Event Recap: 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Statistics from Indianapolis (September 10, 2018)

Event statistics following the 26th race of the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season, the Big Machine Vodka 400 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana. The race also marked the final event of the regular season, as drivers solidified their positions for the opening race of the playoffs.

Brad Keselowski collected his second consecutive victory and first at IMS, using fuel strategy to catapult toward the front late in the event. He overtook Denny Hamlin with two laps remaining to give team owner Roger Penske a sweep of the top races at Indianapolis, as Will Power won the Indianapolis 500 in May. Erik Jones finished second, with Hamlin third, Kevin Harvick fourth and Clint Bowyer fifth.

Race Statistics

Big Machine Vodka 400 at the Brickyard

Indianapolis Motor Speedway – Speedway, Indiana

- Winner (starting position): Brad Keselowski (6th)

- Top Five: Brad Keselowski, Erik Jones, Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, Clint Bowyer

- Full Results: Brad Keselowski, Erik Jones, Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, Clint Bowyer, Kurt Busch, Jamie McMurray, Kyle Busch, Paul Menard, Ryan Newman, Ryan Blaney, Matt Kenseth, Joey Logano, Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, Jimmie Johnson, Michael McDowell, Daniel Suarez, William Byron, Regan Smith, Ty Dillon, Austin Dillon, Aric Almirola, David Ragan, Chris Buescher, Ross Chastain, Corey LaJoie, Reed Sorenson, J.J. Yeley, B.J. McLeod, Landon Cassill, Jeffrey Earnhardt, Alex Bowman, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Timmy Hill, Matt DiBenedetto, A.J. Allmendinger, Darrell Wallace Jr., David Starr, Martin Truex Jr.

- Average Speed: 128.629 mph

- Laps Completed: 160

- Race Leaders: 9

- Lead Changes: 14

- Laps Led: Denny Hamlin (37), Clint Bowyer (37), Kyle Busch (27), Kevin Harvick (22), Kurt Busch (19), Brad Keselowski (9), Matt Kenseth (5), William Byron (3), Ryan Blaney (1)

- Pole Position: Kyle Busch (Qualifying Rained Out)

- Hard Charger: Matt Kenseth (+17; 29th to 12th)

- Margin of Victory: 0.904 seconds

- Car Count: 40

- Cars Entered: 41

- Cars Running at Finish: 31 (of 40; or 78 percent of the field)

- Drivers to Finish on Lead Lap: 22

- Cautions: 10 for 39 laps

- Stage Winners: Clint Bowyer (1), Matt Kenseth (2)

- Winning Manufacturer: Ford

- Manufacturer Breakdown: Chevrolet (18); Ford (14); Toyota (8)

- Weather at Start of Race: 67 degrees Fahrenheit, overcast, winds WSW 4 mph

- Weather at End of Race: 67 degrees Fahrenheit, overcast, winds NNE 2 mph