Am 500(k) Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at ISM Raceway on the Starting Lineup Page (pdf).
To the rear: #27-Menard (backup car), #51-Ware (backup car)
NASCAR Overtime Race Procedure: Rule and notes on the NASCAR Overtime rules/news/stats page.
Wave Around: how the wave around rule works: All vehicles between the leader and the caution vehicle at the start/finish line when the "one to go" signal is given by the starter are considered "Wave Around" eligible. "Wave Around" vehicles will not be permitted to enter pit road at any time during this yellow flag/caution period. "Wave Around" vehicles must receive the green flag on the race track before being permitted to enter pit road without a penalty. Vehicles under a penalty and the "Free Pass" vehicle will not be eligible to receive a "Wave Around".
Pit Stall Selections: The selections of pit stalls for the Can-Am 500(k) Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at ISM Raceway have been made.
With 39 cars running, pit stalls 20 and 41 are not in use.
Pole winner #4-Harvick chose pit stall 1, the first stall available [as do most pole sitters].
Outside pole winner #9-Elliott took pit stall 40, the final stall on pit road.
#17-Stenhouse, Jr., who starts 3rd, took the 6th stall, just before the start-finish line.
To see where the drivers/teams pit stall is, see the pit selection chart on Jayski.com's Pit Stall Selection chart.(11-10-2018)
Links to results, practices, qualifying PDF's: (will be added as available)
Official Race & Points Report
Race Results
Drivers Points
Owners Points
Cumlative Race Report
Penalty Report
Pitstalls
Happy Hour Practice Speeds
Second Practice Speeds
Starting Lineup
Qualifying Results
Qualifying Order
Practice 1 Speeds
Crew Rosters
Latest / Final Entry List
Preliminary Entry List
See the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race results page
QUALIFYING INFO, PRACTICE SPEED and ENTRIES
Happy Hour (final) practice for the Can-Am 500(k) Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at ISM Raceway is over, after 50 scheduled minutes, the top five, slowest and notes:
#4-Harvick 135.125
#2-Keselowski 134.484
#18-Busch 164.308
#20-Jones 133.998
#78-Truex, Jr. 133.939
best 10 consecutive lap avg (of 30 drivers): #4-Harvick 134.072
slowest: #66-Hill 127.777 & #51-Ware 127.101.
See the fastest speeds, best 10 consecutive lap average, laps run on the Happy Hour Practice speeds page (pdf) (11-10-2018)
First Saturday practice for the Can-Am 500(k) Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at ISM Raceway is over, after 50 scheduled minutes, the top five, slowest and notes:
#4-Harvick 134.710
#42-Larson 134.680
#2-Keselowski 134.479
#18-Busch 134.273
#12-Blaney 134.238
best 10 consecutive lap avg (of 23 drivers): #42-Larson 133.862
slowest: #97-Berryhill 128.696 & #66-Hill 128.178
notes: #97-Berryhill spun early but did not hit anything.
See the fastest speeds, best 10 consecutive lap average, laps run on the Second Practice speeds page (pdf) (11-10-2018)
Kevin Harvick rebounds with pole-winning run at Phoenix: Resilient Kevin Harvick bounced back at his best track, winning the pole position for Sunday's Can-Am 500 at ISM Raceway and putting behind him a penalty that threatened his Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championship chances. Harvick, a nine-time Phoenix winner, toured the newly configured one-mile track in 25.386 seconds to run the fastest lap in the three-round knockout qualifying session at 139.340 mph to edge fellow Playoff driver Chase Elliott (139.152 mph) for the top starting spot in Round of 8 elimination race.[More](11-9-2018)
Kevin Harvick won the Busch pole for the Can-Am 500(k) Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at ISM Raceway with speed of 139.340mph for his 4th pole of 2018, 2nd at Phoenix and 25th of his career. Harvick has won 6 times from the 24 previous poles.
#9-Elliott will start 2nd followed by #17-Stenhouse, Jr., #12-Blaney, #88-Bowman, #18-Busch, #20-Jones, #42-Larson, #22-Logano, #11-Hamlin, #21-Menard, and #2-Keselowski.
#9-Elliott was fastest in the second round with a speed of 139.411mph, will start 2nd
#6-Kenseth was quickest in the first round with a speed of 138.313mph, will start 17th.
Driver(s) who will miss the race: none as 39 were entered for 40 spots
See round-by-round qualifying results on the Qualifying results page (pdf) and the complete starting lineup on the Starting Lineup page (pdf).(11-9-2018)
Where the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Playoff drivers will start at Phoenix:
#4-Kevin Harvick, 1st
#9-Chase Elliott, 2nd
#18-Kyle Busch, 6th
#22-Joey Logano, 9th
#78-Martin Truex, Jr., 13th
#41-Kurt Busch, 14th
#14-Clint Bowyer, 16th
#10-Aric Almirola, 18th
ISM Raceway - Qualifying Fast Facts:
Kevin Harvick (P) won the Pole Award for the 31st Annual Can-Am 500 with a lap of 25.836 seconds, 139.340 mph.
This is his 25th pole in 645 NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series races.
This is his fourth pole and 26th top-10 start in 2018.
This is his second pole in 32 races at ISM Raceway.
