2018 1000Bulbs.com 500

Race details[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]
Race 31 of 36 in the2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series
The 2018 1000Bulbs.com 500 program cover.
Date	October 14, 2018 (2018-10-14)
Location	Talladega Superspeedway inLincoln, Alabama
Course	Permanent racing facility
Course length	2.66 miles (4.28 km)
Distance	193 laps, 513.38 mi (826.04 km)
Scheduled distance	188 laps, 500.08 mi (804.64 km)
Average speed	153.707 miles per hour (247.367 km/h)
Pole position
Driver	Kurt Busch	Stewart-Haas Racing
Time	48.906
Most laps led
Driver	Kurt Busch	Stewart-Haas Racing
Laps	108
Winner
No. 10	Aric Almirola	Stewart-Haas Racing
Television in the United States
Network	NBC
Announcers	Rick Allen,Jeff Burton,Dale Earnhardt Jr. (booth),Steve Letarte andDale Jarrett (NBC Peacock Pitbox)
Nielsen ratings	2.2 (Overnight)[9]
Radio in the United States
Radio	MRN
Booth announcers	Joe Moore, Jeff Striegle andRusty Wallace
Turn announcers	Dave Moody (1 & 2),Mike Bagley (Backstretch) and Dan Hubbard (3 & 4)

The2018 1000Bulbs.com 500 was aMonster Energy NASCAR Cup Seriesrace that was held on October 14, 2018, atTalladega Superspeedway inLincoln, Alabama. Contested over 193 laps – extended from 188 laps due to anovertime finish, on the 2.66 mile (4.2 km) superspeedway, it was the 31st race of the2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season, the fifth race of the Playoffs, and second race of the Round of 12. This was a notable race forStewart-Haas Racing, who dominated in qualifying and both stages, and ended up winning the race with driverAric Almirola

Talladega Superspeedway, originally known asAlabama International Motor Superspeedway (AIMS), is amotorsports complex located north ofTalladega, Alabama. It is located on the formerAnniston Air Force Base in the small city ofLincoln. The track is atri-oval and was constructed in the 1960s by theInternational Speedway Corporation, a business controlled by theFrance family. Talladega is most known for its steep banking and the unique location of the start/finish line that's located just past the exit to pit road. The track currently hosts theNASCAR series such as theMonster Energy NASCAR Cup Series,Xfinity Series and theCamping World Truck Series. Talladega is the longestNASCAR oval with a length of 2.66-mile-long (4.28 km) tri-oval like theDaytona International Speedway, which also is a 2.5-mile-long (4 km) tri-oval.

Kevin Harvick was the fastest in the final practice session with a time of 46.889 seconds and a speed of 204.227 mph (328.671 km/h).^[10]

Kurt Busch scored the pole for the race with a time of 48.906 and a speed of 195.804 mph (315.116 km/h).^[11]

• Corey LaJoie started from the rear after failing post-qualifying inspection.

Stage 1Laps: 55

Stage 2Laps: 55

Stage 3Laps: 78

• Lead changes: 11 among different drivers
• Cautions/Laps: 8 for 32
• Red flags: 0
• Time of race: 3 hours, 20 minutes and 24 seconds
• Average speed: 153.707 miles per hour (247.367 km/h)

NBC Sports covered the race on the television side.Rick Allen,Jeff Burton and six-time Talladega winnerDale Earnhardt Jr. had the call in the booth for the race.Steve Letarte andDale Jarrett called from the NBC Peacock Pit Box on pit road.Dave Burns,Parker Kligerman, Marty Snider andKelli Stavast reported from pit lane during the race.

MRN covered the radio call for the race, which was simulcast onSirius XM NASCAR Radio.

Pos Driver Points 1 Kevin Harvick 3,128 2 Kyle Busch 3,111 (−17) 1 3 Joey Logano 3,104 (−24) 2 4 Kurt Busch 3,095 (−33) 4 5 Aric Almirola 3,087 (−41) 4 6 Clint Bowyer 3,086 (−42) 4 7 Martin Truex Jr. 3,083 (−45) 3 8 Chase Elliott 3,066 (−62) 2 9 Brad Keselowski 3,065 (−63) 2 10 Ryan Blaney 3,061 (−67) 11 Kyle Larson 3,047 (−81) 12 Alex Bowman 3,015 (−113) 2 13 Denny Hamlin 2,136 (−992) 14 Jimmie Johnson 2,128 (−1,000) 2 15 Austin Dillon 2,124 (−1,004) 16 Erik Jones 2,108 (−1,020) Official driver's standings

Manufacturers' Championship standings Pos Manufacturer Points 1 Ford 1,124 2 Toyota 1,108 (−16) 3 Chevrolet 1,021 (−103) Official manufacturers' standings Note: Only the first 16 positions are included for the driver standings.

• 2018 in sports in Alabama
• 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series
• NASCAR races at Talladega Superspeedway
• October 2018 sports events in the United States

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