Chase Elliott (P) (second) posted his 18th top-10 start of 2018 and his fifth in six races at ISM Raceway.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (third) posted his second top-10 start at ISM Raceway. It is his ninth in 35 races this season.
William Byron (19th) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
(NASCAR Statistics)(11-9-2018)
Second Round of Qualifying for the Can-Am 500(k) Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at ISM Raceway is over, after 10 scheduled minutes.
#9-Elliott 139.411
#42-Larson 139.066
#18-Busch 139.055
#11-Hamlin 138.857
#21-Menard 138.686
the rest of the top 12: 88 20 4 12 17 2 22
out of the top 12 and not advancing to round 3: 78 41 3 14 6 10 24 48 1 31 34 47
(11-9-2018)
First Round of Qualifying for the Can-Am 500(k) Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at ISM Raceway is over, after 15 scheduled minutes.
#6-Kenseth 138.313
#3-Dillon 137.936
#4-Harvick 137.625
#41-Busch 137.541
#18-Busch 137.531
the rest of the top 24: 17 22 24 20 42 21 34 1 48 14 11 9 10 78 12 47 88 37 2
out of the top 24 and not advancing to round 2: 19 31 95 32 13 38 43 00 15 72 23 97 66 7 51
Drivers who will miss the race: none, 39 entered
(11-9-2018)
Coverage of Qualifying for the Can-Am 500(k) Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at ISM Raceway is scheduled for Friday, November 9, 2018 at 7:00pm/et.
Television (TV): NBCSN, 7:00pm/et
Radio: Live online at Motor Racing Network (MRN)
Group qualifying under the three-round qualifying format:
• Round 1 -- All entries will have 15 minutes to post a qualifying time, after which the 24 registering the fastest laps will advance to the second round. Those failing to advance will be sorted based on first-round times in descending order (from fastest to slowest).
• Round 2 -- The 24 fastest from the first round will have 10 minutes to post a second-round qualifying time, with the 12 fastest advancing to a third round. Those not advancing will earn starting positions 13 through 24 based on time, again in descending order.
• Round 3 -- The final round will be five minutes in length. The fastest times from this session will determine the first (Coors Light Pole Award) through 12th starting positions.
There will be a seven-minute break between each round; teams may make adjustments to their entries only during the individual breaks. They will not be allowed to jack the vehicle or raise the hood, and once the car or truck enters the garage, it will no longer be permitted to return to the track for additional qualifying attempts.
Qualifying Order for the Can-Am 500(k) Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at ISM Raceway is posted.
The first driver to be lined up on pit road will be #11-Hamlin.
The final driver lined up on pit road will be #00-Cassill.
The order is set by a random draw, how cars park on pit road before they qualify, held about an hour before the first practice.
After the first round, the cars lined up by speed.
For the qualifying order, see the Qualifying Order page (pdf).(11-9-2018)
First practice for the Can-Am 500(k) Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at ISM Raceway is over, after 50 scheduled minutes, the top-five, slowest and notes:
#20-Jones 137.862
#18-Busch 137.825
#9-Elliott 137.815
#2-Keselowski 137.431
#42-Larson 137.673
most laps run: #43-Wallace and #13-Dillon, 17 laps.
No drivers ran 10 or more consecutive laps.
slowest: #7-Kennington 129.436 & #66-Hill 128.921.
notes: #51-Ware wrecked in practice. They do not have a backup car, but will lease a car from Premium Motorsports for the race.
See the fastest speeds, best 10 consecutive lap average, laps run on the First Practice speeds (pdf) (11-9-2018)
Entry List for the Can-Am 500(k) Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at ISM Raceway is posted, 39 teams/drivers [for 40 spots] are listed.
Some of the drivers entered include: #7-Kennington, #23-Yeley, #51-Ware, #66-Hill, #72-Whitt, #97-BerryHill.
Since only 39 cars are entered, all drivers will make the race.
UPDATE: The #66 team has withdrawn.
UPDATE2: The #66 team has been added back on. The #97 Obaika Racing team has been added.
See the full entry list on the Entry List (pdf)
For qualifying rules and formats, see the Qualifying Rules page
How to Calculate Track Speeds: use the formula Speed = Distance divided by Time. Distance is Track Length, and Lap Time into Hours. Once hour is 3600 seconds, so the calculation for a 48 second lap at Daytona(2.5 miles) would be: Speed = 2.5 x (3600/48), = 2.5 x 75 = 187.500mph. For a 19 second lap at Bristol(.533 miles): Speed = .533 x (3600/19), = .533 x 189.474 = a speed of 100.990mph
Weather Channel
Accuweather
National Weather Service
Race Weather
Race Day Forecast
Weather Bug
Weather Underground
Brian Neudorff @NASCAR_WXMAN
Aaron Studwell @RaceWeather
Phoenix Goodyear Tire Notes See complete tire information for the race weekend across all series on the [Goodyear Tire Notes - ISM Raceway page.(11-6-2018)
RACE & CHAMPIONSHIP ODDS
Vegas Insider
Race and Championship odds
NASCAR Top-Five Finish Prediction
Phoenix Race Preview by Micah Roberts
Bovada Sportsbook:
Race and the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Championship